Rodeos barbecues and some of the best hospitality I have ever experienced in my life
in today's episode of the vlog and talking about Texas that's coming right up after this
Hello everybody. How are you doing is great to have you here
My name is Shaun and I'm a vlogger from Edinburgh in Scotland and in today's episode
I want to talk to you all about my experience my very first experience in Texas United States of America
It was such a momentous occasion in my life. Genuinely when I went to Texas for the first time
I think it was a life-changing experience
A lot of it was because of being in Texas itself and what I experienced there, but there was a whole package surrounding it
So that trip was part of the exploring American values tour that I was doing at that time with the United States of America's
embassy to the UK
They invited myself and a number of other British vloggers out to America to do a tour to get a bit of a cultural exchange
Cultural experience so we could learn more about America
I really feel I
Connected with people in a way that I had never done in a long time before I will never forget the experience
But today I want to talk about the part of it where we went to Texas because it was so great to see the culture
There and I just enjoyed it so much. So that's exactly what I'm talking about in today's vlog
Let's get into it. But first of all, I just want to say welcome to you all
Thank you so much for joining me. It is great to have you here
And if you're new, please don't forget to hit that red subscribe button down in the corner
Then you will be part of the family from here on in. Have you done it?
Of course, you have great to have you on board right Texas, as I said, I went in 8 States of America
About a year and I better go now with the United States Embassy
They messaged me out the blue and said we want to take you on a cultural experience in America so you can learn more about
It and I jumped at the chance because I've never been to the States before but United States, you know
the culture of America had made off a big part of my kind of childhood and growing up and when I saw the itinerary and
Learned that we were going to Texas I was like this is gonna be great
I had no idea what to expect but I was excited. Okay and spoiler earlier
I had such a great trip in Texas at I bought a number of bits and pieces to take home of me to remember forever
For example this t-shirt here, which I absolutely love Texas pride. I can feel it
I can feel like an honorary Texan nothing and I will tell you fully about the experience we had and the people we met
And stuff in a little minute and a couple of things are brought back home this hatch the Dallas Police Department
We went to meet those guys and this made up a part the tour. I'll tell you about that
You know what anything just with it the Texas state flag like this hat. I love it as well
I wear it a lot in summer time, and of course the cowboy hat
Which I bought at the rodeo at Fort Worth. To be honest you guys since I came home from that trip
This has been hanging on my wall
Right. It has been there as a bit of a decoration, but I think you should wear it more often. What do you think?
I just think it looks good. I think I suit it's gonna stay on. I'll keep it on for this video.
So are you all ready for this my first 10 impressions of Texas? as a Scottish guy
Arriving in the state for the very first time, okay
So my very very first thought with Texas as we arrived at Dallas International Airport, we got off the plane
We've got our suitcases and we go out onto the main lobby and got our mini bus
Right. My very first thought was first observation about Dallas
And until that point on our trip we had been to DC we had been to Florida both were very hot as well
But this is a different kind of heat Wow
I think its a heat that i probably never
experienced before that and to be honest to you as I got off that bus it did take me a little bit of time to
Get used to that climate it felt different
It was like a dry heat and it wasn't the same kind of humid wire that I was experienced in, Florida
So it was definitely a bit different for me
Scottish people by the way
When we get in the heat, I exchanged things it starts to happen to us
We start to go a little bit crazy we start to pass out and faint and get really ill
And in fact, one of the people on a trip did actually get ill with the heat
it was really hot in Texas Wow the second first impression of Texas and this is something that
a lot of you guys have been commenting on my recent video about was
Actually wrong a bit of a four-part in my fairness. It wasn't my mistake
We were taken to this place on a first night in, Texas
We were taken to this place by the US Embassy
So really it's their fault not mine, on our way to the hotel that night from the airport
We stopped off for dinner a burger place called in and out. I really enjoyed that
I have to say right and like that's one of the things I explained in the previous video I liked and I know a lot
Okay, and that was like one of my first impressions of Dallas, Texas
However, it has been explained to me a lot on that video that I posted the other week
they are the actually it's a Californian burger chain and
Texans would not be going there. Okay the Texas burger of choice
Apparently it's called Whataburger
right, and I have done a great disservice and in fact
Insulted the state of Texas by going to in and out and saying it was good before even going to whataburger. Okay?
I apologize. Like I said, we were taking there by the US Embassy and guys. Listen, I'm gonna put that right
I feel like I need to put that right because so many of you guys
Mention this to me in my previous video water burger is the Texas burger that I need to try
It's the best burger in the world
apparently
I don't know the truth of that lots you guys who might be watching from other places can let me know what you think
But Texas people definitely think whataburger is a place.
