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People who have lived abroad

LadyMacBeth_

So, my fellow AHers, I am on the move, off to England after Christmas. Not exactly a big leap, but I am already considering some important cultural differences. Have ye ever lived abroad and do ye have any tips for me? Bear in mind that I'm a Corkonian as well so the culture shock will be doubled. How did you survive without Barry's tea and Taytos? Will the bus driver look at me funny when I thank him/her? Will anyone be able to pronounce my Irish name? Do I have to stop interrogating people into drinking tea/coffee/having some food when they come to my house?

I have already decided that I will staunchly refer to the hotpress as the hotpress, and there will be no airing cupboard in my house I tell you.

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Aineoil

Afroshack wrote: »

There's a two week wait for most GP appointments so look up your nearest walk in clinic

Wow a two week wait. That's way too long.

Afroshack

Are you by any chance under 25? If so, you get cheaper rail travel and you can get 2for1 deals on stuff in London if you use the commuter rail to travel into the city (I lived near Reading and used to head into London every weekend)

Afroshack

Aineoil wrote: »

Wow a two week wait. That's way too long.

Agreed. The NHS is a fantastic service but it is totally and utterly stretched.

gingernut79

Boom_Bap wrote: »

They love Greggs over there.

I was in Greggs over the summer. Their Cornish pasties arent even called Cornish pasties anymore, and they taste awful!

LadyMacBeth_

Afroshack wrote: »

Are you by any chance under 25? If so, you get cheaper rail travel and you can get 2for1 deals on stuff in London if you use the commuter rail to travel into the city (I lived near Reading and used to head into London every weekend)

Sadly I am 29 but thank you for the tip anyway. I have a free travel pass because I have a disability so it's going to be a shocker for me having to pay for travel again :eek: I'm wondering if getting amorous with the bus drivers will be of any benefit :pac:

Rawr

jester77 wrote: »

Beer is cheap in most countries outside of Ireland (Scandanavia being an exception)

Yea, you got that right.

(Takes a small sip of his Norwegian beer)

Sigh...there goes another Euro....

However, the bright side of living in Scandinavia is that your Irishness is suddenly very 'exotic'...but also often confused with Scottish. It's like I used to be a can of Club Orange, but here I'm a can a Lilt! (Which I can't get here either...damn!)

[Deleted User]

Everyone will love your accent, but you might find your pronunciation change over the next few years depending on where you live.

You will have to call presses cupboards or no one will know what you're talking about. Also, a pan is what you fry something in, not a loaf of bread. The messages aren't groceries, but information passed onto you from other people. I used to think a hot press was Irishtalk for an iron. Most people won't be unfamiliar with an immersion, but they'll probably be less concerned about it's use.

I can coach you in a little rhyming slang if the need arises. It probably won't.

Yorkshire tea is a reasonable substitute for Barrys.

Mushy peas aren't something you want to try, don't be tempted.

People outside London don't move at the same manic pace - like most big cities - and will have more inclination to stop and chat, unless you move to a small village (particularly in the South), where you will be resident for 40 years and still considered an outsider.

Northern girls never wear coats, they've evolved to never feel cold.

If someone calls you a bleedin' mare, it's not a female horse they're calling you but a nightmare.

Register with a GP asap.

humberklog

Lived there for a few years, London and South coast.

Phone rings one day...

Me just in from shops: Yeah I'll call you back, I'm busy putting my messages away in the press, yeah, yeah. I'll see yous in the Lizard Lounge about 8.

Lizard Lounge at 8

Me: Hey, Hey, Hey! What're we all having?

English Mates:Are you in the IRA?

somefeen

You'll learn to love the NHS. When I was over there I went to doctor about 3 times more than I do here. Felt rude not to.

Its a weird place though, despite being very similar a lot of things are very alien. Or at least they were to me.
The sheer cultural diversity of England compared to Cork is mind blowing and seeing the army everywhere is a bit mad. Stuff like that reminded me how quaint and small Ireland is.

Oldtree

Dint worry about the crisps, kerrygold and cidona, there are many "Irish" shops over there, just find them. Was one around tooting somewhere from what I remember.

Don't dwell on the homesickness, just get out there. Plenty if clubs with similar interests to your own.

I would guess thar Skype and the like will make everything seem less further away than in my day.

Have a ball, it's a place for young people.

FatherTed

Go with an open mind, explore your area and don't get stuck in the Irish centres/pub scene. Forget about the so-called "good" irish products like Taytos, Barrys tea etc. You don't need it.

LadyMacBeth_

Candie wrote: »

You will have to call presses cupboards or no one will know what you're talking about. Also, a pan is what you fry something in, not a loaf of bread. The messages aren't groceries, but information passed onto you from other people. I used to think a hot press was Irishtalk for an iron. Most people won't be unfamiliar with an immersion, but they'll probably be less concerned about it's use.

I can coach you in a little rhyming slang if the need arises. It probably won't.

Yorkshire tea is a reasonable substitute for Barrys.

Mushy peas aren't something you want to try, don't be tempted.

People outside London don't move at the same manic pace - like most big cities - and will have more inclination to stop and chat, unless you move to a small village (particularly in the South), where you will be resident for 40 years and still considered an outsider.

Northern girls never wear coats, they've evolved to never feel cold.

If someone calls you a bleedin' mare, it's not a female horse they're calling you but a nightmare.

Register with a GP asap.

I don't think my mother will allow me to live it down if I develop an English accent, I moved to Dublin and within months she was telling me I had a D4 accent, I lived in Kimmage :pac: I already spend most of my time with a German so my accent is fecked anyway.

I've actually never called cupboards presses or groceries messages so I'm already at an advantage!

Ooh some rhyming cockney slang? That would be fun to know!

But we have mushy peas here too, are they the same?

I think that Irish women with their open toed heels in the middle of winter can rival those northern ladies!

I definitely will register with a GP right away because I have a billion prescriptions that need to be filled out!!

Xaracatz

Congratulations on the move!

It's a lot of fun to move around. Really good advice on bank accounts before you go, and having any paperwork that you need ready, already. Lots of banks want proof of address before you can open an account - although, you can navigate around this if you have a letter from an Irish employer saying that you're working there for a while - if you're still working for an Irish company.

The different currencies always throw me a bit - you're so accustomed to certain currency, and then you're standing in a shop, peering at a coin. I think I tried to pay with a button from my wallet one time. You get used to it fair quickly though.

If you're picking a place to live, I'd say try Air BnB for the first month or two if you can. Get to know the city and where you'd actually like to stay. If you're there for a year or so, stay central. If it's more long-term, you could find somewhere to settle down a bit. I'm not sure about AirBnB in England (and maybe you've already found yourself a place), but it's a good way to scope out where would be good for you.

Hmmmm - find yourself some good Supermarkets, markets (kinda like Farmers' Markets), where's good to shop. Don't fall into the - it's a Spar, I'll shop there today and then find somewhere better tomorrow" trap. I went to Spar for the first month living abroad - as I "knew" it.

Join some Meetups - you can do anything from theatre, to digital analytics, to tag rugby - good way to meet new people in a new city - and I'd say to get yourself out there as - my experience is - you can meet people and get into the city very early, or you can get caught in a rut.

shaunr68

HalloweenJack wrote: »

Go to the UK first and then further afield and you'll see how similar we are to them, especially up North, compared to other parts of the world.

Enjoy it!

True this, I moved the other way, from Liverpool originally which of course has a significant Irish heritage. Since moving here and having travelled a bit I can see the cultural similarities, from the healthy disrespect for authority to some of the sayings, music, humour and unfortunately driving standards

RhubarbCrumble

Re: accent. It really depends on the person. My Irish friend in Newcastle has a hybrid accent after almost twenty years and she was originally a Corkonian too!
However I have a friend from the south of England who's been living in Ireland for about 15 years now and still has the strongest English accent ever.
I have a horrendous culchie one myself which I don't think I'll ever lose.

