"I love your accent"

I have always loved flying, although I am sure this is largely because of how well I can sleep on a plane. But after over eight hours of flying to get to Heathrow, being severely delayed for a reason never explained to me going through security, and fighting through people to get my bags all stowed away so that I could politely sit bag-less in my exit row, I couldn't wait for my last leg to Glasgow to take off. As usual, the moment the wheels left the ground I was able to fall into a fast sleep. I awoke later, just in time for the drink cart going through. I asked for a ginger ale and was ready to crack open my book when I heard something that I have so often said to others. "I love your accent; where are you from?" I looked up to see the flight attendant looking at me with a smile. Maybe I was just flattered that someone who to me had a beautiful accent had appreciated mine, or maybe I just was still half asleep, but for whatever reason I was completely stunned. We shared a few pleasantries about the US and Glasgow and how I should be prepared for the cold. The usual. But I was extremely distracted through it all. I have never been the one told I have an interesting accent. Even within the US, Colorado is not known for having much of an accent especially compared to the deep South or cities like Chicago. In all my travels to Australia, Spain, Mexico, Nicaragua, Denmark, and across different parts of the US I have never been complimented with that simple phrase that I so often tell the people I meet. It was the first moment that it really hit me that I would be somewhere that truly was foreign. Scotland is a modern society and the people speak my language (mostly), but it finally hit me that I had wonderful differences to look forward to for the next four months. I wasn't going to have to worry about finding clean water or trying to communicate with people who don't understand a word of English, but in my own little way I was going to be able to experience something different and learn about a different culture in a very personal way. And that thought alone formed a lasting smile.