Tag Archives: European Union

Immigrant Awareness: American Isolation, Social Media, and Brexit

It seems all too obvious that living in another country would, or should, increase our awareness of the world; but I was not prepared for how much it would open my eyes not just about the rest of the world, … Continue reading

Posted in Dublin Life, Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Europe, Expat Living, Immigration & Emigration, Modern Life, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

A Better World: The Refugee Crisis and What It Says About Us

I regularly refer to immigrants, emigrants, migrants, and refugees in this blog. And, to some extent that last category has always been a somewhat obligatory attempt to cover all bases. And to my mind, true refugees have, until recently, seemed … Continue reading

Posted in Bureaucracy, Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Europe, Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration, Irish Life & Society, Modern Life, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Foreign & Domestic: Expat Loyalty & The European Union

Shortly after moving to Dublin, as I started to learn more about the EU, I began to hear locals speak of the U.S. and its Federal Reserve banking system in lofty terms. It seems that out here on the fringes … Continue reading

Posted in Bureaucracy, Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Europe, Irish Economy, Irish Life & Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why Ireland Is Better Than the United States: One Man’s Joy At Not Living Somewhere Slavishly Devoted To ‘The Individual’

After nearly three years of living in Ireland, the thrill and curiosity of not living in a superpower has dulled a bit, but still fascinates me. On a daily basis the need not to compete with everyone, and the need … Continue reading

Posted in Dublin Life, Emigrant/Immigrant Life, Health Care, Immigration & Emigration, Irish Life & Society, Modern Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Why Do The Irish Like Being Told How To Live? Immigrants Expectations and Real Life Are Often Quite Different

My lesson for prospective immigrants reading this post is: you cannot always believe what you see, hear, or read when you are on the outside looking in.  The reality in country is likely to be quite different. Beyond the logistical … Continue reading

Posted in Dublin Life, Home & A Sense of Place, Immigration & Emigration, Irish History, Irish Life & Society, Modern Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Calling The Euro Home

In the lead up to this week when Ireland votes on the Austerity package, I’ve given a lot of thought to the things that hold the EU together, and it occurs to me that, as much as Ireland is in … Continue reading

Posted in Bureaucracy, Dublin Life, Friends & Family, Home & A Sense of Place, Irish Life & Society, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments