Nicola Sturgeon: My American Diary

0600 - GMT An early start to take the Glasgow to Newark flight and then on to New York.

1400 (Eastern standard) The New York skyline never fails to impress, but the absence of the Twin Towers still stands out. I take the opportunity with some of the team to pay our private respects at the September 11 memorial. The memorial and museum are very well done and bring home the scale of physical devastation to the city and the emotional loss to families. We take some time to look at the stories of the Scots who were lost and whose families have donated pictures and items to remember them by.

A quick briefing dinner on Sunday night at the Highlands Restaurant in Soho. Great to see Gerald Burns paintings on the wall and Timorous Beasties wall paper. The team break the news that after 24 hours without sleep, they'll be picking me up at 4.45 - AM.

Monday 8th July, New York City

0500: After 3 hours sleep it's time to tell America that Scotland is open for business. Bloomberg Surveillance - a business breakfast programme - is interested in new figures showing Scotland is the most popular place for inward investment in the UK outside London and that US investment is at a record high after our global profile in 2014. As a show that's broadcast around the world, it's a great opportunity to promote Scotland.

0800: Scotland's diaspora is a key part of our success in attracting investment, but they also offer strong social and cultural links. The St Andrew's Society of New York play a key role, encouraging business into Scotland and raising funds for both Yorkhill hospital in Glasgow and the Presbyterian Hospital in New York that I'm visiting later. Over breakfast in the University Club I was privileged to be given honorary membership. I was also shown around the Club's stunning library. For a book lover like me to be lost in there for a day would be heaven.

0930 Carmen Fariña is an amazing woman. She is head of the largest school district in the US and passionate about raising attainment. We go to the Daniel Hale Williams elementary school in Brooklyn so I can see how they are improving education.

The school is one of warmest and friendliest I've ever been to. After a visit to the pre-kindergarten, they take me to a science classroom where 7 year olds in white coats are doing experiments on lactose. The class is buzzing, the children are focused and it looks like great fun. The Principal talks me through their work with parents and how they use science to expand the children's language. There is real evidence of a community-wide commitment to the best possible education. On the way out, I meet the school cheerleading squad who put on an impressive tumbling display in the corridors.

1200 The main purpose of this visit is to show that Scotland is open for business and today I am able to announce 212 new jobs and the protection of 147 existing jobs in Livingston by US manufacturing firm Jabil. After meeting them in New York, I go on to talk to Spire, a satellite technology company expanding into Glasgow - and creating more than 50 high quality jobs in the process.

1500 New York Presbyterian Hospital - A visit to their pediatrics department and a simulation suite funded by the St Andrew's Society of New York. There are links between this New York hospital and York hill, with researchers and doctors beginning exchange programmes to share skills and learning. As a special welcome gesture, the doctors have dressed the mannequins in the simulation suite in kilts.

1700: I have been dreading this moment for days. It seemed like a good idea when I agreed to do it weeks ago - after all, one of the best watched shows in the U.S. is a great platform to promote Scotland - but the closer it gets, the less sure I am. By the time Jon Stewart - one of the sharpest, funniest and nicest guys I've met - pops back stage to say hi I've convinced myself I will be awful. I consider trying to get one of my staffers to take my place but my team seem strangely more interested in the mountains of food in our green room than in my nerves. I walk out on stage thinking that one wrong step and the trip might be about to come to a crashing end. But, thankfully, it seems to go OK. I have survived.

1930: Straight back to business. Glasgow Caledonian University run courses on Business and Society at their campus in Soho so there's nowhere better to set out Scotland's approach to combining competitiveness with tackling inequality. The speech goes well and is followed by a discussion with the BBC North America editor Jon Sopel. Jon starts by telling the audience he once spent the night with me in Glasgow - only to disappoint them by revealing that we were sitting in a TV studio waiting for a by-election result.

2300: I go to bed before the Daily Show airs. I still think it's gone OK - but I'm not sure enough to brave watching it.

Tuesday July 9, New York City

0530: I'm told this is a lie in. I bang the drum for Scotland on Morning Joe, the most watched morning programme on America's east coast.

0800: Back to Glasgow Caley New York campus to discuss what Scotland has to offer with an audience of potential investors. Scottish Enterprise have teamed up with Ernst and Young to get key businesses in the room and brought in one of our existing investors to testify to our talent and the opportunity Scotland provides.

1030 I get a read out from this week's cabinet meeting on the way to a sit down with the Wall St Journal editorial board.

1200 At a great Scots Italian restaurant "Incognito" which makes its own haggis, I meet 12 senior female executives in finance, human resources, advertising, media and energy. They share my passion for better gender diversity in the workplace and we discuss ideas about what business and government can do to get more women into senior positions. Then it's on to more business meetings.

1630 If you didn't know that we grow tea in Perthshire you soon will, and it's some of the world's best. The Wee Tea Company is a small business beginning to export. Their tea will be served at New York's famous Lowell Hotel. And who better to join us for tea than Perthshire's other great export to NYC, the wonderful Alan Cumming. Fresh from presenting the Tony's on Sunday, Alan came along to play his part in promoting Scotland.

