Have you ever lived / worked abroad?

Neewbie_noob · 25-11-2012 10:59PM #1

Sorry if this has been done before, feel free to merge / lock / move mods.

So, as the title suggests, have you ever worked / lived abroad and how does it compare to Ireland?

lounakin · 25-11-2012 11:00PM

Lived in France and Russia. I think every place will have advantages and things that you wish didn't exist...

jesus_thats_gre · 25-11-2012 11:02PM

Not lived but worked circa 1/3rd of the past year in India. Quite the experience.

Seaneh · 25-11-2012 11:02PM

I am Irish and live abroad

Yes.
I prefer living in Ireland.

homemadecider · 25-11-2012 11:03PM

I am Irish and live abroad

I lived in a small town in India for a year for work. Couldn't drink the water (it was lethal it was so contaminated - ended up in hospital once because of it), had to be mad careful of what I ate (again high levels of bacteria), and I never felt so fortunate in my life... Mostly because I got to come home and didn't have to stay there.

People who say Ireland is like a third world country are talking out of their hole. Here we have clean drinking water everywhere which is a huge thing we all take for granted.

Dj Stiggie · 25-11-2012 11:03PM

I am not Irish and live in Ireland

I live in Iceland right now. It's far better than Ireland, but I've spent the last while living around continental Europe.

Neewbie_noob · 25-11-2012 11:03PM

I am Irish and live abroad

Seaneh wrote: »

Yes.
I prefer living in Ireland.

Plus one. I live abroad for a while and the public transport was great, not nanny-state attitude towards alcohol, low crime, no scum, but nothing beats being back home after 6 months.

Yugioh · 25-11-2012 11:04PM

I am Irish and live abroad

Madrid for one year
Now in Berlin for good (I hope)

Learning a new language, meeting people who are completely different to you and doing things that you just know won't happen in Ireland is unbelievably fun. Gives one a new perspective on life and really makes you think the world is your oyster!

joydivision · 25-11-2012 11:05PM

I am not Irish and have never live in Ireland

Oooooh I lived in Denmark and they all take their shoes off before entering a house . We should do that here . Every country Ive been to shows me how stupid Ireland is . Ooooooh they still drink . Omg I totally stopped drinking once I went to Switzerland and realised they dont drink all the time . Ooooh did I tell you how it broadened mind . Im like so much more intelligent than everyone in my village now.
Actually why am I here Im heading back to Swaziland to help my tribe deliver rain to the crops . Much better than here broadens my mind .

True story watch for the thread to decend to this .

Death and Taxes · 25-11-2012 11:06PM

I am Irish and live abroad

Lived ad worked in The Uk, Holland, and Spain.
Each has its own advantages/disadvantages.

Geri Male · 25-11-2012 11:07PM

homemadecider wrote: »

I lived in a small town in India for a year for work. Couldn't drink the water (it was lethal it was so contaminated - ended up in hospital once because of it), had to be mad careful of what I ate (again high levels of bacteria), and I never felt so fortunate in my life... Mostly because I got to come home and didn't have to stay there.

People who say Ireland is like a third world country are talking out of their hole. Here we have clean drinking water everywhere which is a huge thing we all take for granted.

I got horrendous diarrhoea from drinking tap water in Morocco. A hot river of liquid faeces was expelled from my anus every half hour for a full two days. Sleep was impossible and my ringpiece was red raw afterwards. As a type of challenge to myself I decided not to flush the toilet until I recovered.

By the end of it the stinking molten mush was about two inches away from overflowing.

The King of Moo · 25-11-2012 11:09PM

I am Irish and live abroad

I have, but only in the U.S and the U.K, which were not much different from here, apart from a sense of things just generally being better organised.

joydivision wrote: »

Oooooh I lived in Denmark and they all take their shoes off before entering a house . We should do that here . Every country Ive been to shows me how stupid Ireland is . Ooooooh they still drink . Omg I totally stopped drinking once I went to Switzerland and realised they dont drink all the time . Ooooh did I tell you how it broadened mind . Im like so much more intelligent than everyone in my village now.
Actually why am I here Im heading back to Swaziland to help my tribe deliver rain to the crops . Much better than here broadens my mind .

True story watch for the thread to decend to this .

Descend to people telling stories about when they've lived and worked abroad, in a thread asking about experiences living and working abroad!!??

Good heavens, if I ever saw such a thing, I do believe I'd eat my hat!!
Harrumph!!

SmilingLurker · 25-11-2012 11:14PM

I am Irish and live abroad

Born in Canada to Irish parents, live in Ireland. Worked and lived in lots of countries. Travel is good, would recommend it for all.

Grayson · 25-11-2012 11:15PM

I am Irish and live abroad

I have lived abroad and fully intend to again.

dirtyghettokid · 25-11-2012 11:22PM

I am not Irish and plan to come to Ireland

i canadian, but have lived here nearly half my life. would love to live in spain, france, or the southern states of the US. short term only though

but yea, it's good to experience life elsewhere!

Geri Male · 25-11-2012 11:30PM

dirtyghettokid wrote: »

i canadian, but have lived here nearly half my life. would love to live in spain, france, or the southern states of the US. short term only though
but yea, it's good to experience life elsewhere!

What's the sanitation like in Canada?

Da Shins Kelly · 25-11-2012 11:35PM

In Spain at the moment. Has its advantages - cheaper food and drink, warm weather for most of the year, less rain, very nice, friendly people. I'm improving my Spanish too, which is the main objective.

