I'm interested to hear from the Irish in America, and indeed young people (and old who may have returned from U.S.) how they would compare the way of life.
I've visited the states many times on holiday, but always wondered what it's like to live there (legally), would the current Irish say if gauntlet was laid down, it's better? They're happier and earning more? Or is it a case of that they can't come home due to VISA issues etc. and to any Irish that have returned, did they enjoy it but now that they are back home and in employment, they feel that they're better off....
I have a degree to my name and considered it a few times but never took the plunge in case all went wrong ::)
Good question, have an open job offer in Boston but haven't pursued it. Would be interested to know what the US guys think - what (if anything) would make you think about coming back?
Its the what if question, you'll never know till you try, one of my regrets (I thought at the time), but circumstances at the time of trying it didn't allow it to happen .
America ain't that far away anymore, if you've nothing holding you here give it a lash... There is no stigma attached to it not working out and you came home...
Quote from: Rois on July 26, 2015, 10:44:46 PM
Good question, have an open job offer in Boston but haven't pursued it. Would be interested to know what the US guys think - what (if anything) would make you think about coming back?
No downside to giving it a lash. Immediate network of friends/drinking pRtners if you get involved with a club. If you have specific questions PM me.....I'd be happy to help you out
Got a job offer in California and pounced on it without even hesitating. Never looked back. Never regretted it. Got a great lifestyle here that I could never have before.
At the time people asked me what would happen if I didn't like it. Says I "in that case I'll just go back." I never did and probably never will.
Benefits would be the money and opportunity to make it, and a good career. You can also do whatever the hell you want (if you want to!) and no one will bat an eyelid or talk about you.
I would say that the biggest difference you would notice (well it was for me at least) is the lack of community although it may be the same in any big city worldwide.
However the milk and cheese is disgusting and the bread aint great either plus its expensive. Spuds are passable, Yukon gold are a decent wet spud but you wont get to many Kerr's Pinks! Russets are the best substitute but not a proper dry spud at all. No feckin Bramley apples either, the apple tarts here are an hilarious excuse of an apple tart about good for one thing which was demonstrated in the film American Pie!
It depends on the person, three of us immigrated two will have no intention of moving back to Ireland. The biggest issue will be the lack of family and community support that exists in most parts of Ireland.
I think it depends on the kind of person you are. Some people are not supposed to leave home. Some people are supposed to never stay at home.
America is a great country if you want to earn a decent crust. You get paid more money the harder you work (unheard of in Ireland or anywhere else I've lived) and you can make a great life for yourself and your family. Education is great, you can live a very active and healthy lifestyle and be exposed to lots of different cultures and people and experiences. Because of the healthcare costs I would never retire here and have plans to be back in Ireland for a while after 2025 if my job works out and my plans.
There is a lack of community as has been pointed out - but I think that depends on where you live and who your friends are. I was always of the opinion that if I'm going to move to another country then I will really live there. Eat the food, listen to the music, embrace the culture (nor forgetting my own of course). I think if you need to have Irish friends, Irish food, Irish music and can't be immersed in something different - then you should live in Ireland.
The weather is great in certain parts of the country. I'm down in Florida with work at the minute and the weather is muggy but warm and sunny all the time. The West coast, especially California, is a great spot for year round good weather -when the sun is shining it's hard not to be happy - unless you are a miserable baldy Lurgan man (ha come on Eamonn!) Seattle is a great area, good weather for the past few years. Not a place we could stay long term. Thankfully we live in a very rural area about 10 mins from any town.
Life is what you make it - wherever you land. I just find life easier here money wise.
Is the annual holiday allowance really 2 weeks until long term service?
Slightly off topic but lived in Canada for a couple of years. Great country, decent people and earned a few quid and had a great time.
What brought me back was family and friends though. I had a great lifestyle over there but I just couldn't deal with seeing my family once (max twice) a year.
It depends to what floats your boat but I'd recommend every young person to try it. Makes you realise what's important to you!
Quote from: Arthur_Friend on July 27, 2015, 03:04:01 PM
Is the annual holiday allowance really 2 weeks until long term service?
I think it depends on the job. I get 20 days holiday plus 6 sick days and public holidays. I've only been with this company for 8 months and my previous company 7 years. In the other place I had 15 days plus 6 sick days and public holidays.
Do they not work ridiculously long hours in the US?
Quote from: The Iceman on July 27, 2015, 03:25:17 PM
Quote from: Arthur_Friend on July 27, 2015, 03:04:01 PM
Is the annual holiday allowance really 2 weeks until long term service?
I think it depends on the job. I get 20 days holiday plus 6 sick days and public holidays. I've only been with this company for 8 months and my previous company 7 years. In the other place I had 15 days plus 6 sick days and public holidays.
Is that an NI Civil Service view of your sick days, i.e. they're there to be taken?!
Quote from: gallsman on July 27, 2015, 03:57:46 PM
Quote from: The Iceman on July 27, 2015, 03:25:17 PM
Quote from: Arthur_Friend on July 27, 2015, 03:04:01 PM
Is the annual holiday allowance really 2 weeks until long term service?
I think it depends on the job. I get 20 days holiday plus 6 sick days and public holidays. I've only been with this company for 8 months and my previous company 7 years. In the other place I had 15 days plus 6 sick days and public holidays.
Is that an NI Civil Service view of your sick days, i.e. they're there to be taken?!
That would be the same attitude most people have here, never had it myself. IN fact they would be even more frank about it as the time off is so scant.
I get 12days plus 3day sick + public holidays, which is quite good....last place I just got the standard 10days. Iceman has it good.
Legally they dont even have to give you any time off. Also the attitude of employers is that its sort of considered part of salary rather than a right.
Quote from: The Iceman on July 27, 2015, 02:57:05 PM
I think it depends on the kind of person you are. Some people are not supposed to leave home. Some people are supposed to never stay at home.
America is a great country if you want to earn a decent crust. You get paid more money the harder you work (unheard of in Ireland or anywhere else I've lived) and you can make a great life for yourself and your family. Education is great, you can live a very active and healthy lifestyle and be exposed to lots of different cultures and people and experiences. Because of the healthcare costs I would never retire here and have plans to be back in Ireland for a while after 2025 if my job works out and my plans.
There is a lack of community as has been pointed out - but I think that depends on where you live and who your friends are. I was always of the opinion that if I'm going to move to another country then I will really live there. Eat the food, listen to the music, embrace the culture (nor forgetting my own of course). I think if you need to have Irish friends, Irish food, Irish music and can't be immersed in something different - then you should live in Ireland.
The weather is great in certain parts of the country. I'm down in Florida with work at the minute and the weather is muggy but warm and sunny all the time. The West coast, especially California, is a great spot for year round good weather -when the sun is shining it's hard not to be happy - unless you are a miserable baldy Lurgan man (ha come on Eamonn!) Seattle is a great area, good weather for the past few years. Not a place we could stay long term. Thankfully we live in a very rural area about 10 mins from any town.
Life is what you make it - wherever you land. I just find life easier here money wise.
Jesus I wouldn't have said that anymore. How long have you been away? I would say that attitude you talk about in the US has pierced through in the last 10-15 years in Ireland. Try speaking to anyone working for a professional private company in Ireland and they are certainly expected to work hard.
I'm very lucky where I'm at here at home I work for a local company but we operate European wide and you're expected to work for everything you get and everything these days is incentivised so you have to perform to make any decent money!!
Quote from: JimStynes on July 27, 2015, 03:27:27 PM
Do they not work ridiculously long hours in the US?
Some do some don't. Alot of people are obsessed with work here, its their life. Its part of their goals and aims in the life. What they do in work, for them, defines them as a person.
The Irish attitude is completely different, people that do that would be considered a bit mad, whereas here they would be considered a good hardworking person who is doing their very best and getting rewarded for it.
But as with most things in America there is a very wide tolerance for a wide range of attitudes and people and having a good work life balance is also considered very positive.
I work standard hours and if needed will do extra, wouldnt be for this BS of working 12hours days just cause you convince yourself that its required. Got a young family anyway and at the end of the day my job, as much as I enjoy it, is just there to support us.
BTW I should point out that this is the case for college educated professionals. For a non skilled worker you will get paid crappy and work desperately long hours to make ends meet.
I think young people with no ties should definitely go, even if only for a few years.
The US is a great place but it is so big, and different everywhere you go, that if possible you should move around. I have never stayed abroad for more than very short periods (e.g. 2 months in Florida, 2 in Oz, 3 in Ohio) except for 13 months in the UK so I can't really say I 'lived' abroad. But I do think the more places you see the better.
Everywhere has its pros and cons, when you come home you might be able to see the pros that everyone else takes for granted, although the cons will be even more visible to you.
Quote from: screenexile on July 27, 2015, 04:26:52 PM
Quote from: The Iceman on July 27, 2015, 02:57:05 PM
I think it depends on the kind of person you are. Some people are not supposed to leave home. Some people are supposed to never stay at home.
America is a great country if you want to earn a decent crust. You get paid more money the harder you work (unheard of in Ireland or anywhere else I've lived) and you can make a great life for yourself and your family. Education is great, you can live a very active and healthy lifestyle and be exposed to lots of different cultures and people and experiences. Because of the healthcare costs I would never retire here and have plans to be back in Ireland for a while after 2025 if my job works out and my plans.
There is a lack of community as has been pointed out - but I think that depends on where you live and who your friends are. I was always of the opinion that if I'm going to move to another country then I will really live there. Eat the food, listen to the music, embrace the culture (nor forgetting my own of course). I think if you need to have Irish friends, Irish food, Irish music and can't be immersed in something different - then you should live in Ireland.
The weather is great in certain parts of the country. I'm down in Florida with work at the minute and the weather is muggy but warm and sunny all the time. The West coast, especially California, is a great spot for year round good weather -when the sun is shining it's hard not to be happy - unless you are a miserable baldy Lurgan man (ha come on Eamonn!) Seattle is a great area, good weather for the past few years. Not a place we could stay long term. Thankfully we live in a very rural area about 10 mins from any town.
Life is what you make it - wherever you land. I just find life easier here money wise.
Jesus I wouldn't have said that anymore. How long have you been away? I would say that attitude you talk about in the US has pierced through in the last 10-15 years in Ireland. Try speaking to anyone working for a professional private company in Ireland and they are certainly expected to work hard.
I'm very lucky where I'm at here at home I work for a local company but we operate European wide and you're expected to work for everything you get and everything these days is incentivised so you have to perform to make any decent money!!
I haven't been away that long screenexile and I gotta tell u the attitude here is completely different. We bought a house and when shopping for a mortgage people were calling us Sundays and everything to get our business, that would not happen in Ireland.
Don't get me wrong Irish people work hard maybe even harder than Americans per hour worked, but when you leave its for the most part left at the gate.
Quote from: The Iceman on July 27, 2015, 03:25:17 PM
Quote from: Arthur_Friend on July 27, 2015, 03:04:01 PM
Is the annual holiday allowance really 2 weeks until long term service?
I think it depends on the job. I get 20 days holiday plus 6 sick days and public holidays. I've only been with this company for 8 months and my previous company 7 years. In the other place I had 15 days plus 6 sick days and public holidays.
I get 14 days and not sure about the sick leave as never really take it.
As for moving here, like muppet said if its just you defo go for it.
I'm here nearly 3 years now. Moved out to central California with the yank wife and 2 cubs, since added a cuttie. It was definitely hard at the start but I got sorted with fulltime benefited employment after 3 months. Pay is good and cost of living ain't too bad. Just bought a house with a pool for not too much at all. Can't really comment on education as my oldest will be starting kindergarten next month.
Major thing I miss is family and friends. The oul pair have been over a couple of times but they aren't getting a younger and it's that feeling that what if something happens and I don't get to spend more time with them.
The community thing is awful. When we first moved not one of my wives friends invited us around for dinner or anything like that. If it was the other way around it would be the complete opposite.
We have a pretty good family support network which has also helped.
Quote from: gawa316 on July 27, 2015, 05:41:12 PM
Major thing I miss is family and friends. The oul pair have been over a couple of times but they aren't getting a younger and it's that feeling that what if something happens and I don't get to spend more time with them.
That's really the main thing stopping us. Folks are nearly 70, though a very youthful 70.
The job offer I got would be about 170% of my NI salary, and that's before bonus. Holidays are 20 plus 10 public, and you often get the Friday before public holidays fans a goodwill gesture, plus you can buy 6 extra. My firm is no 79 or so in "best companies to work for" from Forbes so good enough by US standards. Even without husband working think we could have a good standard of living.
Downside: have to work pretty long hours (often do that here anyway) and travel around the states. 7 hours from home.
For lifestyle I would chose Australia over America. The Aussies have a great work life balance. Australia's so bloody far away though.
What's with the US sick days thing? Say you have 5 sick days, you get a bad flu and are off for a fortnight ill or even something serious and you're off for a month or two; just no pay??
Quote from: Rois on July 27, 2015, 09:04:42 PM
Quote from: gawa316 on July 27, 2015, 05:41:12 PM
Major thing I miss is family and friends. The oul pair have been over a couple of times but they aren't getting a younger and it's that feeling that what if something happens and I don't get to spend more time with them.
That's really the main thing stopping us. Folks are nearly 70, though a very youthful 70.
The job offer I got would be about 170% of my NI salary, and that's before bonus. Holidays are 20 plus 10 public, and you often get the Friday before public holidays fans a goodwill gesture, plus you can buy 6 extra. My firm is no 79 or so in "best companies to work for" from Forbes so good enough by US standards. Even without husband working think we could have a good standard of living.
Downside: have to work pretty long hours (often do that here anyway) and travel around the states. 7 hours from home.
Money is not everything. Besides its what u can safe not how much u earn
Quote from: redzone on July 27, 2015, 10:26:24 PM
Money is not everything. Besides its what u can safe not how much u earn
100% correct that money isn't everything - that's my point in describing all the good things about an open job offer - while there are great opportunities for earning (and saving!) more in the US, there are significant downsides, none of which are related to money or savings or earnings or whatever.
Quote from: bennydorano on July 27, 2015, 09:39:02 PM
What's with the US sick days thing? Say you have 5 sick days, you get a bad flu and are off for a fortnight ill or even something serious and you're off for a month or two; just no pay??
Usually you have to use up your holiday time or else take unpaid leave under the Family Medical Leave Act. It varies though. In my last job you got x weeks sick time, then it dropped to half pay for a while, and then it was unpaid. But I couldn't use sick time to stay home or go to the doctor/hospital with a sick family member, whereas in my current job I can. And there's plenty working who get no paid sick leave at all.
The US can be quite harsh when it comes to stuff like holiday and sick time allowance.
Quote from: J70 on July 28, 2015, 03:19:54 AM
Quote from: bennydorano on July 27, 2015, 09:39:02 PM
What's with the US sick days thing? Say you have 5 sick days, you get a bad flu and are off for a fortnight ill or even something serious and you're off for a month or two; just no pay??
Usually you have to use up your holiday time or else take unpaid leave under the Family Medical Leave Act. It varies though. In my last job you got x weeks sick time, then it dropped to half pay for a while, and then it was unpaid. But I couldn't use sick time to stay home or go to the doctor/hospital with a sick family member, whereas in my current job I can. And there's plenty working who get no paid sick leave at all.
The US can be quite harsh when it comes to stuff like holiday and sick time allowance.
Add in paternity leave as well.
I was entities to no full pay but couldve taken 6 weeks on half pay. Sat in a meeting for over an hour with HR going through my options. Then at the end she said you can take sick leave on full pay if you want. I was like eh yes why didn't you tell me that at the start!
I moved to CA in 2000, young free and single looking to travel before I settled back in Ireland, the Plan anyway. At the time I have a good job as an engineer with a very good Semiconductor company and was trying to break into the county team (was in the squad). First number of years were great, money, weather, sports, social life was good and all that. Never really felt home sick unless the local club were playing championship. Met my to be wife, got married and decided in 2007 to head back to Ireland to be closer to family - she was European so wanted to move back also. She settled in very well but I struggled at times and other times was glad to be back.
Then late 2009 I got a job offer from a different company in the valley to head back - at the time I had a good job in Ireland. We thought long and hard about it and decided to head back across the water. This time with a 1 year old and a 6 month pregnant wife. It was easier to settle back in here even though I started in a new company and new job. Now we have a 7 & a 5 year. Both are in school, friends and the young lad started soccer last year so I now find myself hearing a bunch of 5 year olds around a field. I really can't see myself going back in the next 15 years now that they have put down roots.
From an objective point of view comparing Ireland to California (as everything varies from state to state) there are lots of advantages with being here with kids. There are a huge amount of facilities for after school programs from art etc. for the more studious kid to 50M pools in most High schools for the more active kids. The health system as long as you are working and have insurance is great, school system is good depending on where you live, weather is great, and overall services are easy to access. Wages are definitely higher here but on the flip side you have higher living expenses, but overall I would say I have more spending power after bills are paid than when in Ireland, we are a single income family.
The negatives, expense of heading home, for a family of four you'll drop about $7k for go home during the summer. Community, I struggle with the fact that neighbors will walk past you into their house without even a nod, so you can't call the grand parents over to look after the kids for an evening. Everything has to be arranged, even kids "play dates".Maybe in other areas you have to worry about guns/kid grabbers etc. but not here. And last a pint of Guinness, I think every pub waters them down here. Hope this helps someone thinking about the move, PM me if you have questions.
Quote from: 50fiftyball on July 26, 2015, 08:12:18 PM
I'm interested to hear from the Irish in America, and indeed young people (and old who may have returned from U.S.) how they would compare the way of life.
I've visited the states many times on holiday, but always wondered what it's like to live there (legally), would the current Irish say if gauntlet was laid down, it's better? They're happier and earning more? Or is it a case of that they can't come home due to VISA issues etc. and to any Irish that have returned, did they enjoy it but now that they are back home and in employment, they feel that they're better off....
I have a degree to my name and considered it a few times but never took the plunge in case all went wrong ::)
I moved right after finishing grad school. Took me about a few months to get into a proper career (lots of temping and other stuff at first), but once I got in the door, I've been advancing nicely since. Will never move back, especially as the better half is from the western US.
Lifestyle depends utterly on where you live. I live in NYC, so traffic is insane (the standard of driving too!), its expensive as f**k, and we find it fairly tight even with two fairly decent salaries coming in (childcare is well upwards of $2K/month for two young children!). Everyone remaining healthy and so on, things will improve though. Great things about NYC are the food, the landmarks and the access to whatever element of culture interests you (in my case world famous museums and so on), and the beach and even mountains are fairly close by too. Most elsewhere in the country, you get less of the iconic cultural stuff, but your salary, while likely lower, goes much, much, further in terms of what you can buy with it.
Don't miss a whole pile about Ireland at this point, especially as drinking mates and so on are all married with families and own interests and we wouldn't be seeing a whole pile of each other anyway. That I've missed seeing the McGuinness-era Donegal live in the flesh is one big regret.
Quote from: gawa316 on July 28, 2015, 03:31:57 AM
Quote from: J70 on July 28, 2015, 03:19:54 AM
Quote from: bennydorano on July 27, 2015, 09:39:02 PM
What's with the US sick days thing? Say you have 5 sick days, you get a bad flu and are off for a fortnight ill or even something serious and you're off for a month or two; just no pay??
Usually you have to use up your holiday time or else take unpaid leave under the Family Medical Leave Act. It varies though. In my last job you got x weeks sick time, then it dropped to half pay for a while, and then it was unpaid. But I couldn't use sick time to stay home or go to the doctor/hospital with a sick family member, whereas in my current job I can. And there's plenty working who get no paid sick leave at all.
The US can be quite harsh when it comes to stuff like holiday and sick time allowance.
Add in paternity leave as well.
I was entities to no full pay but couldve taken 6 weeks on half pay. Sat in a meeting for over an hour with HR going through my options. Then at the end she said you can take sick leave on full pay if you want. I was like eh yes why didn't you tell me that at the start!
My first kid, I had to use holiday allowance. Second, I'd changed jobs and was allowed sick time.
What's the story with healthcare in the US?
we've all heard the horror stories of poor unfortunates getting hurt on holidays and ending up owing $500k.
But when you live there (legally) how much is your Bupa/VHI or equivalent?
Here in Australia we pay just under $500Aus per month for private healthcare and its not too bad.
For instance few weeks ago I had a bad back, in & out of casualty in 2 hours ( it happened on a Sat evening so GP not open) prescription issued, booked in for an MRI the following week and in the process of getting it sorted.
Dental work no problem, not too much to pay along with your healthcare plan, I paid $125 for two fillings.
Physio/chiropractor etc is approx $55/hour with your healthcare plan.
I always wondered how much this kind of thing was stateside.
Quote from: The Subbie on July 28, 2015, 09:27:47 AM
What's the story with healthcare in the US?
we've all heard the horror stories of poor unfortunates getting hurt on holidays and ending up owing $500k.
But when you live there (legally) how much is your Bupa/VHI or equivalent?
Here in Australia we pay just under $500Aus per month for private healthcare and its not too bad.
For instance few weeks ago I had a bad back, in & out of casualty in 2 hours ( it happened on a Sat evening so GP not open) prescription issued, booked in for an MRI the following week and in the process of getting it sorted.
Dental work no problem, not too much to pay along with your healthcare plan, I paid $125 for two fillings.
Physio/chiropractor etc is approx $55/hour with your healthcare plan.
I always wondered how much this kind of thing was stateside.
Health insurance is through your employer in a lot of cases. For most white collar/professional jobs your employer will cover most of the cost which can be above $10,000/year if you have a family (I pay about $5K out of $20K for family coverage in NYC). If you are self employed/contractor or in a lower paid job you will have to pay most of the cost yourself if it is available. I don't have enough knowledge about the plans available through the Obamacare exchanges to give you any information.
I'd love to go and live in the US for a couple of years - however have been always put off by the VISA requirements? Is it not very difficult to go across legally - unless you have a firm willing to pay for it? I have a good degree, but fail to see why American companies would incur the cost of taking an Irish person, when there is a decent supply of Americans that would have the same qualifications.
I'm really surprised at all the lack-of-community comments. A function of immigrants turning up in places with a lot of geographical mobility?
Quote from: deiseach on July 28, 2015, 03:29:11 PM
I'm really surprised at all the lack-of-community comments. A function of immigrants turning up in places with a lot of geographical mobility?
I don't find it much different to Dublin in terms of community, although my extended residence in Dublin was in a series of houses shared with students and other young people i.e. we were never in one place for more than two or three years. Basically, neighbours will mostly be friendly, but it would not be like in rural Ireland where you'd be in and out of each other's houses much. Same in NYC. And there are plenty of clubs and so on, whatever your interest, to get involved in.
Quote from: J70 on July 28, 2015, 03:35:27 PM
Quote from: deiseach on July 28, 2015, 03:29:11 PM
I'm really surprised at all the lack-of-community comments. A function of immigrants turning up in places with a lot of geographical mobility?
I don't find it much different to Dublin in terms of community, although my extended residence in Dublin was in a series of houses shared with students and other young people i.e. we were never in one place for more than two or three years. Basically, neighbours will mostly be friendly, but it would not be like in rural Ireland where you'd be in and out of each other's houses much. Same in NYC. And there are plenty of clubs and so on, whatever your interest, to get involved in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ilzH2LG6Ic
I can't imagine what an American townie would make of a cluchie wave.
Quote from: Syferus on July 28, 2015, 04:01:04 PM
Quote from: J70 on July 28, 2015, 03:35:27 PM
Quote from: deiseach on July 28, 2015, 03:29:11 PM
I'm really surprised at all the lack-of-community comments. A function of immigrants turning up in places with a lot of geographical mobility?
I don't find it much different to Dublin in terms of community, although my extended residence in Dublin was in a series of houses shared with students and other young people i.e. we were never in one place for more than two or three years. Basically, neighbours will mostly be friendly, but it would not be like in rural Ireland where you'd be in and out of each other's houses much. Same in NYC. And there are plenty of clubs and so on, whatever your interest, to get involved in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ilzH2LG6Ic
I can't imagine what an American townie would make of a cluchie wave.
That be more of a skhyboy type wave. Prefer the more subtle one finger wave personally...
(http://i1.wp.com/essentiallyjess.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/the-one-finger-wave.jpg?resize=550%2C403)
Quote from: ballinaman on July 28, 2015, 04:09:06 PM
Quote from: Syferus on July 28, 2015, 04:01:04 PM
Quote from: J70 on July 28, 2015, 03:35:27 PM
Quote from: deiseach on July 28, 2015, 03:29:11 PM
I'm really surprised at all the lack-of-community comments. A function of immigrants turning up in places with a lot of geographical mobility?
I don't find it much different to Dublin in terms of community, although my extended residence in Dublin was in a series of houses shared with students and other young people i.e. we were never in one place for more than two or three years. Basically, neighbours will mostly be friendly, but it would not be like in rural Ireland where you'd be in and out of each other's houses much. Same in NYC. And there are plenty of clubs and so on, whatever your interest, to get involved in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ilzH2LG6Ic
I can't imagine what an American townie would make of a cluchie wave.
That be more of a skhyboy type wave. Prefer the more subtle one finger wave personally...
(http://i1.wp.com/essentiallyjess.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/the-one-finger-wave.jpg?resize=550%2C403)
The younger generation tends to be all about the skhyboy wave, but the father is usually a one finger wave man. The whole set of fingers might leave the steering wheel if he actually knows the person.
Quote from: J70 on July 28, 2015, 03:35:27 PM
Quote from: deiseach on July 28, 2015, 03:29:11 PM
I'm really surprised at all the lack-of-community comments. A function of immigrants turning up in places with a lot of geographical mobility?
I don't find it much different to Dublin in terms of community, although my extended residence in Dublin was in a series of houses shared with students and other young people i.e. we were never in one place for more than two or three years. Basically, neighbours will mostly be friendly, but it would not be like in rural Ireland where you'd be in and out of each other's houses much. Same in NYC. And there are plenty of clubs and so on, whatever your interest, to get involved in.
I'd agree with that. And as in Dublin, but to a greater extent, your community/friends will be scattered over the city, rather than living near you. So it takes a bit more work to keep in touch, but once you make that effort you'll be grand.
In SoCal community is very poor. Not alot of pride of place and it feels like alot of people try to live purely individualist lives. People who spend their lives working here want to do nothing else other than get out and buy land where they can be secluded from other people. But on the flipside I know people who are moving here to retire, the overall consensus would be that they are mad tho.
Alot of people's social network is through their job, if that was the case in Ireland ye'd be considered a sad cnut. Maybe its a hangover in the Western US from the days when mining companies operated in remote towns and they were effectively ran the place, had their own currency and everything.
Could be a difference in attitude between the Western US and Eastern US, J70 but neighbours here for the most part leave you well alone.
Also Jell we do have friends scattered over the Socal area but the problem is the area is more like the size of Leinster than the city of Dublin, throw in the 24hr traffic nightmare and a young family and..... well you get the picture.
Dont get me wrong it suits me fine at the moment with a young family I have no time for anything else other than them, so dont think I would be overly involved in a community at home ATM anyway. However at least I would know whats going on out there, here I have no clue whats going on, or who people are, it can leave you a bit fearful and paranoid of people.
Within the immigrant communities tho there is community and a network but among est 2nd+gen of Americans not much at all.
What's the coin like Joe
Quote from: omaghjoe on July 28, 2015, 04:41:49 PM
Also Jell we do have friends scattered over the Socal area but the problem is the area is more like the size of Leinster than the city of Dublin, throw in the 24hr traffic nightmare and a young family and..... well you get the picture.
Yeah, the distances here are obviously much greater than at home. That's especially so when you're not in a densely populated area like NY.
Plenty of community support in San Francisco, a lot of it centered around the GAA.
The majority of the GAA is made up of younger people, people without kids. Once the kids come on the scene you can get isolated without family in the US. As I mentioned earlier, neighbors stay distant unless you have kids the same age.
Medical is outrageous expensive without insurance. We've had our fair share of hospital dealings and without having insurance through employer then we would have been in a serious state. Anything serious and your close to $1M very fast which is why you hear of the horror J1 stories.
Is the place better than Ireland, I think its a matter of opinion. What you get involved in is very important as you'll never have a night out with the co-worker because everyone lives so far from each other. I would always say give it a shot, you've nothing to loose but if your not ready to take a bit of a risk it will be hard to make it work.
Sometimes it's hard to appreciate something until it's not there anymore.
What do ex-pats miss about home, beyond obvious things like relations and friends? It sounds like a common theme here is how the sense of community can be non-existent.
I try to remember that there's probably never been a better time to be alive, and that Ireland does enough right that it's objectively one of the best countries in the world itself. That gets lost in the moaning about this that and the other a lot.
Outside family and family events.
Tullamore Sausages, real rashers, the Ma's bread, a local butcher, Knowing the food you eat is not stuffed with preservatives, GAA, having an unbiased news station that talks about world issues, Local and the best pint of Guinness out of Martins Doon (the Offaly Doon).
Some people laugh but I miss the rain in the summer, this place is hot (~37C today) and from May to October not a drop of rain. There are other little bits that I miss but the above are missed the most after being here this long.
