I have talked a little with the two representatives from Great Britain. Or do I say United Kingdom? I have Welsh and Scottish heritage, so I’ve been curious to learn more about what it means to be English or British, and if there is a difference.
 
For a starting point, the United Kingdom is the nation (not the country) that encompasses England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and all of the commonwealth’s islands (Falkland Islands, Channel Islands, etc.).  Great Britain, which is noted GBR in the Olympic Games, is essentially the same as the UK, which is why we tend to use “British” as a way to describe residents of the UK, but Great Britain refers to the land mass of the main island (England, Wales, and Scotland) and Northern Ireland.
 
Fergus is from Scotland, so he’s Scottish.  And British.  Emily is from England, so she’s English. And British as well.  Both are said to be from the United Kingdom.  However, Fergus is not English and Emily is not Scottish.  This might sound really simple, but England and Scotland are both countries, have their own national football teams, etc.  For the Olympics, they unite under the Union Jack, the flag of the United Kingdom. 
 
To travel to England or Scotland, a resident of Wales does not need to show his or her passport.  I guess it sounds similar to how we view states, right?  I mean, if I would have had someone call me a Minnesotan while growing up, I would have been very quick to correct them.  I guess I just get hung up on the fact that they’re not states, but rather separate nations. 
 
It gets better, too.  Wales has its own language, Welsh, even though English is the primary language spoken in the schools and businesses.  When Emily’s office (she works for the London Organizing Committee for 2012) produces a document regarding the Olympic Games, it must be done in both English and Welsh.  Of course I could insert jab here about how I think some states have their own language, but I will refrain.

England and Scotland have fought wars against one another (think Braveheart), and don’t have much love for one another.  I was actually in England in 1996 when Scotland and England played in football.  It was a big deal, because the two nations hadn’t played in a decade.  Maybe it is just because of their hatred for one another in football, but Great Britain has never fielded an Olympic football team.  As the host nation (which, technically there is no host nation, just a host city – London), it would be great if the two nations could set aside their differences and field a team. 
This was hammered home when Fergus asked Professor Perrakis this morning to refer to the country as Great Britain and not England. I am sure that others took note of Fergus pointing this out, but it is especially the case for me because I have Welsh and Scottish ancestry, so I have a special interest.
 
Enough about my struggles with figuring the UK out.  After lunch, we have scheduled activities.  We can choose between dancing, drawing, and literature. I went to the drawing session, where I used charcoal as a means for art for the first time.  I drew a picture of a two wrestlers, with one wrestler in on a single leg and the other defending.  Next, I had to draw it with my left hand (I’m right handed) with a marker.  After that, right handed with my eyes closed.  Lastly, left handed with my eyes closed.  Of course none of them were masterpieces, but it was strange to see that left handed, my drawings looked more free and smooth.  The teacher showed how this was the case for most of the drawings by my classmates, and it demonstrated the fact that sometimes you have to do what feels right.  Thinking about things, drying to create what looks right…that isn’t necessarily right.  This seems to hold true in and out of sport in our lives, as at times, decisions must be made simply on if something feels right. 
 
After this morning’s lecture, participants gave short presentations to the group of 170 people.  I drew the short straw and was the first to go, with Angie following next.  I doubt anyone tuned in on-line to watch, but I made sure to find out if the footage is archived.  It is, so I will likely watch it when I’m back home.  After a sentence or two, the professor asked me to slow down.  I took for granted that my audience could understand English as fast as I could speak it, but that wasn’t the case.  After the session, people have asked for a copy of my essay, which was flattering. 
 
Last night I scored a German bracelet that is similar to the bracelets that were started with the LiveStrong yellow bracelets in 2002 or 2003.  A few hours later, Jens (one of the German delegates) asked me if I knew what colors were in the German flag.  Glancing down, I said “black, red, and gold.”  Jens said I was the first person that knew it was gold and not yellow.  Glad to know that I semi-guessed correctly!  Jens was happy, that was for sure. 
 
Tonight we have our second football game, against the team that beat the team that smashed us.  Hopefully we play better this time around.  We pretty much have assured ourselves of not getting out of the pool, regardless if we win.  I guess we could still make it out of the pool if we win 9-0. Yeah, that’s not happening.  Not even if we had Jozy Altidore playing on our team for the night.
 
A handful of us are headed into town to eat some traditional Greek food – I’m really looking forward to the gyro I’m going to eat.
 
Citius!  Altius!  Fortius!