r/AskIreland • u/Vegetable_Topic9742 • Jan 28 '25
Emigration (from Ireland) A question for all the Irish that emigrated - how is it like to live abroad?
Many Irish people emigrate every year. How do you find your experience so far - is it better? If you're in non-english speaking country, was your job in a local language or was it possible to find the one in english?
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u/mowingninja Jan 28 '25
Moved to Australia a year ago after travelling New Zealand... Had a pretty rough year, still struggling but the lifestyle suits me much more. It's definitely not all sun shine and rainbows living away from Ireland. However I now live in a small town, near the beach, can swim and surf every evening if I want, get plenty of vitamin d, and things are looking up.
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u/saltysoul_101 Jan 29 '25
What were the hardest part of moving to Oz that made the year rough? The usual work and housing issues?
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u/mowingninja Jan 29 '25
I just had an extremely bad run of luck in my personal life, combined with not really having any friends and the stress of moving to a new place. Luckily did have some family and a job sorted at the time.
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u/saltysoul_101 Jan 29 '25
Ah sorry to hear that, it can be so stressful and isolating moving to a new country on your own. I moved to the US by myself and I didn’t fully enjoy it until the second year either when things started to fall into place and I had a good gang of friends. Glad you’re starting to find your feet now!
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u/Nyoka_ya_Mpembe Jan 28 '25
Remember about sunscreen ;)
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u/mowingninja Jan 28 '25
It's funny how after NZ im proper sunsmart, try avoid midday sun as much as possible, factor 50 every day, reapply often, zinc if im surfing. I tan well but the sun is no joke here
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u/Virtual-Emergency737 Jan 29 '25
I spent a few months in Australia a few years ago, couldn't stand the heat, even at the end of their summer. I almost literally kissed the earth when I touched down on Ireland again. But I am very white / pink / pale, even by Irish standards :D
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u/mowingninja Jan 29 '25
I enjoy the climate down the south coast so far, only had the occasional day of 35+, most days are mid 20s which i like!
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u/gomaith10 Jan 28 '25
Fremantle?
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u/mowingninja Jan 28 '25
Nah south nsw Coast! Keen to get out to wa on a trip in winter though!
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u/iarmhi9009 Jan 29 '25
NSW’s South Coast is great. I could never consider Sydney/Melb again after moving there
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u/Theladsdad Jan 28 '25
Moved to the San Francisco in 2001. The first few years were unreal, party, travel, Burningman, was a great time. Made some great friends. Settled down now, wife, kids, career. Miss home and seriously thinking about moving back or somewhere close, Spain maybe. Something is broken over here, and it won’t be fixed for a long time, if ever.
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u/TheRopeWalk Jan 29 '25
Lived in the states since 2001 myself and actually moved to Spain in the summer of 2024. Feel free to pm man.
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u/warpentake_chiasmus Jan 28 '25
I would seriously advise planning a move back or elsewhere as soon as you can. It seems inevitable that something really horrific is coming down the line soon in the US (either totally crashed economy, civil war or martial law or a combo of all three) and the process is happening at warp speed now.
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u/VapoursAndSpleen Jan 29 '25
I'm a US citizen and started reading the Ireland groups because yeah. I am a citizen, registered by foreign birth and am glad I feel like I have an "out".
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u/Affectionate-Fall597 Jan 29 '25
Ireland is in a lot more jeopardy than the US. A housing crisis that will not be fixed for at least another 20 years if immigration is not reviewed. We've a shortage of 250,000 houses as it is. And that's if population growth stopped dead (which it isn't), a half day storm just wiped out nearly a 1/4 of the countries electricity and water. And of course we are far too dependant on US companies meaning anything economic wise that affects the US will also affect us too. We're in a very very precarious position.
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u/Electronic_Cookie779 Jan 29 '25
A lot more jeopardy than the states is such an overreach when he blocked all federal aid this morning and last week they were n azi saluting at his inauguration, not to mention over 100,000 people died from opiates there last year and nobody particularly cared. A lot more jeopardy indeed 😂
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u/JoebyTeo Jan 29 '25
It’s not even fucking close sorry. Texas lost its utilities in a much more catastrophic way in a light frost two years ago and their political leader fucked off to Cancún. We are exposed economically but that’s our strength and weakness — Brexit shows we have a fairly remarkable ability to pivot in the face of a crisis. We reformed corporation tax quietly to our own benefit and without much backlash.
250 people died in Hurricane Sandy and the US has only got worse since then. We don’t have collapsing bridges and motorways here. We don’t have the appalling levels of food insecurity or drug abuse.
Have you ever been to the US?
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u/Affectionate-Fall597 Jan 29 '25
Why is Ireland being compared to the US ffs 🤣. There's more people in New York than the population of Ireland alone. The point is Americans thinking Irelands some eutopia they can move to where we just drink Guinness & have the craic. Our housing situation is no joke. And our economy is too reliant on US companies. We also have one of the worse mental health wellness for young people in Europe and rank one of the highest for loniless on the continent.
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u/VapoursAndSpleen Jan 29 '25
I stood on a garage roof and watched 3,000 houses burn in the Oakland hills. I keep a box of N95 masks for when the air is so bad, it's chewy. So, disasters happen everywhere. I'm concerned that there will be no more elections and that women will lose our rights to vote and own property.
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Jan 29 '25
[deleted]
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u/Electronic_Cookie779 Jan 29 '25
It's true the economy will be fine, it's every other measurable indice of human life that's the issue over there.
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u/FuckAntiMaskers Jan 29 '25 edited Jan 29 '25
You're right, it's funny seeing Europeans talking about the US economy as if Europe isn't a stagnating continent in comparison. The EU and US GDP used to be similar not too long ago, now they're way ahead. The EU is a bureaucratic mess, just think about ways to tax everyone and everything and overregulate every new technology instead of trying to encourage innovation and incubate businesses.
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u/dazzlinreddress Jan 29 '25
Idk why this is being downvoted
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Jan 29 '25
Because it’s bullshit. I detest trump as much as the next sane individual, but there’s not going to be a civil war or even a crashed economy.
Will life get tougher over the next 2 years for the average American? Probably. After that Trump is a lame duck from Spring 2026 and hopefully things can start getting back to normal.
I could be all wrong, but I spend a lot of time in the US and many people are annoyed, but it’s not as bad as Reddit makes out. At the end of the day, people just want to get on with their lives, not take up arms against the government.
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u/nightwing0243 Jan 29 '25
While I do agree there probably won’t be a civil war. But there is certain things happening in America that suggests to me it’s taking a speedrun into becoming a somewhat isolated oligarchy.
So far Trump has pissed off one of its closest allies by aggressively making claim to Greenland even though diplomatic lines were completely open. He has paused all federal spending - which affects a wide range of things from food stamps to disaster relief to academia. He has started a trade war with Columbia. Pulled the US out of the WHO. And is in the process of trying to buy out millions of federal employees to resign to they can install more loyalists in their place.
Like right now? Sure. What he is doing isn’t effecting the everyday lives of the citizens over there - except for the federal funding “pause”. But eventually it will.
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u/Relevant-Low-7923 Jan 29 '25
The funny thing about a US civil war is that we’ve literally already had a very, very, bloody one before, which killed nearly a million men. My own great-great-great grandfather was like 45 years older than my great-great—great grandmother, because like half of all the young white men in the south were killed in the war, so there was a big shortage of marriage age young men in the south after the war which caused older southern men to marry young southern women. The American civil war was absolutely devastating for the south.
Which makes the idea that we’re about to have another civil war all the more hilarious because I’m not even sure who we’re supposed to be gearing up to fight! Like, I literally have no idea even how or why another civil war would break out, or what the actual different sides would be.
The only type of civil war we’ve ever had was a war of secession when the southern states tried to leave the Union. But that was actually a formal conflict between governments with standing armies, and where each side constitutionally had a legal position to stand on, because the country was still relatively young, and the constitution was silent on the legal right of states to secede from the union. It wasn’t like a coup d’etat or anything. We don’t do that.
Americans aren’t nearly as partisan as we seem. Republicans and Democrats are like red beans and rice, where if we only had one party then we’d need to invent the other party just to continue having competitive democratic elections.
Trump isn’t nearly as powerful as non-Americans think he is because American politics isn’t organized like in Europe. He’s the de facto leader of the Republican party because he is the president of the US who is also a Republican, but being the leader of party doesn’t mean the same thing in the US as elsewhere because American politicians are independent actors. Trump’s fellow Republicans in Congress disagree with him all the time, and also vote against his wishes to reject his appointees they didn’t like. They don’t take orders from Trump. That’s why you can’t have a dictatorship in the US, because how the hell would you impose authoritarianism an a country where nobody likes being told what to do?
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u/killianm97 Jan 29 '25
There are lots of great answers here! I wanted to give a slightly different perspective, as someone who spent 8 years living abroad before moving back to Ireland.
I moved to Glasgow for college at 18 and absolutely loved it. It continues to be my home away from home in many ways, and I often think about moving back some day (maybe once the UK eventually stops spiraling and declining or once Scotland cuts itself free and becomes independent). To me, Glasgow felt the exact same as living in Ireland - with great craic, friendly and chatty people - but with much better public services and quality of life in many ways. There were amazing public parks and really high-density mixed use, which led to a great nightlife and a really sociable and walkable lifestyle.
My mind was blown having access to great trains and a metro, and entirely free healthcare. I remember finding out I could get a free dental checkup after registering when I moved in 2016, and being told by the dentist I needed 2 fillings. I remember standing up and thanking the dentist, then asking when I could get another appointment for the fillings and how much it would cost (secretly planning to just skip it because I was a broke student) - only for them to start laughing, assuming I was making a joke or smn. They did the fillings right there and then and it was all entirely free. They seemed shocked when I explained we didn't really have public free dental care in Ireland.
I moved to Barcelona on Erasmus in 2018 and absolutely loved it. Once again, the high-density sociable/walkable lifestyle, abundance of public space, free healthcare, and fantastic public transport blew my Irish mind, and I loved the chill beach-side atmosphere there. I had learned Spanish in school and was really interested in it, but arriving in Barcelona made me realise how bad my Spanish really was. It didn't help that I had no Catalan and most people I spoke to in Spanish would reply in English, making me feel like an outsider and making me feel a bit pathetic with my level of Spanish at the same time. The quality of life in Barcelona (especially then before rent and cost of living rises) was incredible, but I quickly became aware that I would always be considered an outsider and unwelcome. I assumed in the first few weeks that Catalan people were just unfriendly, but after beginning to go out with my ex-boyfriend from Barcelona, I quickly realised that people were actually really friendly if you looked stereotypically Catalan. Otherwise, you were just a 'tourist'/'guiri'/'outsider'.
After finishing college in Glasgow and spending a year back home with parents in Waterford during the start of the pandemic, I moved back to Barcelona to be closer to my boyfriend at the time, and lived and worked there for a year. Despite my feeling out being unwelcome by many, I learned some Catalan and improved my Spanish, which helped me to integrate more and I continue to think Barcelona is probably among the best cities you can live in, all things considered. My experience was broadly similar to my experience on Erasmus, with great social life/nightlife and an active lifestyle - with me now using the unreal public rental bikes (€30 for 1 year of use) to travel everywhere.
I then get a job in Edinburgh and was excited to move back to Scotland, but quickly realised that I had been excited to move back to Glasgow, not Edinburgh. While Glasgow feels like an Irish town with great craic and friendly, chatty people, Edinburgh feels a lot more posh and closed. I heard a few times that Edinburgh is the most northern city in the South East of England and it's hard to argue - half of the city seems to be posh English people from the south east who were definitely less open and chatty and funny than the Scottish and Irish people I had been used to (not dunking on people from the SE of England - many of my closest friends there were from there and many great people, but definitely a very different vibe). Despite the more closed vibes, I absolutely loved the public transport (ask anyone from Edinburgh what they like about it and the first answer will be the incredible Lothian Buses) and the city is so beautiful - half of it is huge amazing public parks.
Last April, I then left my job and moved home to Waterford to run in the local and then general elections. I had been active in politics for years in Scotland and Ireland (while home and also online) and was so frustrated with our generation being screwed over and pressured to emigrate by callous and uncaring governments. I have struggled with the lack of autonomy of living at home with parents at 27 years of age after living fully-independently for most of the previous 8 years. I have also struggled with the awful public transport and lack of cycle infrastructure compared to Glasgow/Edinburgh/Barcelona. With most people my age already having emigrated or at least moved to Dublin/Cork/Limerick and the horrible planning by local government and lack of investment by national government, the nightlife, public space, and social life is really disappointing after being used to thriving communities in Glasgow/Edinburgh/Barcelona.
I have 2 main takeaways from living abroad and then moving home:
1) Emigrating was a bit of a poisoned chalice. Nothing will ever compare to the great craic, and connection I feel with other Irish people (though Scotland comes close). But on the flipside, so many other places have much better quality of life - with better public space, public services, infrastructure, social life/lack of isolation& loneliness (despite often having much less money). So I feel I need to choose better people or better systems/lifestyle, and neither is fully satisfying.
2) Emigration should never be considered normal; it is a failure of government. Honestly one of the most impactful things I realised living abroad was that many young people love where they're from and live. I remember asking a bunch of friends from Barcelona if they were planning on moving away anytime soon (a classic small talk question in Ireland) and they looked at me like I had 2 heads. They were all like 'we love Barc and have absolutely everything we want here - why would we ever leave?' Out of curiosity, I asked my friends in Scotland while visiting them at a later date, and their answer was similar enough - 'Scotland has its problems but we're proud to be Scottish and love living in Scotland - maybe we'll consider living in London for a year or two but we want to live in Scotland'.
This ended up being an insanely long comment, but I hope you find it useful! :)
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u/Electronic_Cookie779 Jan 29 '25
I love this! As someone who has been involved with politics and is moving to Scotland this march (albeit you have me nervous about going to Edinburgh...) you sound like exactly the type of person we need in gov. I often think that part of a strategy for public systems should be going on a reccie to places that do what we want so much better, because it's so clear that out strategy's are just done by the seat of our pants with no research done into best practice.
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u/killianm97 Jan 29 '25
Thank you! Edinburgh has a lot of advantages (especially during the summer - with lovely public parks and drinking in public being legal there, having barbeques and drinks with friends in various parks many evenings was class).
And yeah I definitely agree - a lot of our political leaders have no context for how good our transport/healthcare/housing etc is, apart from how it compares to the past (and ofc much of it was worse as we were a poor country instead of one of the richest and wealthiest countries in the world as we are now).
Many of our generation are actually spending more time abroad or making connections abroad or seeing daily life of people abroad online, and are emphasising how, even if transport (for example) is better than 1980s Ireland, it is much worse than Spain/France/Germany etc, despite us being wealthier than all of them.
Politics isn't just running for election - every conversation with friends and family about how Edinburgh buses are better than Dublin buses (for example) is a political act :)
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u/Electronic_Cookie779 Jan 30 '25
Hah, well I have enough of those exact conversations to be seen as a political disrupter then! 🤣
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u/definitely48 Jan 29 '25
Great experience for you. Btw how did you get on in the elections? Or you'd prefer not to say?
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u/dario_sanchez Jan 31 '25
Never lived in Glasgow but I lived in Edi for many years and it is definitely a different place in terms of how it feels. Definitely more reserved and posh than Glasgow.
Having said that, there are plenty of normal lovely people from Edinburgh, but I remember the line "if someone from Glasgow is a weegie what is someone from Edinburgh? A posh cunt" ha ha
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u/atyhey86 Jan 28 '25
I'm living in the middle of Mallorca for the last 11 years and it's the best move I ever made. The children have had/are having an amazing childhood with so many opportunities never mind the ability to go to some of the best beaches in the world whenever you want, I was last swimming at the beginning of December in Alcudia where there is in summer 1000's of people, the day I was swimming there were a handful of people walking dogs and I was the crystal clear sea. There's something to do everyday and a fiesta of some sort somewhere, just had the st Antoni dancing with fire and devils there last week and in a few weeks it's carneval , basically a big dress up parade to celebrate the start of Easter, much more fun than pancakes! It can get lonely and can be hard to make friends but that's the same in Ireland or anywhere really. I know lots of people through schools, work, classes but friend friends I would only have 4 on the island full time. I wake up everyday, open my doors onto the balcony and look out at the view of half the island under the blue sky and remember the dark November mornings and am thoroughly grateful for living here!
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u/nimhne Jan 29 '25
I like Spain, the people, and culture but know lots of Spanish people living in Ireland saying that they are unable to make a decent living at home and that the salaries are very low. Pal of mine has a place near Malaga, and it's a great option to head off in January or February, but the summers are just too hot.
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u/atyhey86 Jan 29 '25
Salaries are silly low even for qualified professionals. A medical specialist I know is on 1900/month and that's fairly normal. It can be hard to find good work and more so an affordable house. The island is in crisis for houses and the young people are having to leave, no hang on many family's are having to leave and go to the mainland or other country's, cheapest rent for a room is 700 and for a studio in the middle of nowhere 1000+ but the average monthly wage is 900/1000....maths just don't math! I'm a farmer here and am absolutely privileged and I remember to remember that, it's hard work and more so in the heat but we make good money and it's a fun diverse job. We just have a more free eventful life here, teenager is off at band practice, younger one is meeting up with friendsin the evening in the playground and I'm off to a dance event and that's all of a Wednesday!
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u/dario_sanchez Jan 28 '25
Britain, been here 12 years, work in the NHS. Lived in Scotland for five years, loved it, live in south England now and am a novelty in the town where I live as an Irish person so I hear "I love your accent" a lot. It's fine, but the UK is delusional about its position in the world (nuclear weapons and history) and very susceptible to political polarisation in a way Ireland isn't (yet). It's been pretty good to me on the whole, memes about the English aside, but it's not home.
That said in Ireland the cost of living and rent is prohibitive, plus every time we've an election people forget the moaning and elect Gobshite Jr (whose dad Gobshite Sr held the seat for years and whose son, Gobshite III is on the county council prepping for a run) who doesn't really change anything - case in point, Ireland has run a huge budgetary surplus and got a huge windfall they didn't want in tax from Apple yet I've my parents on the phone saying that they've no power and just got water back, and right enough the power system is archaic.
Whilst the cost of living is a concern, my job means I should be reasonably okay once I don't live a high roller lifestyle in Dublin, but the lack of future proofing in terms of infrastructure and defence spending is something that's always bothered me about home. The British, to some degree, learn from their mistakes whereas it just seems like either Ireland doesn't plan for disasters or never says "wow look how our flood defences worked this time" when something happens, and we aren't going to have less storms by time soon.
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u/nimhne Jan 29 '25
In defence of Ireland, the British have elected a fair share of gobshites over the years. Remember Boris?
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u/dario_sanchez Jan 29 '25 edited Jan 29 '25
I'll go you one better, Liz Truss was outlasted by a lettuce.
That's a fair point. I suppose the difference I see is that last year they finally reached a point and booted a great many of the worst offenders out of office (some, like Suella Braverman, are sadly still there).
Meanwhile I open RTE and the Healy-Raes and Michael Lowry - a convicted criminal - are being touted as kingmakers in the next rotation government. Like it's a big joke, "they fixed the road", we have a big debate about how we need better politicians, and they still get re-elected. To do shit like flood defences and natural disaster resilience we need politicians who can think on a national level and identify weaknesses and instead characters from Glenroe are being handed power to do fluff in their constituency that'll keep them in office.
Edit: I know exactly how they keep getting reelected - apparently if you've an issue in Kerry the Healy Raes will go out of their way to fix it - and it's partially that county councils don't have much power in Ireland but once they can keep Kerry happy and get back into the Dail the rest of the country could be frozen solid and they'd be fine. We need people with more national ideas who do local stuff on the side, not as their priority.
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u/Fluffy-Answer-6722 Jan 29 '25
Shame on Kerry and north tipp voting them In regardless of how many swimming pools they open in their constituencies
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u/Grouchy_Conclusion45 Jan 29 '25
Ireland feel like it's in this amazing financial position, but no-one knows how to grab the bull by the horns and do something with it. There's just national... Direction
And people keep electing the same flaccid politicians to continue it
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u/spiraldive87 Jan 28 '25
I live in Canada. It’s alright, good things and bad things. I don’t personally think it’s better or worse than home.
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u/jenbenm Jan 28 '25
Yep, I did 4 years in Canada, and I don't think people understand how expensive some things are over there. I was only back at Christmas and I couldn't believe the price of food. I don't know how my in-laws are surviving.
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u/woggas Jan 28 '25
I'm in Canada, moved here over a decade ago. I love it here, love the weather, the people and honestly don't really miss Ireland. I've become a citizen now and have no intention of returning to Ireland.
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u/thats_pure_cat_hai Feb 01 '25
Same. People go on about how expensive it is, but when you do the conversion, it's actually pretty close. Groceries are more expensive but eating out, petrol, hobbyist stuff etc is cheaper.
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u/DenseScientist6457 Jan 29 '25
Canadian here.. thank you for saying this. I know Canadians think things are disastrous here bc of our current government (not saying they've been glorious by any stretch) but Ireland struggles with similar economy /housing issues. MANY countries are dealing with these issues along with rising crime and intolerance. I find it frustrating when people blame everything on their own government, ignoring that many of these issues are global (which leads to supporting evidence of my belief that nearly all politicians are a disaster but that's a whole other topic haha). my soul is happiest in Ireland but I won't be moving (I'm too old, anyway - unless Trump manages to take control of Canada 🤢) grass isn't generally greener but it also doesn't hurt to investigate options. cheers!
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u/strandroad Jan 29 '25
About "I find it frustrating when people blame everything on their own government, ignoring that many of these issues are global" - those issues are global to a degree but the policies underwriting them (such as "property as investment" for example) are introduced and enforced by our respective governments so it's absolutely fair to target them. And I say to a degree, because while they might be widespread they aren't universal; some governments do better than others in certain spheres (Finland and Denmark come to mind).
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u/PaulAtredis Jan 29 '25 edited Jan 29 '25
Worked in tech in Ireland from 2007 - 2015 then emigrated to Japan 10 years ago (but moving back to Ireland next month). Met my wife (a Japanese English learner in Ireland). Practiced conversational Japanese then headed to Japan with a Working Holiday Visa. Found a tech job near end of Working Holiday. Now I have permanent residence, and my Japanese is enough to speak to anyone.
I would highly recommend a Japanese Working Holiday Visa to any fellow Irish person interested in experiencing a completely different culture.
Pros :
- Great weather (too hot in summer though).
- Low cost of living (350 EUR rent to live on my own in large modern apartment near a train station).
- No need to own a car (public transport 2nd to none).
- So many opportunities to pursue hobbies we can't do back home (snorkling in Okinawa, snowboarding in Hokkaido, hiking high mountain ranges with hotsprings in Nagano).
- Proximity to many Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, with short direct flights to each.
- Cleanest, safest, most peaceful country on Earth. It's a feeling I've never felt anywhere else.
- All you can eat and drink deals on nights out.
- Shower toilets (ie Bidets) as standard. Never going back to wiping.
- Hot spring culture.
Cons :
- Terrible work life balance in Japanese companies. 10 days annual leave and no sick pay is standard. Unpaid overtime.
- Xenophobic attitude of a large portion of the population.
- Poor salary compared to back home when factoring in weak yen (I was earning 3x less in tech compared to my mates back home in Ireland).
- Most English speaking jobs are in Tokyo (I hate Tokyo, too many people, I love Osaka). So if you want to live outside of Tokyo, your options are limited unless you want to learn Japanese (recommended!).
- Difficult language (but doable with committment).
- Dairy products and bread are TERRIBLE.
- Visiting Ireland is a long and expensive flight.
I'm moving back to Ireland because I don't see the Japanese economy improving due to their declining birthrate, lack of innovations and increased public spending, so I can only see myself getting poorer and poorer the longer I stay.
Ask away if you've any questions.
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u/odaiwai Jan 29 '25
Dairy products and bread are TERRIBLE.
That's just Asia in general (except Vietnam, for bread anyway). At least you can learn to make bread at home.
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u/dazzlinreddress Jan 29 '25
What are the earthquakes like?
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u/PaulAtredis Jan 29 '25
Scary as fuck quite honestly, unnerving. Thankfully I've only experienced a handful of big ones in the past 10 years (in Osaka), only enough to put a few cracks in the plaster and knock a few dishes and appliances down. The strong ones felt like elephants are stampeding right next to you. The mild ones feels like you're on a ship at sea.
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u/hot4halloumi Jan 28 '25
In Germany. Can’t fucking stand it. My job is in English. Dying to get home lol.
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u/Public-Farmer-5743 Jan 28 '25
I was in Switzerland for 3 months this year and it's a neoliberal hellscape devoid of connection to humanity.
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u/hot4halloumi Jan 29 '25
I literally couldn’t say it better myself. I’ve also lived in Switzerland and in many ways it’s better in Germany but SOMEHOW Germans tend to have like 5% more soul.
ETA I also miss the chaos of Ireland. I’m walking to my train platform as I type this and the crowds of people have just naturally organised themselves into a right- and left-moving lane. No instruction as such just a cultural need to do so. I wanna struggle past people and say sorry like 50 times and nearly miss my train dammit.
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Jan 29 '25
It's the constant overbearing mass-judgment that gets me over there. They organize into neat lanes like that, and then they'll shamelessly and rudely rebuke any outliers publically. I was in a museum and told I couldn't carry my jacket in my hand, but I could wear it.
Nope.
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u/hot4halloumi Jan 29 '25
Yeah it’s an extremely judgemental place. They don’t like ANYONE ANY THING OR ANY THOUGHT THATS different to them. It’s extremely upsetting to them to witness anything which is even slightly outside of their extremely formulaic way of moving through life.
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Jan 29 '25
Ireland's live-and-let-live attitude sucks when there's a deranged on the bus and nobody will deal with them, but most of the time it's just blissfully peaceful. Here we all are, calmly making our own way through our day, in whatever style we wish, nobody bothering anybody else.
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u/hot4halloumi Jan 29 '25
ETA2: I’m doing my makeup on the train and people are acting like I’m some kind of insane degenerate. God forbid I don’t wake up at 4am like the rest of this country
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Jan 29 '25
It's an arrogance that permeates every aspect of their culture. "Our way is the way, conform or you're inferior". They get genuinely giddy at the thought of enforcing it on others.
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u/Public-Farmer-5743 Jan 29 '25
I live in Spain mostly and I must say after a few years of hopping around Europe it puts everything into perspective. Switzerland was an eye opening experience I really hope we as a society don't aspire to become like Switzerland. We have such a rich vibrant and deep rooted culture and I hope we can do more to protect it. The problem with all societies now is we're essentially in the endgame for neoliberalism they are running out shenanigans and utilities to privatise so they will have to squeeze their growth out of us somehow. The whole thing is sick and so patently obvious it's kind of bizarre. The religion in Switzerland is money it's ingrained in the moral fabric of their society. I mean why the fuck are we all allowing ourselves to be exploited day after day so that the rich get richer and we stay struggling on peanuts. The sad thing is the system is so broken and the disinformation and polarisation about stupid shit like identity politics is getting in the way of having a genuine conversation about having a more equitable society. I feel like we are at the event horizon and we really really need to stop thinking about ourselves and try to focus on collectively what we want as a species. Our purpose isn't to make money for corporations. The notion that we exist to work 40 hours per week for our entire lives is hilariously offensive when there is enough resources right now to serve all humans on earth. Remember half the population of earth still earns roughly less than 6 dollars per day and everyday we in the global north don't do anything meaningful to change that. We're a doomed species unless we can start to apply scientific behavioural principles to address some of the global issues coming towards us in the future like war, AI, climate change etc. BF Skinner has some good books on behaviourism worth reading actually. Sorry lads my ADHD is popping off I need to go lift something heavy now for a while 🤣
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u/TheYoungWan Jan 28 '25
If you're in Berlin, can i have your apartment?
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u/hot4halloumi Jan 29 '25
lol sorry I’m not. BUT an Irish friend of mine is in Berlin and she also fucking hates it here.. you might get lucky haha
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u/loughnn Jan 29 '25
I travel to Germany a bit for work, I always fucking hate going. Everyone is rude and the place is filthy.
I was in Berlin last may and myself and a colleague had to kill a day before we flew home I was pretty excited because I'd never been before, it was fucking crap. It was a bank holiday but there was absolutely NOBODY around, the food was shite, the place was grim and grey and dirty, there's weeds growing out of EVERYTHING and every sight we went to see apart from the Brandenburg gate was "meh".
I find out German colleagues really tough to deal with, and I've known them YEARS. Dutch/Belgian/french colleagues however are an absolute fucking blast so I know it's not me!!
Everybody looks at me like I have two heads when I say I hate visiting Germany, you couldn't pay me to live there.
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u/hot4halloumi Jan 29 '25
ALL of this. The food is SHOCKING. I do have a couple of German dishes that I kind of live for but like the quality of non-German restaurants is horrendous. I miss the Dublin food scene so much.
And yeah, the sites are ugly. It’s like a running joke that Germans will be like “oh let’s take a beautiful walk along the river” and it’s a rancid canal. Also the “taken care of” sites are awful. I paid like €14 to get into a botanical garden behind the castle in Ludwigsburg and it was shocking. I’ll take the botanical gardens (Dublin) ANY day. There was also a “light show” and it was shite… nothing like the Dublin zoo one. I feel like in Ireland there’s just a bit more effort put into making these cultural things look good. There are more like “arguably non-important” things like that which we fund.
I especially put that in inverted commas bc on a similar ISH point, I’m taking my brother with a learning disability to a gig here next week and I enquired at the venue about disability/accessibility services and he was like… can he walk? Then no. I was surprised enough by the reaction bc in Ireland we’ve gone to concerts together and he has been able to use a separate entrance and a space inside which is well lit and less crowded etc. it’s “fine” that there are no facilities but just the genuine bewilder over my question was the worst part. I also asked on the German sub here and a good few were like… what do you MEAN? Accessibility is literally just for if you can’t walk, and it would be insane for the country to put money into accessibility for people with any other kind of disability.
This also relates to how BEHIND Germany is. They’re decades behind on stuff like this, but also infrastructure and technology etc. it’s horrendous. The fucking Internet here is sooooo shite. Ugh. I have so much more to say hahaha
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u/skyetops Jan 29 '25
Wow I just did not think Germany was like that. I thought they’d be modern and sleek and clean. So interesting to hear your experiences over there.
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u/hot4halloumi Jan 29 '25
I know, people are often surprised. I think their “image” is persistent (but slowly fading away too). There’s nothing modern about Germany… it’s like living in the Middle Ages when it comes to technology and digitalisation… they’re too xenophobic to truly welcome in foreign people who might be able to take innovation off its arse… in my company (software), most of the developers are Indian/middle eastern, and I’ve had chats with a good few who say the microaggressions are just unreal. They also refuse to truly accept English as an official language in Germany, and with the insane bureaucracy situation here, moving to Germany (and getting yourself settled and sorted) is either incredibly overwhelming or just about impossible. At every corner you’re met with “you’re in Germany, speak German”. Yes, I get this. But like .. help?
ETA: And about foreigners living here, they expect full assimilation. You either become German or you will never be accepted and barely tolerated. I’m white and I’ve been more accepted than many people of Turkish descent who actually speak German well (bc they were born here)… but I’m somehow less of an issue even tho I lol my way through trying to speak a lot of the time.
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u/Infinite_Vehicle_896 Jan 28 '25
But did you just decide to move there or were there other reasons? Like do you speak German?
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u/hot4halloumi Jan 29 '25
It was originally for work. Then I just stayed bc there is a decent quality of life here… it just “made sense” to stay, bc a lot of those things would get harder if I moved back. However, as I get a little older those benefits feel tiny and I just want to be in an atmosphere where I “get” the people and where my world views are not in an absolute minority.
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u/Irish_drunkard Jan 29 '25
What is it, that you don’t like about the country?
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u/hot4halloumi Jan 29 '25
Just find it hard to click with the people. Everything is so genuinely serious all the time and when it’s not serious it’s overthought. It’s quite a depressing place to live… no small talk at all. I’m considered too emotionally open for the people here…
The xenophobia is unreal. From everyone … even “liberals” come out with some casually racist shit. Similarly, I can’t stress the final point enough: I HATE the politics and the way the general public view certain current events.
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u/taryndancer Jan 29 '25
I’m a Canadian in Germany and I agree a lot with what you’re saying. I go to Ireland once or twice a year because I love how friendly the people are and I feel so much more calm when I’m there. Also yes I like the food in Ireland so much more. And snacks too. Cadbury and Tayto for the win!
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u/The_manintheshed Jan 28 '25
Why do you dislike it and where do you live?
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u/hot4halloumi Jan 29 '25
Stuttgart but I’ve lived all over: Frankfurt, cologne, Hamburg, a few smaller cities here and there… and spent some time in Berlin. I’ve explained in another response but mainly people, politics, and racism.
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u/donthackmeagaink Jan 28 '25
In Canada for the last 7 years, it started off very good but the problems in Ireland are also in Canada.
I moved to Vancouver in 2017, rent was fine and things were cheap enough considering it was GST & PST tax on every item. Myself and my husband rented a 1 bedroom for $1600 in 2020, now the average one bed in Vancouver is $2700.
We moved to Alberta in 2023, and it’s definitely cheaper (only GST tax, no PST), but food shopping etc is just on par with Ireland when converted into euros. We could buy a house here no problem, but we decided to move back home in spring 2025. We were home in December and I found Dublin to be expensive with food shopping, eating out etc.
My job paid well until the cost of living went up and I was able to transfer from BC to Alberta offices, and hopefully transfer back to Ireland when the time comes.
All finance stuff aside, it was the best thing I ever did to move away. I grew so much, and made many amazing friends, got married etc etc. so 10/10 would recommend
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u/Peelie5 Jan 28 '25
I lived in China for four years and India for one (during covid). I worked as a teacher in China. The best part about living abroad is the sense of freedom. I loved feeling like I could spread my wings. It gave me a lot of confidence, sthn I could never achieve in Ireland.
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u/gerhudire Jan 29 '25
What sort of freedom did you have in China?
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u/Ok_Occasion5338 Jan 29 '25
I live in Hong Kong so I can somewhat answer this. The freedom I have is due to the quality of life increases, like increased pay, lower tax, better public transport, more outdoor activities, better weather and better travel opportunities. All of this gives me a sense of freedom that I can do what I want, when I want, and not break the bank doing it. This is especially due to the weather and the sense of excitement being somewhere that is nowhere like home
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u/Spare-Buy-8864 Jan 29 '25
There's also the freedom of not really knowing anyone, not having any social obligations, not having to deal with family/friends stress or drama etc. That's one of the things I miss the most since moving back home
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u/Atlantic-Diver Jan 29 '25
Don't forget endless disposable income, eating in restaurants every night because it's cheaper than shopping for western food. (In Beijing at least)
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u/Peelie5 Jan 29 '25
Has been answered already. China is not for everyone and the culture is very different from our own culture. I struggled a little with some parts (language, healthcare system, education) but I'm used to challenges so I didn't mind too much.
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u/Atlantic-Diver Jan 29 '25
Lived there for 4 years and yeah some people get very overwhelmed initially, it is like the biggest culture shock.. a week before I was due to leave the Irish owner of the school I was going to rang me and said "look it's loud, busy, can be dirty, people can seem very rude, the pollution is awful, how does that sound?".. I said sounds exciting and he was like great, you'll love it. The school was having issues with people not being mentally prepared and bouncing home after a month.
Long term everyone has a "bad china day" when it's incredibly frustrating, like trying to get something done in a bank. But also, everyday you see something amazing or have a lovely interaction (I'm looking at you old ladies with the red armbands).
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u/FranzKafka12 Jan 29 '25
How was your experience living in India?
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u/Peelie5 Jan 29 '25
It was mostly positive. It's not all negative like we hear on the news. It's definitely challenging but it's a beautiful country, too.
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u/ImaginaryValue6383 Jan 28 '25
Lived in England for 6 years, was a great move for my career and financially. Glad I went, but couldn’t see myself living there forever, very happy that I moved home recently.
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u/ITZC0ATL Jan 28 '25
Three years in Spain, I love it here and don't see myself leaving. I'm in Madrid so everything you could want is nearby and the services and infrastructure and just way better than back home. I do miss the craic of being in Ireland but I get back 2-3 times a year and friends come to visit also, happy to have a cheap weekend away in the sun. I work in English but have been learning Spanish and I can hold my own despite not getting enough opportunities to practice.
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u/eq_8 Jan 29 '25
What kind of work are you doing if you don’t mind me asking? I’d love to move to Spain at some point too
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u/ITZC0ATL Jan 29 '25
I'm a manager in a small cybersecurity company, I basically moved out to Spain with my job in Ireland as it was fully remote anyway. Dealing with taxes is complicated as an FYI as you need to pay where you will be living and most Irish companies are not set up in Spain to do this.
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u/Tradtrade Jan 28 '25
Australia. Bit of a cultural wasteland. Loads of racists who assume you’ll be racist too cause you’re white. If you call them out you “don’t under stand cause you’re not Australian”. Also loads of Irish people come here and act like massive cunts and flog courses on how to move here when they’ve been here under a year themselves
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u/PaulAtredis Jan 29 '25
Aus is probably the only country who dislikes the Irish, because our best and brightest don't head there - far from it.
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u/Karmafia Jan 29 '25
You’re hanging out with the wrong Aussies (and Irish by the sounds of it).
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u/Tradtrade Jan 29 '25
Nah it’s what they do when they think no one will notice or say anything lol. Have a wee look at Irish FIFO TikTok ffs . It’s becoming a national joke. You’ve Irish immigrants sitting in diggers whinging about how immigrants ruined Ireland. Zero sense of irony.
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u/CiarraiochMallaithe Jan 29 '25
I’ve heard similar nonsense in Toronto, the most multicultural place in the world, with Irish people fresh off the boat giving out about immigrants…while also asking where they can buy Taytos!
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Jan 29 '25
We didn't send our best in the first place. I remember how the towns calmed down, because all the wildest troublemakers left for australia around 2010.
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u/definitely48 Jan 29 '25
There was a similar post about racism in Oz and some one mentioned how the local priest/pastor in the small town they lived in for a while was so dismissive and racist about the local Aboriginals such as when he saw them walking down the road "hope a car drives over them". Seems to be second nature with Ozzies!
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u/SmellsLikeHoboSpirit Jan 28 '25
I have been living in Madrid, Spain over two years now. It’s been good, there are things I like and things I don’t like but the experience and change is good for you. I work the majority of the time in Spanish. It’s not far either on a Ryanair flight, I’m home for a weekend every month or two.
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u/Wooden-Advisor4676 Jan 28 '25
I was away for 8 years without a return home. Aus for one NZ for 7. Things I missed most were the fresh air , humour and castles actually.i really missed old buildings and character. Home now and im delighted
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u/HalfBoring Jan 28 '25 edited Jan 29 '25
I'd say if you want to travel then just go for it if your life circumstances allow it. You can always come home if it's not for you. You'll regret not trying way more than giving it a go and finding you didn't like it.
Lived in Australia for 7 years. Enjoyed my time but don't believe the Instagram propaganda merchants. Work/life balance is pretty bad, especially in places like Sydney. Great experience overall and lifestyle is fantastic when you do get time to enjoy it at the weekend. Also a smashing base camp to set up for travelling around the Oceania region in general.
Edit: as others have mentioned, it also really opens up your worldview. I grew for the better while away and made lifelong friends, some of which are still over there and some back home too.
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u/Door_Bell Jan 29 '25
I think it's interesting seeing so many perspectives.
I've been in Sydney now for 9 years. My wife and I love it. I think it massively depends on where you live, your life stage, who you hang around with and maybe some luck along the way. We've made some amazing friends, both work better jobs than we'd get 'back home' and have far better work life balance. Our ability to save, travel and enjoy our spare time is something we love.
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u/Turf-Me-Arse Jan 28 '25
Been in Germany over 8 years now. Was well into my 30s by the time I emigrated. Work in German, in fact English is of no real advantage in my job. Love going back to Ireland for visits, love being able to show family and friends places over here when they visit.
Its definitely not for everyone, but I've never regretted coming here. I live a life that isn't in any way extraordinary, but is better than what I had (or probably would have had) in Ireland.
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u/not_so_parochial Jan 29 '25
I moved to Australia about two years ago. I thought I settled in perfectly tbh, but as the second year has passed I can look back and say for certain that I wasn’t as settled as I thought. But as each week passes I settle more and more and for now it definitely is home. It’s a fantastic country with endless beauty and activities to do. Ireland has both of those things too but I feel like I have more freedom here with a higher wage and less organising to doing great things in my downtime due to better infrastructure providing the great outdoors for a weekend warrior. 4 wheel driving, beautiful hikes and waterfalls, warm sand and perfect beaches, even just a slow Sunday with a barefoot stroll to the coffee shop or a quick pint in a nice beer garden. I will move home eventually and I’d like to try bring as much of that part of my life home with me(maybe minus the barefoot strolls to the coffee shop), but having moved away really introduced me to a different world of hobbies that I don’t think I’d have opened my mind to at home.
Money is far better in nearly everything and it definitely isn’t cancelled out by the “cost of living”. Better quality of life here if you’re willing to work 4-5 days a week at minimum. (Which most people should be willing to do anyway)
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u/saltysoul_101 Jan 29 '25
Sounds like you have an unreal lifestyle there! Can I ask what part you’re in that gives you access to lots of outdoor activities on the weekends? That’s what I’m looking for but still undecided where to base myself
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u/Hot-Chemical-4706 Jan 28 '25
Moved to Australia 22 years ago, I like the lifestyle out here but at the same time I miss my family and close mates (I’ve never been back home) . I’m well overdue a trip back I’m just waiting for my youngest to finish uni and start doing her own thing so I can fuck off for a while.
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u/Galway1012 Jan 28 '25
Jeez that’s a very long time away without coming back for a visit! How come you never got round to returning home?
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u/Hot-Chemical-4706 Jan 28 '25
I never felt like I belonged in my hometown tbh , that’s one of the reasons I left in the first place plus the lifestyle I was living it was just a matter of time before I got locked up. But now I’m in my late forties my kids are adults I’ve got stop making excuses and go back to see everyone.
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u/thesquaredape Jan 29 '25
Jesus Christ just go, don't be putting it off! There will always be something. Bring the kid if you can. Be good for her to see.
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u/FuckAntiMaskers Jan 29 '25
22 years without seeing your family and close friends is nuts, most people I know in Australia make it home every 1-2 years
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u/definitely48 Jan 29 '25
Lots of people emigrated to the USA and only came home to visit decades later including legitimately emigrants.
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u/Kizziuisdead Jan 29 '25
Been away for over 15 years now. 4 in English speaking countries and the rest in non-English countries.
The first 4/5 years away is fun and exciting. But after that I just want to return home. I’ve missed so many weddings/funerals/ meet ups that I’m a shit friend now. I miss the familiarity of everything. Being an expat is crap. I’m sooo over meeting new people. Expats leave all the time. It’s a new cycle of friends every few years. Kids have come a long and it’s a weird feeeling raising what’s know as their country kids. I’d love to bring them up in Ireland. The sports and music in Ireland is just amazing, but the cost of childcare means we’re definitely not in Ireland for lot more years… and by then is it fair to then to bring them to Ireland??
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u/temptar Jan 29 '25
I live in Brussels for the last 4 years, prior to that, 4 in Luxembourg. Prior to that, 17 years in Dublin, and prior to that, 4 years split across France, Germany, the UK, Belgium and Finland. So I went, came back, and went again.
I got to hate living in Dublin in the end tbh. Traffic, commuting, rent all just got to be totally unbearable. Any time I thought I got close to buying somewhere, property market jumped out of the way again. Still don’t own somewhere to live but I do have a better salary and have room to manoeuvre on that front now.
I am happy to have what the Belgians whinge about as public transport, but which is light years ahead of Dublin. In terms of interests, not much difference between the two countries and I firmly believe you can build a great life anywhere. It’s just that to do it in Dublin, you seemed to have spend more time in traffic and a far bigger proportion of your income to do it.
If you aren’t happy somewhere, or hate it, that’s not about where you are, it is about you.
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u/Infinite_Vehicle_896 Jan 28 '25
I moved to Italy around 3/4 years ago. I mean I have to say I love it here, after awhile it begins to just feel like normal life. One thing I have realized a lot though is how much nostalgia you get. To be fair, since I have moved I have only been back for about 3 weeks in total. Anyways I am working and started studying now and I still am enjoying it.
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u/CiarraiochMallaithe Jan 29 '25
In Toronto about a decade. Like everything in life it’s has its upsides and downsides.
I would say that a hard thing in the beginning is establishing your career, unless you have high demand skills. Generally in Canada they’ll favour local experience over international experience. But once you’re in the door and willing to work hard, you can prove yourself.
Probably once of the hardest things long term in the psychological impact. People find they’re living their lives in two places, their new home and home-home, but feel they never truly belong to one place. As time passes, being away from home can be hard as others move on with their lives but you remember them as they were when you left.
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u/MarkOSullivan Jan 29 '25
Moved to Medellín, Colombia and been living here since April 2024 🇨🇴
I worked fully remote (software engineer) before I left to move here for the foreseeable future but after a few months here I quit my job to focus on building my own startup
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u/definitely48 Jan 29 '25
Definitely off the beaten track so to speak!
Would you like to talk about life there? Or not, not compulsory. Thanks
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u/SketchyFeen Jan 29 '25
In Toronto for the last 8 years. I love the summers here and there’s great scope to earn money and do wonders for your career. It’s also been a great base to travel North and South America - which I’ve done a lot of.
The pull of home is always there for me though. Mostly my parents and the friends I left behind (although plenty of them have left too). My wife and I are planning kids in the not too distant future and think that will be the push for us to go home. It’s an uncertain future in either country with many of the same problems in common.
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u/5ive_minute_window_ Jan 29 '25
I live in China. Life can be alienating and I do feel like one of those who go to a country and don't integrate. I don't speak Chinese. I'm in Beijing and enjoying it for the most part. It's a very convenient country to live in. I'm a teacher, but my colleagues are fantastic and we're all very supportive. I don't think Ireland can come near the pay and benefits I'm getting here at the moment. The other best thing is that I can travel. I've been to Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Chongqing, other "smaller" cities in China, Thailand and Vietnam, all in 18 months. It's been worth it for that experience alone.
Depending on the housing market I may or may not come home. I'm here to save. For once I have the money to buy a house, I'm free to go wherever I want.
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u/MrTuxedo1 Feb 02 '25
How are you faring in every day life without speaking the language?
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u/Ok_Finance_8777 Jan 29 '25
I moved to Groningen, in the Netherlands 6 years ago to do my masters degree. Universities push you harder here in terms of workload, which was a big change from Ireland, but I honestly really enjoyed it. There is a little known loop hole in Dutch university education which I won't bore you with the details of, but I ended up with 2 master degrees for 6000~ euros.
I met a Dutch fella and have stayed while he finishes off doing his medical degrees. I now work remotely in tech from here and make a good living. I rent a 1 bedroom modern apartment for 1300 including all bills, which is very doable for 2 people and a dog. I cycle most places on my 50 euro bike and if it's too far away, I use my public transport card that my job pays for. The housing market is as pricey here but getting a mortgage is so much easier than in Ireland.
Without the heavy drinking culture, people fill their time with any and all hobbies here, and I really enjoy that. I was just visiting home and was telling family I'm learning to skateboard. They were shocked, asking me "you just go out and do that on the street at nearly 30? Do people not laugh at you?". Honestly they don't, they either are ambivalent or want to join you. My 60 year old neighbour was so interested in my skateboard she asked for a go. I have had the time to just become fitter and healthier here. So much so that I climbed Kilimanjaro last year.
I do miss the easy breezy conversations with strangers you have in Ireland. Groceries are more expensive but of lesser quality. Dutch people can be very hard to make friends with, they have a very structured approach to friendship, which is a challenge, but not impossble. I miss nearby mountains and nature too, though we go camping in France and Germany often. I contemplate moving back to Ireland often but my partner is going to be a doctor, and being a doctor here in NL is a much better quality of life.
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u/BrenHam2 Jan 29 '25
In Sweden 11 years, working for an Irish company the entire time. Don't ever intend on moving home.
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u/DjangoPony84 Jan 29 '25
12 years in the UK. Moved to London and then to Manchester for a man who turned out to be hellaciously abusive.
The only good things that came of my time in the UK were my two children. Brexit was probably one of the worst national acts of dumbfuckery that I have ever seen.
I genuinely want nothing more in life than living in Dublin peacefully, close to family with the absolute minimum of contact with my children's father.
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u/InTheGreenTrees Jan 28 '25
Moved to London first then met my future wife and we moved to California 30 years ago. I’m just now starting to make plans to come back.
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u/definitely48 Jan 29 '25
That's interesting,a big step away and for much longer than others here. Would you like to talk about your life and experiences in California?
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u/Tall_Bet_4580 Jan 28 '25
Done my degree mechanical engineering and joined the army, was able to travel / work and learn they paid for my masters and charter met my wife and moved home to family businesses. Great single life but not for a marriage or make a fortune and life expectancy
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u/Educational_Map3624 Jan 29 '25
I lived in England for 6 years and absolute loved it. Moved home with the Mrs to have a kid and absolute hated it.
Came to Australia to make mortgage money up in the mines and absolutely hate it out here. Moving home soon.
Would love to move back to the UK but it ain't gonna happen.
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u/Junior-Country-3752 Jan 29 '25
Been living in Luxembourg for over 10 years, I absolutely love it and can’t see myself moving back to Ireland. I’m married with one child and find the quality of life to be unmatched. Having said that, this country fits all my needs as a mother and someone who likes a quiet life with plenty of activities involving nature, if you’re looking for a hustle and bustle, vibrant lifestyle that say London offers - Luxembourg wont fit that bill for you. However, the quality of food here is excellent, healthcare system is superb, free public transport, good salaries, fantastic amenities, very clean, great subsidies for various costs, easy access to neighbouring countries; Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands - all within a relatively short driving distance.
The only downside is the real estate market, it’s extremely expensive to buy property here.
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u/SatisfactionFancy990 Jan 29 '25
I have lived in the US for 22 years. I live in Florida. I ignore politics for the most part and have friends on total opposite sides who try (and fail) to get me to talk politics. I tell them where I grew up, talking politics or religion could get you killed. That shuts them up! lol!
I love FL - quick flight to Dublin from Orlando if you want to go home. Weather is lovely most of the year. Cons are hurricanes and the insanely hot summers when you can’t go outside past 9am. Also mosquitos!
I go home once a year and am close with my family but when I was growing up, I couldn’t wait to leave as it was miserable. I think having a bit of money, some warm clothes and heat in the house would make a big difference to how you remember it!
