American Southern Girl Seeks Guidance

MizzKattt wrote:

My brother smokes and will be with me. Is smoking banned in outdoor public places as well? Parks, sidewalks, etc.?

Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places of work, such as restaurants, bars/pubs and cafes. There are numerous heated ‘beer gardens’ around that circumvent this rule and smoking in your hotel room is permitted (subject to hotel policy).

So the list so far goes...no paying in dollars, no political or religious discussions, no Irish heritage lectures, no walking with beer, and no smoking in public buildings. It is ok to hold doors, use ma'am or sir, give servers tips, stay in a room with three guys, and be proud of my southern twang.

As you should be, it’s an endearing accent. I doubt if anyone would be offended by your use of American English, as long as you remember that it sometimes differs to European English. Your Fall is our Autumn, your definition of fanny and ours are radically different and where you would use ma’am, we use madam (strictly speaking, the use of the term ma’am is only for the British queen).

On the topic of religion and politics, I don’t know whether you should avoid those topics as be aware that they are seen differently in Europe (I use the term Europe as attitudes in Ireland would tend to reflect broader European attitudes, regardless of the fact that English is the primary language). Religion is not as important here and you’ll find a far greater level of cynicism and agnosticism here than in the US. Politics, as I alluded to earlier, is probably best avoided on balance as your current president and foreign policy are about as popular as the Black Death this side of the Atlantic. You’ll probably get someone picking an argument with you at some stage or passing a remark as a result – unless you’re attractive, in which case we’ll all just try to sleep with you.

Other than that other differences that will probably strike you are that we drink a lot, have bad teeth and are thinner than the average American.

Actually, if you’re in Europe for any length of time, you may also consider buying a mobile phone. You can get one with call credit for less than €100 and as it’s GSM based can work in any European state (although you may have to offer a deposit for this).

Anyhow, HTH.

Dr. Loon wrote:

meditraitor wrote:

What are you on about? Get out more? Fúck off.

Now, now, darling

Drinking in pubs in Ireland, espically Dublin, is very expensive. Prepare to spend an average of 4.50 Euro for a pint of beer. Guinness is usually a bit cheaper.

Nobody usually tips the barman/barwoman in pubs. If you're sitting down and a waiter comes over and you order drink off him then you'd usually give them a small tip.

Don't bother tipping taxi drivers either. Nobody usually does.

Pubs in Ireland normally stop serving at 11:30pm/12am at night. Nightclubs normally go on until 3am.

Some guy I know once asked me what nightclubs I go to in Dublin so I wrote him this biased little guide.

ah, religion doesnt play much of a part in the lives of most irish people now we have a few sheckles in the pocket, Only older people trying to deal with mortality have any interest,

As i said we are to busy working and getting wrecked.

MizzKattt wrote:

I will be in Dublin for a short stay in May. Any suggestions on where to stay, what to do (other than the conventional touristy stuff), where to eat, where not to stay, where not eat? Thanks ya'll.

A word of advice: do not enter into a discussion about US politics over here, even if you voted for Kerry. If you voted for Bush, do not tell anyone.

Just be yourself. Say what you like, no one will do anything.