A different sort of immigration topic

PittIsIt

So, I'm quite familiar that there is a sort of immigration... event happening in Europe. Some people see it as an issue (or disaster) and some people see it as an opportunity. I've read numerous places where people hate "the Polish" or "the Brazilians" etc coming in and taking jobs. I get that to some degree, I have my own opinions but they're kind of irrelevant to the topic at hand.

So starting my part of the story. I'm a young American, and it's in my head that I want to uproot my family and move across the Atlantic to Ireland. I'm an experienced Chemical Engineer with additional experience managing people, and part of my reasoning is Ireland's burgeoning pharma industry. Part of it is the landscape and mild climate. Most of it lies in that America is a wreck socially and I want to connect myself therewith to a progressive, peaceful state. Add in the fact that I have 1.4L of Irish blood (1 grandparent for those too lazy to do the math) and it's a slam dunk.

I'm well aware this is a difficult road. I'm seeing it already, even though the government specifically calls out my background as a "needed skill" and makes it easy for me to come to work, it's hard finding a company that doesn't put you below Irish citizens, just because. I get that, and I fully accept it as a barrier. But I'm going to continue trying.

Now the fun part. People seem to have disdain for immigrants because they come in, take low skill jobs away from others who need them, and end up on welfare being paid for by taxpayers (heavy stereotypes, I'm aware). Not everyone will come out and say it, but I would bet that for everyone who speaks out, another 3-4 hold it secretly. If I were to successfully carry out my plan, that would make me an immigrant. But, truth be told, I'm bringing a family, a savings, a plan to live there permanently. I'm also bringing a skill, one labeled as deficient by the Irish government, and I wouldn't be just taking a job at a hotel or at a bar.

We get this a lot in America. This mentality that all immigrants are bad typically stems from Mexicans coming over to do hard labor, but there are many other people from around the globe who come to try to make their lives better. When a Chinese or an Indian intellectual come to attend college, or get a job with a large company, the xenophobia rages. They say "can't you hire an American, they're taking a job away" when in truth, the company just wants to hire who is most qualified. Sometimes, that's an intellectual from another country. But haters hate regardless, it's a serious issue around here.

In short, I'm asking what yinz think will happen when I finally move. Will I be treated as an outsider, hell bent on stealing precious jobs that should be filled with Irish intellectuals? Will I be lumped in with every other immigrant? Or are the xenophobic reports blown out of proportion because that side is louder?

If you could, I'd ask that you give:
1) your personal opinion
2) your gauge of what the typical herd opinion of people in Ireland, and how I'd be treated.

And of course, the reason I came here is because I'm finding people on this board brutally honest, so please do your worst if it's the truth. I mean, Donald Trump is vying to be my president, I've heard it all.

shane9689

First off, Americans will always get treated differently to other migrants because they are considered part of the "western world".

ALOT of irish people have an american conenction and alot of Irish people feel a personal or family bond to the United States....also youre a native english speaker, which helps alot.
So with that said, most Irish people will welcome you! and be curious about you!


However, you may always be "The American" but you wont be the only person of your kind and if you put in enough effort, you can usually intergrate quite well...racist and xenephobic people are everywhere, so ignore stupid comments if you get them (they should be rare anyways)

look up a guy called Des Bishop.... He was from Boston but had an Irish connection. He moved back to Ireland and intergrated quite well. He even speaks irish fluently!

Sir Osis of Liver.

As long as you don't eat our swans you're welcome.

tomwaterford

Watch the film the field

shane9689

also, i want to add. The migrants coming from third world countries are viewed in a completely different light as those coming from america or other countries in Europe.... Culturally theres not as many barriers between Ireland and the U.S. and if anything, the Irish are stealing the jobs in the U.S not the other way around :P

major bill

As Brendan Gleeson said to the yank in the film 'in Bruges' ''Just try not to be too loud or Crass''

Tigger

do you like beer ?

PittIsIt

shane9689 wrote: »

look up a guy Des Bishop!

