Living abroad, What do you miss the most.

Kim Kardashi Un · 29-11-2014 8:57pm

Carlos Important Lava wrote: »

The Spanish just do not consider other people (as in strangers). It's not explicit rudeness or badness, it's that you just don't exist for them and it doesn't occur to them to think about you at all. I was walking down my street the other day having flown back from London with a massive wheely suitcase. You know the kind that make loads of noise. I got stuck behind two Spanish women who were taking up the entire pavement and waddling along at crawling pace. Anywhere else in the world, they'd have heard my suitcase behind them and moved aside, but in Spain? Nah. I kind of angrily huffed and said 'muchas gracias, eh?' as I walked out onto the main road to get around them and they looked at me in total confusion, like 'what's her problem?', still completely oblivious. They just have no concept of spacial awareness or 'being in the way'. They don't thank you for holding the door open because they haven't even see you. They're too wrapped up in themselves.

The lack of awareness drives me absolutely mental. Some days I think I am going to crack up as the being in the way and having no concept of other people trying to pass is sooooo consistent here.
In comparison to the Spanish I seem to be hyper aware of space, estimating distance and speed. i'm like the terminator walking down the street. I find I am always the one who tucks in my arm or bag so as not to hit the other person. At times I just go like the Bitter sweet symphony guy and just tense up and people invariable bang into me but they are the ones that get the brunt of it. It sounds pathetic but having to walk around Madrid every day you have days where it is just incomprehensible. I don't even want a "o, perdona" when you knock into me, just wake the fck up. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks. I so needed that. Saturday is a particularly ridiculous did to be among the masses here. And don't get me started on the crap maintenance of the paving. Double Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!

keithclancy · 30-11-2014 12:07am

Sunday Carvery Lunch with crap weather outside watching a GAA match with friends

braddun · 30-11-2014 12:11am

people collecting money at your door for the baby

buses that always run on time

the weather

the cheap price of petrol

cheap price of beer in the bar

people driving head on at you,as the car has no power to pass the other one,i don't mind pulling into the ditch

banks that shut at lunch time for lunch

the cheap price to post a letter

new car number plates so you can show off to your friends

baker59 · 02-12-2014 12:44am

Living in Paris for about 3 and a half years now.
Contrary to popular belief (mostly), thankfully I don't have the problem of the rudeness as mentioned about Spain. Politeness seems very important here and sometimes after an interaction, I feel like a dick for not doing something "polite" that I should have done. Again contrary to popular belief, they don't seem to hold grudges about it. The rude stereotype is there in areas and at certain times of the day but I'm one of those now. Get in my way during rush hour and I'll hate you.

Also, the smell of certain areas can bring out the worst in anyone.

I do miss the laid back Irish way. Very relaxed atmosphere.

Food, there are some things that I miss, specifically spar/centra etc deli rolls (cuisine de france). Hot chicken roll. Chips from a chipper ! Goodfellas pizza. Double Decker bars.

Don't miss crisps. Maybe a pack of Hunky Dorys Buffalo but I can do without them.

As one poster said, I don't miss Dublin bus. Metro is cheaper (€1.70 for a single or €67 for a month unlimited)

The humour too.

Jude13 · 09-12-2014 8:59am

Second you on the chipper chips. We go to Dubai quite a bit but they don't even have any proper chippers.

Land 9am: Full Irish at 11am, then out that night and a chipper on the way home.

In winter clothes!

Roll on Christmas

sudzs · 10-12-2014 7:49am

Just moved to Turkey and I miss fresh air. I'm in a city and the smog is terrible. No smoky fuel ban here!

unjedilike · 10-12-2014 8:42am

I've been out of Ireland for almost 10 years, 6 in the states and the last four in Germany. I miss Irish chinese food. Curry specifically. I have yet to find a decent Curry sauce here. Next would be the fry up. The proper sausages are key. I always add lots of malt vinegar, another product you can't get here. I cook a lot of stews and Shepherd's Pies so another product I miss is Branston pickle. My last item is craft beer. Ireland seems to be full of huge varieties of craft beer. I live in the land of beer but it's all big brewery stuff mostly.