I still miss and love Ireland though and I can't wait to go back and see everyone for Christmas.

Eve_Dublin · 25-11-2012 11:38PM

I am not Irish and live in Ireland

J1 in the States, worked cleaning plates in a hotel in France for a Summer, midlands of England where I studied and worked for 8 months then lived in Edinburgh for 4 months but weather was so horrific, I left. I then moved on from there to London for 2 years. Travelled in South America for a year but that wouldn't qualify as living abroad. I've been living here in Madrid for over 3 years now but am ready to move on again for a while but can see myself coming back to Spain for a few more years after that then hopefully home.

dirtyghettokid · 25-11-2012 11:38PM

I am not Irish and plan to come to Ireland

Geri Male wrote: »

What's the sanitation like in Canada?

well you don't get scutter from the drinking water, if that's what you mean

Da Shins Kelly · 25-11-2012 11:40PM

The King of Moo wrote: »

I have, but only in the U.S and the U.K, which were not much different from here, apart from a sense of things just generally being better organised.

Everything in the US is so big. Just ten times bigger than everything we have, and I found you're just being constantly bombarded by commerce there. It's almost impossible to escape it. Other than that though, yes, not that different. Makes you realise how much American culture we consume, that we can go to an entirely different country and not really see much difference.

Geri Male · 25-11-2012 11:41PM

dirtyghettokid wrote: »

well you don't get scutter from the drinking water, if that's what you mean

It is. Thanks. Couldn't go through that again. Anal fissures are a once in a lifetime experience. Nobody would want to get them again.

Rabies · 25-11-2012 11:45PM

I am not Irish and live in Ireland

Did a few summers in America in 03 and 04. Doesn't count as "living" though, more like an extended holiday

Have been living and working in Auckland since '06. Back then there wasn't many Irish here and the world financial system didn't hit the fan. Now the place is full of Irish and English :-/

The King of Moo · 25-11-2012 11:49PM

I am Irish and live abroad

Da Shins Kelly wrote: »

Everything in the US is so big. Just ten times bigger than everything we have, and I found you're just being constantly bombarded by commerce there. It's almost impossible to escape it. Other than that though, yes, not that different. Makes you realise how much American culture we consume, that we can go to an entirely different country and not really see much difference.

That's what I found the biggest difference between here and there: the way capitalism is so integral to so much of American culture, and the way that financial success for its own sake is promoted as a goal.
I remember someone telling me he wouldn't like to watch "soccer" as the single half-time break meant he wouldn't get to see as many ads, then there's the cultural phenomenon that is the anticipation of the big new ads shown during the Superbowl.

Da Shins Kelly · 25-11-2012 11:53PM

The King of Moo wrote: »

That's what I found the biggest difference between here and there: the way capitalism is so integral to so much of American culture, and the way that financial success for its own sake is promoted as a goal.
I remember someone telling me he wouldn't like to watch "soccer" as the single half-time break meant he wouldn't get to see as many ads, then there's the cultural phenomenon that is the anticipation of the big new ads shown during the Superbowl.

It's weird, that Superbowl thing. And there are ads every five minutes on just regular television anyway. I remember watching Seinfeld and they played the end of the previous episode, went to an ad break, came back and played the credits, then went to another ad break before coming back for the next episode.

The fact that you can make some attempt to shut that stuff out of your life in Ireland is one thing I really like.

montreal2011 · 25-11-2012 11:53PM

I am not Irish and live in Ireland

Irish born; lived and worked in various jobs in Ireland for most of my life. Lived and worked in Germany and USA also. Visited most of Europe and USA. Right now living and working in Montréal. No where in the world I would choose over Montréal. I hope I get to stay here for many years to come; it's the best place I have ever been. Canada is likely the best country in the world to live in.

Sugar Free · 25-11-2012 11:54PM

I am not Irish and have never live in Ireland

I haven't lived abroad but would like to for a time, if the right opportunities and circumstances arose.

It's not essential to me once I can still do some travelling to different places but it would be a good experience and a lot different obviously from simply travelling through a country for a few weeks.

dirtyghettokid · 25-11-2012 11:55PM

I am not Irish and plan to come to Ireland

montreal2011 wrote: »

Canada is likely the best country in the world to live in.

shh! keep that under your hat!

ahh i wish i was back home. but i'd miss the rashers n tea..

Butterface · 25-11-2012 11:59PM

I am not Irish and live in Ireland

Living in England at the moment. I'm spending 5 months next year studying in the Czech Republic which I'm looking forward to!

pablomakaveli · 26-11-2012 12:02AM

I am not Irish and live in Ireland

I moved to the UK at the start of the year.Its alright over here but i do still enjoy coming home when i can.

montreal2011 · 26-11-2012 12:04AM

I am not Irish and live in Ireland

dirtyghettokid wrote: »

shh! keep that under your hat!
ahh i wish i was back home. but i'd miss the rashers n tea..

It's ok since I'm in Montréal. The French will put most off!

There's plenty of good bacon and tea here too! Plus there's the poutine!

Also must add the Sunday brunch!

Neewbie_noob · 26-11-2012 12:05AM

I am Irish and live abroad

dirtyghettokid wrote: »

shh! keep that under your hat!
ahh i wish i was back home. but i'd miss the rashers n tea..

mmmmm Canadian bacon*

*Homer's hallucination in the thing in the hippie shop

Have you ever lived / worked abroad?

Have you ever lived / worked abroad? 337 votes

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