What will you definitely *not* miss? aka Rants about where you live now

Suaimhneach

America

• Wealth gap - being surrounded by poverty and it being treated as normal
• People who cant speak fast or understand sarcasm (not all, but most)
• Casual racism
• Republicans (even though I ended up with some good friends who are)
• Endless sunshine (seriously, how can I justify staying inside if it's gorgeous out, ALWAYS)
• Fake smiles and pleantries and Valley Girl accents (oh my gooood)
• People jogging every morning at 6am (stay in bed!)
• Living so far from everyone - a problem in the US is people can live an hour from the office so rare that people hangout for drinks/socialising
• MBA grads
• Volunteering for the sake of making the world a bit of a better place, rather than to make your resume look good

Tom Dunne

A lot of what I am about to say definitely falls into the "First World Problems" category.

Traffic - to describe the traffic in the Middle East as downright nasty, intimidating and an extremely frustrating would be putting it lightly. I got to the stage where I was getting into work, after driving 14 km through a bunch of crazed maniacs for almost an hour, where I was frazzled, worn out and utterly pi**ed off before my day even began. Instead of leaving at 6:30am, I now leave at 7:50am and typically arrive at 8:10am, non-frazzled and ready to go.

Getting stuff done - there was an excellent article in the Economist a week or two about Arabic bureaucracy. I found myself nodding and smiling in unison with the author. Getting stuff done takes forever.

Fruit and Veg - very poor quality and typically lasts 2-3 days tops. While pretty much everything is imported, it frustrates me to see fresh fruit and vegetables being transported around in open-back trucks in this heat. It's no wonder they go off so quick.

wuffly

Wealth gap
Expat entitlement - the attitude, the behavior, the generally crappy way people treat each other based on nationality and job snobbery
Queue jumping knob jockey's on roads and in shops - you are not smart you're an a$$hole. :mad:
Mam/Sir, can i help you - no please leave me alone. No you need this (stupid pointless cream that is currently on promotion and that I actually know nothing about) for your wrinkles. :eek:
Asking for something specific getting something totally different - Same Same - but different!
Getting anything official done is tedious soul destroying mission.. that takes forever
6 months of hot hot heat
45 days maternity leave
School fees
Ridiculous mark ups on everything!

R.D. aka MR.D

I've been living in Asia for almost 4 years. I'm currently in Japan but some of these apply to everywhere I've been:

1. Being stared at. It doesn't happen so much in Japan except if I dare to go outside in a drizzle without an umbrella. Even if I have a hat or waterproof coat on (even though it's not really even worth putting your hood up in a wee drizzle), it's 'weird' and deserving of a good old stare. But I'm so sick of sticking out like a sore thumb and being treated like an oddity.

2. Weird expats. Asia is home to the socially awkward expats of the world. So many weirdos. And even fairly normal people can turn weird here. I knew a guy in Korea who was totally normal, great guy but I accepted a job here to work with him in Japan and in the space of a year and a half, he's turned into a total freak. He just stares beyond the top of your head when you ask him a question. He's like a zombie. Very odd. But it's mostly just people who have no idea how to carry on a normal conversation.

3. Being treated like crap because I'm a woman. Japan is terrible for it. The lack of respect for women is disgusting. Sorry I'm not a delicate little flower. That's not how I was raised. I was brought up to believe that I was equal to men in every way and just as capable as them.

4. Different styles of showing emotion. I feel very lonely here sometimes because people don't show their emotions in the same way. Over 3 years ago my grandfather died and my job treated me terribly. Absolutely no empathy. It's almost like you're not allowed to be a human being (see also number 5). Having emotions is not 'normal' and it's undesirable. It just seems so cold (but I totally get it's a cultural thing, but I'm just sick of it).

5. No sick days. People going to work when they are too sick to be there doesn't bother me but the fact that even if you're absolutely dying then you're expected to come into work or you can very quickly be fired or not have your contract reviewed. For being genuinely sick for one day.

6. The lack of understanding of how germs are spread. I think people see Japanese people wearing those masks and think they are very hygienic but it isn't so. I'm so sick of being sneezed on and coughed on, it's a joke! Don't even ask about China......

7. Asian's usually don't have ovens in their houses as standard.

8. Terrible beer

9. The whole 'respecting authority even when they are wrong' thing. Yeah, that's not going to get anybody very far. The 90 year old boss wants things done like it's still the 80's. Maybe someone could gently point out to him that times are changing. No? Okay, we'll just let the business run itself into the ground so.

10. Being treated like an idiot just because you don't understand the language. Um....no matter what language you are speaking I still recognise my own damn name seeing as I'm the only person in a 1000 mile radius with that name... I'm pretty sure you're talking about me. Don't act shocked when I ask why you're talking about me.

But honestly the number one thing that means that I have to move home is the expats and how disgusting or pathetic some of them are. Not everybody but a large enough percentage to know that I never want to turn into that.

fits

In Finland. It got dark at 2.30 today. I wont miss that.

Suaimhneach

Yeah, I miss late nights of sunshine in Ireland! Still bright at 10pm? I love it.

fits

Well we get the white nights in finland too. But we pay for it.

Ruu

Politics, I couldn't give a hoot but it is in your face everywhere and even without looking at a television.

Guns, not getting into a debate about who is right/wrong and I definitely don't have any solution but fed up to the teeth with it, and all the stupid same old arguments over and over after an incident.

Wompa1

I'm living in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Air - A couple of months into living here, a co-worker asked what was most different. Even that quickly, I said the air. I've been to humid places in the US too but the air just isn't the same. Northern California is gorgeous but the air just isn't the same as Ireland, I think it might be due to foliage. Ditto Washington, Oregon, Connecticut, Upstate New York. I recently saw Conor McGregor make similar remarks. Irish air is about as good as it gets. The air in Arizona and Nevada in particular is just awful dry, harsh air.

I was determined to stay in shape when I got here. Even in an air conditioned gym, I just couldn't do much. I find myself short of breath very quickly. Walking is about all I can do.

Quality of Food - America has some of the best food in the world. I've had the best pizza I have ever had here, best burger, best steak, best chicken, best Italian, best Thai etc. etc. Even things I had hated in America food wise originally like bread and chocolate. I've had the best bread and chocolate here. I really like some of Ghiradelli's chocolate and bread from some of the bakeries in the area. BUT....

If you want the best of everything or even food of a standard close to that which you'd find in a butchers or regular grocery store in Ireland, you'll be broke. The good stuff is very expensive. The affordable food is just terrible! About 4 months into living here, I got very sick one day at work after lunch...I've had tummy aches but that day something seemed really wrong.

Ever since, I've had stomach problems every night and sometimes during the day too. I think I ate some bad meat and it did some serious damage...the FDA are for sale, they don't regulate properly...it's disgusting.

The Military Industrial Complex - Pretty much nothing can be discussed without somebody trying to spin it into a rant about the veterans. You can't go to a sporting event without a tribute to veterans. As a private citizen, more and more of the social services or even benefits usually provided by employers are being stripped away, while the active service men and women and veterans get them. Living here without a service record or millions in the bank, makes me feel like a third class citizen.

Healthcare - I got prescribed Vicodin by a dentist for a toothache. I was once prescribed some antibiotics and steroids..I didn't realize, I had not received my prescription health card from my insurers. They tried to charge me over $600...the generic brands cost $28! I worked for a company, where the CEO announced an AGM that we had a good year because the Flu vaccine turned out to be a dud, so people had to pay twice to get the new batch....I could go on. Irish Healthcare is terrible too...I would not look forward to going back to the Irish Healthcare but I would not miss the American healthcare.

Selfishness - People here on a one on one basis are very nice. I think the OP said he doesn't like Republicans, though he had many friends who are Republicans. I also have Republican friends...I believe when people are one on one or in a small group, they are as nice as anybody. Get Americans into a large group or collective and they are a-holes. Go into a busy shop, they are selfish a-holes, driving on publics road (no indicators, will speed up rather than let you in). As a nation\society...we're pretty terrible (Americans, I'll identify myself with the group because I am right now!)

CelticRambler

The inability of the French to communicate effectively, or even to understand what it means to communicate. We have a persistent problem here of events not being announced/publicised until after they've taken place ... but everyone knows when (and where) it's on! No they feckin' well don't!!! :mad:

But as I'm one of these "see-problem-fix-problem" types, I offered to design and manage our local festival's website, an event that likes to think of itself as the major international meeting place for traditional instrument makers. Two years later, the so-called "Commission de Communication" still doesn't believe there's any need to put any information on the website about the July 2016 event until March or April. "Well most of our visitors only buy tickets in June" ... Yeah, maybe because you don't give them any other choice. Feckin' eejits :rolleyes:

Oh and then there are all the nutters on the French version on DoneDeal who think they can sell their stuff secondhand for more than it costs to buy new!

LeeLooLee

Spain.

- Ignorant, self absorbed people everywhere who won't move over even an inch to let you past in the street. I generally feel invisible.

- People treating me like I'm a complete idiot because I don't speak perfect Spanish. I've never felt as stupid as I feel here. It's not as if my Spanish is bad - I can certainly communicate and get by - but people can see I'm not a native and speak to me like a 3-year-old.

- Bureaucracy is a joke. It takes about 5 trips to this or that office to get anything done. It took me forever to even get registered as a resident. It's incredibly user unfriendly and infuriating.

- Casual racism. It's completely acceptable to make jokes about blacks, Asians or any other minority.

-Narrow mindedness. I can't believe the number of Spanish people who declare that Spain is the best country or Spanish food is the best, who have never been anywhere else in their lives. There are an awful lot of people here who think Spain is the centre of the universe, and anyone who does anything differently to them is plain wrong. There's nothing tongue in cheek about it, they really, truly believe that their way is the only way. I rarely encounter this attitude in Ireland.

iusedtoknow

LeeLooLee wrote: »

Spain.

