Matt
Don't panic! English follows the Gaelic!
'S e Matt an t-ainm a th' orm. Rugadh agus thogadh mi ann an Humboldt County, California a Tuath. Thòisich m' ùidh anns a' Ghàidhlig a' tighinn o rannsachadh a rinn mi ann an teaghlach m' athar. Cha d' fhuair mi cothrom coinneachadh ri m' athair agus cha d' fhuair mi cothrom an sinnsearachd aige a rannsachadh. A rèir coltais, thàinig an teaghlach aige gu Ameireagaidh air sgàth 's gun robh iad nan Seumasaich. Tha mi air a bhith a' sgrùdadh eachdraidh Albannach mar chur-seachad son deich bliadhna a-nis agus bha mi air bhioran son ionnsachadh gun robh sinnsearachd mo phàrantan Albannach, on Ghàidhealtachd agus a' Ghalltachd. Tro leughadh mu eachdraidh is dualchas na h-Alba, fhuair mi fòcas agus bha e na cofhurtachd dhomh tro amannan riaslach nam bheatha. Tha mi an dòchas gum bi mi nas fhaisge air mo dhualchas tro a bhith ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig. Nì mi tomhas agus canaidh mi gur e an rud as fheàrr a bhith a' cumail fòcas agus ga cleachdadh cho tric 's as urrainn dhuibh. Aig an ìre seo, bidh mi dìreach ga cleachdadh nuair a tha mi a' toirt ainmean mì-fhreagarrach air daoine aig m'obair agus a' seinn òrain traidiseanta. 'S e 'Na tarraing mi gun adhbhar, 's na pill mi gun chliù' an abairt as fheàrr leam, bha seo sgrìobhte air claidheamh a chaidh a lorg anns a' Ghàidhealtachd.
Is e seo dealbh dhìom aig an tràigh as fheàrr leam ann an Trinidad ann an California, còig mìle deug air falbh on dachaigh agam.
My name is Matt . I was born and raised in Humboldt County, Northern California. My fascination with Scottish Gaelic comes from my genealogical research of my Father's side. I never had a chance to meet my Father and it wasn't until recently that I was able to pinpoint my paternal lineage. It appears that my Father's family wound up in America for being Jacobites. I've studied Scottish history as a hobby for about ten years and was excited to find that both of my parents are predominantly Scottish descent, both Lowland and Highland. Reading about the history and culture of Scotland kept me focused and gave me comfort through some rough times in my life. My hope is that learning Scottish Gaelic will bring me closer to my heritage and give me a better understanding of Highland culture. I guess the best advice is to stay focused and use it whenever you can in daily life. My current use of Scottish Gaelic is calling people at work inappropriate names and singing traditional songs. My favorite phrase came from a book I own 'Na tarraing mi gun adhbhar, 's na pill mi gun chliu' (either draw me without cause, nor return me without honour). This was engraved on a sheath of a sword found in the Highlands.
The picture I included is of me at my favorite beach in Trinidad, California about fifteen miles north of my home.