Quote from: Muck Savage on July 29, 2015, 06:45:57 AM
Outside family and family events.
Tullamore Sausages, real rashers, the Ma's bread, a local butcher, Knowing the food you eat is not stuffed with preservatives, GAA, having an unbiased news station that talks about world issues, Local and the best pint of Guinness out of Martins Doon (the Offaly Doon).
Some people laugh but I miss the rain in the summer, this place is hot (~37C today) and from May to October not a drop of rain. There are other little bits that I miss but the above are missed the most after being here this long.
Miss the rain myself Muck. In fact I have actually come around to the thinking that I actually like the rain and that all the winging about it at home actually brainwashed me into thinking that I didnt like it!
The sun is a pain in the hole, to bright to see anything and destroys ye if your out in it. I use a welders mask and boiler suit when venturing out midday. Bring on the clouds.
Didnt think that it got that hot San Jose thats 100°F! I though the Bay area had cool summers?
Quote from: majestic on July 28, 2015, 02:15:24 PM
I'd love to go and live in the US for a couple of years - however have been always put off by the VISA requirements? Is it not very difficult to go across legally - unless you have a firm willing to pay for it? I have a good degree, but fail to see why American companies would incur the cost of taking an Irish person, when there is a decent supply of Americans that would have the same qualifications.
Yea I would also like a bit more info about the visa requirements. I've heard the easiest way is to get working for a company which has officies in the states and move internally? Any truth in this?
Would this put anyone off?
http://samuel-warde.com/2015/07/a-trump-palin-ticket-it-could-happen-audio/
Quote from: omaghjoe on July 28, 2015, 04:41:49 PM
In SoCal community is very poor. Not alot of pride of place and it feels like alot of people try to live purely individualist lives. People who spend their lives working here want to do nothing else other than get out and buy land where they can be secluded from other people. But on the flipside I know people who are moving here to retire, the overall consensus would be that they are mad tho.
Alot of people's social network is through their job, if that was the case in Ireland ye'd be considered a sad cnut. Maybe its a hangover in the Western US from the days when mining companies operated in remote towns and they were effectively ran the place, had their own currency and everything.
Could be a difference in attitude between the Western US and Eastern US, J70 but neighbours here for the most part leave you well alone.
Also Jell we do have friends scattered over the Socal area but the problem is the area is more like the size of Leinster than the city of Dublin, throw in the 24hr traffic nightmare and a young family and..... well you get the picture.
Dont get me wrong it suits me fine at the moment with a young family I have no time for anything else other than them, so dont think I would be overly involved in a community at home ATM anyway. However at least I would know whats going on out there, here I have no clue whats going on, or who people are, it can leave you a bit fearful and paranoid of people.
Within the immigrant communities tho there is community and a network but among est 2nd+gen of Americans not much at all.
All the responses to the thread have been first class, great insight.
I'm particularly interested in this omaghjoe, or if you or any of the other contributors can explain it to me - How would you sum up eastern US vs Western US, i.e. attitudes to life, friendliness, lifestyle etc.
I've been to NY, Chicago, Florida/Miami in particular numerous times vs :
L.A. San Francisco a couple of times, and while I realise everywhere is completely different when you have to work & live there vs travelling, I've always found the West more appealing. i.e. at a weekend if you were in SF, you could drive down to Big Sur etc. and nearly be in a completely different setting.
I'm due to complete a degree in construction (q. surveying) next summer and would definitely love to try a few applications in the U.S., but most of the work for this job title seems to be in Texas or NYC.
Australia has never appealed to me, I'll possibly go some time but only for a holiday.
J1 - Student vise for 6 months, need to show you are going back to college.
F1 - student visa to go to school here. You have to show you have the finance and a sponsor if you get in trouble, not allowed to work legally
L1 - Inter-company transfer. You have to be with the company 1 year in a country outside US, then you can xfer here.
H1B - A company can get you a visa to come straight here if they are willing to pay the money i.e. are you worth it.
There are others but those are the most common outside the Green card lottery. The last two can be converted into a green card over time and then into citizenship after 5 years with the green card (can apply 4 years 9 months)
East vs West. West coast has more Sun, easier going and more crappy asian drivers. East coast closer to home, more historical sites but maybe more stressful.
Quote from: Denn Forever on July 29, 2015, 10:22:40 AM
Would this put anyone off?
http://samuel-warde.com/2015/07/a-trump-palin-ticket-it-could-happen-audio/
Please make it happen!! ;D
Quote from: omaghjoe on July 29, 2015, 06:59:06 AM
Didnt think that it got that hot San Jose thats 100°F! I though the Bay area had cool summers?
Depends which part of the Bay Area. I find the East Bay (Oakland/Berkeley/Alameda) to be the Goldilocks of the area. Not too hot, not too cold, but just right. SF can get a bit too cold, San Jose too hot.
106f here today ballix is sweated lean off me!
Quote from: gawa316 on July 29, 2015, 11:38:44 PM
106f here today ballix is sweated lean off me!
That's 41 degrees centigrade? Ah I couldn't cope with that.
Spent a while in Germany, Australia, London and New York back in the day. I enjoyed myself rightly but never made any big money.
Home's hard to beat but you need to get away to realize that. If I hadn't went I would have thought I was missing something.
Met my future wife in 1990 just after I came back from New York and never looked back. We have three teenagers now and life is busy but great.
One thing that I love about living here is that regardless of who you are and where you come from you can be very successful. The two most successful Irish Americans I know (personally) came from very humble roots. When these guys made it, it didn't change tehm one iota. They stayed friendly With and continue to hang out with the guys they grew up with, who in many cases are blue collar construction guys. While snobbery does exist, most people take you for who you are, not where you went to school or what car you drive
Quote from: J70 on July 29, 2015, 05:28:20 PM
Quote from: Denn Forever on July 29, 2015, 10:22:40 AM
Would this put anyone off?
http://samuel-warde.com/2015/07/a-trump-palin-ticket-it-could-happen-audio/
Please make it happen!! ;D
Ffs be careful what you ask for.
NY hit 35c today!
Glad I'm inside in an air conditioned office these days but no AC in the car, driving in a 7:30am and the sweat rolling off me. These are the days rain sounds good
I agree with the comment that anyone can make it here, just a bit of neck. Most lads here are fairly sound no matter what they work at, although the brother did think a lot of villages were missing the idiot when he was out here for a couple of weeks. Its not easy here when you have no family call on or help out when needed. But you adapt like with all things and get through.
The one big thing that I like about work in this area, maybe a bit unique, but if you have an idea you can give it a shot. Most fail but the ones that succeed make trying worth it. Facebook, Google, Apple, Linkedin etc cultivate this type of thinking.
Ive never lived on the East Coast but from visits people seems like they're closer to the straight talking Irish attitude.
West Coast people are way more wishywashy, I get the impression people are always afraid of insulting someone, you sort of have to read between the lines when someone is insulted or doesnt agree with you. Unless what your said was non PC then there would be outrage :-)
A good example would be the common phrase "I dont think that's a very good idea" said with a up lift at the end to suggest its a question. The phrase itself and the tone it is said would suggest things are still open. However when actually translated into ordinary English its a very affirmative "No"
Also let me go into the PC thing a wee bit more, some stereotypes are acceptable, some arent, no apparent logic you just gotta learn them. The Asian drivers being rubbush is acceptable but the term Asian doesn't include South Asians from INdia etc. It means people without an eyelid crease, but you cant refer to that or bizarrely call them "Oriental" either. So it leaves us with the term Asian which is Incorrect but Politically Correct!
There is also more of an individualist outlook, you can be who you want to be without worrying about ridicule, which has its good and bad points.
In Ireland doing something beyond the social norm is frowned upon but it also acts as a understanding of what you can expect from people. In California you never know what to expect from people.
Also its not open mindedness per se, alot of people are very opinionated about others when you scratch the surface but its held back to their face or in public generally.
The craic is also very lite, sense of humour very different.
Not sure about if the more relaxed stereotype applied to SoCal since the 70s at least. Perhaps it would be valid in comparison to NYC but not so much other places, also there is the beach which still does have the relaxed vibe goin on, although getting there aint realaxin!
The weather is also big difference. it dry and hot in California, although the coast keeps quite mild, and when I say the coast I mean a few miles inland and the temperature starts to rise drastically. Much as I wouldnt be too fond of the climate, I still think I would prefer it to the brutal winters and hot humid simmers the East Coast gets. But the seasons are great too, In California the climate doesnt really change so it can give the impression that time is standing still or something.
One thing that encompasses everyone's attitude way more than at home and thats the dollar. How many you have define you as a person, rich people are admired, people strive to be like them. But there is generally no snobbery like whitey mentioned because there is no classes as such. A millionaire could go on the same way as a homeless guy, and theres plenty of both!
Wouldnt advise anyone not too come out here tho in fact Id encourage it. You could love it for a few years and then hate it after, you could love it for life, you could hate it from the start. Whatever way it goes its great to experience, something different you can take with you on your lifes journey, and booking a flight home aint that hard.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4hmFPBf-C8
Veering a little off course here, you should listen to Simon Anholt's TED Talk "Which Country Does The Most Good For the World." An interesting comparative analysis lasting about 17 minutes. Ireland and the US figure prominently.
Anyone been or lived in Seattle/Washington and or Oregon (Portland) areas? Been offered a job out there in construction estimating.. Because its more northerly up the Pacific Coast ( I realise it's not far off Vancouver) what the lifestyle etc and culture is like compared with SF, SD, LA areas down the coast.
Well in Seattle you get rainbow crossings, so that everyone feels involved when crossing the road.
There is a view that Seattle, Portland, SF have a lot in common culturally, further south in California not so much.
(https://img.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/files/2013/11/upinarms-map.jpg)
Seattle/Portland similar weather to Ireland in that there is a lot of rain. Summers are probably dryer however but still some rain.
Not as far left as SF culturally but probably a better place for someone moving over as SF can be a bit of a cultural shock. The City is a great place for a bit of craic but can be a bit in your face also -personal opinion.
Seattle/Portland have a big enough Irish community to settle you in and also two well supported soccer teams.
Quote from: Muck Savage on August 12, 2015, 04:48:39 PM
Seattle/Portland similar weather to Ireland in that there is a lot of rain. Summers are probably dryer however but still some rain.
Not as far left as SF culturally but probably a better place for someone moving over as SF can be a bit of a cultural shock. The City is a great place for a bit of craic but can be a bit in your face also -personal opinion.
Seattle/Portland have a big enough Irish community to settle you in and also two well supported soccer teams.
It's not a kick in the arse off it. Seattle is pretty granola, dude.
Quote from: Muck Savage on August 12, 2015, 04:48:39 PM
Seattle/Portland have a big enough Irish community to settle you in and also two well supported soccer teams.
Liverpool and Man Utd?
Quote from: 50fiftyball on August 12, 2015, 02:59:16 PM
Anyone been or lived in Seattle/Washington and or Oregon (Portland) areas? Been offered a job out there in construction estimating.. Because its more northerly up the Pacific Coast ( I realise it's not far off Vancouver) what the lifestyle etc and culture is like compared with SF, SD, LA areas down the coast.
I live out in the Seattle area now - give me a shout on PM if you want
California and WA are very different places. PNW is much more outdoor lifestyle in my opinion. Skiing in the winter, loads of hiking, mountain biking, road biking, water sports. Weather for the past 3 years has been more like central france. Summers are spectacular.
There is a strong Irish community centered around the Seattle Gaels and a lot of ex-pats.
There are some great areas to live depending on what you want to spend and what you are looking for.
Quote from: Muck Savage on August 12, 2015, 04:48:39 PM
Seattle/Portland similar weather to Ireland in that there is a lot of rain. Summers are probably dryer however but still some rain.
Not as far left as SF culturally but probably a better place for someone moving over as SF can be a bit of a cultural shock. The City is a great place for a bit of craic but can be a bit in your face also -personal opinion.
Seattle/Portland have a big enough Irish community to settle you in and also two well supported soccer teams.
Lad's let me dispel the myth - The Weather is nothing like Ireland, or England. It's like France.
I've been in Seattle for 3 years. 3 Summers of practically no rain. From the end of May to the end of September its perfect weather between 25-35 with no humidity and no mosquitoes.
The past few years have been very mild. My kids are out every day - without exception. The locals will tell you this isn't normal weather but its been normal for us for 3 years and I'm not complaining.
3 years? Time flies. :-\
Quote from: 50fiftyball on August 12, 2015, 02:59:16 PM
Anyone been or lived in Seattle/Washington and or Oregon (Portland) areas? Been offered a job out there in construction estimating.. Because its more northerly up the Pacific Coast ( I realise it's not far off Vancouver) what the lifestyle etc and culture is like compared with SF, SD, LA areas down the coast.
I'd live in Portland in a heartbeat. Fantastic town, very progressive and laid back. Amazing public transport system, beautiful scenery (Cascades and Pacific Coast) less than an hour away. Only place I've ever seen where they don't have bins on the streets, but solar-powered mini rubbish compactors!
There were a lot of homeless there, although they weren't the usual, middle-aged mentally ill, addict types. More like young hippy types. Not sure if they're a year round phenomenon.
Quote from: J70 on August 12, 2015, 08:14:51 PM
Quote from: 50fiftyball on August 12, 2015, 02:59:16 PM
Anyone been or lived in Seattle/Washington and or Oregon (Portland) areas? Been offered a job out there in construction estimating.. Because its more northerly up the Pacific Coast ( I realise it's not far off Vancouver) what the lifestyle etc and culture is like compared with SF, SD, LA areas down the coast.
I'd live in Portland in a heartbeat. Fantastic town, very progressive and laid back. Amazing public transport system, beautiful scenery (Cascades and Pacific Coast) less than an hour away. Only place I've ever seen where they don't have bins on the streets, but solar-powered mini rubbish compactors!
There were a lot of homeless there, although they weren't the usual, middle-aged mentally ill, addict types. More like young hippy types. Not sure if they're a year round phenomenon.
I'm down twice a week in Portland for work - the city where young people go to retire they call it. It's a fun place, very progressive if thats your thing.... ;)
The homless are getting a little aggressive from what i hear from the locals. Sad to see a lot of young ones have run away from home and ended up there. A lot of the city parks and bridges would be full of them in the evening times. Outside the town in the lives of beaverton or hillsboro theres really none at all
Quote from: Puckoon on August 12, 2015, 07:37:21 PM
3 years? Time flies. :-\
technically 2 years and 8 months - but I've seen 3 summers now. Still take East coast people over West Coast people any time. The sense of humour isn't the same or outlook on life.