gucci · 10-12-2014 9:15am

Living in the UK so cant claim as much home sickness as many of you, but one thing that I really miss is a decent barman or barmaid. I am not talking about a genius cocktail waiter, just some person who can reasonably manage a crowd, is organised and can do the smallest bit of mental arithmetic!! Of course there are a few places that I frequent that have decent staff, but unfortunately I find they are in the minority, for an example you try to order 4 drinks and they stop listening after you say the first one and go pour it and return and ask “Anything else mate……?” ggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Oh and clonakilty..........

jacksie66 · 10-12-2014 9:19am

This post has been deleted.

LucidLife · 10-12-2014 9:27am

jacksie66 wrote: »

Taco chips..

The best taco chips I ever got were in NYC in a chip van after late bar closed. I used get one for the fridge every night!

What I miss atm is chocolate. It's just not the same here in Canada. And being stuck in the middle of Canada I sure miss the Atlantic that I grew up beside.

hfallada · 25-12-2014 2:05pm

unjedilike wrote: »

I've been out of Ireland for almost 10 years, 6 in the states and the last four in Germany. I miss Irish chinese food. Curry specifically. I have yet to find a decent Curry sauce here. Next would be the fry up. The proper sausages are key. I always add lots of malt vinegar, another product you can't get here. I cook a lot of stews and Shepherd's Pies so another product I miss is Branston pickle. My last item is craft beer. Ireland seems to be full of huge varieties of craft beer. I live in the land of beer but it's all big brewery stuff mostly.

The absence of Asian food surprises me about Germany. Especially considering Germany's favorite fast food is Doner( I love them). I have been/lived in various German cities and the absence of Asian Restaurants and even people amazes. There is a handful of Asian restaurants in Munich, yet my Grandparents ****ty village in the West even has a Chinese take away. Most American visitors to Munich/Berlin are shocked there is no Chinatown. But I suppose its the German mindset. Spend a lot on quality and it will last. You walk into any German store and there is seriously very few Chinese made products.

But its surprising all the Irish food you find in Germany eg Kerrygold is Germanys best selling butter, kerrygold cheddar in lidl, Irish meat and fish is fairly common. But I found the German food tastes are very much Ireland 20 years ago. They still only eat what is comfortable and safe with them. All their ethic food other than Turkish is pretty disgusting

InTheTrees · 30-12-2014 1:50pm

hfallada wrote: »

Most American visitors to Munich/Berlin are shocked there is no Chinatown. But I suppose its the German mindset.

Historically... lets face it, germany didnt have the greatest record with minorities.

And after 1945 they were plunged into division and the Cold War and by 1948 China was closed by communism.

The Corinthian · 30-12-2014 2:06pm

InTheTrees wrote: »

Historically... lets face it, germany didnt have the greatest record with minorities.

No, it's just different immigration patterns. So they don't have a Chinatown, but they do have a Kreuzberg.

keithclancy · 30-12-2014 2:38pm

hfallada wrote: »

The absence of Asian food surprises me about Germany. Especially considering Germany's favorite fast food is Doner( I love them). I have been/lived in various German cities and the absence of Asian Restaurants and even people amazes. There is a handful of Asian restaurants in Munich, yet my Grandparents ****ty village in the West even has a Chinese take away. Most American visitors to Munich/Berlin are shocked there is no Chinatown. But I suppose its the German mindset. Spend a lot on quality and it will last. You walk into any German store and there is seriously very few Chinese made products.

But its surprising all the Irish food you find in Germany eg Kerrygold is Germanys best selling butter, kerrygold cheddar in lidl, Irish meat and fish is fairly common. But I found the German food tastes are very much Ireland 20 years ago. They still only eat what is comfortable and safe with them. All their ethic food other than Turkish is pretty disgusting

Really different around my spot, Dusseldorf has a Japanese Quarter:
http://www.japantag-duesseldorf-nrw.de/en/japan-in-duesseldorf/

Wide variety of restaurants around the place

http://justhungry.com/dusseldorf-germany-japantown-frugal-eats

Also a large Indian population, Infosys had their Christmas party in Cologne a few weeks ago and it was in the thousands, although this was for all infosys employees in NRW I think.

The selection of Indian stuff is very good too, there's a new Indian in the Medienhafen that gets the thumbs up from my Indian colleagues (and myself also)

Dusseldorf is not a very pretty City, but its a bit of a German oddity in that its very different to most other Cities i've been to in Germany.

I know for Bavarians that hail from the south it can be a bit of an adjustment

FURET · 31-12-2014 8:16am

Seems I'm the odd one out, but I really don't miss anything. I've a standard of living I couldn't have imagined in Ireland; I live in an interesting, multi-faceted country; drink and sport don't dominate the conversation, and it hardly ever rains! I can go wherever I want to go in the world, whenever I want. I left Ireland for a reason: I was sick of it.

Tom Dunne · 31-12-2014 8:54am

gucci wrote: »

Oh and clonakilty..........

Funny story about Clonakilty.

Any time any of the Irish lads went back home, we had a gentleman's agreement that we would always bring back Clonakilty (we are in the Middle East). Then one day it appeared in the shops here.

We have now all come to the conclusion that we no longer like Clonakilty and that Rudds black pudding is now the new kid on the block. I think we may have overdosed on Clonakilty.

sudzs · 31-12-2014 7:12pm

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Funny story about Clonakilty.

Any time any of the Irish lads went back home, we had a gentleman's agreement that we would always bring back Clonakilty (we are in the Middle East). Then one day it appeared in the shops here.

We have now all come to the conclusion that we no longer like Clonakilty and that Rudds black pudding is now the new kid on the block. I think we may have overdosed on Clonakilty.

No pork of any description here so I miss pudding too! And agree with you on the Rudds. Tried it a year ago and never went back to Clonakilty after that.

keithclancy · 01-01-2015 11:55am

I'm in Ireland visiting for 6 months and now find myself missing home.

I forgot what the drinking culture was like, people peeing in doorways. Empty takeaway rubbish all over the place and IMO racism and xenophobia is much more apparent.

Even the rain here is different, a sort of depressing damp mist that goes on the whole day.

One nice thing was the lack of fireworks, this is the first year we didn't have to put the dog into kennels due to the Dutch pre-apocalyptic fireworks

Wtf happened to taytos. They taste manky now.

Happy new year everybody !

kevjob · 03-01-2015 2:32pm

Has to be Tayto for me and a good fry!

HalloweenJack · 05-01-2015 1:23am

Decent milk, sick of UHT.

I'd also murder a full fry-up.

InTheTrees · 05-01-2015 1:44am

There's a great cafe upstairs at Shannon Airport and I'm usually in there having the full irish within about 20 minutes of my flight landing.

Jude13 · 05-01-2015 5:48am

I miss the good old bag of chips. Just back from home and due to manflu I only had one bag when I was at home.

My OH tried to convince me that SuperMac's had good chips, I had never been. The lies!!! They are nothing on a good Dublin chipper

Lucena · 18-03-2015 4:59pm

Living in France here.

The one thing I miss the most is pub culture. I know it often gets a rough ride here on boards (people langered out of their box pissing in doorways and the like) but I think it plays an important role in facilitating social interaction.

Here in France most bars are actually cafés, opening at six or seven in the morning and closing around 7 in the evening. A lot of them generally have as their business model: get four or five smelly old seasoned alcoholics in and keep them drinking all day. There are of course “proper” bars that stay open until around midnight, but these are rare enough, only in larger towns and cities, and generally mostly for a younger crowd (I’m 40 by the way). Other than that, there is not much socializing done outside of the home. I’ve been working in France for ten years now, and I haven’t once gone for a drink with colleagues, and as a result I haven’t made any friends. My OH (who is French and has friends who she thinks are also my friends) says to me “Well why don’t you invite X around for a meal”. F*ck that, the step up is too large. If you invite someone around for a meal, you’re also inviting their OH and any kids they may have, you have to spend ages cooking for them, and then they’re going to stay for two to three hours, and then they feel obliged to invite you to theirs at some stage. If you don’t hit it off, that can be a long two to three hours.

