,,,,,,My biggest tip for anyone considering an international move of any sort is to abandon all expectations and remind yourself to be adaptable. This month Expats in Ireland interviews Megan from Tucson, Arizona, USA. Read on to hear more about her and her families life since they moved to Ireland.
2. Why did you move to Ireland? Honestly it was a case of my husband and I thinking back on our previous expat experience, and reflecting on how that adventure had enriched our lives, that led us to seek out another international move. We truly wanted our three young children to experience life as expats, as well. 3.In which country and city are you living now? We are presently living in Dublin, Ireland. We arrived in August of 2015, so our new home is still rather fresh. 4.When did you come up with the idea of living in Ireland? Initially our intent was rather broad – we simply wanted to move internationally. Location, in the end, hinged on finding a phd program that matched my husband’s intended field of study (business to business marketing). After many months of research and discussion, Smurfit Business School was the most compatible. 5.How do you make your living in Ireland? We rely on the grants and scholarships funding my husband’s doctoral studies. 6.What do you miss most about the States while living in Ireland? I’m frequently asked what we miss most about the States, and the answer varies from day to day. Family and friends obviously rank highest on the list of what we miss. Holidays, traditions, foods, familiar shopping centers are all longed for on a regular basis, as well. We are still in the initial transitional phase of our relocation, so with any luck, some of the more intense moments of homesickness will ease. 7.What do you think about the Irish? To be honest, our introduction to Ireland was a brutal one, as we encountered some massive immigration challenges (I’ve detailed the specifics on our blog, a nightmare involving primary school enrollment for my children in particular). However, the Irish in general have been very, very friendly and welcoming. My children have adapted well to their new community thanks to the kindness of strangers and that alone means the world to me. 8.What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Ireland? Again, we are still rather new here, but thus far I feel as though life here is significantly less stressful than it had been Stateside. Folks tend to be more patient and helpful, I find there to be less consumerism, and our daily schedule is less demanding. As for the negative? I’m so sorry… but this weather haha! Moving from a desert climate to the rain and chill has definitely been a shocker. I’m sure with time we will adjust, but at the moment it is challenging. 9.Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Ireland? My biggest tip for anyone considering an international move of any sort is to abandon all expectations and remind yourself to be adaptable. One must have an entirely open mind when living abroad and be ready and willing to experience and embrace your host country’s culture 10.Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Ireland? IrelandMoveClub has been extremely helpful and is an incredible resource, and SipsOfCoffey as well. Additionally, the Twitter expat community regularly reaches out to me anytime I’ve expressed a question or concern regarding our new home. The expat community in general is absolutely incredible in that regard. Expats truly look out for one another and are always willing to lend a helping hand or a sympathetic ear. 11. What would be your ideal day in Dublin? That’s a very tough question to answer! We’ve found a lot to love about Dublin so far. A day at Donabate Beach scouring the tide pools, a hike up Montpelier Hill to the Hell Fire Club, or a stroll through the Natural History Museum in the city centre… those have been a few of our favorite outings so far. And our list of things yet to do is a mile (errrr, kilometer!) long! There is no shortage of entertainment in Dublin. There is literally never a dull moment. 12.Can you recommend any places to travel to while in Ireland? I’ve not yet ventured outside of the county, but thus far I would have to recommend Bray, Balcarrick, Montpelier Hill, Trinity, Airfield, and of course the city centre. Additionally I highly recommend purchasing Secret Dublin – An Unusual Guide by Pol O'Conghaile. It has been an incredible resource for locating some of Dublin’s more tucked away treasures. 13. What tips would you give to another Expat family moving to Ireland? Research, research, research, and connect with the expat community prior to your move. We were fairly certain we’d done a thorough job of researching our move and in the end we were still ambushed with some surprise crises. If I had it to do over, I would have been much more careful to connect with families moving to Ireland under identical visa circumstances, as every visa entails different requirements. 14. What’s your favorite Irish expression? “Thanks a mill.” I find it to be a very endearing expression of gratitude. 15. Tell us about your Blog? Desert to Dublin was initially created as a means of connecting with friends and family Stateside. However, once we experienced immigration challenges upon arrival, and observing a lack of information available to non-EEA citizens who could potentially face similar circumstances, I expanded and have attempted to create a resource for other expat families, as well. Presently the blog is a fair mix of both personal updates and posts sharing tips and advice for others who have moved, or intend to move, to Ireland from a non-EEA country. I’m always happy to answer any questions I can for other families embarking on the same journey we have.
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