- Ignorant, self absorbed people everywhere who won't move over even an inch to let you past in the street. I generally feel invisible.

Not to mention in shops etc. Spanish people are the rudest to people they don't know and don't have to be nice to

- People treating me like I'm a complete idiot because I don't speak perfect Spanish. I've never felt as stupid as I feel here. It's not as if my Spanish is bad - I can certainly communicate and get by - but people can see I'm not a native and speak to me like a 3-year-old.

It's a horrible feeling, what is even worse is that they often think they speak better english than you do spanish (rarely the case) and insist on talking incomprehensible gibberish that they picked up in school. That said, when my wife (catalan) moved to Madrid, they spoke to her in the same childlike way, as they heard her catalan accent

Bureaucracy is a joke. It takes about 5 trips to this or that office to get anything done. It took me forever to even get registered as a resident. It's incredibly user unfriendly and infuriating.

I actually found it comforting to know that spaniards were as infuriated by it. I just realized that I needed to take EVERYTHING and have photocopies of it all in triplicate - then not use half of it. After 8 years I was a pro at empadron and seguridad social offices

-Narrow mindedness. I can't believe the number of Spanish people who declare that Spain is the best country or Spanish food is the best, who have never been anywhere else in their lives. There are an awful lot of people here who think Spain is the centre of the universe, and anyone who does anything differently to them is plain wrong. There's nothing tongue in cheek about it, they really, truly believe that their way is the only way. I rarely encounter this attitude in Ireland.

You know, I think this is down to fear and pride more than anything. I lived in Spain for years, and loved life there - except of course for the crippling crisis from 2006 (i was lucky, always had work but price creep was horrible). However I now work in the US with a lot of people from Spain, and they all say the same thing - their attitude changed when they learned to speak english. They were comfortable in Spain, and would comfortably travel in Latin America... knew how to get stuff done but would be afraid to be seen as idiots (in the same way they see non native spanish speakers as idiots). Once that fear lifts it gets easier.

TBH - the same attitude is present in the US - no need to really travel when you have so much on offer in the US.

ASoberThought

Spain (Madrid)

I echo the points above and would also like to add the autocratic approach of Spanish bosses in the working environment.

Can't wait to leave this country, it has been my least favourite country to live in.

iusedtoknow

ASoberThought wrote: »

Spain (Madrid)

I echo the points above and would also like to add the autocratic approach of Spanish bosses in the working environment.

Can't wait to leave this country, it has been my least favourite country to live in.

I really like it, culturally at least...especially in the summer - you're right about bosses though. It is very top down and they don't explain themselves at all - it is just yes or no and that is it.

It was a relief to get away from that.

One thing I do miss though....christmas lotes - we'd get a leg of jamon and really nice wines every year.

ASoberThought

iusedtoknow wrote: »

I really like it, culturally at least...especially in the summer - you're right about bosses though. It is very top down and they don't explain themselves at all - it is just yes or no and that is it.

It was a relief to get away from that.

One thing I do miss though....christmas lotes - we'd get a leg of jamon and really nice wines every year.

Yep, I got the leg of ham and some other bits. Certainly not a bad point

Isaiah

London:

Pros

* Everything just works. Well organised, efficient, functioning government systems. Post codes are fantastic. Applying for something is straightforward and civil service clerical workers are very professional. I haven't experienced snarky attitudes like I did when dealing with Irish public sector workers.

* Salary, I earn twice what I did in Dublin and can see this going up to x3 in a year or so.

* Job security - my inbox is always filled with job suggestions and offers from rival companies.

* Better weather - warmer climate and less humid. There is actually quite a big difference between the London and Dublin climate.

* Tougher welfare rules. It's much harder for someone to be a lifer here, which is a good thing as jobs are plentiful.

* The NHS is a great organisation and it's free. (No medical card or insurance needed)

* I am not a big drinker but I like being able to buy alcohol in a shop without time restrictions. Unlike Dublin.

* I have found that the average English person is not so on-board with the neo-liberal world view as the average Irish person. There is less PC band-wagoning here.

* Politically the South East of England is more centrist to right wing. Which suits me more. With the exception of the Asian populations who traditionally lean heavily towards labour. I never realised how much the Irish lean to the left and sometimes the extreme left until I moved away.

* Safety. I know London has it's bad spots, which are arguably worse than Dublin's bad spots, but where I live I feel much safer than anywhere in Dublin. I rarely see a tracksuit sort in London, I know they exists but they don't have the freedom to wander around and cause havoc like they do in Dublin.

* Meaningful criminal punishment. People who commit serious crimes go away here for a long time. Non of this 99 convictions suspended sentence stuff like we have in Ireland.

* Armed professional police make people think twice about acting the bllx in the city centre. An unfortunate necessity these days.

* The English people for the most part are extremely nice and good company.

* The excellent public transport, the tube, friendly professional bus drivers.

* Cheap internet, TV and utilities. Cheaper cars and petrol.


Cons

* Slightly Less variety in Supermarket food and products. Believe it or not Ireland is blessed with a great variety.

* Need I say it, the insane cost of trains and tubes. Want to commute from a town outside London? That will be 4-6k a year please.

* The very high rental costs and council tax (which is essentially a bin charge). Dublin prices look reasonable when compared to anything within the greater London area.

* Litter in the suburbs, it's really bad here in many parts of London. Many of the residents from the developing countries haven't quite caught onto the idea of not throwing their refuse on the streets . Dublin is very clean compared to London.

* Many of the Indian and Middle Eastern areas are not very well kept. With streets and shop fronts being in a dilapidated state of repair - Overgrown gardens, walls that have not been painted in a decade, broken walls, dumped furniture etc.

* Housing quality in general is poor compared to Ireland. Think crying chair's (For those of you familiar with a certain boards thread).

* Terrible drivers. London has better roads, but Ireland has better drivers in my experience.

* Rude shop keepers. The standard of customer service in Dublin is much better. Many people just grunt at you here when you say thank you to them.

* Lack of convenience. Everything is so spread out. I miss having everything local to me as I did in Dublin.

* Lack of convenience stores. There is no real Spar, Londis or Centra equivalent here. It's mostly local stores which usually don't have a great selection.

* Big shops close at 4 on Sunday.I miss being able to go to Tescos at 11 pm.

* Posers. There are more posers in London than anywhere I have ever been.

* The smog. The lack of sea.

* Very difficult to find a quiet normal pub like you can in Dublin. The pubs in London are trying too hard to be something other than just a pub. Maybe you don't want to drink wine out of an oyster whilst sitting on a tree stump, maybe you just want a dark corner where you can have a pint in peace.

* Which brings me to my last point - Peace, or lack of it. London is very noisy. All the time, everywhere, without exception.

iusedtoknow

Looks like we're leaving San Francisco in March! Not coming "home" but my wife has been offered a position in Maryland that is too good to pass over...and since we moved to the US and set her career back a couple of years, I figure it's her turn and the move makes sense for us - we wanted to move east eventually. I'm lucky that my boss has given me permission to work remotely, it will just involve coming back to the west coast every month for 2 or 3 days on top of my regular travel

What I won't miss about San Francisco.

1. The anti tech atmosphere in the city.
2. the rude cantonese people that don't have a clue how to queue for a bus and are willing to trample over other people to get seats
3. the NIMBY's that are want to keep the western area's of the city as a pseudo suburb instead of recognizing that they live in a city, and sometimes density is a good thing
4. the pizza. In 4 years i've had nothing but bad pizza

What I will miss about the city

1. the food - all kinds of beautiful asian food within 5 blocks of our house
2. the scenery...beautiful areas within 30 minutes drive north, south or west
3. how close we were to hawaii...sure it was a 5 hour flight but possible to do for a long weekend
4. the smallness of the city. It's only 49 square miles but packs a lot into it

R.D. aka MR.D

I'm going to add another quick one here:

Japan:

Yesterday I paid the equivalent of 4 euros for 5 small-medium sized potatoes. Cut into one to make my dinner last night and it was rotten right through.

The price and quality of produce here is shockingly bad. It might seem like such a simple thing but it's infuriating.

They just don't eat many potatoes here, that's the problem but I definitely won't miss paying 80cents for a rotten potato or a euro for one small stalk of celery or 1.50 for a mealy apple, the list goes on.

turnikett1

France.

The disorganization - No one knows you what you have to do, no one informs you of a timetable/room/general information change, no one tells you where you need to go or what's needed of you and above all no one really cares. Its an absolute mess. I thought Ireland was bad... As someone posted earlier, it's the inability to effectively communicate. I have no idea how this came to be a social trait among the French but it's bloody woeful! I understand so clearly now why they got thrashed during WW2

Bureaucracy - The amount of paperwork needed for the most menial of things is astounding. What a waste of energy, money and most importantly TREES! If I want to take a sh1t I have to sign 50 forms, photocopy them, send them off, then receive 100 copies in return. Christ almighty

Image - Most people are fine when it comes to this, but there are certain people mainly women, who are absolutely consumed by their image. Wearing all the latest flashiest most elegant expensive designer clothes, caked in layers of the most expensive make up... And then they carry this certain arrogant air around them too. I yearn to see them get drenched by a puddle from a passing a car Nothing wrong with having a nice sense of style but these folks are just over the top. Sickening really. Reeks of "western decadence" (and tacky perfume)

Breakfast - As much as I love croissants and coffee Im sorry but is it not an acceptable breakfast. When Im hungover and cant get back to sleep at 9am I do not want some dainty little pastries, I want a fvcking breakfest roll with a mugga tae! (or a can!). Im happy to cook eggs and spuds and whatnot for my breakfast at home, but every now and then it is nice to go out and have a big breakfast... Just not an option here. Everyone just eats pastries here for breakfast, it baffles me, its the most important meal of the day!!

