Tag Archives: nationality

Love You From Afar: An Expat’s View Of Change At Home

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Glenn Kaufmann

For expats knowing where (and what) “home” is can be difficult. For many of us, we’re not really “locals” yet, but we aren’t really part of that place we came from anymore either. We’ve moved on. It/they have moved on. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Life, Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Expat Living, Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration, International Moving | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Song Of My People: The Expat’s Guide to Foreign Language

Posted on July 16, 2014 by Glenn Kaufmann

For anyone traveling overseas, speaking the local language is not just useful, but may well save his or her life. For expats and immigrants, threading the needle of “becoming a local” (if that’s even possible) involves picking up not just … Continue reading →

Posted in Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Health Care, Immigration & Emigration, International Moving, Irish Life & Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Local: Where Are You From

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Glenn Kaufmann

In a country as small as Ireland, where local parish control of life (so called “parish pump politics”) was, and is, still so important, the seat of knowledge, the gathering place (the pub), became known as, “The Local”.  But for … Continue reading →

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

The Right Question: Cultural Nuance For Migrants (and Others)

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Glenn Kaufmann

A thought has been gnawing at me. A question. Several, actually. I was recently at a gathering of folks from the travel industry, and struck up a conversation with a woman who has been, for lack of a better term, … Continue reading →

Posted in Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Home & A Sense of Place | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 39 Comments

We Come Bearing Gifts: Immigrant Contributions to Society

Posted on November 14, 2013 by Glenn Kaufmann

When I wrote about  an incident of racial profiling that my wife and I suffered in Dublin, much of the feedback from Irish locals was along the lines of “Well of course we dislike ‘them’ (immigrants).   They’re taking all the … Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Life, Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration, International Moving, Irish Economy, Irish Life & Society, Modern Life, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Ireland Is Not One Thing: Why Immigrants Should Travel More

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Glenn Kaufmann

When we moved to Ireland in 2011, my wife and I promised ourselves that we would travel more faithfully in Ireland than we had in the United States.  Though we’ve traveled quite a bit in the U.S., we’d fallen into … Continue reading →

Posted in Dublin Life, Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Going Home: Reflections On Visiting Your Home Country

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Glenn Kaufmann

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 , , , , , | 11 Comments

Outside Politics: Voting Away From Home

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Glenn Kaufmann

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 Glenn Kaufmann

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 , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

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

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Glenn Kaufmann

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