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living in the Midlands now. It’s so untouched by tourism, and feels quintessentially Irish to me. It is funny how confused people are that an American would move to Ireland. I was talking to a Polish security guard about it and he just couldn’t wrap his head around it. He said “an American who wants an Irish passport? Now I’ve heard absolutely everything!” I do think about that fact that as an American expat, my reason for emigrating is different from most around the world. We haven’t had to move for economic reasons. We have the luxury of leaving our home in search of ourselves more so than money. And I’m not saying that all Americans in Ireland are wealthy (I’m certainly not, and I have such sympathy for any Americans paying Dublin rent), but we do have a sort of global privilege by way of our passport. American-Irish, and American expats in general are a unique breed.
"Everything just a bit slower and smaller over here. And I love it."
not everyone is so damn serious about everything. Which is very much the cast back in the states. Irish people are often confused about where I’m from when they meet me. I do tend to talk with an Irish inflection without realizing it. Unless I’m talking to another American and then my accent sort of naturally code-switches. It feels jarring at time, and my family and friends love to make fun of me for saying “bins” and “giving out” and “you know yourself.” Especially living in Mullingar where I’m one of three Americans in the town. I’m sure you catch yourself doing it as well. I think living in America there’s so much pressure to make something of yourself, and prove yourself to others. In Ireland I don’t really feel that same pressure. Everything just a bit slower and smaller over here. And I love it. Galway was great for awhile, but I’m actually really happy to be
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