The reserve - Even though people are really nice and friendly up front no one is interested in making new friends outside of their social clique. Theyre very happy to be your acquaintance. Theyll invite you out to X event at Y time but when it comes to it they never actually will. And when you try to organize things with them no one gives a fiddlers feck. Theyre just not interested, fair enough, but Im just sick of getting my hopes up. Ive had people say to me theyll invite me out to such a thing sooo many times, but when it comes down to it they never actually bother...

Bars - Although leagues better than clubs, bars here are nothing compared to pubs at home. Absolutely nothing. Belgian beer is nice and all to but for me personally both the beer and pubs are light years behind Irish and British ones

I really like France in a lot of ways (I wont go into those here though ), but it is very frustrating at times.

CelticRambler

I was invited to a 14h00 breakfast with a shift-working friend a few weeks ago. Fortunately, I'd had a proper breakfast at breakfast time, so for me it was lunch. She didn't know that though, and offered me a few bits of dry bread to dunk in my coffee. :shock:

Something else that drives me nuts: the totally lopsided working day. Start at 09h00, finish at 12h00. Three hours without a break, fair enough, but because the place is short-staffed, no-one really gets going with anything till 09h30, and then they're rushing to get everything done by noon, so really that's only two hours of productivity.

Then

the

two-hour

lunch

break ...

Which is an awful waste of time because even if you're close enough to pop out to the shops/bank/post-office, they're all closed. Of course.

And then ... and then ... back to work at 14h00 for a five-hour stint with no break until 19h00, either falling asleep because you did spend two hours eating, or falling over because you didn't!

CelticRambler

I was invited to a 14h00 breakfast with a shift-working friend a few weeks ago. Fortunately, I'd had a proper breakfast at breakfast time, so for me it was lunch. She didn't know that though, and offered me a few bits of dry bread to dunk in my coffee. :shock:

Something else that drives me nuts: the totally lopsided working day. Start at 09h00, finish at 12h00. Three hours without a break, fair enough, but because the place is short-staffed, no-one really gets going with anything till 09h30, and then they're rushing to get everything done by noon, so really that's only two hours of productivity.

Then

the

two-hour

lunch

break ...

Which is an awful waste of time because even if you're close enough to pop out to the shops/bank/post-office, they're all closed. Of course.

And then ... and then ... back to work at 14h00 for a five-hour stint with no break until 19h00, either falling asleep because you did spend two hours eating, or falling over because you didn't!

Startagain2010

I will not miss the British Curriculum in the Middle East. Number 1 reason we are moving is to get kids back into the Irish system. Will not miss the hideous heat for 6 months of the year. Dealing with non English speakers .

CelticRambler

Maybe not entirely in keeping with the forum spirit, but I CAN'T WAIT TO GO HOME next weekend. Home to my bit of France from this bit of France - Provence. Yeah, it's lovely outside the door, but I've been here two months, living in a "fully equipped apartment". Only my definition of "fully equipped" would normally include things like a proper oven (not just a microwave), a draining board and/or washing basin, more than one sharp knife and a chopping board to go with it, ideally more than two spoons, oh ... and a toilet. :rolleyes:

Finishing work at the agreed time more than once a week, would also be nice, or even once a week if it was Saturday. Am thoroughly fed up with finding my best-laid plans for Saturday night torpedoed by someone phoning up at 4 to ask if they can "pop in" for something "simple" and the secretary (or worse, the boss) saying of course, and making no effort to emphasise that we (=I) are supposed to close at 5, not receive "last entries", so they'd better shift their Provençal ass and get here right now ... :mad:







Ah, that feels better.

R.D. aka MR.D

CelticRambler wrote: »

a proper oven (not just a microwave)

It's so weird how big of a difference a proper oven makes to your life. I've been in Asia for 4 years and they aren't standard here. It's one of the many things I'm looking forward to moving home to Ireland for, an oven.

CelticRambler

Yep. I wouldn't have realised just how much if I hadn't had to do without one for soooooo long (7 weeks and counting! :pac: )

I've also realised how incredibly unresponsive are electric hot-plates. Can't wait to get back to my gas hob!

And I forgot to mention there's no freezer-compartment in the mini-fridge. :rolleyes:

But I finished at 17h00 on the dot tonight. Loads of time to get to tonight's dance venue! :cool:

turnikett1

CelticRambler wrote: »

Yep. I wouldn't have realised just how much if I hadn't had to do without one for soooooo long (7 weeks and counting! :pac: )

I've also realised how incredibly unresponsive are electric hot-plates. Can't wait to get back to my gas hob!

