As a whole, I don’t think people keep up enough with current events. You may think that the current events of the country you’re studying don’t matter, but I would beg to differ. I think that they can play a huge role in how you view a country, and how the people of that country might view you as an American.

In England, the biggest current event right now is the Scottish referendum. In just a few days, the Scots will vote on whether or not they should separate from the United Kingdom and become their own independent country, much like Ireland already is. For awhile, the vote to stay with the UK was much more popular than to secede, but in the past week, Scottish nationalists have gained a slight lead in voting to secede, jumping nearly twenty points in polls from a month ago. If, on September 18, the Scots vote to separate from the UK, this would be one of the biggest voting turnarounds in history.

There are a lot of factors that have to be considered if or when Scotland becomes independent. Many politicians say that it will be hard for Scotland to regain membership in the European Union, up to five or six years. It would be a big change for English people, because Scotland has been a part of the UK for such a long time. It will be a big change for Scotland too, because they will have to figure out their government, their military, and simply how to survive without being a part of the UK. This could even end up setting off a chain reaction, and Wales could be the next country to claim their independence.

I’ll admit, England is probably an exception, as this is not the sort of current event that happens every day. And I am by no means an expert on this subject. But I still think it is important to listen to what is going on, and understand the implications this could have for the country. Whether you realize it or not, whatever happens in your country will affect you in some way. Maybe not in as drastic a way as the end of the United Kingdom, but it is still important to pay attention. I would encourage anyone who travels abroad to read the newspapers, watch the news stations, do whatever you have to do to stay informed about your country’s current events, because they just might have an affect on you.