Living In Ireland: Making Ireland Home ~ by Dhara Baiden

Living In Ireland - Making Ireland Home

Living In Ireland

Making Ireland Home

by Dhara Baiden

The memory is vivid: my Northern Irish traveling companion, Steven, and I were on a train from Verona, Italy chatting candidly about our six months with Up with People and the various adventures we had encountered as backpackers. A romance seemed inevitable as our trust and respect for each other matured throughout train journeys, ancient ruins, stays at hostels, and all the other delights that come with nomadic student travel.

The time was drawing near for us to bid adieu to each other; as wallets became progressively lighter and clothes wore out, there was no denying that my flight back to Chicago and his journey home to the UK would be an unavoidable and depressing conclusion to an amazing journey.

With this in the back of my mind I was stunned when Steven turned to me and said, “Why don’t you move to Belfast?” I was even more stunned by my own immediate, “Okay!” I look back at the moment like it was a movie scene, with the dramatic music playing in the background as the sensational embrace ensued.

After a quick visit home to pack my bags and drop the bombshell on my bewildered parents, I headed for my new home in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The legalities of the move were simple because my dad is British and I therefore have a British passport. This allowed me to walk into the Social Security office, announce my intentions to live and work in Belfast, and walk out fifteen minutes later with a National Insurance Number (the UK equivalent to a Social Security Number) in-hand.

Finding a place to live was Steven’s mission before I arrived. After some searching he found a quaint house for us to rent that was within walking distance of the center of Belfast. This was a necessity since we did not have a car. Since Steven was already working, I had time alone during my first few days to explore. My first objective was to find a bank so I could open an account and get a credit card.

This was easier said than done. Because I did not have any residence history, I was only able to open a standard savings account. I could not get a check book or debit card, but they did allow me to have an ATM card. I could not get a credit card until I had established a credit history of at least two years. Steven let me use his credit card when necessary, but other than that I had to rely on cash.

The next challenge was to find a job. Unfortunately, my English degree proved relatively useless since specific qualifications are needed to enter Northern Ireland’s job market. This caught me unawares, since in America an English degree could land a graduate an entry-level position in a company (with future hopes of climbing the proverbial ladder). This was not the case in Belfast, but I rose to the challenge and decided to try temp agencies. I signed up with five and waited to see which one would find me work first.

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I was excited when two days later I was called to an educational company called City & Guilds to do temp reception and administration work.

The education system in Britain is entirely different than America’s, so I was clueless about what the company did and how it fit into the educational system. Even worse, I finally had to admit that I could hardly understand anyone when they spoke. Between the accent, the lingo, and the speed at which everyone spoke, I was left flabbergasted. I would answer calls in the office and understand one of every five words. I’d put the caller on hold with hopes of translating to my colleagues, and they would hold their stomachs from laughing hysterically at my attempts to decipher the call.

The accent is enough to leave anyone puzzled, but the Northern Irish also have their own vocabulary of words. Two of my favorites include “scundered,” which is applied when you are incredibly embarrassed (as in, “I just wet my pants in front of 600 people; I’m scundered!”) or “mingin’,” which is used when something is utterly filthy (“That dish has mold growing on it? It’s mingin’!”). On the flip side, it was fun to see how much people loved hearing my American accent.

While I initially struggled with the accents, I also found it hard to handle the rain and year-round chill in the air. I starved for my American comfort foods; there was no Jell-o or Twizzlers to offer me sweet reassurance. Shoe sizes were two sizes smaller and clothes sizes were one size bigger. I was constantly offered cups of tea.

I didn’t know where to buy pants that would have the right fit, how much pillowcases should cost, or which pasta sauce was the best value for money. I sweated at checkout counters busily thinking of conversion rates so I could comprehend the prices of what I was buying.

I kept stepping out in front of cars because they were driving on the left. And “underwear” were “knickers,” “elevators” were “lifts” and “french fries” were “chips.” Travelling suddenly had two L’s in it, and “colour” had sprouted a U. Pronunciations changed – “herbal” no longer had a silent ‘H’ and “vitamins” rhymed with “mittens.”

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Never before had English been a foreign language. And three years later I am still hearing words and expressions that I need explained.

The culture shock was also intense from the political perspective. Northern Ireland is known globally as a war-torn land where the politics between the Irish ‘Catholics’ and the British ‘Protestants’ seems irresolvable. As a foreigner people let me ask questions and challenge ideas without judgment, but the longer I live here the less I comprehend. The interesting thing is that while the world news makes Belfast look like Beirut, I have never seen any troubles first-hand. Belfast has the second lowest crime rate in Europe, so while historical bitterness may be engrained, the society is moving forward. Belfast is a normal city buzzing with life, business people, trendy stores and sidewalk cafes. The city is nestled between the Irish Sea and surrounding hills, allowing for spectacular views and daily excursions.

I am proud to live in Northern Ireland. It is a beautiful country in development and transition with friendly, giving people. Steven and I are now married and settled into our own house on the outskirts of Belfast. Three promotions later, I am still working for City & Guilds and I am also pursuing a diploma in Holistic Medicine. I am an active member of my local church and I help lead a Brownie troop. I would not have believed you if you told me on that Italian train that this is where my life would lead, but we never can know what is around the next bend.

Side Bar:

How can I move abroad?

A good way to experience life in other countries is to sign up with a study/work abroad program with a university or with a volunteer organization. It is worth a search if you have any qualms about the idea of simply packing your bags, boarding a flight, and diving into life someplace new.

Step 1 – contact or visit the Embassy of the country you want to move to in order to ask immigration questions like:

How long can you be in the country as a tourist (ie, without a Visa)?
Will it be possible for you to work in the country?
Are there any organizations in the country you are moving to help foreigners find accommodation, jobs, etc.?

Step 2 – make sure you have a comfortable amount of money in an accessible account in the USA so you can withdraw money for food, lodgings, and any unexpected expenses once you arrive. Ask your bank if your ATM pin number can be used abroad and whether there are any charges for this service. If you are going to use a credit card, ensure you can pay your bills online or that someone in the USA is trustworthy to pay your bills. If you are planning to get a job, arrive with enough savings for at least a month of job hunting.

Step 3 – if you don’t want to search for a place to live before you arrive, ensure you know of a safe hotel or hostel where you can go right after your trip. This will give you a ‘home-base’ to start your search for an apartment or house. If you want to try to find a place to live before you arrive, ask the Embassy if they know of any trustworthy websites for housing in your destination.

Step 4 – make sure you are comfortable with the culture in the place you are moving. If, for example, you have strict dietary or medical requirements or if you are of a specific religious persuasion, make sure your expectations can be met. Spend time on the internet researching the country you are interested in and ensure you can adapt to their culture. Also, find out if there is anyone living in your area from the country you will be traveling to; they could offer invaluable advice.

Step 5 – get to know the currency before you go. Buy some in the USA and get accustomed to what the coins and bills look like. Understand the conversion rate so you know how much you're really spending. And research the cost of the less thought-about items like electricity, gasoline, food, toiletries, etc., as you will need to ensure you have enough money to cover these.

Step 6 – learn the language (at least the basics) by listening to tapes. Or have at least a few sessions with a person from that country.

Step 7 – be prepared for unreliable phone systems. Make sure you have an international calling card that does not have an expiration date. Don’t count on the internet always being readily available.

Step 8 – think carefully about what electrical appliances you bring along if voltages are different. Your CD player, laptop computer, etc., will be a huge waste of luggage space and weight if you are unable to use them.

Step 9 – be prepared for challenges in finding your own place to live since landlords may be hesitant to rent to non-citizens, especially if you are traveling and not working. Find out where people advertise for roommates as this may be a useful way to find accommodation.

Step 10 – ensure that you have sufficient, comprehensive medical insurance that will cover you for your entire stay. If you will be traveling extensively, make sure the insurance covers each country.

Step 11 – be aware that there are baggage weight restrictions for international travel. If you will be carrying a lot with you be prepared to pay a surcharge. If you are going to have belongings shipped to you from the US, make sure you have a reliable place for them to be received.

To contact Dhara Click Here

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