Why The Irish Drink: Is Ireland A Country of Alcoholics Or An Alcoholic Country

Posted on May 7, 2013 by

The world knows Ireland as a country of pubs, and happy, hard working, hard drinking folk.  Right, wrong, or indifferent, that’s the world’s impression, and it’s not entirely undeserved.  In fact it’s often a proudly displayed badge of honor for the Irish.  You’d think that after two years, I’d have some notion of what’s behind the stereotype. I really don’t.  I’ve had thoughts and ideas, but nothing firm.   That may have changed a few weeks ago

My wife took a taxi ride, and the taxi driver began to rant, as is their way in this fair city.

“So the Irish are alcoholics.  Who cares? It’s nobody’s business but our own.   Who does it hurt?”  And on it went.

When she came home and related the story to me, my first thought was, “He’s right. It is nobody’s business but the Irish.” But it got me thinking.  And that is always a dangerous enterprise.

Coincidentally, several friends of ours (both Irish and expat) have, in various ways, put forth the notion that Ireland, as a country, exhibits many of the characteristics of an alcoholic.

Since then two questions have continued to sizzle in the ol’ brainpan:

First, why do the Irish drink?

and…

“Who is hurt by Irish drinking?”

For an answer to the first question, we ought to look at what and where the Irish drink.  Though broad generalizations are always suspect, today’s popular drinks seem to be stout, cider, and whiskey taken in liberal amounts at the local pub.  Given recent economic swings, many have taken to wine.  And now that pubs are unaffordable, many drink at home.

According to the website Ireland’s Drinking Culture, the first pub dates back to 1198, and whiskey dates back to the 1400s. There is also evidence to suggest that beer has been around in Ireland since the Bronze and early Iron Ages.  It’s also known that early monasteries had very active breweries.

Could the sale of alcohol have been an early means of supporting the church?  Could Iron Age stout represent the first tender shoots of the church’s, by turns, nurturing and smothering vines? And what of the ubiquitous pub?  Did the Irish begin drinking in pubs because it was a place where they could gather and sow sedition without drawing the suspicious gaze of their imperial masters?

Honestly, I don’t know the answers to these questions, but would like to. As for who the question of “who is hurt by Irish drinking”, modern times seem to offer a few clues.

Since I moved to Dublin, I’ve found it interesting that young people seem to be the most concerned about drunk driving.  I think the public awareness ad campaigns have pretty well done their job on that score.

It’s actually the older folks (60s and up) who seem to have the most troubling giving up drunk driving.  These are the folks who, at the pub, waste no time in telling you that they are “experienced drinkers” (their words not mine) and have enjoyed their pint (or six) and driven home just fine for 40+ years.  Further proof of Ireland’s aging alcohol problem can be found in the recent epidemic of depression in seniors who now feel trapped at home by the drunk driving laws, and have lost all sense of community.

All of this is to say that Ireland’s drinking problem is nothing new, and is clearly an accepted (and somewhat tolerated) part of the Irish psyche.  Doubtless, many see “growing old with pint in hand” as their right, due, and fitting inheritance.

Now, how has alcoholism penetrated Irish society?

Apart from the obvious, drunk driving, wrecked families, and such, let’s look at the notion of Ireland as a “functional alcoholic” that shows up for work on time, and generally keeps its act together in spite of the drink.

Beyond the drinking entitlement, Ireland’s feast or famine economic view, and things work “well enough” attitude are all fairly common symptoms of an alcoholic.  The fact that the country has precious little in the way of improved infrastructure to show from the Celtic Tiger is not a surprise.  It’s now widely viewed throughout the country as having been a bit of a bender, and just good craic.

Damning as this may seem, it’s not until you add Ireland’s chronic low self-esteem, “poor us” victim syndrome, and “I’m not hurting anybody” defensive outlook that you really get the picture of a functional or “dry” drunk.

I know that this will be seen as just another anti-Irish screed, and I’ll get my fair share of “Yankee Go Home” comments.  But I’m genuinely curious to know more about the history of drinking in Ireland.  Why is it such a huge part of the country?  Does it have roots in colonialism, and religion (as these are huge parts of the Irish psyche and identity in and of themselves)?

I know I can count on my readers to help set the record straight.  I welcome your constructive comments.

Sources:
Ireland’s Drinking Culture

A History of Beer in Ireland: from John & Sally McKenna’s Guides

Things to look forward to in upcoming posts:

Property ownership n Ireland

Posted in Irish History, Irish Life & Society, Pubs | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Bank On It: International Banking For Immigrants

Posted on April 15, 2013 by

When the idea of moving overseas became serious, I, of course, had fantasies of multiple bank accounts spread around the world.  Perhaps we could even find a use for a Swiss bank account.  But the reality of arranging functional banking in a new country (particularly in Ireland) proved to be far less sexy, and far more frustrating.

Even if you’ve spent years establishing good credit in your home country, chances are you will be seen as an unproven risk when you move overseas.  Even without asking for “credit” of any sort, today’s world of rampant fraud and identity theft has forced banks the world over to be cautious about who they let in the door.  For that reason, most banks now ask that you provide some form of guarantee that you are authentic and trustworthy, even to get a simple checking or savings account.  While that may be as simple as providing a copy of a recent paid utility bill in your name, it adds to your list of pre-move minutia.

Back at home, where you might have 20 years of records to draw from, that is a fairly low hurdle.  But if you are new to the country, and have not established any utility service, it could be a bit tricky.  It gets even more difficult when you realize that the utility companies in many countries prefer (or demand) that you pay by automated electronic funds transfer (EFT).  That means you must have a bank account to set up your utilities.  In effect, you can’t get a bank account without a utility bill, and you can’t arrange utility service without a bank account.  What to do?

Before you get any clever ideas, I’ve already checked; it’s unlikely that utilities anywhere will accept an EFT payment from a foreign bank.  Even if they would, the transfer fees would raise your effective utility rate to a ludicrous level. A more effective option is for you to bring copies of utility bills from home and a letter of reference from your home bank stating that you’ve been a customer in good standing for however many years you’ve managed to stay on the straight and narrow.

That may work, or not.  If not, you may need to have some friendly local vouch for you in some way.  Our property manager used his standing in the community to get our utilities set up in our name.  That got the ball rolling, and soon we had a local bank account. But that’s about half the battle.

For those of us who still have bills back at home, we need an easy way to continue paying those bills.  For that, and other reasons (tax refunds/payments, gifts to/from family, etc.) it makes sense to keep a bank account open back at home.  If you do this, take the time to go into the branch (do not just call) before you move and get a list of the fees and administrative restrictions (in writing) that will apply to your situation.  These include (but are not limited to): minimum balance, incoming/outgoing international transfer fees, mailing fees, processing times, international check clearance restrictions, SWIFT/IBAN codes, international ATM fees, etc.

You’ll need all of this information at one point or another to get funds from home into your overseas account, and vice versa. And, be aware that these days, travelers checks are almost useless.  So cash, ATM/credit card, EFT, and (more and more infrequently) checks are your best options for moving money around.

That said, when you first relocate and need cash to get started, you can’t really wait 7-10 days for a big check to clear in your new account (particularly if the bank insists on an initial cash deposit), and may find yourself carrying quite a bit of cash on the plane.  If that happens, be safe and split it up among your group, and split those amounts up as well (in different carry-on bags, shoes, wallets, pockets, bras, etc.).

Finally, before you leave your home country, try to make sure that whatever bank you plan to use in the new country can communicate with your bank back at “home”.  By “communicate” I mean, make sure that you can transfer money both ways, or at least one way.  And look into the possibility of doing credit card transfers, or transfers through third party banks to move money in the other direction if need be.

If one bank won’t transfer money internationally, keep checks around for that account after confirming (in advance) that the other bank will accept them, and will process them in a timely fashion. Basically cover your bases, and try not to be surprised.  Money surprises are the worst. I speak from experience.
One of the most frustrating parts of Irish banking is that they aren’t required to notify customers individually of fee changes.  Because they like to believe that everybody reads the papers, Irish banks have convinced regulators that they should only be required to post a newspaper ad announcing any changes.  If you ask why they can’t email most customers, and send a letter to the paltry few who have resisted online banking, the bankers protest that it’s too difficult for them to perform due diligence.

Unfortunately, getting use to idiosyncrasies like these is all part of living in another country.  And sadly, if your finances straddle countries, you’ll have to tolerate two financial masters, and juggle the faults and folly of both.

Bonus – Irish Banking Rant

In a country with such a long history of money laundering, recent experience getting screwed by the banks, and clear collusion between financial institutions and politicians, you’d think the Irish would demand to have the gold standard of independent financial oversight, with no political involvement whatsoever.  Instead they grumble in private about the craven nature of their leaders, wanton douche-baggery, and the thinly veiled fraud that constitutes Irish financial institutions, but there’s no real push for reform.

Sure, we had to step over a few unwashed protestors during the Occupy movement, but everyone more or less expected that to run its course. And, like the banks themselves, simply waited for life (and the screwing) to go back to normal.

The Irish have allowed weird antiquated policies like AIB’s “home branch policy “ to persist.  In this pathetic ploy, AIB has arranged its slate of services such that customers must return to whatever branch they opened their account in to perform such onerous tasks as cashing checks, transferring money, and paying certain bills.  They’ve announced that it’s too restrictive for every branch to be able to provide standard service to every AIB customer.

The idea that every branch can’t handle every customer is ludicrous. But rather than demanding proper service, the Irish allow their financial masters to dictate policy to them, and the masses are simply grateful to have access to their own money at all.  But that level of allowing themselves to be lead around by the nose, and dictated to by those in power seems to be the all-to-common, self-inflicted lot of the Irish.

It’s maddening to see it persist in what, despite a few niggling concerns, is really quite a nice place to live.  But it’s particularly maddening to see it continue when they have the gold standard of reasons to insist on reform of the Irish financial sector

Things to look forward to in upcoming posts:

What’s Wrong With Ireland?

Irish Property Ownership

Posted in Dublin Life, Immigration & Emigration, International Moving, Irish Life & Society, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Going Home: Reflections On Visiting Your Home Country

Posted on March 6, 2013 by

In early February I found myself headed back to the United States for the first time since we’d left for Ireland in July of 2011.  While I was excited to go, I was filled with questions, and knew that neither the U.S. nor I were the same as when I’d left.  I also found myself reflecting on the ways that modern life has changed immigration, and on the ways that immigration has changed modern life.

Just as we’d expected some culture shock upon our arrival in Dublin, I was prepared for things not to be the same back in Atlanta and Texas. But what had changed?  How had I changed?  Am I still American?  I sound American, but will I inadvertently lapse into “yer man”, yer one”, “good craic” and “thanks a million”?  They’ll know I don’t live there, won’t they?  How will they react?  Remember, they all carry guns, even the children.

Of course, stepping off the plane, I was greeted by the same old U.S.  There was fast food at every exit off the highway (thank God), and the grocery stores are still palaces of consumerism.  The people were friendly. But this got me thinking about why the “shock” of culture (both leaving and returning) seemed so much less than I’d expected.

In times gone by, immigrants who left home were often never heard from again.  Or, if they were, it was usually infrequently, as calls were difficult and expensive to place.  But, more to the point, immigrants in the past mostly left because they had to.  Famine, political/social instability, and violence against dissidents left many with little or no choice but to grab what bits of precious they could lay their hands on, and run (not walk) to the nearest port. And arrival in their new home was not always a welcoming experience either.  But, given the place they’d just left, it was somewhere to live, and a fresh start.  Many never looked back.  And, back in the place they left, it often fell to later generations (who had the luxuries of time and technology) to figure out what had happened to the ones who were forced to leave.

Today, while many immigrants still flee intolerable cruelty and desperate financial situations, there is now an entire class of immigrants who emigrate by choice, and not necessity. Over the last few decades, travel has become much easier. Technology now allows us to stay in touch much more “easily”. And satellite television has given the world a certain baseline of cultural literacy that blunts culture shock.

Now, we go because we can.  It’s almost too easy.  And, that ease, I believe, takes something from the experience.  When you can’t go back, or the memory of “that place” is so haunting that it wakes you in the night, surely you approach your new home in a different light.  “Grateful” can’t begin to describe it.

As someone who left the States, arguably, because we could, I’m sure that my willingness to criticize Ireland (right, wrong, or indifferent) in this blog comes from a place of entitlement.  I’m not saying that that’s necessarily wrong.  My class of casual immigrant is a fact of modern life. And it’s not all bad.

As someone who has been privileged enough to travel quite a bit, I genuinely believe that travel and immigration can (and should) be the cure for much of what ails the world.  When we get out and meet people who are different from ourselves, we beat back the dark territory of the unknown.  And when we realize that people the world over face many of the same problems that we do, we are far less likely to sell guns to their neighbors, impose sanctions, and look at them as just another market to be penetrated.

So, from the standpoint that it’s made travel easier, technology and cheap flights aren’t all bad.  We can argue all day long about whether we developed Skype and beat the airlines into submission over ticket pricing because more of us are moving around the planet, or whether we travel more because we have Skype and cheap tickets.  But the fact is that more of us are moving, and it has become easier.  It’s not all easy.  There is still a gap, and culture shock.  But even those things have been reduced.

As much as I enjoyed going back to the U.S. for a few days, and was not “shocked”. I definitely felt myself living at arms length.  Ireland is now my home.  Culturally, the U.S., with its guns, and creeping religious control (threatening to erode the very freedoms upon which the U.S. was founded) is not something I want/need in my life anymore. I’ve lived elsewhere and know that there are happy, viable alternatives (lots of them).  But, as a recent emigrant, I still feel able to come and go easily

We’ll see how I feel the next time I go back. Who knows if it’s time between trips, or elapsed time since making the decision to leave home that will make a difference.  Perhaps it’s neither.

Perhaps it’s just time.

For now, it’s just good to be back home.

Things to look forward to in upcoming posts:

International Banking

Posted in Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration, Modern Life | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Ireland Works Well Enough – The Irish Tendency To Settle For Less Than the Best

Posted on January 15, 2013 by

In one of my early posts I listed “Institutionalized Disorganization & Shameless Lack of Accountability –The Irish Goat Rodeo“ as number one among the Five Tings I Hate About Dublin Ireland.  Now, after 18 months, I can still say that that is my least favorite part of Ireland.  But now I see that the root cause of said Goat Rodeo is the Irish willingness to settle for second best.

Less than a hundred years into self-governance, having barely shaken off a thousand years of occupation (by various countries and religious institutions), and now finding itself turning to the IMF, Germany, and other EU nations for pocket money, is it any wonder that the Irish national psyche is down on itself and uncertain?

The Irish don’t like to hear anybody else say it, but they are the first to criticize themselves.  Sadly, that tendency, when paired with the Irish reflex to avoid making waves or cause ill feelings, leads to passive acceptance of whatever the world hands them.  And the cheerful, upbeat Irish way of approaching life, which makes living here quite enjoyable, means that when the world hands them something suboptimal, they simply accept it and get on with the business of getting on with business.

Over time, this leads many to assume that they don’t deserve anything better.  And, at that point you’re not far from “Oh, why bother”.

After just 18 months, this attitude frosts me to no end.  I know it frustrates the Irish; I hear them complain.  Yet they rarely take action or offer solutions. I can’t figure out why there isn’t more of an outcry about so many issues here.  Ireland is no longer a country of activism in the name of self-interest.  I’ve heard Irishmen say, “when the going gets tough, the Irish emigrate”, but I don’t think that’s quite on point either.

There was a great outcry when Savita Halappanavar died, and a concomitant anti-abortion outcry. Clearly they do get riled up over “issues”.  But I don’t know what moves the Irish to stand up for themselves.  I understand the circumstances that have led to Irish indifference and inaction on a range of issues.  But I don’t think it excuses their inaction, or keeps Ireland from feeling like part of the Third World at times.