I'm going to be coming back to Texas at some point
right
hopefully sooner rather than later and my goal will be
Solely to go to whataburger first of all before you eat anything else to make this right? Okay. That's my plate
I'll be going to water burger and trying it out and then we can put to bed
the California version and I know it was pretty decent. Maybe we could speak to Wahlburgers and see if they'll fly there
They are feel like the state's pride might be at stake
Maybe I can use patreon as a way to kind of crowd fund and go out there and try this burger it needs to happen
Okay, just so just to give you guys a bit of context moving forward right our trip to Texas. We stayed in Dallas
Mainly, we also took a trip to Fort Worth
But we stayed in Dallas and I know that is one city in Dallas is a big state with lots of cool cities
and I need to experience them all but and just
three or four days like it's very hard to see a big state like that and see all of it right so I can only
Tell you what we saw on that trip, but that's the great thing about it
I will be able to come back and see more of it
So now, you know the context I was in Dallas. I was in Fort Worth
Okay
But one thing as we woke up that first morning in Dallas and went into the city center that I was really really surprised about
Shocked actually, it's just how big tall modern
glassy the city was
I
Knew from pictures and seen movies and stuff that like New York is a big modern city with massive skyscrapers, right?
And I didn't really expect to find that in, Texas
I don't know why I like I thought like obviously the stereotype of Texas is like
Farmlands and ranches and cowboys and all that but like not a big modern bustling city
Like I don't know why I wouldn't expect to say like Dallas, they'd be begging modern. Why not?
I don't know why that's not in my head. It's really stupid on me
It's just these preconceptions
We build up of a place before we go
Right, but Dallas
I was really shocked to see these big modern glassy buildings and I say Center that was just like as
Modern as anywhere else had been in the world
It was really awesome to see that and like I'm really curious now. I want to see the other cities in, Texas
Okay number four, and I've said this before in previous videos
But Texans are so friendly so warm and welcoming when I talk to you about the hospitality in a little second
Okay, because there's something specific about that, but the warmth and friendliness I found with meeting so many people in Dallas
Texas and on Fort Worth was really incredible
I did not expect this year everybody from our bus driver to the people
We met the hotel and then like just walking around the city. We just had such a great time
And actually we did not expect it
Right, we came to Dallas and we were all about apprehensive thinking the deep south of America
The people are going to be a bit more kind of reserved
but actually I found people were just so open and warm and friendly and I really really enjoyed that part of getting to
know
Texas and I've talked about the state pride of Texas before that people feel really proud and passionate about being from there and I
Really really just have to emphasize that that is how I felt being there
people were really proud of Texas and I think one of the interesting things for me in particular on that trip is almost
Everybody else on the trip with me were mostly from England
Okay
But there were too few of us from Scotland and have to see as a Scottish person in
Texas walking around and telling people where I was from and what was doing there
I think people were
Particularly warm and welcoming and I do think a part of that definitely is the fact that once you knew it was Scottish I kind
of felt like
Deeply connected with people instantly because a lot of people that I met in Texas were like actually I am from Scottish ancestry my great-great
ancestry, great-grandfather
emigrated from
Scotland like hundreds of years ago and that's how our family set up a lot of people told me that I was really surprised with
Just how many people from Texas had that same history and I definitely felt connecting people instantly
Because of that alone and I just find that fascinating this is something I really want to explore in my channel this Scottish
Cultural connection I have with people from America stems from things like that
I need to talk specifically about hospitality because one of the activities that we did there
re-inspired at Embassy is to have a kind of
cultural exchange night where we went into
somebody's house a member of the public's house and had dinner of the family in that house and just got to know more about
People who live there and how they live and what they did and stuff
So basically their family it came to our hotel and picked us up
And took us to the house and we'd spend the whole afternoon
They are having dinner and I got to tell you guys that was one of the best nights I've had in years
And just to learn and speak to people who are actually from there who know what they're talking about because it's their lives they live
This every single day was a great fascinating experience and something I'll never forget
I think that's the way we change the world is like actually sitting down with people and having mutual respect and just getting to know
And listen how other people live I'd obviously love to know your thoughts and all of this down in the comments below in YouTube
But also if you want to send me a message a direct message
You can do that on Twitter where I'm very active. I love Twitter and also Instagram as well
you can find the links to that up above and let's get the discussion going as I said down in the comments below or just
Get in touch with me on any of these platforms
we could talk all night about this type of stuff but moving on to number six because in Fort Worth actually in
Texas one night
We went to the rodeo as I said and where I bought my this hat that night before we saw the rodeo
We went for a barbecue that guys like we have barbecue scene, obviously
We're either have them in our houses in summertime
Or you can even go to some barbecue places right this barbecue that I went to in, Fort Worth, Texas
I had never experienced something like that in my whole entire life
It was mind-blowing
like not only was the meat just so big right the cuts were enormous and
also
So varied and stuff that I had never eaten before it was just so amazingly tasty the most amazing barbecue experience
I've had in my life. It was incredible and I'll never forget that the place where I picked up
This hat was the Fort Worth rodeo
I'm not sure. That's the official title of the thing, right?
But we went to this rodeo and got to experience a whole night. Anything is like what I was so fascinating about
That was really ok
The show was cool and all that but really seeing all the people that around it like it was real culture
Okay, so I did imagine when I went to Texas for the first time there
It would all be a boat kind of cowboy culture
A lot of people wear hats like this, but to be honest until that point. I hadn't really seen much of it
It's not as if you just see Cowboys walking around the streets of Dallas, right?
But at this rodeo like all the people there were so deeply into that culture, you know
Ranching and farming and stuff and then after the rodeo itself
They had this kind of many music festival where they were playing bluegrass and stuff
It was amazing to see that culture actually come into life with real people there
They were all
fascinated as to know what the Scottish guy was doing at the rodeo but having those conversations with people on the street was just so
Much fun exciting and I just really loved that night. Okay number eight and this is a bit serious and deep
Okay. So one of the things that we did in Dallas we were had to meet the local police department
I already told you that's where we got this hot key the Dallas Police Department
The invite does enter their headquarters and we just had a massive discussion with them
And sometimes we were asking them really Frank and open questions because listen the Dallas Police Department
They have been through tragedy in the past
They've also been the cause of some tragedy as well and we had those deep discussions with the Dallas Police Department
About all things that being on over the years and like they've had to deal with so many things in Dallas as a police department
You know everything from that absolutely bizarre crazy cult
dealing with like some incidents where police were actually
targeted and also incidents where the police were definitely in the wrong with some of the things he did the open conversation we had with
it seems like through all these incidents one of the impressions
I definitely got from the Dallas Police Department was they are trying to learn from things that have happened in the past and I actually
Seem to be making a lot of progress on that front and even just by crime statistics in Dallas
Which I've dropped to the lowest level for a long time
Obviously you guys who actually live there will know one way or the other how the police have been doing
But I can only make a judgement based on what those guys told us and then matching out with conversations we had with locals
Okay, so number 9 on the list and this is something that really kind of shocked me about our experience
Especially in Dallas one of the things we went to do was to meet an interfaith community group
Okay, and those people had leaders from all the different waves, you know?
And I think one thing I really learned about that expedience is just how diverse
Texas is and I realize that before going there but Texas as people from every corner of the world live in there
So it's interesting to see that my last point number 10 and this is something I think is quite important
I think this really stems from kind of unrealistic cliches that people from around the world have about places like, Texas
Okay, and accidentally probably fell into that group Dallas Texas was so modern but wider than that what I saw from
Texas and real surprised by was just how forward-thinking and fast-moving the places
I really don't think people appreciate this
certainly
Not me
and even just simple things like the fact that the headquarters of American Airlines are there and like when you see her in the world
American Airlines you associate with the country as a whole but obviously
It's headquartered and Dallas when you look further afield like Austin
They have the south by Southwest best of all they are which is so modern and forward-thinking in terms of technology
and it's actually put in other states and other countries around the world to shame about just how
Fast-paced and forward moving that they are done there and also met some other awesome
Entrepreneurs who are doing amazing things in different sectors and I just think the diversity of the economy overall was like a really unique
experience and it didn't expect it basically and what can I say in general like Texas just left this huge impression on me on my
Heart stamped on me forever. That makes me just want to come back as soon as possible really enjoyed
it really loved it between the culture between
the warmth of the people the food and the diversity and as I say just a fast moving everything seemed to be great place and
I can't wait to come back
I don't know when that's gonna be whenever y'all invite me, I guess but guys listen. I just want to say a special
Thanks to all the people listed down below who are supporters of mine on patreon
Whose help allows this production to continue forward that is the end of this video
Thank you so much for watching until the end. You are a legend
It is great to speak to you as always and until the next adventure
I hope you have a good night morning evening afternoon or whatever time it is wherever you are in the world. Take care