A US resident appealed to Americans living in Ireland to offer some advice on the differences between the two countries. The Reddit Ireland user asked, "Can any expats talk about their experience relocating & what differences they first noticed?"
The responses were amusing, from ordering drinks to sarcasm and eating habits.
Straighfaced from New York wrote, "I'm here from New York. The biggest difference was in the conversational elements... I mean, being from New York everyone was always direct, said what they meant. If someone refused to just say what was on their mind it was a very frustrating thing. But here that's the norm, you're expected to just figure out what everyone means based on small social cues that everyone else here learns from birth."
Grania17 from Montana said: "Certain cultural things - ie Italia '90, The Den, Rodge and Podge, Zig and Zag, and Dustin the Turkey. To understand Italia '90 watch Reeling in the Years for that year. I didn't fully understand it until the old men started crying cause they were so happy and proud. It's a touching moment. Makes me tear up every time I see it."
Grania17 from Montana also said: "In America we separate our plates. Meat in one corner, potatoes in another and veg in another. In Ireland you just mix all that sh** up on the plate. Took me ages to start eating like that. Also you don't switch hands for utensils. Knife in right hand, fork in left...We always only had our knife when we were cutting, using the fork in our left hand to hold the meat in place that we were cutting. Once we finished cutting we would put the knife down and switch our fork to our right hand etc. Many Irish people have asked me why Americans do this."
RMC offered an explanation about some Irish habits: "Irish people sometimes play tricks on Americans, telling them nonsense stories about how leprechauns are real or something. Not using the same hands knife/fork seems like a completely insane mad thing that couldn't possibly be true to me…"
Another piece of advice from Grania17 on Irish wit, "Slagging. Still trying to get that. American sarcasm is different than sarcasm in Ireland. If someone likes and accepts you, you will get picked on a lot. Don't worry it's a good thing."
Langlie says: "The cars have the right of way, not the pedestrian. Not sure if this is an official thing or not, but god help you if you're in the crosswalk the second the light turns green. Even the double decker buses don't bother to break when they're taking a curve. It's terrifying."
Langlie also offered some explanations for Irish slang: "Digestives" are cookies (biscuits in Ireland) that go with tea. They are delicious. Fag = cigarette (I nearly had a heart attack the first time someone said "got a fag for me?") The whole "school," "high school," "college," thing is so confusing, I can't even translate. I've just taken to saying "I'm at University" and leaving it at that.”
Ejmcg advises "...sayings not to be taken literally: "I'll kill ya!" or "I'll pull your head off!", that just means someone's a little annoyed but views what you've done with a light sense of humour, unless you owe money to a drug dealer, then be afraid."
Eire1228 says: "Irish people don't like to be touched. Most Americans are very touchy feely. Puts Irish people right off. Unless there's drink involved. Then all body parts are up for grabs."
Do you agree with these users comments about living in Ireland?
Read the full Reddit Ireland conversation here.
16 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Joey Rooklyn | May 18, 2013, 04:05 AM EDT
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.
Seanmor | May 03, 2013, 11:30 AM EDT
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.
ArmaghCity | Apr 28, 2013, 01:03 PM EDT
Ireland ... Great place to visit but sure as heck wouldn't want to actually LIVE there!
Cahtie483 | Apr 14, 2013, 04:54 PM EDT
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.
Seanmor | Apr 12, 2013, 09:35 PM EDT
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.
RobinForester | Feb 10, 2013, 05:46 AM EST
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.
Woodman | Feb 10, 2013, 12:53 AM EST
What do the Africans think about Ireland since they are are the newcomers now.
Madeliene | Jan 24, 2013, 01:52 PM EST
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.
Will Hamilton | Jan 18, 2013, 11:35 AM EST
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.
Thomas84 | Jan 08, 2013, 04:04 PM EST
No will hamilon , this time we are blaming all those morons who voted for fine gael ... who did you vote for ?
Mairin67 | Jan 05, 2013, 04:43 PM EST
Seanmor - I agree. Americans do not realize that we are the last to get new developments, not the first as we like to believe. :)
Will Hamilton | Jan 02, 2013, 03:18 PM EST
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..
WoundedKnee | Jan 02, 2013, 09:44 AM EST
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.
STEVENSTAR | Dec 30, 2012, 11:32 AM EST
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 ......!!!!! :-)
ballyhip | Nov 07, 2012, 10:46 AM EST
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).
Seanmor | Nov 05, 2012, 10:02 AM EST
While reading the above article I recalled 2 incidents of differences between Ireland and the U.S. in the late '60s and early '70s. An N.Y.C. resident returned from a short vacation to Tipperary and told of how "quaint, simple, amuzing" the Irish were in one of their responses at the mass. "I can hardly believe this", she said, "but when the priest says,'The Lord be with thee', this is their response; 'And also with thee'". Within a year or so, the "And also with you" response became standard in the U.S. There was other Yank tourist who found Cork City road signs "very strange". Instead of a "DO NOT ENTER", there was only a circle with a diagonal line across it. "How very stupid this is", commented this superior, know-it-all American. But he didn't know that the city on the Lee had adopted international road signs about 2 years before the Big Apple. The mentallity of many American (especially those of Irish paremnts) is such that everything in Ireland is utterly ridiculous and grossly inferior to that which is in here in the States.