"everything is fine" only flies with me for a couple of months ha
Quote from: The Iceman on August 12, 2015, 08:22:05 PM
Quote from: J70 on August 12, 2015, 08:14:51 PM
Quote from: 50fiftyball on August 12, 2015, 02:59:16 PM
Anyone been or lived in Seattle/Washington and or Oregon (Portland) areas? Been offered a job out there in construction estimating.. Because its more northerly up the Pacific Coast ( I realise it's not far off Vancouver) what the lifestyle etc and culture is like compared with SF, SD, LA areas down the coast.
I'd live in Portland in a heartbeat. Fantastic town, very progressive and laid back. Amazing public transport system, beautiful scenery (Cascades and Pacific Coast) less than an hour away. Only place I've ever seen where they don't have bins on the streets, but solar-powered mini rubbish compactors!
There were a lot of homeless there, although they weren't the usual, middle-aged mentally ill, addict types. More like young hippy types. Not sure if they're a year round phenomenon.
I'm down twice a week in Portland for work - the city where young people go to retire they call it. It's a fun place, very progressive if thats your thing.... ;)
The homless are getting a little aggressive from what i hear from the locals. Sad to see a lot of young ones have run away from home and ended up there. A lot of the city parks and bridges would be full of them in the evening times. Outside the town in the lives of beaverton or hillsboro theres really none at all
Is it a Seattle thing too? Or is Portland just a unusually generous place for homeless? Has to be some reason so many of them end up there.
Quote from: J70 on August 12, 2015, 08:27:53 PM
Quote from: The Iceman on August 12, 2015, 08:22:05 PM
Quote from: J70 on August 12, 2015, 08:14:51 PM
Quote from: 50fiftyball on August 12, 2015, 02:59:16 PM
Anyone been or lived in Seattle/Washington and or Oregon (Portland) areas? Been offered a job out there in construction estimating.. Because its more northerly up the Pacific Coast ( I realise it's not far off Vancouver) what the lifestyle etc and culture is like compared with SF, SD, LA areas down the coast.
I'd live in Portland in a heartbeat. Fantastic town, very progressive and laid back. Amazing public transport system, beautiful scenery (Cascades and Pacific Coast) less than an hour away. Only place I've ever seen where they don't have bins on the streets, but solar-powered mini rubbish compactors!
There were a lot of homeless there, although they weren't the usual, middle-aged mentally ill, addict types. More like young hippy types. Not sure if they're a year round phenomenon.
I'm down twice a week in Portland for work - the city where young people go to retire they call it. It's a fun place, very progressive if thats your thing.... ;)
The homless are getting a little aggressive from what i hear from the locals. Sad to see a lot of young ones have run away from home and ended up there. A lot of the city parks and bridges would be full of them in the evening times. Outside the town in the lives of beaverton or hillsboro theres really none at all
Is it a Seattle thing too? Or is Portland just a unusually generous place for homeless? Has to be some reason so many of them end up there.
Santa Barbara is like that too and I don't blame them. I'd want to live there as well if I was homeless
Quote from: The Iceman on August 12, 2015, 05:32:18 PM
Quote from: Muck Savage on August 12, 2015, 04:48:39 PM
Seattle/Portland similar weather to Ireland in that there is a lot of rain. Summers are probably dryer however but still some rain.
Not as far left as SF culturally but probably a better place for someone moving over as SF can be a bit of a cultural shock. The City is a great place for a bit of craic but can be a bit in your face also -personal opinion.
Seattle/Portland have a big enough Irish community to settle you in and also two well supported soccer teams.
Lad's let me dispel the myth - The Weather is nothing like Ireland, or England. It's like France.
I've been in Seattle for 3 years. 3 Summers of practically no rain. From the end of May to the end of September its perfect weather between 25-35 with no humidity and no mosquitoes.
The past few years have been very mild. My kids are out every day - without exception. The locals will tell you this isn't normal weather but its been normal for us for 3 years and I'm not complaining.
Well technically your norm of 3 years is not the norm, as it doesn't seem to match with what the locals call normal. Its a much more similar climate to Ireland than the rest of the US.
Quote from: J70 on August 12, 2015, 08:27:53 PM
Quote from: The Iceman on August 12, 2015, 08:22:05 PM
Quote from: J70 on August 12, 2015, 08:14:51 PM
Quote from: 50fiftyball on August 12, 2015, 02:59:16 PM
Anyone been or lived in Seattle/Washington and or Oregon (Portland) areas? Been offered a job out there in construction estimating.. Because its more northerly up the Pacific Coast ( I realise it's not far off Vancouver) what the lifestyle etc and culture is like compared with SF, SD, LA areas down the coast.
I'd live in Portland in a heartbeat. Fantastic town, very progressive and laid back. Amazing public transport system, beautiful scenery (Cascades and Pacific Coast) less than an hour away. Only place I've ever seen where they don't have bins on the streets, but solar-powered mini rubbish compactors!
There were a lot of homeless there, although they weren't the usual, middle-aged mentally ill, addict types. More like young hippy types. Not sure if they're a year round phenomenon.
I'm down twice a week in Portland for work - the city where young people go to retire they call it. It's a fun place, very progressive if thats your thing.... ;)
The homless are getting a little aggressive from what i hear from the locals. Sad to see a lot of young ones have run away from home and ended up there. A lot of the city parks and bridges would be full of them in the evening times. Outside the town in the lives of beaverton or hillsboro theres really none at all
Is it a Seattle thing too? Or is Portland just a unusually generous place for homeless? Has to be some reason so many of them end up there.
Portland would be consistently nicer weather by a few degrees in my time out here. It's also more "homeless friendly" at the police and city level.
The infrastructure is different, and the residents are all quite young. My Wife's friend lives down there - she is 40 and working 2 part time jobs and sharing with another few middle age'ers...
It's the norm. Where the young to to retire, lay from paycheck to paycheck, very little responsibility and no ties... I think the general atmosphere just makes for easier living for the homeless...
Quote from: deiseach on August 12, 2015, 05:14:32 PM
Quote from: Muck Savage on August 12, 2015, 04:48:39 PM
Seattle/Portland have a big enough Irish community to settle you in and also two well supported soccer teams.
Liverpool and Man Utd?
Actually Seattle have an average home attendance of 44K per game, matches Liverpool.
Quote from: Muck Savage on August 12, 2015, 08:33:59 PM
Quote from: The Iceman on August 12, 2015, 05:32:18 PM
Quote from: Muck Savage on August 12, 2015, 04:48:39 PM
Seattle/Portland similar weather to Ireland in that there is a lot of rain. Summers are probably dryer however but still some rain.
Not as far left as SF culturally but probably a better place for someone moving over as SF can be a bit of a cultural shock. The City is a great place for a bit of craic but can be a bit in your face also -personal opinion.
Seattle/Portland have a big enough Irish community to settle you in and also two well supported soccer teams.
Lad's let me dispel the myth - The Weather is nothing like Ireland, or England. It's like France.
I've been in Seattle for 3 years. 3 Summers of practically no rain. From the end of May to the end of September its perfect weather between 25-35 with no humidity and no mosquitoes.
The past few years have been very mild. My kids are out every day - without exception. The locals will tell you this isn't normal weather but its been normal for us for 3 years and I'm not complaining.
Well technically your norm of 3 years is not the norm, as it doesn't seem to match with what the locals call normal. Its a much more similar climate to Ireland than the rest of the US.
Ireland isn't in the 30s is it? look at your phone every day for the next year and compare Seattle to Armagh and tell me they are the same.....
I've done it for 3 years now just to sicken the hole of my brother - I'll send him a picture of the next ten days. We're praying for rain here - grass is all burned dry, drought, Forrest fires....sounds just like Ireland all right....
Quote from: The Iceman on August 12, 2015, 08:38:50 PM
Quote from: Muck Savage on August 12, 2015, 08:33:59 PM
Quote from: The Iceman on August 12, 2015, 05:32:18 PM
Quote from: Muck Savage on August 12, 2015, 04:48:39 PM
Seattle/Portland similar weather to Ireland in that there is a lot of rain. Summers are probably dryer however but still some rain.
Not as far left as SF culturally but probably a better place for someone moving over as SF can be a bit of a cultural shock. The City is a great place for a bit of craic but can be a bit in your face also -personal opinion.
Seattle/Portland have a big enough Irish community to settle you in and also two well supported soccer teams.
Lad's let me dispel the myth - The Weather is nothing like Ireland, or England. It's like France.
I've been in Seattle for 3 years. 3 Summers of practically no rain. From the end of May to the end of September its perfect weather between 25-35 with no humidity and no mosquitoes.
The past few years have been very mild. My kids are out every day - without exception. The locals will tell you this isn't normal weather but its been normal for us for 3 years and I'm not complaining.
Well technically your norm of 3 years is not the norm, as it doesn't seem to match with what the locals call normal. Its a much more similar climate to Ireland than the rest of the US.
Ireland isn't in the 30s is it? look at your phone every day for the next year and compare Seattle to Armagh and tell me they are the same.....
I've done it for 3 years now just to sicken the hole of my brother - I'll send him a picture of the next ten days. We're praying for rain here - grass is all burned dry, drought, Forrest fires....sounds just like Ireland all right....
But like your own neighbors have told you, thats not the norm.
I've got numerous friends there for the past 20 years and they always claim it to be similar to Ireland, bit warmer in the summer but overall similar.
Anyway, I'm sure the rain clouds are always hanging over Armagh with the hope that it could be sunk ;)
Quote from: gawa316 on August 12, 2015, 08:31:13 PM
Quote from: J70 on August 12, 2015, 08:27:53 PM
Quote from: The Iceman on August 12, 2015, 08:22:05 PM
Quote from: J70 on August 12, 2015, 08:14:51 PM
Quote from: 50fiftyball on August 12, 2015, 02:59:16 PM
Anyone been or lived in Seattle/Washington and or Oregon (Portland) areas? Been offered a job out there in construction estimating.. Because its more northerly up the Pacific Coast ( I realise it's not far off Vancouver) what the lifestyle etc and culture is like compared with SF, SD, LA areas down the coast.
I'd live in Portland in a heartbeat. Fantastic town, very progressive and laid back. Amazing public transport system, beautiful scenery (Cascades and Pacific Coast) less than an hour away. Only place I've ever seen where they don't have bins on the streets, but solar-powered mini rubbish compactors!
There were a lot of homeless there, although they weren't the usual, middle-aged mentally ill, addict types. More like young hippy types. Not sure if they're a year round phenomenon.
I'm down twice a week in Portland for work - the city where young people go to retire they call it. It's a fun place, very progressive if thats your thing.... ;)
The homless are getting a little aggressive from what i hear from the locals. Sad to see a lot of young ones have run away from home and ended up there. A lot of the city parks and bridges would be full of them in the evening times. Outside the town in the lives of beaverton or hillsboro theres really none at all
Is it a Seattle thing too? Or is Portland just a unusually generous place for homeless? Has to be some reason so many of them end up there.
Santa Barbara is like that too and I don't blame them. I'd want to live there as well if I was homeless
Venice Beach also.
Quote from: Muck Savage on August 12, 2015, 08:54:35 PM
Quote from: The Iceman on August 12, 2015, 08:38:50 PM
Quote from: Muck Savage on August 12, 2015, 08:33:59 PM
Quote from: The Iceman on August 12, 2015, 05:32:18 PM
Quote from: Muck Savage on August 12, 2015, 04:48:39 PM
Seattle/Portland similar weather to Ireland in that there is a lot of rain. Summers are probably dryer however but still some rain.
Not as far left as SF culturally but probably a better place for someone moving over as SF can be a bit of a cultural shock. The City is a great place for a bit of craic but can be a bit in your face also -personal opinion.
Seattle/Portland have a big enough Irish community to settle you in and also two well supported soccer teams.
Lad's let me dispel the myth - The Weather is nothing like Ireland, or England. It's like France.
I've been in Seattle for 3 years. 3 Summers of practically no rain. From the end of May to the end of September its perfect weather between 25-35 with no humidity and no mosquitoes.
The past few years have been very mild. My kids are out every day - without exception. The locals will tell you this isn't normal weather but its been normal for us for 3 years and I'm not complaining.
Well technically your norm of 3 years is not the norm, as it doesn't seem to match with what the locals call normal. Its a much more similar climate to Ireland than the rest of the US.
Ireland isn't in the 30s is it? look at your phone every day for the next year and compare Seattle to Armagh and tell me they are the same.....
I've done it for 3 years now just to sicken the hole of my brother - I'll send him a picture of the next ten days. We're praying for rain here - grass is all burned dry, drought, Forrest fires....sounds just like Ireland all right....
But like your own neighbors have told you, thats not the norm.
I've got numerous friends there for the past 20 years and they always claim it to be similar to Ireland, bit warmer in the summer but overall similar.
Anyway, I'm sure the rain clouds are always hanging over Armagh with the hope that it could be sunk ;)
There is not a chance it will be similar to an Irish summer. We have had about 3 days of sun worth talking about this summer and it has pissed down the rest of the time. It was bloody 3 degrees at night a few weeks ago. Most depressing climate in the world ffs.
By the way, Armaghniac, that's a fascinating book from which you got your map--American Nations by Colin Woodard--in it, he identifies eleven different nations within North America and explains their origins. Worth a read, especially if you're an immigrant like me (Shssh! Don't tell Donald Trump or I'll be spending a lot more time at the Athletic Grounds)
Has anyone any contacts in the states for quantity surveying jobs? Think equivalent job title is a construction estimator/cost controller out there if I'm correct? PM me if needs be. Thanks.
Quote from: The Iceman on August 12, 2015, 05:29:24 PM
Quote from: 50fiftyball on August 12, 2015, 02:59:16 PM
Anyone been or lived in Seattle/Washington and or Oregon (Portland) areas? Been offered a job out there in construction estimating.. Because its more northerly up the Pacific Coast ( I realise it's not far off Vancouver) what the lifestyle etc and culture is like compared with SF, SD, LA areas down the coast.
I live out in the Seattle area now - give me a shout on PM if you want
California and WA are very different places. PNW is much more outdoor lifestyle in my opinion. Skiing in the winter, loads of hiking, mountain biking, road biking, water sports. Weather for the past 3 years has been more like central france. Summers are spectacular.
There is a strong Irish community centered around the Seattle Gaels and a lot of ex-pats.
There are some great areas to live depending on what you want to spend and what you are looking for.
Just reading this now! I didn't realise you knew the Seattle Gaels. Is Dermot Randles from Kerry still involved with them?
I remember summer here last year...think it was on a Wednesday.
Quote from: AZOffaly on January 21, 2016, 10:35:33 AM
Quote from: The Iceman on August 12, 2015, 05:29:24 PM
Quote from: 50fiftyball on August 12, 2015, 02:59:16 PM
Anyone been or lived in Seattle/Washington and or Oregon (Portland) areas? Been offered a job out there in construction estimating.. Because its more northerly up the Pacific Coast ( I realise it's not far off Vancouver) what the lifestyle etc and culture is like compared with SF, SD, LA areas down the coast.
I live out in the Seattle area now - give me a shout on PM if you want
California and WA are very different places. PNW is much more outdoor lifestyle in my opinion. Skiing in the winter, loads of hiking, mountain biking, road biking, water sports. Weather for the past 3 years has been more like central france. Summers are spectacular.
There is a strong Irish community centered around the Seattle Gaels and a lot of ex-pats.
There are some great areas to live depending on what you want to spend and what you are looking for.
Just reading this now! I didn't realise you knew the Seattle Gaels. Is Dermot Randles from Kerry still involved with them?
I've known a few lads who play or have played, also know one lad who plays on the Tacoma Rangers team. Never met Dermot though. I tend to stay away from the Irish scene or at least not become immersed in it. I've always enjoyed experiencing the local culture more than hanging on to my own for dear life. Though in fairness i will frequent the odd irish bar at 5 in the morning to watch a game of football. I've a house full of kids to keep me busy these days
Joining or being involved with the local GAA team is hardly hanging on for dear life, especially for someone who spends time on a GAA Board run from Ireland :)
Quote from: AZOffaly on January 21, 2016, 04:02:48 PM
Joining or being involved with the local GAA team is hardly hanging on for dear life, especially for someone who spends time on a GAA Board run from Ireland :)
thats not what I meant - sorry if it came across that way - theres a few heads in there who only have irish friends, sing irish songs eat irish food and drink irish beer
Quote from: The Iceman on January 21, 2016, 04:07:48 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on January 21, 2016, 04:02:48 PM
Joining or being involved with the local GAA team is hardly hanging on for dear life, especially for someone who spends time on a GAA Board run from Ireland :)
thats not what I meant - sorry if it came across that way - theres a few heads in there who only have irish friends, sing irish songs eat irish food and drink irish beer
Where do they get the Irish food from? Do you mean Kerrs Pinks, back bacon, pork sausages and proper turnips?
Quote from: omaghjoe on January 21, 2016, 05:21:34 PM
Quote from: The Iceman on January 21, 2016, 04:07:48 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on January 21, 2016, 04:02:48 PM
Joining or being involved with the local GAA team is hardly hanging on for dear life, especially for someone who spends time on a GAA Board run from Ireland :)
thats not what I meant - sorry if it came across that way - theres a few heads in there who only have irish friends, sing irish songs eat irish food and drink irish beer
Where do they get the Irish food from? Do you mean Kerrs Pinks, back bacon, pork sausages and proper turnips?
from an irish shop I would imagine Joe or an Irish restaurant.... or from people visiting - there's a constant influx of people to and from SFO
here if it's what folks want to don thats fine - its just not what I want to do. i love my heritage but I left to try new things - not the same things with other irish people who left and just in a warmer climate
For those who are into an auld bag of tayto (yellow) and any other sort of food hankerings foodireland.com really cant be bate. And tommy moloneys sebsite does a good job too
Quote from: heganboy on January 21, 2016, 06:25:43 PM
For those who are into an auld bag of tayto (yellow) and any other sort of food hankerings foodireland.com really cant be bate. And tommy moloneys sebsite does a good job too
Holeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Shit. :D :D :D :D :D :D
If any of ye are hankering for stuff from home and there is a Cost Plus World Market near you, check it out. They are usually good for a wide range of stuff, from the d'aul Cadburys choc, to Birds Custard to Bisto gravy.
Quote from: Beffs on January 21, 2016, 07:05:49 PM
If any of ye are hankering for stuff from home and there is a Cost Plus World Market near you, check it out. They are usually good for a wide range of stuff, from the d'aul Cadburys choc, to Birds Custard to Bisto gravy.
Plus the oul HP!
Fresh n Easy used to be great for it bacon, gravy granules etc
You can get HP in most grocery stores here now, as well as Coleman's Mustard.
Cost Plus is a great shout for the bickies and snacks, but I am looking forward to some cocktail sausages!!!!
Anyone on here from the LA region? Need to go to San Dimas in a couple of weeks. Is there anywhere around there nice to stay? Nice area, close to restaurants/bars etc. Doesn't have to be be in San Dimas, don't know the area at all not sure if the neighboring places are better or not.
How's it looking for you chaps on the east coast? Hatches battened down for the weekend?!
Quote from: omaghjoe on January 21, 2016, 05:21:34 PM
Quote from: The Iceman on January 21, 2016, 04:07:48 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on January 21, 2016, 04:02:48 PM
Joining or being involved with the local GAA team is hardly hanging on for dear life, especially for someone who spends time on a GAA Board run from Ireland :)
thats not what I meant - sorry if it came across that way - theres a few heads in there who only have irish friends, sing irish songs eat irish food and drink irish beer
Where do they get the Irish food from? Do you mean Kerrs Pinks, back bacon, pork sausages and proper turnips?
We've a dedicated Irish grocery shop near us in Queens. Provincial papers, Weetabix/Flahavan's porridge, bacon, sausages, toiletries, batch loaves, etc. etc. even Donegal Catch! :P They'll have shelves packed with all the Easter Eggs from home shortly.
And most of the regular supermarkets and convenience stores in the area carry a small range of Irish stuff like Brennan's bread, biscuits, sauces, tins of beans/peas, Miwadi/Robinsons, crisps, Mars bars etc. Although the conveniece stores should be treated with extreme caution - even their American stuff can stay on the shelves a year or two past the sell-by date! My American wife even gets Kerrygold butter at Costco!
Quote from: Tony Baloney on January 23, 2016, 06:11:39 PM
How's it looking for you chaps on the east coast? Hatches battened down for the weekend?!
Shoveled four times today. Was coming down at more than an inch every half hour for much of the day. Up past my knees now on our deck. One more shoveling in the morning after its stopped should do it, but its an absolute mess. Neighbour said its the worst he's seen, and he's been in his house more than 20 years. Got in a row with another neighbour over where to put it all. He was giving me shit for piling it up in front of a parked car in front of our house, all the while he's pushing his stuff out into the road for the snow plough to push it all onto our side of the street (free advice if you buy a house on a one-way street - stick to the side opposite where the snow ploughs push the snow!).
The US is very dynamic and a cultural powerhouse but the next few years are going to be very hard economically, imo.
http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/01/15/40-YEARS-OF-ECONOMIC-POLICY-IN-ONE-CHART/
Quote from: seafoid on January 24, 2016, 09:25:02 AM
The US is very dynamic and a cultural powerhouse but the next few years are going to be very hard economically, imo.
http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/01/15/40-YEARS-OF-ECONOMIC-POLICY-IN-ONE-CHART/
That's all very well and good but have you advice on where I can stay in San Dimas?!!
Quote from: J70 on January 24, 2016, 01:47:28 AM
Quote from: omaghjoe on January 21, 2016, 05:21:34 PM
Quote from: The Iceman on January 21, 2016, 04:07:48 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on January 21, 2016, 04:02:48 PM
Joining or being involved with the local GAA team is hardly hanging on for dear life, especially for someone who spends time on a GAA Board run from Ireland :)
thats not what I meant - sorry if it came across that way - theres a few heads in there who only have irish friends, sing irish songs eat irish food and drink irish beer
Where do they get the Irish food from? Do you mean Kerrs Pinks, back bacon, pork sausages and proper turnips?
We've a dedicated Irish grocery shop near us in Queens. Provincial papers, Weetabix/Flahavan's porridge, bacon, sausages, toiletries, batch loaves, etc. etc. even Donegal Catch! :P They'll have shelves packed with all the Easter Eggs from home shortly.
And most of the regular supermarkets and convenience stores in the area carry a small range of Irish stuff like Brennan's bread, biscuits, sauces, tins of beans/peas, Miwadi/Robinsons, crisps, Mars bars etc. Although the conveniece stores should be treated with extreme caution - even their American stuff can stay on the shelves a year or two past the sell-by date! My American wife even gets Kerrygold butter at Costco!
61st St Deli or Butcher's Block?
Quote from: J70 on January 24, 2016, 01:53:46 AM
Quote from: Tony Baloney on January 23, 2016, 06:11:39 PM
How's it looking for you chaps on the east coast? Hatches battened down for the weekend?!
Shoveled four times today. Was coming down at more than an inch every half hour for much of the day. Up past my knees now on our deck. One more shoveling in the morning after its stopped should do it, but its an absolute mess. Neighbour said its the worst he's seen, and he's been in his house more than 20 years. Got in a row with another neighbour over where to put it all. He was giving me shit for piling it up in front of a parked car in front of our house, all the while he's pushing his stuff out into the road for the snow plough to push it all onto our side of the street (free advice if you buy a house on a one-way street - stick to the side opposite where the snow ploughs push the snow!).
I think I prefer the Russian system where they scoop the snow up and put it on a conveyor that feeds it into the back of the lorry. They're going to have to start doing the same back east, this business of throwing it all into the side of the road isn't going to be good enough.
any exiles who enjoy some scenery from home this lad takes amazing photographs and sells them - I have one of the Navan Fort and it's spectacular:
https://www.facebook.com/PatrickHughesPhotographyArmagh/ (https://www.facebook.com/PatrickHughesPhotographyArmagh/)
He is from Armagh so lots of local shots but also ventures all over Ireland as you will see from his albums. He is going to work on one in the spring of my home house and I plan to buy copies for the aunts and uncles who live overseas.
Thought I would give him a plug on here
Iceman, thanks for posting that link. Never saw the Shammills look so radiant. Holy cow, the Shambles radiant! Some awesome photos.
Quote from: Oraisteach on January 26, 2016, 12:33:47 AM
Iceman, thanks for posting that link. Never saw the Shammills look so radiant. Holy cow, the Shambles radiant! Some awesome photos.
aye some great work from the Drone photos - shots of the cathedral with a storm in the background are epic. He has provided coverage for UTV news lately - think he just started photography recently. I don't know whether it's luck or skill but he takes a great photo - I bought mine for 30GBP including postage!
Quote from: J70 on January 24, 2016, 01:47:28 AM
Quote from: omaghjoe on January 21, 2016, 05:21:34 PM
Quote from: The Iceman on January 21, 2016, 04:07:48 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on January 21, 2016, 04:02:48 PM
Joining or being involved with the local GAA team is hardly hanging on for dear life, especially for someone who spends time on a GAA Board run from Ireland :)
thats not what I meant - sorry if it came across that way - theres a few heads in there who only have irish friends, sing irish songs eat irish food and drink irish beer
Where do they get the Irish food from? Do you mean Kerrs Pinks, back bacon, pork sausages and proper turnips?
We've a dedicated Irish grocery shop near us in Queens. Provincial papers, Weetabix/Flahavan's porridge, bacon, sausages, toiletries, batch loaves, etc. etc. even Donegal Catch! :P They'll have shelves packed with all the Easter Eggs from home shortly.
And most of the regular supermarkets and convenience stores in the area carry a small range of Irish stuff like Brennan's bread, biscuits, sauces, tins of beans/peas, Miwadi/Robinsons, crisps, Mars bars etc. Although the conveniece stores should be treated with extreme caution - even their American stuff can stay on the shelves a year or two past the sell-by date! My American wife even gets Kerrygold butter at Costco!
I wasnt gave a dig iceman
Ye have it all J70, except the Kerrs pinks from the Laggan ;). Tho wud the Brennans bread not be fierce stale? Have to say bread in America is another thing thats shite and expensive. Kerrygold being fairly widespread is a life saver.
Tho at the same living here and seeing all the crappy processed food there is, has made me realise how much of the same shite with a different wrapper on it i used to eat in Ireland.
Quote from: gawa316 on January 23, 2016, 04:58:25 PM
Anyone on here from the LA region? Need to go to San Dimas in a couple of weeks. Is there anywhere around there nice to stay? Nice area, close to restaurants/bars etc. Doesn't have to be be in San Dimas, don't know the area at all not sure if the neighboring places are better or not.
Never been in San Dimas although i am sure its gonna be an excellent adventure ;). There is a waterpark there but its not called Waterloo like in the film.
Dont really know the area that well but there is nothing that really springs to mind. Pasadena is about the closest looking place of interest but its not that close and your practically in downtown LA by that point anyway. Your slap bang in the middle of Suburbia unfortunately and it goes on for miles and miles...
Quote from: omaghjoe on January 26, 2016, 06:00:57 AM
Quote from: gawa316 on January 23, 2016, 04:58:25 PM
Anyone on here from the LA region? Need to go to San Dimas in a couple of weeks. Is there anywhere around there nice to stay? Nice area, close to restaurants/bars etc. Doesn't have to be be in San Dimas, don't know the area at all not sure if the neighboring places are better or not.
Never been in San Dimas although i am sure its gonna be an excellent adventure ;). There is a waterpark there but its not called Waterloo like in the film.
Dont really know the area that well but there is nothing that really springs to mind. Pasadena is about the closest looking place of interest but its not that close and your practically in downtown LA by that point anyway. Your slap bang in the middle of Suburbia unfortunately and it goes on for miles and miles...
Definitely sure to have a bodacious time.
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on January 24, 2016, 10:33:43 PM
I think I prefer the Russian system where they scoop the snow up and put it on a conveyor that feeds it into the back of the lorry. They're going to have to start doing the same back east, this business of throwing it all into the side of the road isn't going to be good enough.
Not quite as slick as the Russians, but getting it out of the road all the same
https://youtu.be/Tz1XCGanasY
Quote from: omaghjoe on January 26, 2016, 06:00:57 AM
Quote from: gawa316 on January 23, 2016, 04:58:25 PM
Anyone on here from the LA region? Need to go to San Dimas in a couple of weeks. Is there anywhere around there nice to stay? Nice area, close to restaurants/bars etc. Doesn't have to be be in San Dimas, don't know the area at all not sure if the neighboring places are better or not.
Never been in San Dimas although i am sure its gonna be an excellent adventure ;). There is a waterpark there but its not called Waterloo like in the film.
Dont really know the area that well but there is nothing that really springs to mind. Pasadena is about the closest looking place of interest but its not that close and your practically in downtown LA by that point anyway. Your slap bang in the middle of Suburbia unfortunately and it goes on for miles and miles...
Yeah just went ahead and booked the hotel in San Dimas. There's a brew pub next to it so I'll go get some wings, a few jars and watch the Warriors game.
Only noticed this thread now. I lived in Florida from 1994 to 2006. I met herself ( from Cork ) there, got married and had three Yankee boys before we moved back to Ireland ( Cork). I always had a curiosity in moving home which was increased to a strong desire when the boys were born. It was hard going there when they were young, admittedly they were all close in age when we moved back....6 months, 2 & 3. It was bloody expensive in terms of childcare with the boys and education would have been a huge issue then had we stayed there. The choice would have been fairly poor and if we went private would have been seriously expensive. I worked in an Irish pub( by night) and in an engineering company by day when I lived there . With the engineering firm, I had no holidays for the first year and was then going to receive a weeks ( yes 1 week!) holidays in the second year. Had I stayed with them I would have had to wait for 5 years to receive 2 weeks holidays a year and that would be it then. I hated that aspect of American life to be honest. Also we did miss the family network with the boys when raising them there. The heat was savage also but we had a lovely pool, hot tub and the beach was only 15 mins drive away. A hurricane hit us in October 2005 and a month later, herself was offered a transfer back to Ireland with the company so we were really lucky. They paid for everything and we also were able to sell the house in Florida at the last possible minute in May 2006. We went back there for a holiday last March (for the first time since) and I did wonder how I would feel in terms of regrets etc. I can't say I felt anything much, sure my friends have a lovely lifestyle but I have no hole in my life like I had when I lived there. Materially we could have been better off but I don't regret moving back, we have a holiday home in Kerry and the boys are deeply involved in sport as am I. My wife has a good job as well myself so again we're lucky. We are all healthy so that's something to be thankful for and I can't complain about life. I did wonder last year what I would have ended up doing had I stayed but hey I'll have enough time in later years to wonder about that further. At least the boys and myself have our American passports so there's a lot to be said for that. I do hate a lot of aspects of Irish life, politicians, taxes, begrudgery etc but there are so many positive aspects too. All in all I'm happy here.......hey Fl/Mayo when are you coming back for good??😉😉
Quote from: cicfada on January 27, 2016, 09:40:03 PM
Only noticed this thread now. I lived in Florida from 1994 to 2006. I met herself ( from Cork ) there, got married and had three Yankee boys before we moved back to Ireland ( Cork). I always had a curiosity in moving home which was increased to a strong desire when the boys were born. It was hard going there when they were young, admittedly they were all close in age when we moved back....6 months, 2 & 3. It was bloody expensive in terms of childcare with the boys and education would have been a huge issue then had we stayed there. The choice would have been fairly poor and if we went private would have been seriously expensive. I worked in an Irish pub( by night) and in an engineering company by day when I lived there . With the engineering firm, I had no holidays for the first year and was then going to receive a weeks ( yes 1 week!) holidays in the second year. Had I stayed with them I would have had to wait for 5 years to receive 2 weeks holidays a year and that would be it then. I hated that aspect of American life to be honest. Also we did miss the family network with the boys when raising them there. The heat was savage also but we had a lovely pool, hot tub and the beach was only 15 mins drive away. A hurricane hit us in October 2005 and a month later, herself was offered a transfer back to Ireland with the company so we were really lucky. They paid for everything and we also were able to sell the house in Florida at the last possible minute in May 2006. We went back there for a holiday last March (for the first time since) and I did wonder how I would feel in terms of regrets etc. I can't say I felt anything much, sure my friends have a lovely lifestyle but I have no hole in my life like I had when I lived there. Materially we could have been better off but I don't regret moving back, we have a holiday home in Kerry and the boys are deeply involved in sport as am I. My wife has a good job as well myself so again we're lucky. We are all healthy so that's something to be thankful for and I can't complain about life. I did wonder last year what I would have ended up doing had I stayed but hey I'll have enough time in later years to wonder about that further. At least the boys and myself have our American passports so there's a lot to be said for that. I do hate a lot of aspects of Irish life, politicians, taxes, begrudgery etc but there are so many positive aspects too. All in all I'm happy here.......hey Fl/Mayo when are you coming back for good??😉😉
Cic, that was reassuring to read. Countdown to the summer of 2018 is in full swing, you know its getting close when you are putting off purchasing stuff because you wont need them in a couple of years. Hopefully the kids will start school in Ireland in Sept. 2018. Another couple (mutual friends) are moving back this summer so they will be our guinea pigs :-) Hopefully they will point out all the pitfalls. The one big worry I have is that I have lived so long over here I have forgotten how the Irish system works, I will be as green when I move to Ireland as I was when I set foot in NYC back in the 80's....and that was green!! I'm glad to hear that you all made the right decision :)
I left college in 1996 and went straight into work. Decided in 1999 that I wasn't going to settle into a 9-5 routine and said 'I'm off to Australia'. Got the paperwork sorted out and handed in my notice. I was surprised when they came back to me with a chance to go to the US to work for the company there in CA (Tech company). So I thought why not go there for a while. Went out West in 2000 for '3 years' and had a ball of a time. Football at the weekends, Sun every day and a bit of money, I was like a bullock in fresh grass!
I soon met the Mrs, got married and decided in 2007 to move back home, the Mrs is European also. Luckily the company I worked for took care of the move, so went on a shopping spree and loaded up the container with everything from new pots & pans to a tractor lawnmower (spent an evening out the front of the apartment cutting a 3m x 3m lawn to try make it look used).
Once we landed back we couldn't get a bit of luck. Container was 2 months late, bought a gaff at the peak and the whole economy tanked. The wife settled in pretty well and we had our 1st (nightmare pregnancy). We got to go to her folks ever 6 weeks or so thanks to Michael O'Leary and I was lucky that even though the economy tanked I always had a job however I just couldn't settle. I got use to the sun, things being so easy to access and I just did't know the system in Ireland (hospitals, tax etc.). Still loved meeting up with the family/friends and had overdose of GAA matches, went to one every weekend I could. As my wife was not from Ireland we use to go to a different area around Ireland most weekends (and get a GAA match in :)). You just don't realize how beautiful the country is until you spend time going around.
In late 2009 I got a job offer which meant I would have to head back to the US. I jumped pretty quick on it and we moved Dec 2009, wife was 6 months pregnant with our 2nd. Been here since then with two kids in school and playing sports so they have their own little roots put down. Life now is work and kids with little time to think of anything else. We have gone back each summer since 2009 but that gets expensive for 4 seats, car etc. There's lots I miss about home, family, GAA, pints and music. I would love to have my young lad play football/hurling/rugby and the little one do Irish dancing. On the flip side there are a huge amount of opportunities here for the kids, lots of dangers as well but thats what parenting is I guess. I'm glad I moved back home and got it out of my system otherwise I would have been wondering what if.
Only advice I'd give is its really about doing whats right for you. When we moved back to Ireland we moved back to be closer to family but when we came back to CA we moved with our own family. I have peace of mind that I did the right thing for them.
Quote from: Muck Savage on January 29, 2016, 06:19:02 PM
Only advice I'd give is its really about doing whats right for you. When we moved back to Ireland we moved back to be closer to family but when we came back to CA we moved with our own family. I have peace of mind that I did the right thing for them.
Great post.
The last paragraph is interesting. I think it is at the heart of whether or not you really settle if you move away. Some people settle into their new life straight away. Some people are always hankering after home, no matter how great their lifestyle, or their job is in the US. I think that being married or single can be a really big factor.
If you are single, your family and your friends back at home are your main emotional ties in your life. It can be hard to settle down in a new country and be really at peace with it, if you are thousands of miles away from your loved ones. But if you you marry and have kids while you are away, (or you bring them with you when you go,) they are the main focus of your life now. They are your new "loved ones", so it's easier to make do without having your birth family around.
It doesn't mean that you miss them any less. It just means that you have your own family now, so you aren't hankering so badly to stay connected to another one back in Ireland. Obviously, its not going to be that way for everyone, but its something I have observed amongs my own group of family and friends who have lived away for long periods of time.
Signatures
Your singing things all the time here and multiple times for one thing, pain in the arse.
And if your actually read everything you signed your life would be devoted solely to reading documents
It's all about tradeoffs and what is right for your own family. Weather is great, a big house is great, opportunities for the kids are great but if none of that is worth anything to you if you can't share it with your parents, or siblings or in-laws then it doesn't matter how many days of sunshine you get a year.
Right now we're focused on leaving the West Coast and heading back east. We will lose the weather but we can have the same house and we'll regain the community and family interactions that we feel are more important. The goal would be to get back to Ireland after that - not because of a hankering to go home but just because I think our kids deserve their Irish family for a while and vice versa..
the life of an ex-pat is certainly not an easyone. You're not fully settled in your new country and you don't fully fit in (because of your life experiences and outlook shift) in your home country.
Quote from: The Iceman on January 29, 2016, 07:44:27 PM
It's all about tradeoffs and what is right for your own family. Weather is great, a big house is great, opportunities for the kids are great but if none of that is worth anything to you if you can't share it with your parents, or siblings or in-laws then it doesn't matter how many days of sunshine you get a year.
Right now we're focused on leaving the West Coast and heading back east. We will lose the weather but we can have the same house and we'll regain the community and family interactions that we feel are more important. The goal would be to get back to Ireland after that - not because of a hankering to go home but just because I think our kids deserve their Irish family for a while and vice versa..
the life of an ex-pat is certainly not an easyone. You're not fully settled in your new country and you don't fully fit in (because of your life experiences and outlook shift) in your home country.
Furio....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70PvXTkqg4g
Quote from: omaghjoe on January 26, 2016, 05:34:19 AM
Quote from: J70 on January 24, 2016, 01:47:28 AM
Quote from: omaghjoe on January 21, 2016, 05:21:34 PM
Quote from: The Iceman on January 21, 2016, 04:07:48 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on January 21, 2016, 04:02:48 PM
Joining or being involved with the local GAA team is hardly hanging on for dear life, especially for someone who spends time on a GAA Board run from Ireland :)
thats not what I meant - sorry if it came across that way - theres a few heads in there who only have irish friends, sing irish songs eat irish food and drink irish beer
Where do they get the Irish food from? Do you mean Kerrs Pinks, back bacon, pork sausages and proper turnips?
We've a dedicated Irish grocery shop near us in Queens. Provincial papers, Weetabix/Flahavan's porridge, bacon, sausages, toiletries, batch loaves, etc. etc. even Donegal Catch! :P They'll have shelves packed with all the Easter Eggs from home shortly.
And most of the regular supermarkets and convenience stores in the area carry a small range of Irish stuff like Brennan's bread, biscuits, sauces, tins of beans/peas, Miwadi/Robinsons, crisps, Mars bars etc. Although the conveniece stores should be treated with extreme caution - even their American stuff can stay on the shelves a year or two past the sell-by date! My American wife even gets Kerrygold butter at Costco!
I wasnt gave a dig iceman
Ye have it all J70, except the Kerrs pinks from the Laggan ;). Tho wud the Brennans bread not be fierce stale? Have to say bread in America is another thing thats shite and expensive. Kerrygold being fairly widespread is a life saver.
Tho at the same living here and seeing all the crappy processed food there is, has made me realise how much of the same shite with a different wrapper on it i used to eat in Ireland.
The bread is always refrigerated and usually good for a week or two. As with any bread, you'd wonder what preservatives they're putting in them these days to keep them fresh. It never lasted that long back in my youth, although that was mostly local stuff from Gallagher's in Ardara or wherever.
I'd kill for a few Kerrs Pinks! You never get those nice, peeling, floury spuds over here like you do at home!
Quote from: omaghjoe on January 31, 2016, 05:44:39 AM
Quote from: The Iceman on January 29, 2016, 07:44:27 PM
It's all about tradeoffs and what is right for your own family. Weather is great, a big house is great, opportunities for the kids are great but if none of that is worth anything to you if you can't share it with your parents, or siblings or in-laws then it doesn't matter how many days of sunshine you get a year.
Right now we're focused on leaving the West Coast and heading back east. We will lose the weather but we can have the same house and we'll regain the community and family interactions that we feel are more important. The goal would be to get back to Ireland after that - not because of a hankering to go home but just because I think our kids deserve their Irish family for a while and vice versa..
the life of an ex-pat is certainly not an easyone. You're not fully settled in your new country and you don't fully fit in (because of your life experiences and outlook shift) in your home country.
Furio....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70PvXTkqg4g
I don't regret leaving Joe - I've done things, been places and had experiences I never would have even dreamed of had i stayed. Before I left i don't think my Mother had ever been on a plane - she's been over here now I think 10 times in 8 years so my family has also grown from me moving. But you know yourself you're forever dislodged. Our problem is we haven't settled at all out West. Seattle people are rare to say the least.
Quote from: The Iceman on February 01, 2016, 03:57:57 PM
Quote from: omaghjoe on January 31, 2016, 05:44:39 AM
Quote from: The Iceman on January 29, 2016, 07:44:27 PM
It's all about tradeoffs and what is right for your own family. Weather is great, a big house is great, opportunities for the kids are great but if none of that is worth anything to you if you can't share it with your parents, or siblings or in-laws then it doesn't matter how many days of sunshine you get a year.
Right now we're focused on leaving the West Coast and heading back east. We will lose the weather but we can have the same house and we'll regain the community and family interactions that we feel are more important. The goal would be to get back to Ireland after that - not because of a hankering to go home but just because I think our kids deserve their Irish family for a while and vice versa..
the life of an ex-pat is certainly not an easyone. You're not fully settled in your new country and you don't fully fit in (because of your life experiences and outlook shift) in your home country.
Furio....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70PvXTkqg4g
I don't regret leaving Joe - I've done things, been places and had experiences I never would have even dreamed of had i stayed. Before I left i don't think my Mother had ever been on a plane - she's been over here now I think 10 times in 8 years so my family has also grown from me moving. But you know yourself you're forever dislodged. Our problem is we haven't settled at all out West. Seattle people are rare to say the least.
"Rare"? :)
How?
Quote from: J70 on February 01, 2016, 11:28:02 PM
Quote from: The Iceman on February 01, 2016, 03:57:57 PM
Quote from: omaghjoe on January 31, 2016, 05:44:39 AM
Quote from: The Iceman on January 29, 2016, 07:44:27 PM
It's all about tradeoffs and what is right for your own family. Weather is great, a big house is great, opportunities for the kids are great but if none of that is worth anything to you if you can't share it with your parents, or siblings or in-laws then it doesn't matter how many days of sunshine you get a year.
Right now we're focused on leaving the West Coast and heading back east. We will lose the weather but we can have the same house and we'll regain the community and family interactions that we feel are more important. The goal would be to get back to Ireland after that - not because of a hankering to go home but just because I think our kids deserve their Irish family for a while and vice versa..
the life of an ex-pat is certainly not an easyone. You're not fully settled in your new country and you don't fully fit in (because of your life experiences and outlook shift) in your home country.
Furio....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70PvXTkqg4g
I don't regret leaving Joe - I've done things, been places and had experiences I never would have even dreamed of had i stayed. Before I left i don't think my Mother had ever been on a plane - she's been over here now I think 10 times in 8 years so my family has also grown from me moving. But you know yourself you're forever dislodged. Our problem is we haven't settled at all out West. Seattle people are rare to say the least.
"Rare"? :)
How?
In comparison to East coast people or Southern people I find them very cold. If you invite people to your house you at some point might expect to be invited to theirs - that rarely happens here. If you do go to someones house you might expect some effort on their part, a bit of a spread of food - that has rarely been the case in our experience. If you make plans with people it isn't normal to flake out and cancel last minute (last St Patricks day we had 14 people cancel coming to a party.
this isn't just our experience - a lot of people who've moved here and been here for years report the same - its the Seattle freeze they call it.
theres also an all in or nothing attitude. For example:
Oh you guys hike?
Yes we like to go hiking as a family.
Awesome we're taking our RVs to eastern WA next weekend and going to hike up there
We dont have an RV
you dont have an RV? oh.... see you around
Big Catholic family - great to see
Thanks, you guys too - 12 kids - we struggle with our 4 - fair play to you
we should have you over some time
yeah we'd like that a lot it would be good to get the kids together
do you home school?
no
catholic school?
no our kids go to public school
oh... see you around
This has happened us many times - you're all in or you're out.
You had 14 people cancel coming to a party at the last minute? :o
I'd never heard of the "Seattle Freeze".
According to the wikipedia entry, Washington state inhabitant rate 48th out of 50 in extraversion. Apparently they're very wary of strangers.
Quote from: J70 on February 02, 2016, 01:17:22 AM
You had 14 people cancel coming to a party at the last minute? :o
I'd never heard of the "Seattle Freeze".
According to the wikipedia entry, Washington state inhabitant rate 48th out of 50 in extraversion. Apparently they're very wary of strangers.
People here would say they have lots of acquaintances but no friends. You'd be greeted warmly enough but its all fluff. Nobody you could really count on.... If that makes sense.
I had ones in NJ who would drive through a hurricane to come and help you if you needed them. In Ireland I had ones that would shed blood for me if the occasion called for it.
In seattle area I'm lucky if someone buys me a drink back...
Are you sure it just isn't you, Ice? :p
In all seriousness, when I first arrived here I had no bother having people to call on for a bit of help moving house or whatever. It was all expats from the UK and Ireland and GAA people mind you, and they'd still help me out if I needed it, but I think people get more self-reliant as the years pass and they become more settled so I don't need the help as much. I have friends that will have me over for dinner but that's mostly at the big holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, the rest of the time it's a lot handier to just meet everybody at a restaurant.
I've been in San Diego since 2000. Came over to work in an Irish bar ( ::)) , got married and have been here since. I lived in Philly and Boston before that and initially I hated it here , people definitely a lot more fake on the west coast! Like somebody said earlier, it's a great spot for the mother to visit, and she's a great help babysitting when she comes! She usually stays about 5 weeks.. Savage!
Running an Irish bar is definitely a great way to keep connected and to be honest the likes of FB are great for me to keep in contact with lads and lassies I would probably have lost touch with years ago.
Definitely miss it now a bit more than I did a few years back, probably because the oul pair are getting older , and every time I call home, you hear that someone else you knew has just died.
I probably talk to my ma and da at least twice a week .Heading home in July for the younger brothers wedding , and to be honest this is probably the most excited I've been to go home from I came out here. There are 4 of us ( 8 year old twins) , so it's about $6K for flights , so stressed about it, but f**k it, hopefully the tax man is nice to me! I've worked non stop since I've been here, and my wife is a teacher, and it's definitely hard to get ahead of the game here. I don't know how anyone could afford to have 4 or 5 kids here...
Rough enough house this week, the wife's old man got killed an a car accident right outside their home place in Oakland, 87 flying and gone in a car accident. It's gonna be rough for a while, she was the baby of the house.
With the 2 kids still young , I won't be thinking of going home anytime soon...
Gawd, that's rough. Sorry to hear that.
Thats awful Cadhlancian, so sorry to hear about the accident.
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on February 02, 2016, 04:57:22 AM
Are you sure it just isn't you, Ice? :p
In all seriousness, when I first arrived here I had no bother having people to call on for a bit of help moving house or whatever. It was all expats from the UK and Ireland and GAA people mind you, and they'd still help me out if I needed it, but I think people get more self-reliant as the years pass and they become more settled so I don't need the help as much. I have friends that will have me over for dinner but that's mostly at the big holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, the rest of the time it's a lot handier to just meet everybody at a restaurant.
I work in Portland and up in Vancouver.BC - both cities are only 3 hours drive from Seattle but both places very very different in terms of people
Sorry to hear about your Father in Law Cadhlancian thats a lot to shoulder for you in the coming weeks. RIP
Thanks fellas! He was a good oul skin. Funerals take an awful long time here. It happened last Tuesday, funeral not until Feb 13th..
Jeez yeah sorry to here that, must be awful for you all, especially being out of the blue.
Cadhlancian, that's an awful burden to bear. So sorry for you and your family.
Out of interest what's the name of the bar you run?
The Field
Quote from: cadhlancian on February 02, 2016, 06:59:07 PM
The Field
Are you from Tyrone Cadhlancian. As far as I know the owners of The Field are from Dungannon / Donaghmore area but maybe that has changed since you been there.
I am. Same owners yes. Originally from Donaghmore and Coalisland 👍🏻
Quote from: cadhlancian on February 02, 2016, 07:42:52 PM
I am. Same owners yes. Originally from Donaghmore and Coalisland 👍🏻
Are u Loughshore area ??
I am 😜
I remember the field well from my days playing football with clan na Gael. We started out in the old sod in Adams ave but as we got posh we started to visit the field :) grand spot.
I was in that pub in September!
Quote from: cadhlancian on February 02, 2016, 06:59:07 PM
The Field
Does he own another bar in Santa Barbara by any chance?
No
Sorry to hear about that Cadhlancian.
Be down in San Diego a fair bit but strangely have never got the length of the field. The only time I can tolerate that many fly chompers ;) in one place is when Tyrone are playing..... so I'll see ye 3rd Sunday in September if I im not able to fly home for for 4th!
Good man! Make sure and introduce yourself 8)
Quote from: cadhlancian on February 02, 2016, 06:59:07 PM
The Field
Jeepers that menu has me mouth watering...miss the oul sausage rolls.
San Diego is on the bucket list so will defo call in for a few pints and tucker when we make it down
Quote from: gawa316 on February 04, 2016, 06:01:07 PM
Quote from: cadhlancian on February 02, 2016, 06:59:07 PM
The Field
Jeepers that menu has me mouth watering...miss the oul sausage rolls.
San Diego is on the bucket list so will defo call in for a few pints and tucker when we make it down
Depends on their level of hoof content... ;)
But seriously (and this is no slight of the field as I have never been there) how many times have you went to an Irish bar here and ordered something expecting to taste like it was from home and it was just the same ole American shite that you could get anywhere.
...Apart from the corned beef and cabbage obiviously ::)
Quote from: omaghjoe on February 04, 2016, 09:09:26 PM
Quote from: gawa316 on February 04, 2016, 06:01:07 PM
Quote from: cadhlancian on February 02, 2016, 06:59:07 PM
The Field
Jeepers that menu has me mouth watering...miss the oul sausage rolls.
San Diego is on the bucket list so will defo call in for a few pints and tucker when we make it down
sausage rolls in an irish bar - Paddy Coyne's in Seattle - run by an Irish man and they are pure shite. I go to a british bakery a few towns over where the head baker is a wee woman from dundalk - as good as any you'll get at home. It's 45 min there and back but worth it for sausage rolls, steak and kidney pies and mince pies at chrismas time
Depends on their level of hoof content... ;)
But seriously (and this is no slight of the field as I have never been there) how many times have you went to an Irish bar here and ordered something expecting to taste like it was from home and it was just the same ole American shite that you could get anywhere.
...Apart from the corned beef and cabbage obiviously ::)
By the way, corned beef and cabbage. Where the hell did that come from?
Quote from: AZOffaly on February 05, 2016, 03:35:08 PM
By the way, corned beef and cabbage. Where the hell did that come from?
Boiling ham and cabbage, yes sir ee, Corned Beef FFS!
Bacon and Cabbage, Ham and Cabbage, yes, yes, yes. As the song goes 'I am a savage for Bacon and Cabbage'. But I remember the 'traditional' Irish Corned Beef and cabbage over there. I looked at them like they had two heads.
Quote from: AZOffaly on February 05, 2016, 03:43:04 PM
Bacon and Cabbage, Ham and Cabbage, yes, yes, yes. As the song goes 'I am a savage for Bacon and Cabbage'. But I remember the 'traditional' Irish Corned Beef and cabbage over there. I looked at them like they had two heads.
Yeah, I remember the Corned Beef and cabbage - I told them I'd no idea what they were talking about.
Wasn't it what was available to the Irish when then came over?
First St. Paddy's Day I was here, I was like WTF...Corn Beef and Cabbage...never had it in my life. They all looked at me, as if I had 2 heads. I remember the corn beef in the tin, that we used to eat in a sandwich, which was feckin rotten
Quote from: gawa316 on February 05, 2016, 04:48:49 PM
Wasn't it what was available to the Irish when then came over?
First St. Paddy's Day I was here, I was like WTF...Corn Beef and Cabbage...never had it in my life. They all looked at me, as if I had 2 heads. I remember the corn beef in the tin, that we used to eat in a sandwich, which was feckin rotten
Only corned beef I ever came across was the term we used for making fun of girls' ugly legs in primary school.
Corned beef was used by nearly Irish immigrants when they first started landing here in the 1800's. It was far and away the cheapest type of meat you could buy, this made is available to poor immigrants. This probably started in the likes of NY and quickly became an Irish/ American tradition.
Quote from: cadhlancian on February 05, 2016, 05:58:10 PM
Corned beef was used by nearly Irish immigrants when they first started landing here in the 1800's. It was far and away the cheapest type of meat you could buy, this made is available to poor immigrants. This probably started in the likes of NY and quickly became an Irish/ American tradition.
did some research on it when I first moved over and this is correct. the Irish could not afford the traditional bacon and purchased corned beef from their jewish neighbours.
It quickly became the norm and generations believed going forward this was the "traditional" meal.
Try getting chips in a chinese restaurant in china....
Quote from: The Iceman on February 05, 2016, 06:04:29 PM
Quote from: cadhlancian on February 05, 2016, 05:58:10 PM
Corned beef was used by nearly Irish immigrants when they first started landing here in the 1800's. It was far and away the cheapest type of meat you could buy, this made is available to poor immigrants. This probably started in the likes of NY and quickly became an Irish/ American tradition.
did some research on it when I first moved over and this is correct. the Irish could not afford the traditional bacon and purchased corned beef from their jewish neighbours.
It quickly became the norm and generations believed going forward this was the "traditional" meal.
Try getting chips in a chinese restaurant in china....
Or in Chinatown. MY brother in law was in a Chinese in San Francisco Chinatown and asked for fries with his duck. He was told, "You want fries, you go McDonalds".
I talked a chinese place in NJ near where we used to live to making me a half and half with curry sauce and onions when we lived there
you're right outside of ireland and maybe UK? you'd struggle to get chips at a chinese...
Indian food in London and Indian food out here is slightly different too - nobody knows what an Onion Baji is out here...but it was a stable in Brick Lane.. lots of people tend to cater to local tastes and expectations. I heard the Chinese don't make Curry even?
Quote from: The Iceman on February 05, 2016, 08:47:55 PM
I talked a chinese place in NJ near where we used to live to making me a half and half with curry sauce and onions when we lived there
you're right outside of ireland and maybe UK? you'd struggle to get chips at a chinese...
Indian food in London and Indian food out here is slightly different too - nobody knows what an Onion Baji is out here...but it was a stable in Brick Lane.. lots of people tend to cater to local tastes and expectations. I heard the Chinese don't make Curry even?
Neither of them are "Indian" either. What we think of as Indian cuisine is "British Indian".
There are Chinese curries alright buy they don't taste like McDonnell's chip shop curry sauce...
Quote from: gallsman on February 05, 2016, 08:55:06 PM
Quote from: The Iceman on February 05, 2016, 08:47:55 PM
I talked a chinese place in NJ near where we used to live to making me a half and half with curry sauce and onions when we lived there
you're right outside of ireland and maybe UK? you'd struggle to get chips at a chinese...
Indian food in London and Indian food out here is slightly different too - nobody knows what an Onion Baji is out here...but it was a stable in Brick Lane.. lots of people tend to cater to local tastes and expectations. I heard the Chinese don't make Curry even?
Neither of them are "Indian" either. What we think of as Indian cuisine is "British Indian".
There are Chinese curries alright buy they don't taste like McDonnell's chip shop curry sauce...
You'd struggle to find a chicken curry out this way in a chinese place
general tso's chicken is the stable, sesame chicken and some kind of citrus chicken.... rice is different - pork, egg or veggie fried rice or white or brown...
They say the Mexican food in California's nothing like the food in Mexico. Ditto for Chinese, Thai, etc. Dunno if it's true or not, I haven't done a big pile of traveling to places like that.
Quote from: gawa316 on February 05, 2016, 04:48:49 PM
Wasn't it what was available to the Irish when then came over?
First St. Paddy's Day I was here, I was like WTF...Corn Beef and Cabbage...never had it in my life. They all looked at me, as if I had 2 heads. I remember the corn beef in the tin, that we used to eat in a sandwich, which was feckin rotten
Wise up. A corned beef with HP sauce sandwich is lush. The missus wouldn't have it in the house though as she thinks it's a step down from dog food >:(
Quote from: gallsman on February 05, 2016, 05:42:26 PM
Quote from: gawa316 on February 05, 2016, 04:48:49 PM
Wasn't it what was available to the Irish when then came over?
First St. Paddy's Day I was here, I was like WTF...Corn Beef and Cabbage...never had it in my life. They all looked at me, as if I had 2 heads. I remember the corn beef in the tin, that we used to eat in a sandwich, which was feckin rotten
Only corned beef I ever came across was the term we used for making fun of girls' ugly legs in primary school.
You'll have to expand on that one.....
Quote from: AZOffaly on February 05, 2016, 06:08:41 PM
Or in Chinatown. MY brother in law was in a Chinese in San Francisco Chinatown and asked for fries with his duck. He was told, "You want fries, you go McDonalds".
Proper order, you wouldn't ask for rice in McDonald's. Asking for curry chicken and chips in a Chinese is a waste.