I love des! The fact that I get the humor is great.

One eyed Jack

In your case OP, the grass definitely seems to be 40 shades greener.

I cannot stand the "dey tuk our jawbs" mentality myself as though people think they should be hired for a job, or entitled to call dibs on a job that doesn't yet exist for anyone, simply based upon their nationality, or the fact that they were born here.

Hell if you're coming here to contribute to our economy and make a better life for yourself at the same time, why wouldn't you take the opportunity when you're in a career that's in demand?

Nice to see the brain drain coming our way for a change!

PittIsIt

Tigger wrote: »

do you like beer

People think it's hilarious when I order Guinness at a restaurant. I can't drink piss bud light, or miller light, or Yeungling. Stuff just doesn't look right.

Tigger

Des Bishop is a bit done and he dosen't drink beer
try i liked Des before he was soo overplayed

PittIsIt

One eyed Jack wrote: »

In your case OP, the grass definitely seems to be 40 shades greener.

I cannot stand the "dey tuk our jawbs" mentality myself as though people think they should be hired for a job, or entitled to call dibs on a job that doesn't yet exist for anyone, simply based upon their nationality, or the fact that they were born here.

Hell if you're coming here to contribute to our economy and make a better life for yourself at the same time, why wouldn't you take the opportunity when you're in a career that's in demand?

Nice to see the brain drain coming our way for a change!

Thanks for that.

The hardest part is going to be that I am qualified for intellectual jobs, but not too the point that companies would fight to have me work there. I was talking with a recruiter, he said the biggest thing is that companies see hiring an expat as a huge risk, especially since there is s price to pay the government and a price to pay for relocation. I think my best bet is going to be networking, but not being in the actual country really hampers networking ability.

Junkyard Tom

G'WAY. :mad:

jamesbere

You'll easily get a good welcoming. If you meet anyone that has a problem with you and your family moving over to Ireland to settle tell them to f**k off and remind them how many Irish have settled in America to live.

Mark Tapley

It seems strange that someone with your level of education would have such poor command of the English language.
If I were you I wouldn't harp on about your 1.4 liters of Irish blood or you might find yourself the subject of derision.
Before leaving America it might be an idea to familiarise yourself with world events.

Junkyard Tom

Keep off the moors, stick to the roads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJHIL0A3WA4

Tigger

Mark Tapley wrote: »

It seems strange that someone with your level of education would have such poor command of the English language.
If I were you I wouldn't harp on about your 1.4 liters of Irish blood or you might find yourself the subject of derision.
Before leaving America it might be an idea to familiarise yourself with world events.

i'm sorry but WHAT?

Sheep Lover

Stay out of Cavan, there be the monsters.

Mark Tapley

Tigger wrote: »

i'm sorry but WHAT?

I accept your apology. What, what?

Tigger

whats wrong with you, like really?

Mark Tapley

Tigger wrote: »

whats wrong with you, like really?

Ah I see. You are obviously like totally a valley girl.

PittIsIt

Mark Tapley wrote: »

It seems strange that someone with your level of education would have such poor command of the English language.
If I were you I wouldn't harp on about your 1.4 liters of Irish blood or you might find yourself the subject of derision.
Before leaving America it might be an idea to familiarise yourself with world events.

On language, I'll admit my opener wasn't the best, it's hard making a mini epic sound great without editing. And editing is hard with a one year old pawing at the screen.

Nationality is a real thing in America. Practically no one is truly Native American, we're all European immigrants. It would be the same if the Irish kept track of how much of their line were native Pict-like people, first invasion Celts, Norman or Anglo-Saxon, etc, but yinz are able to see past most of that. Or maybe that was just so long ago you don't can't really know.

