Tag Archives: nationality

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration, Modern Life | Tagged , , , , , | 8 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Immigration & Emigration, International Moving, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 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) … Continue reading →

Posted in Immigration & Emigration, International Moving, Modern Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Seeing The Sights: Learning To Be a Tourist In Your Own Home

Posted on September 11, 2012 by

Like many who enjoy traveling to new places, when we moved to Dublin, I deliberately distanced myself, mentally, and often physically, from the millions of tourists who visit Ireland each year.  “I live here now. I’m no tourist.”  I realize … Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Attractions, Dublin Life, Home & A Sense of Place, Irish Countryside, Irish History, Irish Life & Society, Things to See in Ireland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Patriot Games: Watching the Olympics in a New Country

Posted on August 26, 2012 by

For the last month or so, watching the Olympics and thinking more and more about life in a new country, I’ve found myself contemplating loyalty to country and differences between patriotism and nationalism. When you grow up in America watching … Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Life, Home & A Sense of Place, Irish Life & Society, Modern Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

The First Year

Posted on July 24, 2012 by

The first year living overseas is both an exciting and a challenging time.  Life is filled with almost daily “aha” and “aw shit” moments. Dealing with these moments is both the best and the worst thing about living in another … Continue reading →

Posted in Friends & Family, Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration, International Moving, Modern Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Calling The Euro Home

Posted on May 29, 2012 by

In the lead up to this week when Ireland votes on the Austerity package, I’ve given a lot of thought to the things that hold the EU together, and it occurs to me that, as much as Ireland is in … Continue reading →

Posted in Bureaucracy, Dublin Life, Friends & Family, Home & A Sense of Place, Irish Life & Society, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Love of City Not Country – Dublin vs. Ireland

Posted on March 29, 2012 by

Ever since the controversial Five Things I Hate About Dublin, Ireland post, numerous well meaning (I’m sure) people have asked me why we don’t just leave.  The simple answer is Dublin.  The post, I now realize, was misnamed.  Most of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bureaucracy, Dublin Life, Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration, Irish Life & Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Who, What, and Where Will Be Next

Posted on February 21, 2012 by

It strikes me that the reason most people emigrate from the country they’ve always called home is to find a “better life”.  Granted there are as many ways to define better life as there are people emigrating. Often that means … Continue reading →

Posted in Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration, Irish History, Irish Life & Society, Modern Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

What Binds Us Together

Posted on January 19, 2012 by

Even before we moved to Ireland, one of my constant refrains has been that the Irish seem to be universally friendly and welcoming.  I knew there would come a day when that feeling would be tested.  And earlier this week … Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Life, Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration, Irish History, Irish Life & Society, Modern Life, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments