I Thought Having the Paper Would Help: Meditations on NOT Being Irish

Posted on May 24, 2018 by Glenn Kaufmann

First, my deepest apologies for not writing sooner, and particularly for not writing in the lead up to my naturalization ceremony (originally postponed due to the hurricane, and ten rescheduled and executed in late November). So, yes, I am now … Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Life, Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Europe, Expat Living, Naturalization | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Waiting: The Naturalization Shuffle

Posted on June 27, 2017 by Glenn Kaufmann

Apologies for the six-month delay in posting, but I’ve been waiting for my citizenship paperwork to go through, and hoped to be able to write about being a citizen for my next post. Alas, it was not to be.  I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Bureaucracy, Dublin Life, Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Expat Living, Immigration & Emigration | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The World As We Know It: Local Experience & Global Impact

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Glenn Kaufmann

  In light of recent political events, and the global protests this past weekend, it occurs to me that we immigrants are in a unique position. Having lived for extended periods in at least two cultures we’re able to compare … Continue reading →

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A Global Village: Why We Are All Immigrants in a Village of 196 Citizens

Posted on November 16, 2016 by Glenn Kaufmann

First of all, let me be clear. This is NOT a post about Donald Trump or the recent American Election. To me, in many ways, that situation is small potatoes, a mere symptom (among many) of a much larger problem. … Continue reading →

Posted in Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Expat Living, Irish Life & Society, Modern Life, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Multiculturalism and This Immigrant

Posted on September 13, 2016 by Glenn Kaufmann

Apologies for taking so long to post something, but it’s been a busy couple of months. In August I returned to filmmaking, my first love, and was fortunate enough to put together an amazing team of people to shoot most … Continue reading →

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Immigrant Awareness: American Isolation, Social Media, and Brexit

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Glenn Kaufmann

It seems all too obvious that living in another country would, or should, increase our awareness of the world; but I was not prepared for how much it would open my eyes not just about the rest of the world, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Life, Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Europe, Expat Living, Immigration & Emigration, Modern Life, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Everything Is Ireland’s Fault: Or Why I’m a Bad Immigrant

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Glenn Kaufmann

Hey, Ireland, I’ll let you in on a little secret. As much crap as you talk about the immigrants within your borders, we talk about you too. Even after nearly five years of living in Dublin, a town I’ve grown … Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Life, Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Expat Living, Friends & Family, Home & A Sense of Place | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Dublin Versus Paris: An Immigrant’s Guide to Choosing A City

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Glenn Kaufmann

For those of us who are predisposed to emigration, I think there is a danger that we’ll always live with one eye fixed on distant shores. I’ll admit that “where to next” is always on my mind in some way. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Life, Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Europe, Expat Living, Home & A Sense of Place | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Getting On With It: Lessons in Making A Life

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Glenn Kaufmann

One of the things that simultaneously aggravates and inspires me is the Irish notion of, “It’ll be grand”, of just getting on with it, and making do. It seems so casual and whimsical, but “getting on with it” has made … Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Life, Expat Living, Home & A Sense of Place, Irish Countryside, Irish History, Irish Life & Society, Pubs | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Out in the Country: Big Lessons From a Small Place

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Glenn Kaufmann

As a self-confessed city person, I admit that I tend to think of most countries as big cities with a few other places scattered in between. But Ireland has, as with so many things, helped me see the error of … Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Life, Expat Living, Home & A Sense of Place, Irish Countryside | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments