How does that song go … “You don’t have to be Irish to be Irish”? With the annual excuse to get drunk while wearing green wigs fast approaching, Blog Digest thought a look at Ireland from the point of view of US expatriates living here was in order.
It’s always interesting to see Ireland’s political situation through the eyes of an outsider. More interesting now that the economy seems to have gone down the tubes and those who moved here for the Celtic tiger are getting a good dose of reality.
US blogger and Irish resident Molly wonders why there is not more public fury over the whole situation: “No one will inject energy into their public condemnation of our public figures. The term ‘inadequacies’ is bandied around with all the effectiveness of a flaccid herring.”
I’m sure many of us tend to agree with her.
The Irish healthcare system is far from perfect, but we’ve all seen Michael Moore’s Sicko and felt like the UK’S NHS was paradise on earth in comparison. We also more than likely thought ‘We’re not so bad here, after all.’
Yet, as this blog points out, yes, the paperwork is not half as scary and you don’t have to pay up front in Ireland, but there is the fact that some clinics neglect to have a nurse present for legal reasons, something that should be observed for both patients’ and doctors’ protection.
Read Me Sometimes, Think Of Me Often
This blog was started by a lady from the US called Angela who wanted a place for friends and family from home to check in. In it, she muses interestingly about Irish culture.
Take text messaging. We’re mad for it. Angela wonders about the difference between the US and Ireland on this score.
Yanks love to text, but we Irish are insanely obsessed.
Instead of giving her a quick call to meet up, a pal says ‘Give me a text’. “What do I say in the text,” she muses, “The location and ETA?”
What about ‘Gaspin 4 pint. O’Neills now?’ Works for the rest of us. Oh dear.
Five American women (this blogger included) get together for dinner and talk about living in Ireland. They’re all here because of Irish men.
Another thing they have in common: they all hate the way we say ‘hay-tch’ instead of ‘atch’ and make Billy ‘Jo-elle’s’ name sound long and drawn-out. That’s gas, isn’t it lads?
More importantly, they’re aware of American stereotypes (loud, brash, etc). Do we still make all Americans feel this way?
By Marie Boran
