Great Scotts! Scotland students adapt to life in Lynbrook, USA

Laura Anne Baxter, Karen McKechnie, Terry Grahame Anderson, all 20, and Patricia Scanlan, 23, all students at The Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, applied and were approved for the program. They have been working, living, and enjoying life on Long Island since July, 2005.
Baxter, who was born in Southampton, England and moved to Milltimer, Aberdeen when she was 11, has visited the U.S. several times while on vacation. "This has been a great opportunity and experience," she said. "I hadn't been to New York before - who wouldn't want to live in the Big Apple for 12 months?"
  The work program is a collaboration between Sceptre Tours, on Sunrise Highway and The Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, allowing college students to sign up to work in different cities in the U.S., with New York being one of the most sought after. The students are paid workers, and can cover their expenses. An apartment is prearranged for them in Lynbrook.
"We started doing this in 2001," said Chris Accomando, vice president at Sceptre Tours. "We receive their resumes and interview them over the phone. We usually have about six to ten students that apply, and it is a very hard decision because they are all so qualified." Sceptre is a tour operator that specializes in travel to Ireland and the U.K. The Robert Gordon University is a modern state-of-the-art  University located in Aberdeen, Scotland's third-largest city. They offer degree programs in business, law engineering, science, computers, art, design, architecture, pharmacy and health sciences.
McKechnie, who was born in Glasgow and moved to Stonehaven, south of Aberdeen, a few years ago, saw the job advertised on her university's website. "I thought that it looked like a great opportunity," she said. "I came here on holiday with my mum and sister two years ago and loved it. Everything is just so much bigger than it is in Scotland - the cars, the food - everything!" McKechnie said the hardest part about moving to New York was being away from family and friends.
  When they aren't at work, the foursome enjoys the same things every college-aged student does - shopping, dining out, sports and concerts.
Scanlan, the most enthusiastic of the bunch, said coming to New York has always been a dream of hers. "We love the cinema, eating out, baseball games, ice hockey matches and concerts. We love to go into Manhattan. We've travelled to Chicago and Boston, but New York is the best." She was born in Aberdeen but her parents are Irish. This is her first time in the U.S. "Lynbrook is the best of both worlds, close to the beach and the city. I would love to come and live in New York."
Anderson, the only male of the group, was born and raised in Aberdeen, and has only been to the U.S. once, in 2001, to visit his aunt in Orlando, FL. "I decided to come to New York to work because I thought it was a great opportunity," he said. "The people are friendly. Apart from being away from my friends and family, I found it easy to adjust." He also enjoys the movies, or cinema, as they call it -- and plays a round of golf when he can. "I am a big Yankee fan now, Johnny Damon is my favorite player."
They all agreed that that everything is bigger over here - the food portions, the highways, and the cars. "we eat out a lot. It's great," they agreed.
What will they miss the most about New York? "The food," said Anderson. "and walking around Central Park." The girls agreed on mostly everything they will miss - the hot weather, the beach trips, spending sprees, and the Lynbrook Bagel shop.
"We are glad that we can give the kids an opportunity to work in the states in the tourism industry," said Accomando. "The students learn what real life is like working for a company in all different departments, like sales marketing, and accounting. It can be pretty high pressure in here at times and everyone is vital to the company's success. I wish I had an opportunity like this when I was back in school."
Sceptre Tours usually get s a new crew of students every year. Let's hope they love New York as much as this bunch.

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