SOME PEOPLE LEAVE Ireland by choice. Some people don’t have that luxury.
But whichever way you go, there are certain things that are tricky.
1. Your accent and slang suddenly being weird
2. Goodbyes at Dublin Airport
The absolute worst.
3. The sense of humour, or lack thereof
It’s just not the same in other countries.
4. No decent batch bread
How difficult can it be, dammit?
5. In fact, not being able to get comfort food in general
It’s all fine until you’re hungover or sick and feeling vulnerable. THAT’S when you just want a chicken fillet roll and a Lucozade, fer Chrissakes.
And let’s not even talk about black pudding and Tayto.
6. Not running into people on the street any more
At home, it wrecks your head. Away, you’d miss it.
7. Missing your family
No matter how much they wreck your head, it’s tough not to be around them. Especially the older ones who might not be so savvy about Skype.
8. Big events back home
When you just KNOW everyone’s going to be getting together and having the best craic ever.
9. ‘Bars’ not being a patch on pubs
In particular, there is no equivalent of the snug out forr’n. Not anywhere.
10. Trashy corn snack deficiency
The crippling lack of proper pickled onion flavour corn snacks with a million E-numbers in them.
11. People not texting for some reason
In other countries, people just don’t text for the craic in the same way. What’s with that?
12. The new hell of going to the pharmacy
Not the discreet experience you’d get at home. No sir.
13. Getting news, and not being at home to share it with people
14. And finally, no decent telly
By which we mean, no telly to plonk yourself in front of and switch off your brain because it’s so familiar.
BUT there is one thing about moving away.
Other than the good weather…
And the new experiences…
… which is that if you can make it…
… it’s GREAT to visit home.
