Shipping orchids from UK to US? Or searching for Scottish orchid enthusiasts.

[PrognatusAfera]

Hey all.

Sorry for the weird title--not sure what I could have posted to be more precise.

Basically, I've moved to Edinburgh (Scotland!) for five years for vet school, and I've had to leave all of my beloved orchids at home to be taken care of by my mother.

I've been here for three months (and three days), and am losing it already, not having many orchids to care for here.

I've rescued two generic Phals already who are both doing very well on my windowsill, but I'm craving species. That brings me to a dilemma.

I am a very sentimental person, so the thought of sending good orchids to their deaths (by giving them away to non-enthusiasts or whatever) after I finish my degree and leave here is enough to keep me from buying any right now.

So do I have any options here? Is there any way AT ALL that I could ship the orchids I grow here to home in the US when I'm done here? (I know CITEs and such throw plenty of complications in there, but is there maybe a way I can pay someone to get the process done right?)

Or, alternatively, are there any serious orchid people around here? I've found the site for the Scottish Orchid Society, but it's not particularly informative, and exams this month will keep me from being able to try out the meeting (which I probably shouldn't be going to as a newcomer anyway, as it's slated to be the Christmas party). I've been hoping that maybe there is a good enough orchid community here where I could manage to either sell or donate my species to caring, responsible owners when I leave.

Any advice, suggestions, thoughts, random musings? Hope I'm not being a pain; I'm just craving orchid exposure.