Dr Mark Jackson

Name: Mark Jackson
Born: USA
Lived in Scotland: 3 years

Dr Mark Jackson first came to Scotland for a hill waking holiday in 1992. "When I arrived I fell in love with the place. It’s proudly agricultural with a lot of open space so very much like home to me."

Mark, originally from Wisconsin, USA, has been the Clinical Director of the Small Animal Hospital in Glasgow for three years. Before moving to Scotland, he lived in Bristol.

"I specialise in cats and dogs and I've been here since April 2006," he says. "I loved Bristol but Glasgow seems better organised from my point of view. "I can only speak about the veterinary field but I feel Glasgow is willing to be forward-looking and progressive and that's exciting."

Working conditions

Scotland has better working conditions than America according to Mark.

"In the States it's supposedly normal to work 7am-7pm and have two weeks holiday in the year. But in Scotland you can work 70 hours a week if you want to, but you're not expected to.

It's also more relaxed, both in work and on a social level.

"What I enjoyed about Scotland when I first came is the same now. People here have not forgotten how to treat each other nicely. They have more ethical values. Family and looking after yourself is still important," he says.

Honeymoon in Scotland

Mark's wife, Hilary, is from Scotland and is a veterinary dermatologist.

They met when she was on her way home from New Zealand and stopped in America to visit friends.

"We did two-and-a-half years of trans-Atlantic dating and nine months of trans-Atlantic marriage before living together! I was living in Bristol while she was in Scotland during the first nine months of marriage," says Mark.

Mark was so fond of Scotland that he had his wedding and honeymoon here as well.

He says, "We got married in Scotland in my in-laws' garden in West Linton in Dolphinton. We've been married for 15 years now. There's no cooler place to have a wedding than Scotland! For our honeymoon we went hill walking up Glencoe.

Home comforts

As much as he enjoys Scotland, there are still some things Mark misses about America.

"You have a big outdoor playground here plus music and culture," he says. "But I miss the American pizza and snow. There are some nice Italian places in Scotland but if you want deep dish pizza you would have to go back to the States.

"When I'm in America I miss having the time to enjoy the outdoors."

Mark goes back to American once a year for two weeks in October. However, his children also love Scotland so moving back is not an option.

"We have two children, who were born in America but have become used to living here," says Mark.

"Euan is nine and Sophie is seven and they came here when they were six and four. If you asked my children how long we're staying in Scotland they'd say forever!"

Related links

• Studying Veterinary Medicine in Scotland
• Brigitte Reusch