And I forgot to mention there's no freezer-compartment in the mini-fridge. :rolleyes:

But I finished at 17h00 on the dot tonight. Loads of time to get to tonight's dance venue! :cool:

It's an absolute jip! I live in a shared complex at the moment, and most rooms that have their own kitchen don't have an oven, just hotplates.... I just don't understand - the oven is so central to cooking! There are some ovens in the communal kitchens but of course this being France none of them ever work. I also can't fathom the lack of kettles. I don't mind heating water in a pot, but I see most people making tea/coffee by putting water into a cup then heating it up in the feckin' MICROWAVE! It's so gross! I tried it once, just to see what it was like and I had one sip then threw it out... I just don't get it.

Another thing to add to the list - the strikes. I mean the leftie in me supports the incessant striking, power to the workers and all that, but as a everyday casual pedestrian it's really annoying and disruptive. I've missed flights home, been late to college so many times, have had town just shut down, etc because despite the 35hr working week, almost €10 minimum wage, 2h30 lunch break and the fact that Monday is an extra Sunday, French people still aren't happy and go on strike every week

CelticRambler

turnikett1 wrote: »

I also can't fathom the lack of kettles. I don't mind heating water in a pot, but I see most people making tea/coffee by putting water into a cup then heating it up in the feckin' MICROWAVE! It's so gross! I tried it once, just to see what it was like and I had one sip then threw it out... I just don't get it.

Oh, yeah. That too! As of last week, I've moved on to a new contract, and this time I've got an oven! Yayyyy. But still no kettle. By the time I get home, that'll be twelve weeks I've had to suffer microwaved water. Ugh.

(The key to making it half-way palatable is to blitz it for about five minutes at full power, then pour it into another mug ... if you're lucky enough to have one! Which I don't here :rolleyes: )

As for the strikes, I'm listening to the students & their supposed representatives going on about "job security". What security? They don't have jobs, and there's no immediate prospect of them getting any when it's so feckin' difficult to run a business in this country because of the Code du travail that the government wants/wanted to improve. :mad:

BlackEdelweiss

Unfortunately we are not moving home yet but there are so many things I will not miss about New Zealand.
I'm trying to think of something I will miss but there is actually nothing! Its a dump full of badly dressed, silly people content with terrible houses and high prices.

turnikett1

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

Unfortunately we are not moving home yet but there are so many things I will not miss about New Zealand.
I'm trying to think of something I will miss but there is actually nothing! Its a dump full of badly dressed, silly people content with terrible houses and high prices.

Interesting, most of my friends who've been and lived in New Zealand absolutely loved it. What is it you don't like about it? I'd like to give it a shot one day but it's just soooo far.

I'm coming home in 3 weeks, for good. I'm so giddy at the notion of it! I need to leave quick before I end up punching some innocent stranger in the face because I'm just so frustrated. At this moment in time I can't stand France. I know when I'm home I'll chill out a bit and I'll appreciate things differently, but right now I'm just so disappointed with how my experience here has been. I didn't know French people could be so unwelcoming and reserved. My neighbour lives literally 1m away, in the room right beside me, but when we pass he doesn't even look at me in the eye let alone murmur hello. I've tried so hard to make friends, so hard, only for people to just LIE to me. I can't even keep count of how many times a French person has said they'll give me a buzz or that they'll invite me out to a certain thing, only for them to just NOT do it. Would it seriously interrupt your croissant eating and chain-smoking THAT MUCH to just go for a coffee with a friendly foreigner who clearly knows absolutely NOBODY in this city!?

A real let down I was really looking forward to living here. I'd travelled and even did a small bit of work here many times before, and had very fond memories of France but living here has changed my feelings completely. I don't know, maybe it's just the city I'm in. Maybe if I was in a different city things would've been different, better. Yet for some reason I doubt it.

Suaimhneach

turnikett1 wrote: »

I don't know, maybe it's just the city I'm in. Maybe if I was in a different city things would've been different, better. Yet for some reason I doubt it.

I feel this way about having lived in San Francisco / Bay Area part of California. I think I could have loved NY or DC or Seattle or almost any other US city but I just couldnt love it here. Weirdly, after moving home a month ago I am back in CA for work right now. It's such a jarring experience to have just left, wanted to leave for two years, and then to be back so fast.

Anyway, I am sorry you had such a **** time. A lot of success abroad seems to be down to necessity (make it work) or the people you meet, which isnt always in your control. And I'm glad you'll be home soon

CelticRambler

turnikett1 wrote: »

At this moment in time I can't stand France. I know when I'm home I'll chill out a bit and I'll appreciate things differently, but right now I'm just so disappointed with how my experience here has been. I didn't know French people could be so unwelcoming and reserved. My neighbour lives literally 1m away, in the room right beside me, but when we pass he doesn't even look at me in the eye let alone murmur hello. I've tried so hard to make friends, so hard, only for people to just LIE to me. I can't even keep count of how many times a French person has said they'll give me a buzz or that they'll invite me out to a certain thing, only for them to just NOT do it. Would it seriously interrupt your croissant eating and chain-smoking THAT MUCH to just go for a coffee with a friendly foreigner who clearly knows absolutely NOBODY in this city!?

A real let down I was really looking forward to living here. I'd travelled and even did a small bit of work here many times before, and had very fond memories of France but living here has changed my feelings completely. I don't know, maybe it's just the city I'm in. Maybe if I was in a different city things would've been different, better. Yet for some reason I doubt it.

What city are you in? Sounds like you've been really unlucky. Any time I go to work in a new place, as soon as I tell them I'm Irish and I've no shortage of offers of what to do, where to go. Even had a customer invite me for a free meal at his restaurant last year (although he left it too late for me to take him up on the offer).

Tom Dunne

It's interesting what both of you say about making friends and the importance of it - I couldn't agree more.

Here in the Middle East, it is a little different. Expats tend to stick together quite a bit, especially given the cultural differences (let's not beat about the bush here: drinking). When we moved here 7 years ago, we were extremely lucky in many ways that a large number (70) started work on the same day as me. While a majority of them are now gone, a core number have stayed and I would class them as good friends now. I believe it made a significant difference when we got here first - we were all in the same boat, most of us had generally the same outlook and essentially had strength in numbers.



That's not to say we haven't mixed with the locals, either. I have been to a local funeral (sadly), my wife has been to two weddings and we have been in many homes of locals. But having peer group does make a difference.

In other news - my countdown has begun. Not long now, roll on the summer. We spent last week back in Ireland making preparations in our house. No luck on the job front yet, though. I'm not panicking.

Yet.

CelticRambler

turnikett1 wrote: »

I don't know, maybe it's just the city I'm in. Maybe if I was in a different city things would've been different, better. Yet for some reason I doubt it.

I've just seen that you were planning to do an Erasmus course in Poitiers. Is that where you are? That'd explain a lot - Poitiers is a real student town, so chances are most of the people you meet are just as "out of their depth" as you are. Also, French students are renowned for not being very sociable - they rate each other as the worst possible room-mates out of all nationalities. :pac:

But I also saw (yeah, I checked out your posts ... :rolleyes: ) that you like Klezmer music. Pity you didn't say so before (well, you did, but you know what I mean) because I could have pointed you in the right direction. But if you *are* in Poitiers, before you go and so as not to leave France on a complete downer, get yourself to this event next Saturday: https://agendatrad.org/e_2016-04/poitou-night_11875.html (20km south of Poitiers)

If you happen to see a really tall young fellow (21-ish) there, by the name of Alexi, usually wears a kind of pale-coloured bowler hat, tell him Diarmaid's dad sent you! It's not Klezmer, but a good substitute. :cool:

Suaimhneach

CelticRambler, you are the BEST dude ever

universe777

Melbourne, Australia

Manners - they don't seem to exist here at all. They would rather try walk through you, push you off a train platform or push you onto the road than say excuse me and/or walk on the left.

Retail staff - probably the rudest I have ever encountered anywhere in the world. They all seem to have a rotten attitude and outwardly display an attitude of not wanting to bother/not wanting to serve you.

Australians - I can only speak for Melbourne having lived here for 6 years. Deep down they don't like foreigners. You can get to know them but that is only surface deep. You will always be another foreigner regardless of your skin colour or native speaking English. They stick together, very clannish. Them combined with a good % of the population not speaking English makes for a not great place to live.

I do love the weather here, lack of crime, cleanliness but the above points make my blood boil.

turnikett1

CelticRambler wrote: »

I've just seen that you were planning to do an Erasmus course in Poitiers. Is that where you are? That'd explain a lot - Poitiers is a real student town, so chances are most of the people you meet are just as "out of their depth" as you are. Also, French students are renowned for not being very sociable - they rate each other as the worst possible room-mates out of all nationalities.

But I also saw (yeah, I checked out your posts ... ) that you like Klezmer music. Pity you didn't say so before (well, you did, but you know what I mean) because I could have pointed you in the right direction. But if you *are* in Poitiers, before you go and so as not to leave France on a complete downer, get yourself to this event next Saturday: https://agendatrad.org/e_2016-04/poitou-night_11875.html (20km south of Poitiers)

If you happen to see a really tall young fellow (21-ish) there, by the name of Alexi, usually wears a kind of pale-coloured bowler hat, tell him Diarmaid's dad sent you! It's not Klezmer, but a good substitute.

Merci bien! Unfortunately Ive seen this post after the event took place... Thanks all the same. Yes I love klezmer and trad music in general, I was told that France has a great trad/folk scene but Ive met zero musicians here. Or well, musicians that want to play with me, rather

Yeah, I understand its probably due to Poitiers and not the rest of France. Im trying really hard to not make all the negative associations to do with France as a whole. Just a shame that I have to constantly remind myself that I dont hate French people I have some friends that I met outside of France who I get on great with, and I have met tons of lovely French people throughout my travels, but at the moment this city is clouding my perception of France a little bit.

