I'm an American living in Ireland. Here are 12 things I miss about the US.
- I moved from the US to Ireland three years ago, and I miss a lot of things about America.
- Some things baffled me, like the shortage of public restrooms and a lack of screened windows.
- I also miss 24/7 convenience stores, American food options, and larger apartments.
Three years ago, I moved from the Midwest of the US to Ireland. As much as I make fun of the many quirks of my home country, I find myself nostalgic for some of them.
Although I love living in Ireland, I sometimes miss the little things that make the US unique.
I miss American convenience in every form
As an American, I'm used to the convenience of one-stop shops, such as Target and Walmart, most of which are open around the clock.
I like knowing that I can go for all my errands on a Sunday night when I'm typically most available.
In Ireland, I'm spending most of my lunch breaks frantically running around town because many shops and businesses close around 5 or 6 p.m. (with some closing completely on certain days). It makes it difficult to get errands done if you work a 9 to 5 job.
Plus, rather than making a quick run into a Target to get everything I need, shopping turns into an errand "crawl" of sorts, hopping from one specific store to the next.
I crave some of my favorite foods from back home
In the US, I could easily get amazing authentic cuisines inspired by cultures all over the world, whether it be Mexican, Asian, Middle Eastern, or European.
One of the things I miss most is proper Mexican- or Tex-Mex-inspired food. Sadly, most of the places in Ireland don't go beyond on-the-go burritos or "nachos" consisting mostly of plain Doritos. I just have to save all of my cravings for my trips to the US.
At the grocery store, I've also learned to say goodbye to all of the boxed meals, frozen foods, and packaged snacks I'd grown so used to.
Thankfully, there are some "American" sweet shops I can pop in when I'm feeling especially homesick.
I can't let go of certain brands I'm used to from the US
America really does have a market of choice. There are loads of different brands to choose from when it comes to groceries, clothes, cleaning supplies, and everything else.
In Ireland, choices are more limited when it comes to my weekly shopping list.
I've become so used to having certain toiletries or branded products in my daily routine that sadly aren't available here. Rather than get over it and learn to live without them, I load up on them in bulk when I'm visiting home and bring them back in an extra suitcase.
I miss going all out for holidays
During the holidays, particularly Halloween and Christmas, I was used to going all out with decorations, parties, and themed activities.
I made my Irish boyfriend drive us to look at Christmas lights around the neighborhood, but the most we could find were a few houses with blow-up Santa Clauses and snowmen. He thought the idea was cute, but it simply wasn't a thing in Ireland to "dress up the house."
I was like a kid who just found out Santa wasn't real.
There also aren't as many fall-themed activities here. This time of year is when I truly miss home the most.
The US version of Thanksgiving is unique to the country, and I didn't fully grasp the true meaning of the day until I left. It was never really about the food, but rather about the company you share it with.
There's a faster pace of life in America that comes in handy when you're trying to get things done
After my first few months in Ireland, I quickly realized how fast-paced life in America is in comparison.
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate (and even prefer) the chiller European attitude toward life. But sometimes I really miss the classic "get 'er done" American spirit.
Finding a home, getting a job, and registering for a bank account were fairly straightforward tasks I could get done quickly back home. But that wasn't my experience in Ireland.
I miss having all my drinks come with plenty of ice
After three years of living in Ireland, I still haven't gotten over the lack of ice in my drinks.
Ice seems to be an American delicacy. Even on a frosty winter day, I still want some in my drink.
Whenever I go to a restaurant (or even a McDonald's) in Ireland, I often have to specifically request ice with my drink. I always get a weird look, and even after risking my dignity, I usually only manage to land a few cubes.
I now understand that extra living space is a luxury
I never appreciated how big the US is until I learned Ireland is about the same size as the state of Indiana.
Living in Dublin, I often long for larger open spaces — it can be easy to feel claustrophobic. I've found that everything from the sidewalks and cars to houses and toilets feel smaller.
Many living spaces in Ireland, particularly in Dublin, are quite compact with limited outdoor space beyond maybe a balcony or a small terrace.
My Irish partner and I have been apartment hunting for the past year, and he has to keep reminding me that closet space can be considered a luxury here.
I've found there aren't a ton of public restrooms in Ireland
Unfortunately, I think it's very common in Europe to find yourself stuck without a public toilet nearby.
Many restaurants or shops have codes on their restrooms, and guests can only enter after purchasing something. This is the case in some places in the US, but it seems more common here.
In recent years, I've seen more public restrooms pop up, but most charge an entrance fee to use the facility.
Thankfully, a new map of public toilets in Ireland was recently created online, fittingly called pee.ie.
Larger appliances are the norm in the US, but that's not the case here
It seems very few Irish households have a separate clothes dryer. Most people air-dry everything, either on a clothesline or on a fold-out drying rack.
Plus, our washing machine and dishwasher are quite tiny in comparison to the ones I've used in the US.
Since moving to Ireland, I've also longed for the quick convenience of a garbage disposal. But anytime I mention it to my Irish friends, they've never even heard of such a contraption.
Temperature control isn't really a thing in Ireland either
In America, many of us are used to a constant temperature-controlled lifestyle. I could crank the central heat all the way up in the cold winters and blast the central air conditioning during the dog days of summer.
In Ireland, heating is often spread throughout the house through hot-water-based radiators or traditional fireplaces. During the long and brutal winter nights, it can get pretty chilly, and many Irish people reach for hot-water bottles to keep them warm.
Plus, AC isn't really a thing here at all. I miss the luxury of controlling my indoor temperature on the coldest and hottest days of the year.
Screened windows and doors are a luxury I didn't know I was giving up
I'm actually not sure why Ireland hasn't warmed up to the idea of screened doors or windows yet, especially considering the lack of AC.
In the US, I'd often leave my windows and doors open to catch a breeze without also attracting unwanted insects. But in Ireland, I risk ending up with a room full of wasps and spiders because of my unscreened windows and doors.
There's an overly friendly Midwest attitude I'll always miss about home
Don't get me wrong, many Irish people I have met are extremely friendly, chatty, and good-natured, and I've made some of my closest friends here.
But sometimes I find myself missing the genuine heart-to-heart chats and deeper conversations I found myself having with complete strangers or newfound friends in the US.
There's a genuine curiosity (some may call it "nosiness") among Americans, particularly in the Midwest, that bonds people together so quickly.
For example, it's very common to hang out in each other's homes on a regular basis, but in Ireland, it's more likely for people to just meet in the local pub.
Watch:
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonymwsSrsK2gmaO0brWMpqCsq12Wr7DB02asrGWRm8Gmvoympq%2Bhnpx6tbuMoqmepJGjsW5%2Bj2tpZm8%3D