Category Archives: Home & A Sense of Place

What Binds Us Together

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Glenn Kaufmann

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

Resolutions in a New Country

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Glenn Kaufmann

I’ve never been a big fan of New Year’s resolutions.  I figure that if you really want to change a pattern of behavior there’s no need to fetishize a particular date? Just start changing.  To me picking a resolution start … Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Life, Home & A Sense of Place, Irish Countryside, Irish Life & Society, Writers & Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

What We Left Behind – Phantom Pains of Friends and Family Back At Home

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Glenn Kaufmann

Living abroad has been a mixed bag of ups and downs on every front.  But I never realized how much family and friends mean to us, and how “distant” I could feel until disaster struck last week, and close family … Continue reading →

Posted in Before We Go, Friends & Family, Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration, Modern Life | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

A Look at Dublin Expat Life After Three Months

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Glenn Kaufmann

After living in Dublin for only a month, I had the temerity to post a list of five things I hated about living in Dublin and Ireland.  Two months on, I have three times the perspective I had at that … Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Life, Friends & Family, Home & A Sense of Place, International Moving, Irish Life & Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Ties That Bind – Ireland Remembers 9/11

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Glenn Kaufmann

As someone old enough to remember watching the events of 9/11 unfold on television, it was amazing to experience the tenth anniversary of those attacks on New York, Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon in the country that, more than any other, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Life, Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration, Modern Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

More Questions Than Answers About Immigration

Posted on August 26, 2011 by Glenn Kaufmann

This week’s post was supposed to be “A Brief History of Immigration”, but as I began to delve into the topic I realized that there is nothing brief about this subject.  It’s been going on in one form or another … Continue reading →

Posted in Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Suddenly Ethnic

Posted on July 26, 2011 by Glenn Kaufmann

When we left the United States there were no tears on takeoff, and no sudden feeling of not belonging.  But, during our first few days in Dublin, something wonderful did happen. No, it wasn’t an “Oh my God, it’s full … Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Life, Home & A Sense of Place | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Of Icebergs, Pet Urine, and Mile High Bourbon – A Few Thoughts On Leaving the United States

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Glenn Kaufmann

Nothing comes off exactly as planned.  But, now, a week after the fact, I can safely say that departure from Bloomington, Chicago, and the United States went about as smoothly as could be expected. Sitting in the gate area waiting … Continue reading →

Posted in Home & A Sense of Place, International Moving | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Too Much of a Good Thing?

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Glenn Kaufmann

When you tell people that you’re moving to Ireland, specifically Dublin, the response you get is never negative. Lately I’ve come to the conclusion that this is not always a positive thing. From the first moment we started telling people … Continue reading →

Posted in Home & A Sense of Place | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments