,,,,,,We miss being close to our family and friends, and we often get cravings for some of our Midwest American food favorites like boxed macaroni and cheese, bratwurst with sauerkraut, and taco pizza. This month Expats in Ireland interviews Cory Hanson from Iowa. Read on to hear about all his adventures since moving to Ireland. 1. Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Iowa, USA. For six years, I worked as a public school music teacher before downsizing my life and moving to Ireland. 2. Why did you move to Ireland? I am a “trailing spouse,” a supportive husband who moved with my wife when she accepted a new job. Some people were understandably confused when I told them I would be putting my career on hold, but my friends and family knew that I was flexible, adaptive, and capable of being happy just about anywhere. 3. In which country and city are you living now? We are proud “Honorary Dubs,” living in the south Dublin suburbs. 4. How do you make your living in Ireland? Thankfully, I don’t depend upon my blogging income to survive. My wife works full-time and I can focus on enjoying my career sabbatical and writing. 5.What do you miss most about the States while living in Ireland? We miss being close to our family and friends, and we often get cravings for some of our Midwest American food favorites like boxed macaroni and cheese, bratwurst with sauerkraut, and taco pizza. 6.What do you think about the Irish? The people of Ireland have been very welcoming to us—if sometimes a bit confused about my trailing husband status. We have made many great friends who we will miss when our time in Ireland is up. 7.What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Ireland? In Dublin, we have convenient access to the rest of Ireland by public transport and to Europe via Dublin Airport. We have taken advantage of these travel opportunities as often as possible during our stay, visiting the far corners of Ireland and the countries on the Continent that we’ve always wanted to see. 8. Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Ireland? Prepare, prepare, prepare. I don’t recommend coming to Ireland with nothing but a few euros in your pocket and a dream in your heart. The days of this romantic notion are over; an international move and career change requires a great deal of paperwork, approvals, and pre-planning. 9.Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Ireland? Learn Irish slang by visiting the Ireland thread on www.reddit.com/r/Ireland and reading the cheeky responses to the news posts and photos posted there. Say hello to my longtime expat blog friends Rachel in Ireland and Nearly Irish. If you are coming to Dublin, check out the Dublin Event Guide and Subscribe Dublin for a curated schedule of things to do. 10.What would be your ideal day in Dublin? For the outdoorsy among us, I would recommend spending the day hiking around the Howth Peninsula. Barring that, a short boat ride to Dalkey Island to kick around ancient church ruins and watch the seals. The National Museum: Archaeology is a must-visit in the city centre, and I try to push everyone to explore Kilmainham Gaol for a really well-presented lesson in modern Irish history. 11.Can you recommend any places to travel to while in Ireland? Go to the West of Ireland and explore the coasts, cliffs, and peninsulas. It almost doesn’t matter which you choose. The Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland is also a good pick, and if you need to stay near Dublin, consider a day trip to Newgrange, Trim Castle, or Glendalough. 12.What tips would you give to another Expat family moving to Ireland? Again: Prepare, prepare, prepare. Don’t be afraid to get in touch with other American expats on blogs or forums to make sure you understand what you’ll be getting into. 13.What’s your favorite Irish expression? “A long stretch of an evening.” This refers to the long days of the Irish mid-summer, when sunset seems to take forever, and twilight keeps the horizon glowing until after 11 p.m. 14.Tell us about your Blog? My old blogger page was originally just an easy way to keep our friends and family updated on our Irish moving experience. As I gained experience, it became a daily homework assignment to keep me busy in unemployment. After I wrote and published The Frugal Guide: Dublin, I moved my travel writing content over to www.fivesuitcases.com for a more professionally-presented experience. Now, I write and publish articles about my Irish and international travel experiences, reviews of local attractions, and the occasional personal blog post.
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,,,,,,,Dublin is a multi-ethnic city and sometimes it seems to travel the world in a few steps. As a lot of people come to Ireland from different countries, here you have the opportunity to discover tons of cultures. This month Expats in Ireland interviews Aurora from Rome, Italy. Read on to about all the "Craic" (Fun) she has had since moving to Ireland! 1. Where are you from?