In Ireland, you can always go for drinks after work, either with one person or in a group, and see where it goes from there. You can always head after one drink if the person is boring the arse of you, or stay longer if you feel like it. Or maybe you’ll make friends that you’re happy to go for a couple of drinks with, but don’t necessarily ever feel the need to invite back to yours for a meal. In France it seems to be either all or nothing, whereas in Ireland there are different levels of friendship.

I also miss the GAA matches. I was never huge into GAA when I was in Ireland, but still enjoyed going to the odd game now and then. Maybe going for a pint or two beforehand, chatting to anyone and everyone, fans of the different teams mixing easily with no tension between them. Always a relaxed atmosphere. In France, the main sport is soccer, and I followed my OH to the matches for a while, but stopped because of the scummy atmosphere. The first match I went to, I nearly got hit on the head by a bottle thrown by opposing supporters and when they lost the game, they ripped up the seats and tried to throw them at the home supporters. Riot police outside the stadium before and after the game, supporters having to be separated.

Summer. Ok, the weather is better in France, but during the summer, everything f*cking closes, so a lot of towns are dead. At least in Ireland, in spite of occasional bad weather, there’s a bit of life around the place.

FURET · 19-03-2015 5:25am

Lucena wrote: »

Living in France here.

The one thing I miss the most is pub culture. I know it often gets a rough ride here on boards (people langered out of their box pissing in doorways and the like) but I think it plays an important role in facilitating social interaction.

Different strokes I guess. Pub culture is one of the reasons I left Ireland.

SeantheMan · 19-03-2015 5:27am

I miss sitting with the lads on a Saturday/Sunday and watching the footie all day with a fry up. Then a few beers later in a proper pub.
Matches don't generally start here till 1am or 4am due to the time difference.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 21-03-2015 1:08am

Norwesterner wrote: »

Posting from Latin America.
Here's my big list.
Sense of security. Being able to walk home alone at night. Not having metal bars on all your windows.
The nice gardens and the pride people take in their homes (in general).
Civic pride and duty, good manners (yes, Ireland has it in spades compared to most countries).
Irelands Atlantic coast. We take it's beauty for granted.
Cosy, snug bars with sofas and real fires, as opposed to hard seats, fluorescent lights and formica tables in canteens.
Being able to visit family and friends for a cuppa tea and maybe blag a sandwich or two. Especially Mammy.
Reading the Sunday papers in my local cafe, sipping a latte (yes, I'm bourgeoiuse). Papers abroad are very dumbed down and not very challenging.
Watching Irish current affairs programmes/debates etc and shouting at the TV.
The fact that most Irish people are aware of worldly matters and able to maintain a conversation or debate on issues in other countries (Palestine, Syria etc).
The 4 seasons. All of them.
Sipping a hot whisky by a turf fire.
Long Summer evenings.
No mosquitoes or cockroaches. (though Irish midgees are worse than any mosquito)
The free museums and galleries.
It's old buildings and range of architecture.
So much more.

Now start a thread on what I DON'T miss.

Where in Latin America do you live?

I miss the security as well, but it actually makes me nostalgic for Korea, not Ireland. Korea has virtually no crime at all. Ireland does seem remarkably safe compared to here though.

I also miss having seasons.

The Corinthian · 21-03-2015 12:48pm

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

I also miss having seasons.

In fairness, Ireland doesn't have much by way of seasons. Rain, occasional sun, but otherwise cloudy or overcast most of the year, with a temperature range of zero to twenty degrees centigrade for 355 out of 365 days.

One of the things I had to become accustomed to here was that the temperature could go over 35 degrees during the Summer, with sunny cloudless days and snow for weeks or months on end frequently going below -15 in the winter. The difference between the seasons is far less marked in Ireland than it is in many other places.

I would admit that, at least compared to Switzerland, Ireland is a far more windy place.

