It’s been a handful of months since I’ve left the Emerald Isle. In that time I’ve started to think about the little things that I took for granted, but now miss terribly.
Here they are:
- Going to the pub regularly is socially acceptable. Apparently it’s part of the Irish culture. Here, you’re either in College or have a problem.
- Striking up random conversations with strangers. People in Ireland were painfully nice. People outside the New York city area just aren’t.
- Fearing for my life every time I get in a car. Just like a game of Grand Theft Auto, cars can drive and park on sidewalks…
- Being able to fit all my cherished belongings in a couple of bags. Knowing you’re going to pack up your life and get on a plane forces you to live with less.
- Being fundamentally different, yet never being treated like an outsider.
- Public transportation that doesn’t suck. Take notes, Lady Liberty.
- Exploring selections of sweets & chocolates I’ve never tasted before. Cadbury… Flakes… Snack… Turkish?
- Knowing the difference between sweets & chocolates. I’ve been so used to just calling everything “candy”.
- Getting to see films in the cinema a full two weeks earlier than my American friends. I guess european countries release some movies earlier than American countries.
- My awesome tiny apartment I rented in Cork City Centre.
- Swapping the er with an re in words like Centre
- Drunk driving is significantly more unacceptable than it is in the States. People here are comfortable having one or two before getting behind the wheel. Not the case in Ireland.
- Euro notes. Different sizes and colors… So much easier to see in your wallet.
- Euro coins. They go all the way up to €2!
- Being able to buy a full lunch with three €2 coins.
- Internally debating if someone was legitimately talking about the weather, or just filling the awkward silence. I’m still not sure.
- Never hearing debates about healthcare.
- Never hearing debates about gun control.
- Frequently hearing debates about water.
- Whiskey. Oh my god…
- The word Craic. Look it up.
- Food without preservatives. Milk and bread expires in a couple days… who knew?
- Correctly saying chips and crisps. After a while it came natural.
- Kerrygold. Holy shit is that what butter is supposed to taste like?
- 55 minute flights to London, for less than €50.
- Having “American” be a strong part of my identity. Often the first thing I talked about when meeting new people.
- Being amazed that people who live 15 minutes from one another have different accents.
- Not knowing what an Immersion is and wondering why I can’t leave it on. Still don’t know.
- Never being sure if someone meant “Three” or “Tree”. “Thanks” and “Tanks” always gave me a chuckle too.
- Never needing to check the weather. Just bring your umbrella.
- Attending a University that looks like Hogwarts.
- Never getting carded. Apparently, I look “old as fuck” as one bouncer informed me.
- Never hearing rap music in any club. Except Fresh Prince of Bel Air… because that shit is tight.
- Not being sure why everybody is calling each other “Ted”.
- Figuring out why everybody is calling each other “Ted”.
- Serial watching “Father Ted” on Netflix.
- Having an entirely different Netflix library.
- Chippers. Lunch in a newspaper. ‘nuff said.
- Figuring out what Gatt and Gaff meant all by myself. Gatt means beer. Gaff means place or house. I have no idea how that started, but I’m proud that I’m down with the lingo.
- Learning that pre-drinking and drinking are actually the same thing… despite the prefix “pre”.
- Hot beverage addiction. Irish people tend to drink lots of coffee and Tea. Coming off that caffeine addiction left me with a rough headache for a week.
- Cliffs of fucking Moher. Scroll up. Can’t see shit like that in the United States.
- Living out of my comfort zone.Being homesick and not being able to do anything about it can test you. I had no idea.
- The difference between the Imperial Pint and the US Pint. That additional 95ml of glory…
- All signs written in two languages. It seems impressive to tourists, but everyone only reads the English part.
It was a fun couple years… and I already can’t wait to go back.
