Call me unfocused, a dreamer, a bit of a drifter even, I’ve always been a restless soul, ready for the next big thing. In July of 2011, I’m off on what may be my biggest drift/adventure ever. My wife (Kalpana) and I are permanently relocating to Dublin, Ireland.
The driving force behind the move is that my wife accepted a position as an instructor at University College Dublin. But, we’ve always wanted to live abroad for an extended period of time, and experience the expat life.
Though we have no kids, it won’t just be us making the move. We’re taking our three pets with us. They are Fiona (a 6-year-old miniature dachshund), Akira (an 11-year-old snowshoe cat), and Archie ( a 2-year-old tuxedo cat).
This blog is meant to document our experiences in emigrating from the United States (Bloomington, Indiana) to Dublin at a time when the economy in neither place looks very good. We are not moving for any political reasons, though I’ll certainly make some observations of U.S. politics looking back in from the outside, and will doubtless scratch my head “on paper” here about Irish politics. A great deal of my “writing” will be about the experience of being an alien and trying to navigate the morass of immigration, finance, and health care paperwork.
I’m a freelance writer, photographer and editor by trade. If I had to narrow that down, I’m a travel writer. I visit new places, meet people, and enjoy new experiences. Then I come home and try to capture some of the magic of that place in words and pictures.
I’ve never blogged before, and, between that an the new expat and immigration experiences, this will be a new type of writing for me. But if you bear with me, I promise to make it worth your while.
So happy to keep up with your adventure! Good luck, and enjoy the whole experience. Maybe we’ll be seeing you there one of these days.
It sounds interesting already. Dublin is a great city, and yes, I think you need to ‘trust the process’ a little. Looking forward to hearing about your adventures. Blog on
Wishing you all the very best on your new adventure: Glenn, Kalpana, Fiona, Akira and Archie. Looking forward to hearing wonderful stories.
Welcome to Ireland (I stumbled across your blog randomly). I too emigrated here 3 years ago for an academic position, and had a blog about the experience going for a while (maybe time to start it up again) http://peculiarireland.blogspot.com/
Irealand has its ups and downs, but overall we’re very happy here and won’t be going back to North America.
Keep on blogging!
and we brought our two dachshunds as well!
Hi Glenn! I just caught that last few minutes of you on 2fm. Wow, you’ve only been here a minute and you’re practically famous! And I’ve read a lot of your blog! (by the way, the term “customer service” doesn’t really exist here)
I too moved to Ireland, but from Canada. Same, but different. I’ve been here 12 years. You will notice so many more ‘differences’ as time goes on. Some funny. Some not so amusing. Hope to keep in touch with you and share some of the humour of ‘finding your feet’ in a different land! Good luck to you and your wife and pets!
So many odd coincidences! I write the blog An American in Ireland and I, too, am a travel journalist. Been here just about 17 months now and so far, so good. But there have been a few bumps in the road, mainly in relation to adjusting to the cultural differences. Good luck and looking forward to reading about your adventures. Oh and I grew up with dacshunds – love ‘em!
Hi Glenn, I heard you on 2fm, was wondring if you can contact me regarding further media possibilities. I very much look forward to hearing from you. All the best in Dublin and Ireland.
So nice to have met you at Queen of Tarts yesterday. Lots of good luck to you. I look forward to reading about your Irish adventures.
Jaimie, Nice meeting you as well. I’m glad y’all made it home safely.
I just wanted to say I appreciate that you are blogging on how your experience has been so far. My husband and I moved to Ireland 3 weeks ago for a new job he took, and we have 3 “kids” of our own: two boston terriers and a long haired fat cat. Reading how you were able to manage through getting the pets over, and just setting your life back up again have been so helpful! I started blogging my experiences as well, more for just personal journal writing and to share with family how we’re doing, no where as detailed and articulate as your writing – but I just wanted to thank you for starting yours. It helps me feel just a little bit more prepared for what to expect in the months to come.
Looking forward to reading more
This might have been sorted out at this stage, but for cat litter…go to zooplus.ie and get their cat litter! its the best.
http://www.zooplus.ie/shop/cats/cat_litter/extreme_classic
sorry if i just read a really old entry…but felt this needed to be addressed as I have a car myself.
I’m glad to know that I am not the only one who has gripes about the way things are done/not done here in Ireland. My Husband (Sligo Man), son and I just relocated here to N. Dublin from San Diego in December. I am still getting my feet wet, so to speak and am trying to get used to everything being so different. I just wanted to let you know that I enjoy your blog and can really relate to some of your posts.
Hello. Returned ex pat speaking. I spent many years living in SF and NYC and moved back to Ireland a couple of years ago. I love your take on the Irish way of life. I get it after so many years away myself. Slight aside here but who did you use to ship your stuff to Dublin. I have some things in NYC I should bring over. Shipping seems to be a minefield. Hucksters and medicine shows galore!
Hello. Returned ex pat speaking. I spent many years living in SF and NYC and moved back to Ireland a couple of years ago. I love your take on the Irish way of life. I get it after so many years away myself. Slight aside here but who did you use to ship your stuff to Dublin. I have some things in NYC I should bring over. Shipping seems to be a minefield. Hucksters and medicine shows galore!
Percy,
Thanks for reading the blog, and for checking in.
We used a company called UPak: http://www.upakweship.com/index.php
They were very helpful and accommodating. They held our quote for 6 months with just a signed booking form and no deposit.
You pack and deliver to their depot and they deliver to your door in Ireland.
Good luck.
My 18 year old daughter just arrived in Dublin and registered to vote in California before she left. Where does she go to vote in Dublin? Thanks to whomever can answer me! Much appreciated.
Susan,
From what I understand, she’ll want to sign up to vote absentee in California (which in many states can be done online). I understand the American Embassy in Dublin also has information on absentee voting. She’ll want to deal with this sooner rather than later, as I understand you have to submit your absentee ballot a number ofweeks before the general election, and it may take some tie for the actual ballot to make its way to her.
Thank you so much for the tip! Much appreciated as she is a bit overwhelmed trying to settle in!
All the best to you,
S
I don’t know if you are interested but we’re having a free Thanksgiving celebration with live game streaming, kids craft table etc and thought I’d share: please share with any Dublin Americans you may know? Thanks, Rachel
http://www.facebook.com/events/291099604325091/
Great to see you’re feeling more settled, I just arrived couple days ago. Have you landed a writing job at all doing what you love… writing on travel and photographing??
Hi Vania,
Thanks for the kind wishes, and welcome to Ireland and the blog.
I have done a few articles since I’ve been here, and have spent the last year as a playwriting mentor working with Fishamble Theatre.
We’re actually having a showcase of our short plays at The Mill Theatre in Dubdrum on Dec.1 Stop by and say hello.
I’m also teaching writing online. So things are slowly picking up and I’m staying busy.
Cheers,
Glenn
I’m so glad to have come across your blog Glenn. Your writing is lovely and as a fellow ex pat myself living just outside of Dublin for the last 9 years I find your topics very interesting and insightful! I’ll definitely be back. Looking forward to more good conversations.
Stacey,
Thaks.
I’m grateful for your feedback. Thanks to you (and many others) who have rad and commented on the blog this week.
-Glenn
So happy to see Americans blogging about living in Ireland, when I moved here it was definitely a leap of faith. I am an african-american mother of 2 who has been living in Ireland since 1998. It is very interesting to read about the thoughts and experiences of other Americans living on the Emerald Isle. My experiences have been… unusual to say the least
( you have to take the bitter with the sweet). And even though I have been here going on 14 years, I still feel that I have alot to learn about Irish culture. Looking forward to reading about your adventures 
Hi Glenn0 I can’t find your email – you have written to me before – we relocated from florida to Donegal 3 weeks ago – you mentioned Zoo.ie to me and also told me which liter you used – I can’t remember which you said – we can’t find a good clumping liter like we used in the states – would you mind letting me know which one it was again – there were a few on zoo.ie – so I am not sure –
Our 3 kitties made the flight just fine – I was worst off then they were – and now we are all adjusting – we enjoy your blog b/c it’s nice to know there will be an adjustment period – and all the feelings we have are normal – thanks again
Hi Elizabeth,
Welcome to Ireland. I’m glad you all arrived safe and sound. Yes, the flight seemed harder on us than our cats as well. I’d imagine the drive to Donegal was probably the hardest of all. We use Cat’s Best litter and it’s been quite good, and with free shipping it seems quite reasonably priced.
Hello Glenn,
Love your blog, love your writing, need advice! We’re a family of four (two kids, 8 and 10) plus dog; husband and I were just offered jobs in Dublin (he lived there before, but the kids and I have lived only in America–California, NYC, NJ). We vacation ever year in France or Spain with a group of Dublin families. We’d be moving from NJ. Any advice? We’re especially concerned about the European recession, and who knows what’s going to happen in 2013. My husband’s a senior-level professor, and the government’s budget cuts seem to be hitting academics and other public servants particularly hard. Would love to be able to correspond with you a bit–if we emigrate, we’d likely do it next January (2014). Thanks! NJNell
Nell,
I’m glad you like the blog. Thanks for taking the time to write in. I’ll contact you back channel to give you some details.