InTheTrees · 21-03-2015 5:52pm

I always notice the high humidity in the summers in Ireland when I go back. It can be 10degs and yet 90% humidity. You wear a tShirt and get chilly so you put on a sweater and you start to drip with sweat, so you take it off and get chills. And round and round it goes.

Never really noticed when I was younger.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 30-03-2015 6:11pm

The Corinthian wrote: »

In fairness, Ireland doesn't have much by way of seasons. Rain, occasional sun, but otherwise cloudy or overcast most of the year, with a temperature range of zero to twenty degrees centigrade for 355 out of 365 days.

One of the things I had to become accustomed to here was that the temperature could go over 35 degrees during the Summer, with sunny cloudless days and snow for weeks or months on end frequently going below -15 in the winter. The difference between the seasons is far less marked in Ireland than it is in many other places.

I would admit that, at least compared to Switzerland, Ireland is a far more windy place.

I know, Korea had a similar range to what you describe, it's far more noticeable there. (Oddly Koreans often believe that no other country has seasons

)

Colombia has no seasons at all however.

Long Gone · 31-03-2015 6:44am

keithclancy wrote: »

Wtf happened to taytos. They taste manky now.

They always tasted manky - You just never noticed before ! .:D

Qualitymark · 31-03-2015 7:24am

Fascinating thread. I'd love it if people would put the place they're living in, in bold, at the top of every reply - some people don't say it; some say it in a first reply and not later ones, and who's going to page back to see where they are…

Funny thing about batch bread - a big American newspaper had a piece raving about Dublin batch bread as one of the great world breads a year or so ago; I was expecting Irish bakeries to pick this up and start exporting. Arrah, not at all!

The Spanish and surging through doors without saying thanks - it's not just the Spanish; a couple of Irish boys did the same on me the other day. I was tempted to say "You're welcome" to them, but realised they were just lost in a dream. Maybe it's the same in Spain - maybe they go into a zone when they're on the street.

When I was a kid in California I longed and longed for rain. One day I was out and people warned me to get in because it was going to rain. I stood out hopefully, wanting the soft, cool feeling of rain on my face and beading on my hair. What came down was like being doused in a bucket of warm water - wet to my underwear in seconds! There's nothing like Irish rain.

mickeyrooo · 31-03-2015 8:11am

Croatia
I miss a proper functioning government and economy...and sometimes home!!

Xdancer · 31-03-2015 9:31am

Southern Spain

I miss green grass and green fields. I live on the edge of a desertic region and everything is brown.

InTheTrees · 31-03-2015 1:21pm

Qualitymark wrote: »

The Spanish and surging through doors without saying thanks - it's not just the Spanish; a couple of Irish boys did the same on me the other day. I was tempted to say "You're welcome" to them, but realised they were just lost in a dream. Maybe it's the same in Spain - maybe they go into a zone when they're on the street.

USA

Also the etiquette of walking down the street. The lack of manners on the pavement in europe is pronounced. I notice it in Ireland every time I come home. Usually when you walk along a crowded pavement its necessary to perform a kind of dance to avoid hitting other people, almost everyone does it.

Except coming home to Ireland (or UK). It takes me a few days to relearn the way to walk down the street which is to tense up ones shoulders and take the hit, because other people are not going to move for you whatever. You just slam into people all the time because they're not going to move.

And I'm an over six foot, well built male. And after a few day i'm banging into kids, old people, etc, just ike everyone else.

Its curious.

Qualitymark · 02-04-2015 10:40pm

mickeyrooo wrote: »

Croatia
I miss a proper functioning government and economy...and sometimes home!!

Feck, so do we in Ireland!

keithclancy · 03-04-2015 9:05am

Qualitymark wrote: »

Feck, so do we in Ireland!

You think you do at least.

Compared to Croatia ... mmm ... nah.

pajor · 05-04-2015 8:35pm

My family, Lyons tea and pint bottles of Bulmers.

In that order. Otherwise very little actually. :pac:

C.D. · 19-04-2015 12:21am

Miss feeling safe and having a reasonably uncorrupted state. Living in US now and I rarely feel 100% safe and find it difficult to trust large institutions here.

