I am an american student who is studying abroad and will probably not be able to make it back home this christmas. i am in scotland and am wondering if they are prepared at all over here for Y2K i've tried to find out some info but there is nothing to be found accept for a flyer the UK gov. sent out telling people not to freak out. I dont know if I should take any extra precautions seen i will be alone here. On the other hand i may get the chance to fly home right around New Years, does anyone know how safe it really is to fly during this time. I would appriciate some one who knows what the real deal is to give me some feed back, thanks

-- student (Snowden222@aol.com), November 27, 1999

Answers

Do yourself a favor and dropout for a semester.

-- Charles R. (chuck_roast@trans.net), November 27, 1999.

Either get home or learn to enjoy haggis. There's probably worse places to be.

-- Dog Gone (layinglow@rollover.now), November 27, 1999.

I learned a lot of really great things while studying a broad. It's definitely worth the risks. :-)

-- Hawk (flying@high.again), November 27, 1999.

Since this person cannot spell, I presume it is Poole [or one of his crew}. If it is real, just hang tough, no problems with the Scots.

Best wishes,,,

Z

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), November 27, 1999.

As for flying home, which side of the rollover? Before is certainly a better risk than after.

Talk to school officials, find out what contingency plans there might be for foreign students without any other domicile in the UK, if the school had to suddenly close. Look at the fine print in your contracts with them. Work on your local friendships, and see if there is anyone who could take you home with them in an emergency. Be prepared to "go native."

-- Firemouse (firemouse@fmail.com), November 27, 1999.

Also, make sure you have the phone numbers of the US Embassy before the rollover, and see if they have any plans such as emergency radio frequencies that you could contact them on. Find some contact information for local hams both in Scotland and at home, so that if communications go down you have a chance to contact your family.

-- Firemouse (firemouse@fcmail.com), November 27, 1999.

You're going to be a broad next year? Won't you feel kind of silly wearing a dress?

-- Rodney Dangerfield (i.get@no.respect), November 27, 1999.

---if you are going to be there in scotland, see if you can get a partime job on an estate someplace. From what I understand, there's no such thing as public parks or woods there. (not sure, I believe this is true). anywhoo, get thee on an estate, they are probably already equipped with stores, generators, gardens, etc. Plus, there actually might be some shotguns there for some sort of protection. And ALWAYS have a bugout bag with you. Not sure if you have a car or not, at least you probably have a good mountain bike I bet. Get the panniers, front and rear, so you can ride with the weight distributed properly. Have about a weeks rations, a poncho, compass,maps, extra dry socks and stuff, a good sleeping bag, some emergency repair stuff for the bike,a small but good water filter like a PUR Scout, a coupla canteens, some small med supplies, vitamins, several sharp knives and a way to keep them sharp, flashlight and battery radio, and good cigarette lighters and matches in a can, small army surplus mess kit and cup---stuff like that. Pack well, and think about what you pack.

The estate or farm job is the better bet, though, and you'll be there through Christmas and New Years rollover anyway, give events a chance to sort themselves out, one way or the other. Good luck, and p.s. it's only poaching if you're caught!(think *salmon* and *rabbits*)

travellin zog

-- zog (zzoggy@yahoo.com), November 27, 1999.

What is this? Lets terrify a student day? Look, I have one in LA, one in Florida, and one not so far away. Your education will ALWAYS be the most important thing for you to take care of until it is done. Spend your time in the library. Study the OLD books. Take care of your major and enjoy the Scotts.

My plaid is very old... Erskine, Keepers of the Royal Family for four generations. Just take care of business, take no thought of tomorrow for you have NO control over it. It may be well, it may present problems, never the less, it is not yours to control.

-m-

-- osiris (...@.......), November 27, 1999.

If I had to choose between Scotland & the U.S... It would be a close call. Might be tempted to stay there. I love the highlands, all sane people do.

BTW, your grammar sucks. Hope you're not an English major.

-- Ireland (isnt@bad.either), November 27, 1999.

The Minister responsible for Scotland went ballistic [in comparative terms :)] in the UK Cabinet last year, demanding in a written protest that his Cabinet colleagues scrap their plans to reduce the number of Scottish Territorial Army [yeah - I know they've got a new name for them now, but I'm old-fashioned enough to stick with what was instantly familiar to everyone for a long time :)] regiments in Scotland as part of British Army cost-reduction and "rationaization" plans, saying in no uncertain terms that he would need those 'disciplined bodies of men' in Scotland when the millennial bug hit. Amazingly, in breach of Cabinet confidentiality, his memo got leaked to the press, and he then backed it up publicly. So he obviously wasn't expecting the best...

And as I recollect, the barracks at Edinburgh Castle [boy, do I miss those annual Tattoos - I always thought that the Guards majestically outmarched the Scottish regiments, the Scots' bands easily outplayed the English, and the plucky little Ghurkas always stole the show from everyone else :)] are now being prepared for use as a 'millennial mortuary'.

-- John Whitley (jwhitley@inforamp.net), November 27, 1999.