Spanish Eyes

They will love the Cork accent. up Cork boy.

Seriously, they don't care who you are or where you are from they are used to all that.

Not sure what part of England you going to, but let's say London. Heaving place, no eye contact on the tube, no chat at the bustop or you'll be sectioned!

Joking, most people are fine but a little quieter than you will be used to in Cork. That's a village though. London is an international city. Take note!

lazybones32

1: stfu about xmas. Halloween is just over and here you are already...
2: take as many of your fellow corkonians with you as possible.

Dr Crayfish

Am I the only Irish person that doesn't know what an immersion is? Des Bishop made a career out of the word.

[Deleted User]

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

Am I the only Irish person that doesn't know what an immersion is? Des Bishop made a career out of the word.

It refers to that heating element device, immersed in a tank of water and operated by an unholy switch capable of turning the average Irish parent into an hysterical smurf if left on accidentally. I've seen my placid Irish Grandmother reduced to a state of impotent rage at it's misuse.

Plot twist: I'm English.

server down

Candie wrote: »

It refers to that heating element device, immersed in a tank of water and operated by an unholy switch capable of turning the average Irish parent into an hysterical smurf if left on accidentally. I've seen my placid Irish Grandmother reduced to a state of impotent rage at it's misuse.

Plot twist: I'm English.

The English have that under an assumed name. My hot press isn’t hot btw. I think that’s a good thing these days. Insulation, innit.

monkeysnapper

I'm from Wales myself, moved over here in 1998 .

I was Invited to our class reunion last year, as soon as I arrived I was met by " say that again..... The last thing you said ... Ha ha ha ..... Say something else ......they totally wrecked my head . .. Was like something out of " The hills have eyes".

Don't go to Wales!!! Go as far north as you can .

server down

somefeen wrote: »

You'll learn to love the NHS. When I was over there I went to doctor about 3 times more than I do here. Felt rude not to.

Its a weird place though, despite being very similar a lot of things are very alien. Or at least they were to me.
The sheer cultural diversity of England compared to Cork is mind blowing and seeing the army everywhere is a bit mad. Stuff like that reminded me how quaint and small Ireland is.

Funny that - I lived in a part of England less diverse than Dublin and probably Cork. There are large regional differences.

Donal55

Pubs open Christmas Day. Enjoy.

LadyMacBeth_

Donal55 wrote: »

Pubs open Christmas Day. Enjoy.

Ooh speaking of which, are off licences open later and do pubs serve until a later time? The important questions, of course.

Dr Crayfish

LadyMacBeth_ wrote: »

Ooh speaking of which, are off licences open later and do pubs serve until a later time? The important questions, of course.

If you're in London, corner shops open 24 hours and sell booze. I had one literally 10 meters away, used to drink a lot more back then! Pubs... the more traditional ones will close at 11, but they seem to be few and far between these days, so it can be 11, 12, 1, or 3 or 4 or all night really. You can always get a drink.

KungPao

People there generally work as mechanics, pub landlords, own a caf, or work down the market. And they drink at lunch, then again after work. Usually get in an argument at the drop of an ‘at. The build up to Christmas is generally jovial but then on the 25th it collapses into a massive fight that tears families apart, possibly followed by a death.

Dr Crayfish

KungPao wrote: »

People there generally work as mechanics, pub landlords, own a caf, or work down the market. And they drink at lunch, then again after work. Usually get in an argument at the drop of an ‘at. The build up to Christmas is generally jovial but then on the 25th it collapses into a massive fight that tears families apart, possibly followed by a death.

There's also a worrying amount of murders over the years concentrated in a very small area

RhubarbCrumble

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

There's also a worrying amount of murders over the years concentrated in a very small area

No, you're thinking of Midsomer. Different area altogether.

branie2

no, but I had relatives who did.

retro:electro

Tae = brew
Sangich = sarnie

That's all you need to know.

Oh and you'll love their sausages, they're really big :pac: