Tag Archives: nationality

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 →

Posted in Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Expat Living, Modern Life | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Immigrant Dreams: Fantasies of Prosperity, Happiness, and a Sense of Place

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Glenn Kaufmann

In light of the recent refugee crisis, many of us have had the migrant’s pursuit of happiness and a better life on our minds. But those of us privileged enough to choose emigration, rather than having it forced on us, … Continue reading →

Posted in Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Expat Living, Irish Life & Society, Modern Life, Things to See in Ireland, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A Better World: The Refugee Crisis and What It Says About Us

Posted on September 29, 2015 by Glenn Kaufmann

I regularly refer to immigrants, emigrants, migrants, and refugees in this blog. And, to some extent that last category has always been a somewhat obligatory attempt to cover all bases. And to my mind, true refugees have, until recently, seemed … Continue reading →

Posted in Bureaucracy, Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Europe, Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration, Irish Life & Society, Modern Life, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Company you Keep: Celebrating Immigrant Differences

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Glenn Kaufmann

In the ex-pat community you often hear people say that to have a true local experience you shouldn’t hang out with other immigrants, particularly your own kind (Americans if you’re American, the French if you’re from Paris, etc.). “Buswah”, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Attractions, Dublin Life, Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Immigration & Emigration | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Foreign & Domestic: Expat Loyalty & The European Union

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Glenn Kaufmann

Shortly after moving to Dublin, as I started to learn more about the EU, I began to hear locals speak of the U.S. and its Federal Reserve banking system in lofty terms. It seems that out here on the fringes … Continue reading →

Posted in Bureaucracy, Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Europe, Irish Economy, Irish Life & Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Expat Or Immigrant: What’s In a Name

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Glenn Kaufmann

Recent articles in The Guardian the Wall Street Journal’s “Expat” blog have discussed the racial implications of certain migrants being called “expats”, while others are labeled “immigrants”. That got me thinking. And that’s always a dangerous thing….   Yes, “expat” … Continue reading →

Posted in Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Expat Living | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Expat Ambassadors: How Migrants Answer For Their Home Countries

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Glenn Kaufmann

Given recent events, I’ve found myself watching from afar and wondering if we migrants (immigrants and emigrants) will ever be free of national accountability. Will there come a time when we won’t be called on to explain the actions (“right”, … Continue reading →

Posted in Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Expat Living, Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments