By Jordan Hooks
AFTER living in Scotland for eight months, I thought I had heard most of the Scottish accents and sayings, but, as it turns out, there is much more than I have to learn. And who knew that I would be doing all this learning during my first week as an intern at Holyrood PR.
When I first arrived through the doors of Holyrood PR, I was already feeling a bit ridiculous because I had been standing right outside the building for a good 10 minutes before I finally gave into my pride and rang Melissa telling her I was lost. Being the gem that she is, Melissa came outside and greeted me with open arms.
Just to give you a little background into my history, I am a 22-year-old American, born and raised in the great state of Texas, who picked up her life nine months ago and moved 5,000 miles from home. I am here in Edinburgh studying for my masters in journalism at Edinburgh Napier University.
I walked in and took my seat in the assigned ‘intern’ desk and was then introduced to the staff. There’s Melissa, seated directly in front of me, who patiently answers the million questions I ask a day. Heather sits directly to her left and is probably one of the kindest people I have encountered so far here in Scotland. Then there is Linsay, the office manager, who clearly is the glue that keeps the office in one piece. Craig is the camera and film guru who sits quietly at his desk with his headphones on diligently editing film on his Mac. Brian sits directly to my right and is often found off in his own little world, but every so often he spouts out a witty movie line that he expects us all to recognize (usually it’s from a movie in the 80s that we haven’t got a clue about). Lastly, there is Scott and Raymond, the two directors of the company who sit in the very same office that we do.
In just one week of working for Holyrood PR, I now know that I am 100 percent confident in the career path I have chosen. I was thrown head first into the work and I have loved every second of it. On my first day here, I was managing Twitter accounts and writing media coverage. On the second day I was sitting in on team meetings and wrote my first press release. By day three, I was on the phone interviewing clients and following up on press releases. Each day has been welcomed by a new real-time experience. Nowadays, that is something you just don’t often see in placements.
One of my favourite parts about the job has definitely been the conversations and small talk that has occurred between me and the other employees here. I learned that Scottish folk don’t know how to say ‘aluminium’ and think its proper to add a ‘ch’ sound to words like Tuesday and tuna. I was personally taught by Scott how to make a proper cup of British tea (hot tea isn’t a big thing from where I’m from) and that every Scot wonders what these things Americans call ‘grits’ taste like.
All in all, it has been a very busy yet fulfilling first week here at Holyrood.
I am definitely looking forward to what else is in store for me in the coming weeks.
Until next time, bye y’all!