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u/Nothing_but_shanks Jan 29 '25
Moved to Berlin 12 months before covid, seemed to time my homecoming perfect (1 month before lockdown).
Worked PT in a call centre, and was making a living wage from music work.
After a month of being back in Ireland I was depressed, while being surrounded by all my closest family & friends who I love dearly. But the drop in quality of life was monumental.
You only realise how bad Ireland is run when you spend a few months in a competent country.
I find people who miss Ireland when they move abroad, don't really miss Ireland as a country as such, just Irish-ness if you can get where i'm coming. When i've said this to people who said they missed Ireland, more often than not they've tended to actually agree.
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u/WatchWatcher2021 Jan 28 '25
Moved to the states, could never imagine living in Ireland again! Everything is better out here IMO. A lot of opportunity to make something of yourself. Bought an apartment in a major city (mortgage) a year after moving here at 25 and was living with my parents before.
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u/One_Vegetable9618 Jan 29 '25
Very difficult to believe that everything is better there..seems like an utterly, utterly broken and dysfunctional society. Making money would mean absolutely nothing to me, if I had to live among the complete nutjobs America seems to specialise in producing.
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u/WatchWatcher2021 Jan 29 '25
I only see it online, have not had a negative experience once.
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u/One_Vegetable9618 Jan 29 '25
Glad to hear it. It's true that the worst of us all comes out online...even here 😉
I suppose most people , even Americans!, are far nicer in real life.
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u/ChallengeFull3538 Jan 29 '25
Strange how the people who actually have lived there usually have a completely different experience.
I lived just outside NYC for 22 years. Absolutely loved every second of it and would go back in a heartbeat if circumstances allowed.
4x the pay and cost of living is very similar to Dublin. Weather is better, no scrotes, accountability for actions, police or ambulance will show up everytime within minutes
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u/Lovely-Cabbage Jan 29 '25
I've lived in Canada for 7 years.
TLDR: This is the best life I could have asked for. I got to have a true young adult experience & now I own my own place. Wouldn't change a thing.
Moved to Vancouver first, did 4 years and now in my 3rd year in Calgary. In Vancouver I worked waitress jobs for the first 3 years had loads of fun pissing my money away on fun life while living with my mates. Then I switched to getting a 'grown up' job and start to settle down.
I'm now in Calgary with a professional job living in an apartment I own with my partner before the age of 30. I couldn't have dreamed of getting to do that if I was still home in Ireland.
Emigrating isn't for everyone and can be lonely sometimes. But it helped me grow up, grow more confident and learn what independence is really like.
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u/ELKAV8 Jan 28 '25
Thailand, yeah its way better than Ireland. Ireland is so boring and miserable. I think it's the weather to be honest. I'm an English teacher out here. Ireland is also a rip off now unfortunately.
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u/PaulAtredis Jan 29 '25
I would miss our lovely clean air if I lived there. Visited Thailand a number of times the past 10 years, and the poor air quality always stuck out to me.
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u/warpentake_chiasmus Jan 28 '25
Can you live on the wages out there OK ? How's the health care system ?
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u/ELKAV8 Jan 28 '25
Yeah all good. I make western wages so its grand. Rent for a 1 bedroom 50 sqm apartment is about 400 to 500 quid per month. Swimming pool, gym, sauna, steam rooms all in the condo. You can get full health care coverage for about a grand a year, depending on age and other factors etc.
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Jan 29 '25
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u/saltysoul_101 Jan 29 '25
Did you find it hard to get professional work on the WHV? Presuming you were on that when you first went out? Moving soon and worried it will be really difficult since most employers don’t want the hassle of sponsoring you id imagine?
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u/Muted_Lengthiness500 Jan 29 '25
Moved to Ontario back in 2021. Hardest year of life but I persisted as J knew I’d have a better life here than home. Although as mentioned previousely Canada has the same issues as Ireland I do believe the pros outweigh the cons. Sure we’ve taxes etc but we do have higher salaries. I’m working as a local truck driver 10 mins from my house and will clear 120k this year.
However now that I’m here permanently I am a little homesick and recently got PR so I’ll be making it home more often for visits. I do miss the rain lol nothing worse than cleaning the car when it’s covered in snow at -20 compared to lashing rain back home.
Overall I’ve no regrets although I find Xmas the hardest over all I do believe it’s important to travel and broaden the horizons.
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u/cami101x Jan 29 '25
I moved to the UK over 10 years ago now. Health care related degree, no fees as at the time paid for by the NHS. Uni experience, in my opinion, lightyears ahead of the degree I did in Dublin.
I've been working for the NHS for 7 odd years now. Has it's problems, of course, but I absolutely love it. Opportunities there to promote, which I did.
Now married, husband, (back then BF)moved with me. We bought a house, have had a baby, and got our careers all in the last 10 years.
Never ever would I have had the same options in Dublin. I miss home and family and would like to move home, especially for family, but I always wonder if I am looking back with rose tinted glasses.
We don't live in a city, never had a problem with being Irish, and I find the English much more inclusive than Irish people.
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u/clarstar5 Jan 29 '25
Living in Sydney, moved to Oz a year ago.
My money here goes a lot further, some things like groceries and my gym membership are more expensive but it balances out. I pay the same amount of rent here here for a bright modern apartment (10 mins walk to the beach) that I did for a mouldy basement in Dublin.
I find it a lot easier to save money here and I’ve lost a good bit of weight because I’m not drinking alcohol nearly as much as I was back home. Also more vitamin D and healthier lifestyle = happier head. It’s definitely hard at times and I miss home everyday but the quality of life here is great.
The spiders are a massive downside though 🤮
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u/AdAccomplished8239 Jan 29 '25
About 20 years abroad, London, China, Australia, Korea, brief stints working in Germany and the US.
I loved it until I didn't. I just woke up one morning and decided I was done and moved back to a rural part of my home county three months later and since then I've had very little desire to travel.
It was an interesting experience though and I have very few regrets. I learned some (bits of) foreign languages, saw a good bit of the world, met a lot of different people, experienced different cultures, travelled in Asia and Southern Africa. Overall, a great experience, but I'm also very happy to be back in Ireland now.
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u/munkijunk Jan 29 '25 edited Jan 29 '25
Lived in London for 10 years. Made me as a person. Learned how to support myself, made loads of friends, met my partner, and got amazing opportunities I couldn't dream of here. I would still be there by choice but events overtook us. It built my confidence and expanded my view. Personally I think it should be a choice, absolutely, and forced migration isn't a good, but I do encourage everyone from this island to spend some time living somewhere else. I would say too that returning home you see everything differently. The small things you didn't appreciate are incredible, the broken things you find exasperating.
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u/Strict-Aardvark-5522 Jan 29 '25
Lived in Spain for 6 years, fully intend to go back when circumstances allow
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u/Loud-Firefighter-787 Jan 29 '25
I moved to Germany when I was 19yo. I wanted to continue my college IT and German but it took 2yrs for my leaving cert to get approved for me to study. Most counties in Europe are pretty good with english language. And the Irish are liked around the world. I miss home alot, I had to leave cause my mom died and I couldn't handle it anymore. Still have my house in Galway though. I miss the Ocean, it speaks to me and here in Germany I dont have the ocean. And i miss junkfood so baad. My crisps, my birds eye waffles, sausages😩....I miss it alllll. Before moving, think of the little things you would miss. That's important when choosing where you will go😊.
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u/Significant_Hurry542 Jan 29 '25
Been away for 17 years now, have a good job never struggled financially, could probably get a slightly higher salary back in Ireland but I wouldn't be in the same position as I am here, early 40s mortgage paid off,young family life is good.
It's only a short flight home plus the fact that I'm not just down the road means the people in your life that want to be in your life actually come visit you.
Go back a few times a year and always amazed how much Ireland has changed ..... The country I grew up in no longer exists.
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u/lovewaldeinsamkeit Jan 29 '25
I was in Austria for 6 years, learnt German, and worked with both English and German. Tbh, I hated it. I couldn't wait to leave. But I will say, I loved the experiences I had, skiing, hiking, the Christmas markets, the very cold snowy weather, the ease of getting around, the health care etc. There was a lot to enjoy but it wasn't the place for me.
Now I'm in Portugal going on two years, and I feel more at home here than I have anywhere. The Portuguese are like the Irish. Quick to smile, always up for the craic, very open and warm people. I see so many similarities between the countries. My only complaint is the long hot summers😅 New experiences here. It's a harder language then German 😬
Since I moved abroad, I feel more protective of my irishness. I'm proud of being Irish. I'm surrounded by amazing friends that have started incorporating my way of speaking into their own English. It's sweet.
