What do Americans living in Ireland really find different about the Irish

I have been here a year, and it feels like so much is different. Forget about ever feeling Warm again. I wear my winter clothes in Summer. The heat does not come on at night regardless of the time of the year. Forget about hot water when you want it unless you turn the heat on. Forget about dryers for your clothing , you will be hanging the wash. Forget about a fan in the bathroom to vent out the moist, forget about outlets in the bathroom to dry your hair or listen to the radio in the shower. Count on going to the shop 2 or 3 times a week as the fridge here are 'college' size. Forget about finding even the most basic common items that you could find ANYWHERE back home. I think living here is a physical misery. ... and that is the day to day. I love my husband very much, and the moment he says he wants to go to America, I am ready to move.

Woodman: Many Africans received their education and other benefits from Irish missionaries and probably are of the opinion that the people of Ireland will warmly welcome them, as immigrants, which is very largely true. In many cases, Irish people prefer to help Africans and other Third immigrants to helping their own needy natives, tens of thousands of whom must emigrate to find suitable employment.

Ireland ... Great place to visit but sure as heck wouldn't want to actually LIVE there!

It is good to know that the Irish do not like to be touched, I am an American of Irish descent, and I never liked to be touched, I should move to Ireland. To bad my family has been in America since 1660. No familial immigration. Dang.

Will Ham: You are largely right when you say there is no difference between Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and Labour. These 3 parties help prop up Partition. Howeven, the voter now has a choice in about half the constituencies in that state, where there is a Sinn Féin candidate. That is the only party on either side of the artificial border that still supports Reunfication and full sovereignty for the whole Irish nation, also the preservation of what is left of the native culture, including teanga na nGael.

Amongst the list above the winner is, it's also a trueism is the advice from Grania17 on Irish wit, "American sarcasm is different than sarcasm in Ireland. In Ireland if someone likes and accepts you, you will get picked on a lot. Don't worry it's a good thing." -she means leg pulled, or teased in a jocular way a subject the Irish are the worlds most renowned experts on.

What do the Africans think about Ireland since they are are the newcomers now.

The no touching thing is so true. If I ever got a hug that lasted more tha a sec., I would have thought I was dieing & everyone kneew but me. If anyone ever said I Liove you, you weree in a Coffin or the ground! My kids are the same way, of course. 1st Gen Irish American.

In Ireland is doesn't matter who you vote for. An Irish election is like a potato picking contest; no matter what you do you end up with a bunch of spuds running the country. FF, FG and Laboour are just different varieties of the same vegetable. Ireland is a country that has demonstrated since Independence that it's can't run itself. We should vote to be invaded.

No will hamilon , this time we are blaming all those morons who voted for fine gael ... who did you vote for ?

Seanmor - I agree. Americans do not realize that we are the last to get new developments, not the first as we like to believe. :)

Americans who have moved to Ireland: would they be people on the run or full of delusional Plastic Paddy blarney or just plain mad? The people who live here are leaving in droves and the English or the Famine can't be blamed this time..

StevenStar is correct: It's very hard for Americans to get long term residency in ireland --assuming they would want to. In contrast, Latvians, Bulgarians, Burundis, Paks and Indians settle the country at will.

MMM BUT WE DONT HAVE MANY AMERICANS LIVING OVER HERE... AMERICANS NEED A VISA TO COME AND LIVE IN IRELAND AND ITS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO GET ONE.. INCLUDING THE 20MILLION AMERICANS WHO CLAIM TO BE IRISH :-) ... YOU ALL CAN ONLY COME ON A 90DAY HOLIDAY VISA AND THEN YOU HAVE TO LEAVE AGAIN ........SORRY... NEW EU IMMIGRATION LAWS ......!!!!! :-)

1st descent American who spent 2 1/2 years in Ireland ten years ago. The Angelus on RTE is a observation from another era. I suppose it's like early American television that ended broadcasting with the National Anthem. The amount of unadulterated milk that is consumed by university students. Oh, don't shake hands with an Irishman if he just visited the men's room (Fir).