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Elizabeth Ritchie
Elizabeth Ritchie from Scotland enjoys living in Guelph, Canada, but feels drawn back home to the Highlands and the Scottish landscape.
She moved to Canada to do her PhD on Scottish History five years ago. She says, “I was born in Galloway and brought up in Crieff in Perthshire. I studied History at Glasgow University and stayed on to do a Masters in American Studies.
"I spent time in America for holidays and as part of my American Studies Masters and I loved it. But I felt drawn to Canada. Guelph University was the obvious choice for me to do my PhD because it has the Scottish Studies programme."
Elizabeth sees the benefits of being a PhD student in Canada. "Coming to Canada was an opportunity to work abroad. PhD students become tutors to undergraduate students so it means it's possible to pay for our course as well as get training on how to teach."
There is a strong Scottish presence in Guelph within the university and in the city. "Randomly you'll hear someone with a Scottish accent. In town recently I went past a stall where a lady was talking to a customer and I heard her Scottish accent. It turned out she was from Glasgow and we ended up discussing the number 22 bus! In my mind, I was back in Scotland for those few moments," she says.
Because of high rates of Scottish immigration in the area over the last fifty years, Scottish culture is popular. "Burns' Night is huge here," says Elizabeth. "But people are incredulous that you can eat haggis! For Burns' Supper the main dish is steak with a token piece of haggis on the side! But I do miss decent fish and chips."
Although Elizabeth enjoys living in Guelph, she misses Scotland. "I miss my friends and family but I also miss the Scottish hills because I'm really interested in outdoors activities, especially hillwalking," she says. "There is farmland near Guelph, so I go cycling and running instead.
"It's the landscape that makes me miss Scotland the most. If I see a nice view or river, it makes me think of home."
Elizabeth will be moving back to Scotland to start a job at North Highland College as a lecturer in North American History after Easter. She says, "Friends have teased me that I went to Canada to teach about Scottish history and now I'm coming back to Scotland to teach about American history!
"It's going to be difficult uprooting from Guelph and leaving friends I've made.
“But I'm looking forward to seeing friends and family and my new job because I really enjoy designing and teaching courses. I'm also looking forward to being able to explore new areas on my bike and get out on the hills again."
"I've missed the Highlands while being in Guelph. I don't plan on living abroad again – this has been my big adventure. Scotland is where I belong, especially the Highlands."
Information correct at April 2009.
Related links
Centre for Scottish StudiesCanadians who have moved to Scotland:
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