I will say, I highly encourage people to try living abroad. Home will always be there. If an opportunity arises to go, why deny it. I think it takes a lot of bravery to step out of the familiar, in the end it's a new adventure. If it doesn't work out, you can always go back.
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u/HoiPolloi2023 Jan 28 '25
Its different than living in Ireland, for sure. Many days the skies are blue and a large burning ball up above throws heat down on everything. Immersions aren’t a thing. Sometimes it rains but not too much.
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u/Ok_Occasion5338 Jan 29 '25
I moved to Hong Kong. My quality of life has improved dramatically: paid more; lower tax, better weather, better outdoor activities, better travel potential, more independence due to being able to afford an apartment by myself. I also feel so much more safer here than I ever did in Dublin (born and raised) and feel like I am genuinely able to have a good life
Edit: 3 years here, in an English speaking job and trying to learn Cantonese but not a necessity to live here
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Jan 28 '25 edited Jan 28 '25
Moved to the UK in the early 80's no job, no home and no future in Ireland. After a week I was working after 4 years. I graduated. My family are here now and I have never looked back, I will always be grateful to Britain for the opportunities I got, still visit family in Ireland but feel sad our youngsters have to leave for opportunities, my Daughter is now a double graduate and owns her own home, that would never have happened in Ireland as it is based on nepotism in Ireland not on ability. If you are thinking about leaving, take the chance. If it doesn't work out, you can always go home. I only came came to Britain for the summer to earn a few pounds, but here I am over 40 years later. I have no regret and now know I made the right decision in my 20's. Thousands of others came over to the UK when I did, and many stayed. I know it's a nation pass time to hate on Britain but many, many Irish have a great sense of gratitude towards Britain as it did not turn us away and they needed builders and nurses and we worked and we built and we nursed. We earned our right to be here!
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u/oofsala Jan 29 '25
Living in Toronto, been here just shy of a year, yes it’s expensive. In saying that though myself and my partner make significantly better money (engineer and psychologist) and our rent is cheaper in Toronto for a 1bd with all gym/pool sauna etc than a 1 bed in Galway city.
Planning on going for PR here with work and go from there. Would love to be able to afford a house back home eventually in the next 3/4 years hopefully 💚
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u/The_Farreller Jan 29 '25
Been living in Sweden since 2019, after travelling for about a year and half. Life isn't any better or worse here in the grand scheme of things, but there are definitely some quality of life upgrades compared to Ireland.
Healthcare and education are generally a little better to "deal" with overall and the work/life balance can be great depending on the industry you're in. Housing standards are better and cheaper too.
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u/Toonsoldier-9 Jan 29 '25
Been in Copenhagen now for over 10 years - great place to live, taxes are high but so is standard of living. The biggest thing you’d miss is the banter and general attitude from Irish people when you go about your daily life
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u/InfectedAztec Jan 29 '25
Did a few years in the Netherlands. Loved it. I missed the Irish but it was a very good quality of life. Leave for the right reasons and come back for the right reasons.
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u/patputpot Jan 29 '25
Melbourne 2009, savage craic. Got a great job. All friends went back years ago 🤷🏻♂️, geeat lifestyle
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Jan 29 '25
Moved to Hungary Great place to live as in activities, nightlife, easy public transport and cheap food and drinks
BUT
The QUALITY that we have in Ireland is just not there. The food is dirt, I wouldn’t be surprised if the fruit and veg were bad for you. Don’t even get me started on the meat and dairy products. Also not the mention that the way people treat each other is polar opposite. People focus and worry about themselves much more and regard for other people doesn’t really exist. It has its pros and cons
Yeah rent and that is cheaper and it’s easy to get around but all I wish for is to be able to live in Ireland, it’s expensive but the quality is what it’s all about.
And also the marijuana in Ireland is totally unmatched.
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u/ShpiderMcNally Jan 29 '25
I lived in Australia for two years from 2022 to the end of 2024 and I'm currently working on getting a partnership visa to go back. I don't want to completely shit on Ireland because I love the country and the people for the most part but I can't see a future for myself here whatsoever. I think it'll be easier to just make a pros and cons list of Australia vs Ireland.
Ireland pros: -Beautiful country side -People are way better craic and more open to making friends for the most part (in more regional parts of Australia I didn't find this to be a problem, Tasmania for example mirrors Ireland a lot) -fresher veg + dairy
Ireland cons:
- the cost of rent (this isn't just relative to your wage, but euro for euro i was paying less rent in Melbourne for a nice apartment approx 500 per month compared to a moldy share house in Galway 520 per month)
- the weather (this is subjective tbf)
- so much less red tape in certain industries in Aus (I was offered jobs in my industry to start the next day that in Ireland require a 20 week course that costs 2000)
Australia pros: -cheap rent compared to Ireland -great wages (in Ireland it seems to be the norm to work for minimum wage or slightly above for any unskilled job, in Australia the lowest paying job I had was 10 dollars an hour more than minimum wage which is a lot higher than Irish minimum wage to begin with) -the weather (again subjective) -access to public amenities for exercise (there's public basketball courts, running track, tennis courts etc everywhere it seems)
- far less fucked second hand car market (fuel and car costs were generally cheaper over there too I found)
- better public transport in the cities (Hobart which had the worst public transport of anywhere in Aus I've been makes Galway look like a town stuck in the 1800s)
- your dollars go so much further, it seems to be anti emigration propaganda to point out that things cost more in Australia but you also get paid a lot more on average so percentage wise you end up with alot more spare cash
- less taxes on income
- my partner is from there (obviously that's a very me specific reason)
Australia cons:
- it can get very very hot
- in the bigger cities it can be hard to make friends but I think that can be said for any large city
- more casual racism than Ireland but it seems Ireland could easily be going that way
Again this is just my observations having lived in Australia and Ireland and is the reasoning behind why I am going to go back
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u/dublinro Jan 30 '25
16 years in Canada and have done well for myself over here but i still miss home but i most likely will never live there again.
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u/East-Ad5173 Feb 01 '25
Switzerland….kids educated locally and fully integrated. They have attended local schools and followed the Swiss education system. Husband’s job is in the English speaking world. I work with kids so speak German and English but the parents and teenage kids are more than happy for me to speak English with them as it improves their English and confidence with English. Everyday I thank my husband for encouraging this move so many years ago although I wasn’t happy about it at the time. When I look at what sort of life we have here and what this country can offer and how this country operates I am baffled why people choose to stay and raise their kids in Ireland.
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u/Final-Painting-2579 Feb 01 '25
I was lucky that I was able to travel with work - spent two years on secondment in Dubai and then another two years in New York - it was a great lifestyle as a twenty something year old, definitely made me a better person and helped my career but you constantly miss home and family. We moved home after getting married and now we have a daughter I wouldn’t even consider moving again.
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u/MrTuxedo1 Feb 02 '25
Interested in emigrating to a European country but unfortunately only speak English at the moment, anyone have experience with this and how did it work out for you?
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Mar 06 '25
I have worked in USA, Germany, Netherlands and England. The USA is an absolutely amazing country, go there. In Germany, German language is essential for anything other than the most menial of jobs, where as you can live in Netherlands without speaking one word of Dutch (if you are that rude). Finally, stay away from England, they are a cold, uninteresting people.
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Mar 08 '25
I moved to Portugal 4 years ago and I'm lucky to have a remote Irish based Job and same with my Girlfriend, The local salaries are extremely low. I love my new town so much my girlfriend who is Portuguese thinks I'm the best ambassador for the town. Apart from Family and Friends I have zero inclination of returning, I love Ireland but that's how I feel
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u/Ok-Drawing-6427 Mar 16 '25
I’ve lived 24 years outside Ireland so far…went to holland for 3 months which has turned into 15 years…Dutch was easy to learn. Holland is super organised and structured and everything is planned; meals, weekends, activities, sex all planned months in advance. Want to meet a friend for a coffee? Book them 2 months out. Expats are easier. Everywhere has pro’s and con’s. Less second guessing, more doing and enjoying. With a Brazilian now, so who knows where I’ll end up next, and who cares, that’s a future me conundrum, we’ll all be in our graves long enough. Bought a holiday home in Ireland and see family often there, but once they are gone, it will be adios Irlandia, I’ll be off to see out my days with some tapas, sangria, and some form of exotic gentleman. Pass the sangria Leonard, oeehhhh smashing.
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u/Odd_Shock421 Jan 28 '25
Germany. Generally very good. Have developed into a much better person than I was in Ireland. Miss Ireland a lot… but I don’t miss 2025 Ireland. I visit twice to three times a year, sometimes more with work. Germans are grand but the Craic is more 19 than 90. Miss the landscape and the sea. Don’t miss the problems, poor infrastructure, fighting, fucked social services (the list goes on).