To be honest I think Im a bit annoyed at my university too. I dont really like how I had zero say in the matter of where I was to study, and also how they repeatedly told us that its gonna be one of the best year of our lives, a real eye opening experience, etc etc all this load of waffle to get us excited. Ok, no point in telling us that its going to be a tough lonely boring year abroad but hey some acknowledgement that its not as rosy as its made out to be, perhaps! I had real high hopes. Also, they explicitly told us to try really hard to make friends with French speakers, and to not "fall into the trap" of befriending Anglophones and regularly English all the time. I tried to do exactly that, and intentionally distanced myself from the other Irish and English students here so I could focus on befriending French people, and well, in the end Ive been friends with neither All the other Anglophones have gotten to know each other really well and forged a nice close group of friends, I feel like I missed out and squandered an opportunity to befriend some people because our lecturers warned us to not do that...

Im probably just looking for excuses to be annoyed to be honest. As you can all tell, I am very frustrated And well, disappointed. More so the latter than anything. I didnt visit other cities while I was here, which is actually a real regret. All those weekends I spent drinking by myself in my room I couldve gotten to know OTHER places in France, where OTHER people live! Anyways, I am liberated in 2 weeks, and perhaps then I can reflect more clearly and will come to appreciate things about life here that I wont have in Ireland.

CelticRambler

turnikett1 wrote: »

Merci bien! Unfortunately Ive seen this post after the event took place... Thanks all the same. Yes I love klezmer and trad music in general, I was told that France has a great trad/folk scene but Ive met zero musicians here. Or well, musicians that want to play with me, rather

Second time lucky? Not as good a band as Ciac Boum, but not too bad all the same: https://agendatrad.org/e_2016-04/vendeuvre-fete-catalpa_12319.html (just north of Poitiers this time).

turnikett1 wrote: »

Also, they explicitly told us to try really hard to make friends with French speakers, and to not "fall into the trap" of befriending Anglophones and regularly English all the time. I tried to do exactly that, and intentionally distanced myself from the other Irish and English students here so I could focus on befriending French people, and well, in the end Ive been friends with neither All the other Anglophones have gotten to know each other really well and forged a nice close group of friends, I feel like I missed out and squandered an opportunity to befriend some people because our lecturers warned us to not do that...

To be fair to the university, I would have said exactly the same. What they obviously didn't tell you is that the French are not naturally friendly (not compared to the Irish) and neither are they any good at giving you information that you *need* if you don't ask for it ... which you won't, because you don't know that you need it because they haven't told you ... :rolleyes: In the early days, you have to work **really** hard, and make a nusiance of yourself, until people start to think of including you in the bouche-à-l'oreille network.

turnikett1 wrote: »

Anyways, I am liberated in 2 weeks, and perhaps then I can reflect more clearly and will come to appreciate things about life here that I wont have in Ireland.

It's a real shame that you've managed to miss out on the whole (unpromoted, practically invisible) trad music scene, which is pretty vibrant around Poitiers. (Note the use of the word "around" - all the best trad in France is to be found in pokey little villages, rarely in the towns).

Are you obliged to go home tout de suite? Any chance you could come back? Specifically for mid-July? I can give you a week's work as a volunteer in one of our great trad festivals - free food and all the music your ears can bear

turnikett1

CelticRambler wrote: »

Second time lucky? Not as good a band as Ciac Boum, but not too bad all the same: https://agendatrad.org/e_2016-04/vendeuvre-fete-catalpa_12319.html (just north of Poitiers this time).

Interesting, I'll look into it! Just need to find a way to and from is all!

CelticRambler wrote: »

It's a real shame that you've managed to miss out on the whole (unpromoted, practically invisible) trad music scene, which is pretty vibrant around Poitiers. (Note the use of the word "around" - all the best trad in France is to be found in pokey little villages, rarely in the towns).

Are you obliged to go home tout de suite? Any chance you could come back? Specifically for mid-July? I can give you a week's work as a volunteer in one of our great trad festivals - free food and all the music your ears can bear

That sounds fantastic and I would really love to, however when I go home in 2 weeks I plan on spending the entire summer there! I'm gonna need some "cool off" time, I don't see myself coming back to France in the forseeable future :P What festival is that by the way? I definitely need to check out some trad festivals in France, I've heard there's some bloody great ones! Alas, there is plenty in Ireland I must also attend to... (Fleadh Ceoil is on in my hometown this year!)

Tipperary Fairy

universe777 wrote: »

Melbourne, Australia

Manners - they don't seem to exist here at all. They would rather try walk through you, push you off a train platform or push you onto the road than say excuse me and/or walk on the left.

Retail staff - probably the rudest I have ever encountered anywhere in the world. They all seem to have a rotten attitude and outwardly display an attitude of not wanting to bother/not wanting to serve you.

It's funny, my experience of Melbourne has been the exact opposite on these two matters. Just recently got to Sydney and the comparison is mind blowing. Road users are so nice and courteous in Melbourne, but here they don't give a ****, in fact some see you as a target.
And customer service there is beyond belief, suffocatingly nice.