I'd be really interested in a list of pertinant world events. I'm from a generation where we're shying away from traditional news sources. I get a lot of news from other places. Even so, most American news is American centric. I hate saying no one cares about Europe, but 99% of people don't even know basic facts about Europe. I know that there is a Syrian immigration crisis, which most of my colleagues don't even know exists. I have read opinions about the developing countries' immigrants in Europe flooding into developed ones looking for jobs. I also am well aware of a certain referendum earlier this year. What else would you suggest I don't really have a grasp on?

What's "yinz"?

Junkyard Tom

PittIsIt wrote: »

What else would you suggest

Learn to ignore people who have little else to do but nit-pick others' posts in an attempt to feel better about themselves. Generally we're a welcoming bunch in Ireland.

Deleted User wrote: »

What's "yinz"?

It's a bit like "you'uns", 'you ones', 'you guys', or 'ye'.

PittIsIt

[Deleted User] wrote: »

What's "yinz"?

Western Pennsylvania colloquialism for a plural "you". It originally came from Scots-Irish immigrants. The theory is that the Irish had a hard time differentiating that there were two different forms for "you" in Irish but only one in English, so they typically used "you ones" in the plural. This became yinz.

Mark Tapley

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

Learn to ignore people who have little else to do but nit-pick others' posts in a an attempt to feel better about themselves. Generally we're a welcoming bunch in Ireland.

If the OP is job hunting a badly constructed C.V will harm his prospects.
Feel free to be all diddly idddly if you want but being realistic would better help the OP.

PittIsIt

PittIsIt wrote: »

Western Pennsylvania colloquialism for a plural "you". It originally came from Scots-Irish immigrants. The theory is that the Irish had a hard time differentiating that there were two different forms for "you" in Irish but only one in English, so they typically used "you ones" in the plural. This became yinz.

Interesting. Never have seen it written before.

Mark Tapley

PittIsIt wrote: »

On language, I'll admit my opener wasn't the best, it's hard making a mini epic sound great without editing. And editing is hard with a one year old pawing at the screen.

Nationality is a real thing in America. Practically no one is truly Native American, we're all European immigrants. It would be the same if the Irish kept track of how much of their line were native Pict-like people, first invasion Celts, Norman or Anglo-Saxon, etc, but yinz are able to see past most of that. Or maybe that was just so long ago you don't can't really know.

I'd be really interested in a list of pertinant world events. I'm from a generation where we're shying away from traditional news sources. I get a lot of news from other places. Even so, most American news is American centric. I hate saying no one cares about Europe, but 99% of people don't even know basic facts about Europe. I know that there is a Syrian immigration crisis, which most of my colleagues don't even know exists. I have read opinions about the developing countries' immigrants in Europe flooding into developed ones looking for jobs. I also am well aware of a certain referendum earlier this year. What else would you suggest I don't really have a grasp on?

I am aware that Americans qualify their Nationality with their ancestry . If someone who is patently American claims Irishness they can be subject to ridicule or sideways looks.
I am not saying this is right but it is something to be aware of.
As regards your spelling and sentence construction ,I mention it as you put yourself forward as an intellectual and frequently people misrepresent themselves on boards.
I think the BBC or Channel 4 (UK) are good sources of news if you have access to them.

Stheno

PittIsIt wrote: »

Thanks for that.

The hardest part is going to be that I am qualified for intellectual jobs, but not too the point that companies would fight to have me work there. I was talking with a recruiter, he said the biggest thing is that companies see hiring an expat as a huge risk, especially since there is s price to pay the government and a price to pay for relocation. I think my best bet is going to be networking, but not being in the actual country really hampers networking ability.

This will be your biggest challenge, are you active on linkedin?

Also what truly specialist skills do you have that no one out of 320 million people in the EU Have?

As someone in their mid forties, I can go to Australia as I have very specialist It related skills, do you have the same?

One Irish grandparent, assuming that person was born in Ireland, entitled to an Irish passport, does not have to compete with EU citizens to obtain a visa, just has to compete with them the way any other EU citizen does.

Tigger

Mark Tapley wrote: »

Ah I see. You are obviously like totally a valley girl.

Obviously