Quote from: The Iceman on February 05, 2016, 08:58:55 PM
general tso's chicken is the stable, sesame chicken and some kind of citrus chicken.... rice is different - pork, egg or veggie fried rice or white or brown...
And Beef and Broccoli, which is actually rather nice and not entirely bad for you.
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on February 05, 2016, 10:42:38 PM
They say the Mexican food in California's nothing like the food in Mexico. Ditto for Chinese, Thai, etc. Dunno if it's true or not, I haven't done a big pile of traveling to places like that.
I think its considered mostly Tex-Mex in America but you can get the real deal here (in Socal at least).... few lads told me they dont eat wheat tortillas for a start, only maize (or corn as the yanks like to call it ;)) and fajitas are only in America.
Them feckin red indicators, I still get caught out thinking "yer man must have a bad earth, his tail light is flashing instead of his blinker"
Quote from: Eamonnca1 on February 05, 2016, 10:42:38 PM
They say the Mexican food in California's nothing like the food in Mexico. Ditto for Chinese, Thai, etc. Dunno if it's true or not, I haven't done a big pile of traveling to places like that.
The texans say their mexican food is authentic and complain that california's isn't... I don't know I havent eaten in texas. I've eaten in Cabo but not sure if those big resorts are authentic local cuisine?
Quote from: omaghjoe on February 06, 2016, 04:32:32 AM
Them feckin red indicators, I still get caught out thinking "yer man must have a bad earth, his tail light is flashing instead of his blinker"
Aye who the hell thought that was a good idea and don't get me started on the frickin' size of the gaps between the door and the frame at a public toilet.
On the mexican food thing, half of Fresno are Mexican so there are loads of authentic style restaurants. One you basically go into someones house and they've a few tables in the front room. I'm not a big beans & rice fan though but do love the tacos
Quote from: omaghjoe on February 05, 2016, 11:20:40 PM
Quote from: gallsman on February 05, 2016, 05:42:26 PM
Quote from: gawa316 on February 05, 2016, 04:48:49 PM
Wasn't it what was available to the Irish when then came over?
First St. Paddy's Day I was here, I was like WTF...Corn Beef and Cabbage...never had it in my life. They all looked at me, as if I had 2 heads. I remember the corn beef in the tin, that we used to eat in a sandwich, which was feckin rotten
Only corned beef I ever came across was the term we used for making fun of girls' ugly legs in primary school.
You'll have to expand on that one.....
Google corned beef legs and you'll understand.
Quote from: gawa316 on February 08, 2016, 07:50:06 PM
Quote from: omaghjoe on February 06, 2016, 04:32:32 AM
Them feckin red indicators, I still get caught out thinking "yer man must have a bad earth, his tail light is flashing instead of his blinker"
Aye who the hell thought that was a good idea and don't get me started on the frickin' size of the gaps between the door and the frame at a public toilet.
On the mexican food thing, half of Fresno are Mexican so there are loads of authentic style restaurants. One you basically go into someones house and they've a few tables in the front room. I'm not a big beans & rice fan though but do love the tacos
dont mind the gap as long as you dont adopt a wide stance
Quote from: The Iceman on February 05, 2016, 03:33:31 PM
Quote from: omaghjoe on February 04, 2016, 09:09:26 PM
Quote from: gawa316 on February 04, 2016, 06:01:07 PM
Quote from: cadhlancian on February 02, 2016, 06:59:07 PM
The Field
Jeepers that menu has me mouth watering...miss the oul sausage rolls.
San Diego is on the bucket list so will defo call in for a few pints and tucker when we make it down
sausage rolls in an irish bar - Paddy Coyne's in Seattle - run by an Irish man and they are pure shite. I go to a british bakery a few towns over where the head baker is a wee woman from dundalk - as good as any you'll get at home. It's 45 min there and back but worth it for sausage rolls, steak and kidney pies and mince pies at chrismas time
Depends on their level of hoof content... ;)
But seriously (and this is no slight of the field as I have never been there) how many times have you went to an Irish bar here and ordered something expecting to taste like it was from home and it was just the same ole American shite that you could get anywhere.
...Apart from the corned beef and cabbage obiviously ::)
What's that bakery Iceman? I am in Portland and get up Seattle a fair bit, would like to try it.
British pantry in Redmond. Not too far from the Microsoft campus. They have a pub and cafe there too - nice wee spot
Them feckin grocery promotions you get in you letter box, what a feckin pain in the neck and waste of paper.
While Im at it.... Mail Boxes attached to the wall instead of a letter box in thru the door
BTW Did anyone ever mention the constant dread of Healthcare costs and/or getting a major wallet sting in some other way.
Shit schools....theres another
Quote from: J70 on July 28, 2015, 03:19:54 AM
Quote from: bennydorano on July 27, 2015, 09:39:02 PM
What's with the US sick days thing? Say you have 5 sick days, you get a bad flu and are off for a fortnight ill or even something serious and you're off for a month or two; just no pay??
Usually you have to use up your holiday time or else take unpaid leave under the Family Medical Leave Act. It varies though. In my last job you got x weeks sick time, then it dropped to half pay for a while, and then it was unpaid. But I couldn't use sick time to stay home or go to the doctor/hospital with a sick family member, whereas in my current job I can. And there's plenty working who get no paid sick leave at all.
The US can be quite harsh when it comes to stuff like holiday and sick time allowance.
the US is backward when it comes to labour rights.
They can seafoid but then as a result of that some unions here have crazy power.
They act more like guilds than what we would understand a union to be and as a result can be quite corrupt, interfering with how business is done, protecting bad members, nepotism. That in turn results in unions having a bad name in the general populace and the lack of public sympathy which means labour laws dont get strengthened and the so the spiral continues.
Quote from: omaghjoe on April 03, 2016, 05:29:17 AM
They can seafoid but then as a result of that some unions here have crazy power.
They act more like guilds than what we would understand a union to be and as a result can be quite corrupt, interfering with how business is done, protecting bad members, nepotism. That in turn results in unions having a bad name in the general populace and the lack of public sympathy which means labour laws dont get strengthened and the so the spiral continues.
Median real wages are 10% lower than in 1979. Productivity increases go to the owners not the workers. Because unions have been destroyed..
This is one reason why the Fed can't generate economic growth. The US economy is fucked.
The public are very bafly served by the media.
#feelthebern!
Quote from: seafoid on April 03, 2016, 06:20:12 AM
Quote from: omaghjoe on April 03, 2016, 05:29:17 AM
They can seafoid but then as a result of that some unions here have crazy power.
They act more like guilds than what we would understand a union to be and as a result can be quite corrupt, interfering with how business is done, protecting bad members, nepotism. That in turn results in unions having a bad name in the general populace and the lack of public sympathy which means labour laws dont get strengthened and the so the spiral continues.
Median real wages are 10% lower than in 1979. Productivity increases go to the owners not the workers. Because unions have been destroyed..
This is one reason why the Fed can't generate economic growth. The US economy is fucked.
The public are very bafly served by the media.
This book will open your eyes: http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Union-Buster-Marty-Levitt/dp/0517583305 (http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Union-Buster-Marty-Levitt/dp/0517583305)
It was written by this guy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_J._Levitt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_J._Levitt)
Quote from: seafoid on April 03, 2016, 06:20:12 AM
Quote from: omaghjoe on April 03, 2016, 05:29:17 AM
They can seafoid but then as a result of that some unions here have crazy power.
They act more like guilds than what we would understand a union to be and as a result can be quite corrupt, interfering with how business is done, protecting bad members, nepotism. That in turn results in unions having a bad name in the general populace and the lack of public sympathy which means labour laws dont get strengthened and the so the spiral continues.
Median real wages are 10% lower than in 1979. Productivity increases go to the owners not the workers. Because unions have been destroyed..
This is one reason why the Fed can't generate economic growth. The US economy is fucked.
The public are very bafly served by the media.
Yes and collective ownership of means of production has a great track record... The owner is the one carrying the risk so why wouldn't they take a bigger slice of the pie.
Quote from: Tony Baloney on April 03, 2016, 06:31:40 PM
Quote from: seafoid on April 03, 2016, 06:20:12 AM
Quote from: omaghjoe on April 03, 2016, 05:29:17 AM
They can seafoid but then as a result of that some unions here have crazy power.
They act more like guilds than what we would understand a union to be and as a result can be quite corrupt, interfering with how business is done, protecting bad members, nepotism. That in turn results in unions having a bad name in the general populace and the lack of public sympathy which means labour laws dont get strengthened and the so the spiral continues.
Median real wages are 10% lower than in 1979. Productivity increases go to the owners not the workers. Because unions have been destroyed..
This is one reason why the Fed can't generate economic growth. The US economy is fucked.
The public are very bafly served by the media.
Yes and collective ownership of means of production has a great track record... The owner is the one carrying the risk so why wouldn't they take a bigger slice of the pie.
because if workers don't get pay rises, nobody can buy new products and sales stagnate leading to reduced profit. This is happening right now in the US.
Quote from: omaghjoe on February 06, 2016, 04:32:32 AM
Them feckin red indicators, I still get caught out thinking "yer man must have a bad earth, his tail light is flashing instead of his blinker"
That used to puzzle and irritate the f**k out of me when I first moved over here!
And its not just American cars. Plenty of foreign brands use red rear indicators in their US models.
And this is despite studies showing the amber ones are safer.
Quote from: J70 on April 03, 2016, 08:02:31 PM
And its not just American cars. Plenty of foreign brands use red rear indicators in their US models.
And this is despite studies showing the amber ones are safer.
I noticed that Mercedes had a particularly ugly example.
There is a small reason for this, the US regulates the minimum size of lights, while
civilised other nations regulate the brightness. Making the indicator red just makes it easier to fit it all in.
Much in the news feeds about these Panama File leaks over there?
Fox, CNN (or Russia Today) not reporting anything worth talking about.....interesting
I wouldn't fancy living in the US these days.
The rich have destroyed the economy. Healthcare is a ripoff. The media are desperate. Politics are toxic.
What is the difference between getting a J1 Visa and just coming out on the 90 day visa you pay for on the ESTA Website? I was just looking it summed up briefly, lot of bullsh*t on those websites. Is having it any better off versus doing it the other way! Obviously the J1 Visa is aimed at students and I can apply for it, but few friends who aren't students are just getting this 90 day visa https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/
If I'm just coming out on it and the club are providing a job for me (probably going to be labouring on site) can I still get a job in bars etc or do you need the social security number that's provided with a J1 Visa?
There just seems to be a lot of hassle registering for the J1 and they have to know where you're staying and be registered and all that jazz!
Would a bartender make as much money as your typical lad out for the summer on site?
I've fair bit of bar experience but I'll get by grand with the laboring I'm sure!
if you are coming out and the club is getting you a job thats the first thing you DON'T say when you enter the country. You're just here on vacation. There is no harm in you getting the J1 it's a much safer legitimate route. construction is your best bet - it's good money and handy hours. Bar work isn't the same as home. It's all mixed drinks and I don't mean Vodka and coke. If you end up in a bar you'll be waiting tables not mixing drinks so stick to the construction. Get the J1 keep yourself right.
Quote from: 50fiftyball on April 06, 2016, 03:46:27 PM
What is the difference between getting a J1 Visa and just coming out on the 90 day visa you pay for on the ESTA Website? I was just looking it summed up briefly, lot of bullsh*t on those websites. Is having it any better off versus doing it the other way! Obviously the J1 Visa is aimed at students and I can apply for it, but few friends who aren't students are just getting this 90 day visa https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/
If I'm just coming out on it and the club are providing a job for me (probably going to be labouring on site) can I still get a job in bars etc or do you need the social security number that's provided with a J1 Visa?
There just seems to be a lot of hassle registering for the J1 and they have to know where you're staying and be registered and all that jazz!
Would a bartender make as much money as your typical lad out for the summer on site?
I've fair bit of bar experience but I'll get by grand with the laboring I'm sure!
The J1 is a visa. The 90 period you mention is specifically NOT a visa. It's part of the visa waiver program and, as far as I know, is meant for tourism purposes only and you should not be working on it.
If you're caught working without a visa, you'll likely be booted out and not let back in for ten years.
If you are entitled to a visa then surely get one, even if it means filling a few forms. Getting cleared for a visa and complying with it will be helpful in the future too. The problem is that a job is needed in advance for a J1 nowadays and that would mean a legit job, I suppose. The 90 day thing is fine, but then the guy at the airport asks you what are you going to live on for 90 days or whatever and you are on thin ice or immigration show up at the site and you are banned from the US.
Cheers for the replies men, probably a stupid question but just wanted to clarify it.
Quote from: cadhlancian on February 02, 2016, 06:59:07 PM
The Field
Right finally getting the opportunity to get down to San Diego at the start of February. Looking a hotel near the bar, I seen one called the The Horton Grand Hotel which looks a good deal at $160. Would you recommend any others?
Any of our USA-based friends know about personal banking over there (if you don't all work on a cash in hand basis ;) )?
I'm trying to find out if, like here in the wee six, you can easily set up a standing order by instructing your bank to send the money somewhere on a regular basis on your behalf.
Thanks
Money Laundering is illegal Rois.
Haha - thinking of sending money from one bank account to another - nothing dodgy.
Sure, from one bank account to another, via 5 accounts in the Caymans, Honduras, Cuba, Seychelles and Maldives.
Quote from: AZOffaly on May 31, 2017, 09:27:59 AM
Sure, from one bank account to another, via 5 accounts in the Caymans, Honduras, Cuba, Seychelles and Maldives.
Needs to route through Tyrone...
Quote from: Rois on May 31, 2017, 08:43:15 AM
Any of our USA-based friends know about personal banking over there (if you don't all work on a cash in hand basis ;) )?
I'm trying to find out if, like here in the wee six, you can easily set up a standing order by instructing your bank to send the money somewhere on a regular basis on your behalf.
Thanks
We have them set up for bills, credit cards, student loans, mortgage, car loan etc., etc.
Think they call them "automatic payments" rather than "standing orders", but whatever the label, I don't see why you should have any problem. In my experience, they're simple to set up online. Similar, I would imagine, to setting it up back home.
I remember doing it more than a decade ago to pay off a Bank of Ireland loan from my UCD days and I think it was straightforward even then.
Quote from: Rois on May 31, 2017, 08:43:15 AM
Any of our USA-based friends know about personal banking over there (if you don't all work on a cash in hand basis ;) )?
I'm trying to find out if, like here in the wee six, you can easily set up a standing order by instructing your bank to send the money somewhere on a regular basis on your behalf.
Thanks
If you have a bank account over here you could use Transferwise, it's a great App and simple to use.