I am Italian, originally from Rome. I used to live in the countryside, not too far from the city. 2. Why did you move to Ireland? The main reason was to improve my English. I wanted to travel the world and spend some time in Africa working as volunteer in a children’s school. 3. In which country and city are you living now? I live in the beautiful Emerald Ireland, in the city of Dublin. 4. When did you come up with the idea of living in Ireland? In 2007 I completed my Bachelor Degree in Marketing and Communication and I decided to move abroad. I started to work, saving money and thinking about the destination. I decided to go to Dublin although I hadn’t seen it before. I followed my heart and here I am, after 7 long years. 5. How do you make your living in Ireland? Currently I work at the rugby’s Stadium as barista and hostess. I also write for an Italian online magazine about Beauty and Lifestyle. 6. What do you miss most about Italy while living in Ireland? What I miss the most of my country are the proper seasons through the year: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. In Ireland you might get them all in only one day! 7. What do you think about the Irish? Irish people are really friendly. They are passionate about food and good coffee, just like the Italians! They have a big heart and are very generous people. They drink too many pints for me but it seems they are able to handle it very well. Irish people haven’t disappointed me so far, I must say it! 8. What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Ireland? Dublin is a multi-ethnic city and sometimes it seems to travel the world in a few steps. As a lot of people come to Ireland from different countries, here you have the opportunity to discover a tons of cultures. This is definitely the thing that I love the most about living in Ireland. The only negative aspect of being here is that eventually one day you will end up to miss the sunshine. But remember that on the bright side you never sweat in Summer time! 9. Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Ireland? Yes I do. Whenever you get a chance to rent a car, I suggest you to plan a trip around Ireland and discover the beautiful landscapes of the green moors. Remember, Dublin is not Ireland and you really must see what’s outside the Irish capital if you want to get a real sense of this island. 10. Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Ireland? I do enjoy reading the blog’s section of the website myDiscover Ireland You can get any sort of tips on your next trip in Ireland. Also you can plan your route simply by inserting the name of the starting and ending destination. Try it on! 11. What would be your ideal day in Dublin? My ideal day in Dublin would be on Saturday morning. The street food market in Temple Bar has many organic and handmade products and I love doing my grocery shopping here. When I finish my shopping I go for a pint of Guinness and a portion of very tasty oysters at the Temple Bar pub. My day would continue then on to the Gran Social pub for a short tour at the vintage market. I would end my day having pizza and a glass of wine at the Italian quarter which is only 2 minutes walking from Temple Bar. 12. Can you recommend any places to travel to while in Ireland? I highly recommend to visit the Ring of Kerry and Donegal. I have travelled quite a lot in Ireland but I must say those are the best places I have seen so far. It’s really worth a visit! 13. What tips would you give to another Expat family moving to Ireland? According to me Ireland is one of the most family-friendly countries in the world. In Dublin there are many family’s events throughout the year I would suggest to a family who wants to move to Dublin, to look for a place in the countryside where the houses are big and well-priced. Irish people are really friendly especially when you got a kid, so if your neighbor smiles at you, smile him back! 14. What’s your favorite Irish expression? ‘’Its good craic’’ is certainly my favorite one! Craic means ‘’fun’’, so instead of saying ‘’It’s really fun’’ Irish people use that expression…. I just love it! 15. Tell us about your Blog? My blog shares my individual stories as an Italian single mom living in the city of Dublin. At the moment it has a shape of a personal journal, but I am planning to add some new tabs which are related to different aspects of my life in Ireland. I don’t want to say more so I will let you to find it out! ,,,,,,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. ,,,,The Irish are good people who are very fun and very welcoming. This month Expats in Ireland interviews Sandrine from Paris. Read on to hear more about her life in Ireland when she lived in Dublin in 2007. 1. Why did you move to Ireland? To learn English and to experience a different culture 2. Where were you born? Paris, France 3. In which country and city are you living now? Paris 4. When did you come up with the idea of living in Ireland? A friend of mine told me that Dublin is a very nice city and the Irish people are very welcoming and good people. 5. How did you make your living in Ireland? I was working in a Irish pub and in a Japanese restaurant. 6. What did you miss most about France while living in Ireland? My friends and family / The weather / croissants / baguette and charcuterie 7. What do you think about the Irish? The the Irish are good people who are very fun and very welcoming. It can be difficult sometimes to be embraced in a group, like everywhere. It takes time but then they are good friends. 8. What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Ireland? Positive: life is less stressful than Paris. The nature, the parks. Night life is good, the pubs, the restaurants and there is always good gigs, also the taxes ;-) Negative : the weather...sorry. I met some people who were not true and manipulative but they are everywhere in the world. 9. Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Ireland? If you go there to work, get a PPS number as soon as possible. Then, there is so many things to do! Indoors, outdoors. Go out, meet people. Don't be scared. Stay who you are even if you are different. Embrace the Irish culture and show them yours and your personality. 10. Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Ireland? visitdublin.com - Information on things to do and where to go in Dublin daft.ie --> to find a flat to rent celtichalls.com --> rooms to rent and pay per week 11. What would be your ideal day in Dublin? Breakfast at Wuff. Go to Grafton Street and Stephen Green. Take the DART to go to Howth. There is a market during the weekend which is really great. Have a seafood chowder and French fries at The Oar House for lunch (or there is an Italian place to have fresh home made sandwiches). Walk on the cliffs and the pier. Then, take the DART back to the city centre, and enjoy the night life! Dinner at Bunsen (burgers), Crack Bird (chicken), Bear (steaks), Yamamori (Japanese), La Maison (French). Have a drink at Grogans, the Mercantile, Hogan's, Dakota, or one of the new cocktail places or rooftop bars, or The Brazen Head for live Irish music 12. Can you recommend any places to travel to while in Ireland? Dublin (city centre + Howth + Malahide + Phoenix Park) / Wicklow (Glendalough) / Kilkenny / Cork, Kinsale / Beara Peninsula, Ring of Kerry, Kenmare, Killarney, Dingle, Tralee / Galway / Clifden, Inishbofin or one of the islands, Wesport 13. What tips would you give to another Expat moving to Ireland? Find a good web site or blog which will help you. There is more now than 8 years ago when I moved there. Have one or two good friends who are from your country but try to live or work with Irish people to learn more about Ireland and the Irish people. 14. What’s your favorite Irish expression? What's the craic ? Hi ya! |
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