1930 Next stop is the New York Library for the Performing Arts where I host a reception to raise funds for the restoration of Glasgow School of Art after last year's fire. The Scots American community is out in force. The New York Library for Performing Arts are coming to this year's Edinburgh Festival and they give me a sneak peak at their wonderful collection of Frank Sinatra memorabilia.

2100 The schedule is so tight that we have to take the late train from NYC to DC. We grab a space in the carriage and my press officer hands out the sandwiches. Sleep is a rare commodity on this trip, so I try to get some shut eye on the train.

0100 Arrive at the UK Ambassador's residence

Wednesday 10th June - Washington D.C

0700: Breakfast with the UK's Ambassador to talk UK-US relations, Scotland's interests and the latest developments in the U.S. election campaign.

0830 Before heading to the State Department, I meet Deputy Secretary for Education, John King and learn about federal programmes to improve attainment. I am ridiculously excited to see that he has a draft of Abraham Lincoln's emancipation proclamation on the wall of his office - in Lincoln's own hand writing. I'm a big Lincoln enthusiast, so it's a real privilege to see it.

0900: Secretary of State John Kerry is out of action with a broken leg, so I pass on my best wishes for his recovery to Deputy Secretary Blinken. After Obama's comments on the EU referendum it's clear the U.S. is concerned. I've make clear that the Scottish Government supports remaining in the EU.

1000: Takoma Park School: Maryland

A Scots policy catching US eyes is free school meals and school nutritional standards. At Takoma Park I see the efforts they are making to improve nutrition. I'm quite surprised to find myself taking selfies in a school canteen in America. Glenn Campbell from the BBC and Dave Cowan from STV are also at the school and the students love the cameras. I team up with Ray - Glenn's camera man and we audition some of the students for Glenn's job.

1200: On the way back into Washington I have a good chat with John Swinney and we discuss what's been happening back home and his prep for FMQs the next day. I've chosen to keep my watch on UK time during the trip to help juggle the time zones each day so that I can keep in touch with what's happening in Scotland. No time for lunch today so my private secretary is keeping me going with what appears to be a never-ending supply of cereal bars from her handbag.

12.30 World Bank

Back into DC and I meet up with Chief Exec of Scottish Enterprise Lena Wilson and my Chief Economist Gary Gillespie to present Scotland's work on tackling inequality and growing the economy to the World Bank. Our ideas are well received and I notice quite a lot of Scots accents in the audience.

1500: Holocaust memorial museum

The Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments Scotland are responsible for looking after the National Collection of Aerial photography, which is the second largest in the world. Part of their collection is a series of photographs taken from above the concentration camps near the end of WWII. It was an honour to be able to share those images with the Holocaust memorial museum where they will now be on display.

The museum is a profoundly moving place. We must never forget what happened and we must always work to educate people about the holocaust. The building is full of school pupils which is heartening. A number of survivors attend the ceremony handing over the images. Their stories are heart-rending.

1700: International Monetary Fund

Christine Lagarde has blazed a trail for women in politics and finance and the focus she has put at the IMF on gender diversity and the importance of productivity and inequality chime with the Scottish Government's programme. She commends the mostly female team I take in with me. We have a good discussion around some of our policies and the idea that our economic strategy could be an international example. We commit to keep the IMF up to speed with our progress.

1830 Reception

The Ambassador's residence is a beautiful building and tonight Scotland takes over with a reception bringing together key contacts from within the US administration, Scots Americans, leading investors and others with an interest in Scotland.

After the reception we go back to our Scottish Government Office, so that I can thank the team for all their hard work. It's a small team but they have done a great job on this visit.

Thursday June 11 - Washington D.C

0830: My final speech is to the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations. There has been a huge interest in the US in where UK politics is going, what the elections result mean and the future of the UK's relationship with the EU. I provide some context and background through my speech and the Q & A session with PBS NewsHour anchor Judy Woodruff. I also assure a member of the audience whose family was banished from Scotland in the 1600s that I would personally welcome him back.

1000: Capitol building. Senator Claire McAskill is a formidable woman. She is co-chair of the Friends of Scotland caucus and a great advocate for Scotland and for women in politics. She arranges for me to meet with a number of women senators to discuss their progress. There are only 20 female senators and I enjoy talking to them. I also meet Tammy Baldwin, the only openly gay senator and discuss how we can make politics better for LGBT people. I meet the caucus in the Vice President's Office in the Capitol building and hope to welcome them to Scotland soon.

1300 Time to head to the airport. Was the trip successful? Definitely. The interest in Scotland's industries, in investing and trading with Scotland and in our top quality produce has never been higher. I'll take any opportunity to bang the drum for Scotland and I won't hide from doing so. It's a key part of the job of First Minister.

1700: Dulles Airport. At the embassy I had the privilege of meeting former U.S. Service men who were setting off for a charity yomp this week in the West Highlands. A few of these wounded warriors are on my flight and the other passengers applaud them for their service. Once they have completed their yomp they will be welcomed to Edinburgh Castle and I'm looking forward to seeing them again when they've finished. I just hope I've had some sleep by then.