INTERVIEW
GPO, O'ConnellStreet, Dublin
†: How would you describe that feeling? You have everything you could want in theory in the States. Why do you choose to live here?
J: Yeah, there’s not as much. There’s no Target, there's no Old Navy. I feel like here it forces you to have to…just be happy with what you have. It’s not so capitalistic, it’s not so competitive. Like here, the only person I have to be competitive with is myself. I felt like at home - and that's kind of bizarre 'cause if I’m here then I’m referring to that direction [the States as home], but if I’m back in the States, then I’m like "oh when I go back home [to Ireland]". Even when I was teaching in the States, it was constantly like who has the best scores? You’re constantly looking over
"It is where your soul is at home."
J: Yes, I do. I had a student two years ago. He was nine and a gifted student. It was before the big trip where I was like “Ah I must get back!” And I said, "Boys and girls I won’t be here next week I’m going back to Ireland." And a girl is like “I don’t understand, why do you like Ireland so much?” And I go, “I can’t really put it into words.” And he goes “No, I got it, I got it. It is where your soul is at home.” I’ve never had even an adult put it so perfectly.
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