Formosa · 27-04-2015 7:24am

Living in Abu Dhabi, 6 months at this stage.

Don't miss a whole lot yet, main thing I do miss is being able to stroll to the local for a couple of pints without it being the ordeal it is over here...

Cunning Stunt · 29-04-2015 8:57am

Jude13 wrote: »

I miss the good old bag of chips. Just back from home and due to manflu I only had one bag when I was at home.

My OH tried to convince me that SuperMac's had good chips, I had never been. The lies!!! They are nothing on a good Dublin chipper

This. My niece in Ireland just posted up a pic of her chipper food on facebook - could have killed her. Would give anything for a bag of chips covered in salt and vinegar mmmm They don't even do vinegar on your chips in Denmark

keithclancy · 29-04-2015 11:32am

pajor wrote: »

My family, Lyons tea and pint bottles of Bulmers.

In that order. Otherwise very little actually. :pac:

Don't they sell Magners in Albert Heijn, haven't looked in a while actually.

Lingua Franca · 29-04-2015 2:05pm

No, AH only sells Jillz. I think you can get Magners in Mitra and some branches of Gall & Gall.

mob · 30-04-2015 12:59am

Cream Crackers
Lucozade
Spice Burgers
White Pudding

Everything else I can live without

Wompa1 · 06-06-2015 8:01am

Phoenix, Arizona
3.5 years

20 days paid holidays a year. Generous bank holidays. Employee rights. Social Welfare (Never used it but good to know it's there). Laid back culture. Temperate Weather. Fresh Air

Lingua Franca · 06-06-2015 1:44pm

mob wrote: »

Cream Crackers

Can you not find those in Germany? I'm in the Netherlands but I can still find those in most supermarkets if I scour the shelves. You need to carefully check the part baked goods, crackers/rusks *and* the biscuits sections because they usually only have one brand of cream crackers and the category they're put into varies from store to store, but I can almost always find a packet.

mob · 08-06-2015 9:42pm

Lingua Franca wrote: »

Can you not find those in Germany? I'm in the Netherlands but I can still find those in most supermarkets if I scour the shelves. You need to carefully check the part baked goods, crackers/rusks *and* the biscuits sections because they usually only have one brand of cream crackers and the category they're put into varies from store to store, but I can almost always find a packet.

Only place I can find them is in English/international food shops, so theve become a bit of a treat.

must have a look next time im in NL

munchkin_utd · 10-06-2015 9:18am

Lingua Franca wrote: »

Can you not find those in Germany? I'm in the Netherlands but I can still find those in most supermarkets if I scour the shelves. You need to carefully check the part baked goods, crackers/rusks *and* the biscuits sections because they usually only have one brand of cream crackers and the category they're put into varies from store to store, but I can almost always find a packet.

in germany I've only ever seen them in the food sections of the bigger department stores, but they are so handy to get to that its not really a problem.
as for

Lucozade
Spice Burgers
White Pudding

can live without them!

I'd also point out that (english made Unilever) PG tips are very similar if not the same as (english made Unilever) Lyons tea - and every ethno shop has pg tips for some reason.

With summer in full swing, again missing not going to the big matches, but will be home for the 2 football and 2nd hurling semi finals and I'm sorely tempted to book a flight for the all ireland football final - so wont be doing too bad this year !

keithclancy · 10-06-2015 12:15pm

munchkin_utd wrote: »

can live without them!

Me too ... I'm probably better off without them anyway :P

You can also order Barrys Tea online

http://barrysteashop.ie/

Gets cheaper the more you buy.

Jude13 · 10-06-2015 1:30pm

I am after having the mother of crap days and I would love to go out into town for a pint with pals and forget all about it.

Sadly I cant. Stupid expat life.

nervous_twitch · 10-06-2015 1:49pm

Peanut Butter! It's available in France alright but most often in the 'foreign foods' section and priced accordingly. I refuse to pay that much. I don't understand how a whole country could be dismissive of peanut butter

Living abroad, What do you miss the most.

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