Perhaps coming from a country with a relatively distant history of armed conflict, I’m too cavalier about aggressive activism, while the Irish, with a much more recent history of uprisings, are more careful about what moves them to action.  But, what it will take to get the Irish to stand up for themselves, and begin insisting on more than “it works well enough” at every level of society?

If you ask the Irish why they tolerate rampant corruption, fiscal ineptitude, uncovered cisterns that result in potable water in only one tap in the house, tram lines that don’t connect, and a host of other shoddy practices, you’ll hear a number of excuses that all boil down to “It works well enough.”

This begs the question: what could they have if they insisted on something better? I’m a big fan of Dublin.  I love it here.  And Ireland is growing on me, if for no other reason than its potential.  If it’s this nice to live in Dublin now, imagine how great it would be if corruption were reduced, the economy got its act together, and potable water came from every tap.

Things to look forward to in upcoming posts:

International Banking

Posted in Uncategorized | 30 Comments

Outside Politics: Voting Away From Home

Posted on December 4, 2012 by

Now that I’ve had a month to process the frenzy and climax of the American election, I realize that I’m amazed both by how much my priorities have changed in just sixteen months, and by how keenly aware (and somewhat embarrassed) I am that the rest of the world puts so much stock in what America does.

In the run up to the election, as an American, I found myself constantly on the uncomfortable end of the question, “So do you think Obama is going to get re-elected?” In Ireland, which is pretty Obama happy, I generally knew where I stood when people asked that question.  Nevertheless, I wasn’t sure what they were really asking.  Was this the tactful Irish way of probing for my political leanings, or, as was clear in most cases, were they asking if the U.S. was really crazy enough to elect “that other guy”.

I found myself wondering ‘Why do they care so much?”

I realize now, that in this age of 24-hour instant access to worldwide coverage, linked markets, and global finances, we are all somewhat tied together. But do they really care who we elect?  The short answer is, “Yes. They care a great deal.” And the reason they care is almost unfathomable to most Americans.

The basic geography of living outside the U.S. (not in “the Superpower”) has, for me, been the single biggest eye opener of the expat experience.  When you don’t have all the power, you do cast a wary eye over your shoulder, knowing that whatever decisions the big dog makes will, even if it takes some time, have an effect on your economy and your way of life.

So, while I’m no longer the car and house-obsessed, comfortable middle class American that I was two years ago, and I’m rooting for Ireland to pull its act together even more than I’m actively hoping for America to do the same, I now appreciate the rest of the world’s obsession with the American election.

I was, however, bothered by the fact that it seemed as easy to be overwhelmed with U.S. electoral information in Ireland as it was back in the States.

Because my wife is a bit of a political junky, I admit that I’d hoped living in Ireland would render this election cycle a bit less factoid filled.  I was naïve enough to think that distance would silence her fanaticism.  Not so.  In fact, distance seemed to make it worse in many ways.  Perhaps the separation (an lack of robo-calls) made her (and, admittedly, me too) feel cut off and yearn for some connection no matter how tenuous and Internet-based.  Of course, the blogosphere and online news services were all too happy to provide.  The result was that we had as much political input, and wonkery as we ever had back at home. And when you factor in the fact that everyone who found out we were American wanted an answer to “the question”, the big decision was even more on our minds, and seemed some even more critical.

That got me wondering if it’s just the United States election, or if any other election cycles are as watched, or have as much bearing, outside their polling zones.  The answer is, I think, “it depends”.  It sounds lame, but it’s true.

The world watched with rapt attention as North Korea appointed its new leader. Granted, it wasn’t an election, but it’s hard to argue that the anointing of Kim Ill Crazy probably affects everyone on the planet.  And, though most of us are not Catholic, we all wait expectantly for that puff of white smoke after a Holy Father pops his clogs.  Again, the Catholic Church is big enough and powerful enough to affect most of us in some way.  So, I’d imagine that if you move from Uruguay to Kenya, you’d probably hang on every word of the Uruguayan election if it somehow had a direct effect on life in Nairobi.  And knowing that diasporas, pilgrims, and refugees often cluster in certain places for reasons of tradition, and cultural/economic support it’s not uncommon for the fate of certain countries to be tied to others.  In these cases, it makes sense that the electoral politics in one would be closely monitored by the other.

Absentee Voting While Living Overseas
Because what happens back at home will likely still have an impact on their life in some way, most people want to retain their voting privileges while they live abroad.  For that reason, it’s critical that they understand their rights in the absentee voting process.

My best advice is look into it sooner rather than later.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

  1. Consult your voting office at home before you leave.  It’s likely that the last place you were registered to vote at home will be responsible for approving (or not) your absentee ballot requests.
  2. Give yourself at least six months before an election for your ballot and paperwork to catch up to you.
  3. If necessary, ask questions at the embassy in your new home.  They will generally be up to speed on voting issues for citizens abroad.

Sadly, voting is yet another thing for the potential immigrant to add to their list of pre-move ponderables.

But it’s also kind of amusing to observe the goings on when you feel somewhat detached from the process.

Things to look forward to in upcoming posts:

  • International Banking
Posted in Immigration & Emigration, International Moving, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Let’s Talk About The Weather – How Weather Affects The Immigrant’s Way Of Life

Posted on November 14, 2012 by

For an American “southern boy” who has developed a serious allergy to heat and humidity, moving to Ireland has been a godsend.  To say that the Irish look at me like my head is on fire when I tell them I love their weather is a gross understatement.  Nevertheless, they do, when I do.  Looking back on it, I’d have to say that the weather has had a far greater impact on our “immigrant experience” than I ever imagined possible.  And, I’d say that anyone moving overseas is well advised to do their research, and, if possible, make that oh-so-important scouting trip to experience local conditions firsthand.

Everyone knows that Ireland is wet.  It’s cold, rainy, and damp.  Then again, that’s why it’s so green.  That part of the weather is obvious, clear, and well established.  What people fail to tell you about Irish weather is that it’s really windy too.  Perhaps it’s like the mythical giant man-eating rats in South America that Tim Cahill (one of my travel writing heroes) refers to – they’re so obvious and well established that no one thinks to warn you about them.  Regardless, it’s safe to say that the wind in Ireland blindsided me, and meant that our May 2011 scouting trip was a decidedly underdressed affair.  Then again, underplaying the weather seems to be a favorite Irish past time.

The Irish attitude towards its weather is a near perfect symbol of the Irish national attitude about damn near everything.  It might be a bit rough around the edges, and can be harsh and unforgiving at times, but, by God, it’s ours, and soon enough it’ll break and turn nice again…then shite…then nice…then… Overall, the Irish tend to be upbeat (at least in public) and pessimistic at the same time, so they often think the weather is just about to turn. That said, if you catch them in a “mood” and it’s just entering the “awful season”, you’re sure to get an ear full.  But the weather in Ireland is not just mindless banter to fill the awkward silences when you meet someone on the street.

In Ireland, where the state of the weather can change in a minute, and may mean the difference between enjoying the day outside and drying your clothes for free, or being stuck indoors, and paying to run the dryer which you can ill afford, talk of the weather is serious business.  Weather here affects everything, as it does in many other places.  For that reason it must be considered carefully before deciding where to live overseas.

For anyone whose mood goes in the dumper when winter overcast rolls in, Seasonal Affective Disorder is a serious condition that should rule out countries with protracted winters.  Likewise, countries with extremes of daylight (in either direction) should be avoided, as sunlight (or the lack of it) represents a clear and present health concern.  Here in Ireland, people get tested regularly for vitamin D levels. If your levels are on the edge, they recommend mega doses.  I guess that’s how they stay so cheerful even in January.

Other areas of your life that will be affected by the weather in a new country are:

  • Heating/Cooling bills

  • Place of Work – Can you commute on public transport, walk or bike, or will you need to drive (buy a car, scooter, or motor bike)?
  • Wardrobe – Will you need new clothes, lighter/heavier, extra layers, or different work clothes?
  • Housing – Will you need a bigger house (or can you get by with less) because kids can’t/can play outside all year long?
  • Pets – Is it safe, or reasonable for children and pets to be indoor/outdoor?
  • Pest Control – Will there be more creepy crawlies, or less?
  • Allergies – If a family member is particularly prone to allergies, what are the local allergens?
  • Hobbies – There’s no outdoor tennis six months a year in Greenland.  That’s okay; you can’t see the balls outside six months a year anyway.

While these may seem like minor issues, they can all weigh on you and affect your emotions, lifestyle, and finances.  At a time when you are adjusting to a new life in a myriad of other stressful ways, the last thing you need is additional unanticipated stress.

Fortunately, this is an easy problem to dismiss. Think ahead, and plan ahead.  Visit your proposed country if you can, and check shops for clothing, etc. while you’re there.  Ask about seasonal clothing.  If you can’t visit, use the Internet to look up local shops and check their inventory online.  Become an online weather geek and check the weather in your proposed new home every day.

Do this now. You’ll have to live with it every day when you move.  Believe me, it’s better to find out now.

Things to look forward to in upcoming posts:

Elections From The Other Side

Posted in Dublin Life, Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration, International Moving, Irish Life & Society, Modern Life, Pets | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Getting Better All The Time: Building a New Life Overseas

Posted on October 17, 2012 by

Just now, well into our second year of living in Dublin, I finally feel comfortable saying that life is going well.  I won’t say, “better”. That’s not exactly why we moved.

Despite months of pre-emigration planning, and few (if any) language issues, it has taken a good fifteen months for us to juggle the details, bureaucracy, cultural differences, and our comfort zone to finally feel like life is on track.  Looking back on it, I think ours was/is a pretty normal adjustment period.  It was a shock, but I’m here to tell you that anyone who plans to move abroad should expect an adjustment period. Life is not going to be “better” right away.

Why People Emigrate

People emigrate for all kinds of reasons.  Some choose to go, while others are forced into it.  For those that are forced, by economic, political, religious, or cultural reasons, their fervent hope is that life will be better in their new home.  Fleeing from tyranny and oppression, you hope that life will be better.  And, ultimately, eventually, it may well be.  But the hard truth is that it probably won’t be right away.

Of course, if you are running for your life, going somewhere where people aren’t trying to kill you, life is necessarily going to be a bit better.  But if you’ve fled under duress, chances are you‘ve not had the time to gather paperwork, and life possessions that you might have liked.   As a result, arrival in your new home, and the first few months, will likely be spent just ironing out the basics and starting over.

If you are lucky enough to move emigrate on a corporate transfer, or as a diplomat you may have the benefits of what is called an “expat package” in which many of your daily expenses (housing and transportation, etc.) are covered by your employer. But, even in this sheltered environment, there will still be challenges (new schools for the kids, spousal employment) that may keep you unbalanced for months or years.

I’m not saying this to warn against moving overseas. In fact, I think one of the greatest things we can do is to share our ways of living to a much greater extent.  Maybe then we wouldn’t be scared shitless of the great unknown just across the border. I’m writing this to caution that immigration may make your life better, in a host of expected (and unexpected) ways, but it probably won’t be “better” right away.  That said, there are some distinct advantages to life being “worse” for a while.

Advantages of Immigration

How often have you said, “If only I’d known then what I know now…”? Well, one of the miracles of immigration is that it offers the chance to start much of your life over in very concrete ways.  Friends, career, hobbies, education, finances, advocacy, and health & wellness are just a few of the areas of your life that can be reevaluated and adjusted when moving abroad.

Since we moved to Ireland, Kalpana (my wife) and I have both made new friends, and picked up old hobbies (knitting and hiking), dabbled in long lusted after experiences (model boating, Irish language study), and reinvigorated dormant professional paths (writing for the stage and screen).
It has taken time and work for us to get to this point.   But all of these things would likely have been much slower to happen (or might never have occurred) if we weren’t already restructuring our lives. Clearly, change breeds change in this regard.

If you are considering permanent, or semi-permanent, relocation overseas with the hope of a “better” life, know that while it may be better eventually, it probably won’t be right away. But you should do it anyway.

Things to look forward to in upcoming posts:

Lets Talk About the Weather

 

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