ProudDUB wrote: » There are lots of other places on the planet to live in, than the Artic Circle and the Equator. You do realize that don't you? Just because we don't get extremes of hot and cold weather here, doesn't mean that our weather isn't shyte. I moved back here 2 years ago. For family reasons mainly. I don't have to worry about work thankfully, as I am self employed and all I need to do what I do is a lap top and an internet connection. Don't think I can take another Irish winter and total lack of Spring time to be honest. Month after month of days when it gets dark at 4, rain that never seems to go away, cold damp drizzle that just gets into your bones, no matter how many layers of clothing you wear, is just depressing as heck. Living where I did, I got used to being out of doors a lot, 12 months of the year, and actually enjoying being out of doors. You just can't do that here and I find it very, very hard to deal with, and depressing as heck, so I doubt if I'll stay.
ProudDUB wrote: » Just because we don't get extremes of hot and cold weather here, doesn't mean that our weather isn't shyte.
BraziliaNZ wrote: » YIt's slightly better here in London in that you get a half decent summer, over 25c on the reg etc.
April O Neill wrote: » Interesting. How so?
TheUsual wrote: » For cold weather get a thermal layer if you are feeling the cold, for rain buy some waterproofs in Capel Street. Nobody has proper waterproofs either (50 euro).
jaja321 wrote: » The downside of course being that you are definitely expected to give more to your job in terms of working hours, working weekends, checking email on holidays etc - a bit more married to the job and the holidays are pittance compared to here. Probably a better work/life balance here.
Yitzhak Rabin wrote: » Yes its obviously just begrudgery, nothing to do with the fact that listening to lads droning on about Lawwwdawwn and Sydney like they travelled to Mars is very tedious. I've lived in plenty of places myself, from the Middle East, to Central Africa, to the US and central America. I just don't feel the need to bang on about it like I'm some modern day David Livingston
April O Neill wrote: » Think I'd prefer the work life balance, TBH!
jaja321 wrote: » I want it both ways - god damn it I'm greedy! :pac::D
munchkin_utd wrote: » one word. Germany. Weather good enough to allow lots of outdoors stuff but the work/ life balance is better than Ireland. i.e. with an office job any overtime worked over the contract amount is normally given as time in lieu and theres a fair few more bank holidays and regular holiday leave to boot than Ireland (let alone USA). oh, and youre only a short haul flight home so a 60Euro return ryanair fare is possible outside of the main summer and christmas bursts which is another advantage over living on the other side of the world.
munchkin_utd wrote: » and theres a fair few more bank holidays and regular holiday leave to boot than Ireland.
Legs.Eleven wrote: » Speaking of which, I'm from a relatively small town in North County Dublin and my dad always sends me a detailed email about all the changes that have happened in the town: "The Dunnes in number 26 have got new blinds, Mr Shields has painted his front door red, Hogan's are selling German beer now, Mary's Cafe has extended out the back and Lovely Lady Beauty Salon are doing spray tans...and Asumpta Murphy is pregnant!" and everytime I come home, he brings me for a drive round the town to point out all the changes. It's very cute, bless him.
con1421 wrote: » I was forced to leave Ireland back in May 2010 due to the lack of jobs. Sadly, my hours at my old job were chopped in half. I was originally getting 30 - 35 hours a week but about January 2011 onwards I ended up getting less than 20 hours a week (not enough to be able to support myself here). I was told from my boss at the time that come the spring time I would be guaranteed more hours but as the weeks progressed there was no sign of extra hours instead their was nothing buy layoffs after layoffs. I was becoming extremely frustrated at this time so I started handing out CV's everywhere looking for a new job. I printed close to a hundred out and got a couple of job interviews but sadly no success. I was told that they would call if my application was approved and so on...... So I could not handle it much longer. (I actually have a really good CV and has over 5 years experience in retail at the time). The idea of rejection after rejection was too much to take. So I packed the bags and legged it over to America hoping to find a full time job. At the time I really didn't want to leave but i really didnt have a choice.I had my family here and friends and my own place. It was probably one of the hardest things that I ever had to do (leave Ireland and start again in a differnt country because of the mess in the Irish economy) So within 3 days of my arrival to Baltimore (Maryland) I got a job in a factory (guaranteed 40 hours a week). So I was overjoyed with this. The fact that I had spent close to 4 months in Ireland looking for a job with no success and then able to get a job in less than a week in a different country. So I started again (found the job, made new friends, rented a room) and succeeded in a new country. I loved it. I enjoyed meeting new people and dont regret any minute of it.I worked hard and made enough money to keep myself afloat. After 2 years of living in the US I decided to come back to Ireland to try and start again. A few friends of mine told me that the economy had picked up and that jobs were being created. I missed my family and my friends so I came home to try and bring my skills that I had learned in the US with me. I came home and moved back in with the folks. Luckily my friends were right, the economy had picked up (marginally). I got a job back here in Dunnes Stores and ended up making the same money that I would have been making in the US. I was delighted to see everybody again and I was delighted to be back home as I did miss Ireland terribly when I was forced to move away due to the crumbling economy. I settled back into Dublin and contined to do the things that I had been unable to do when I was away. I started back playing football, socializing in the local every weekend and things were back to normal. Sadly for me after about a year I was told that a couple of the staff were being let go. Sadly it was a last in, first out plan that they had so I was told that I would be getting let go. So as ye do, I started writing out CV's again and quickly began to distribute everywhere once again.I would have worked anywhere. It was a rerun all over again. Interview after interview with no luck, no jobs available...so on and so fourth......So I gave it a few weeks but just no luck (Really nothing out there). Once again I became frustrated with the lack of opportunities so I decided to apply for a visa once again. Luckily my old boss in the US was more than happy to offer me a job again. I explained to him that there were no jobs left in Ireland anymore. So now I'm off. Bags packed now and leaving in less than 3 weeks. Hopefully when I decide to come back (maybe 2 years from now) there may be opportunities in this country. I guess my story is similar to a lot of young people out there. If only there were jobs left in Ireland
Aineoil wrote: » Well I left Ireland from 1990 to 1992. Myself and my husband left for two years. We never settled in Ireland after our experience. Adjusting back to Ireland was difficult. Very difficult. The only reason we are in Ireland is because of our son - we want him to have an experience similar to us growing up. He's got 3 years left in secondary school and when he's completed that we will go abroad again.
