I figured I would do a post of all the random observations and culture shock moments I’ve had since I’ve been in Northern Ireland. It’s been around 4ish weeks or basically a month since I’ve been here and in that time I’ve been jotting down random observations from the day. So, here they are.
- Malls are called shopping centers
- Parking lots are called car parks
- Three hour-long classes with 10 minute “comfort” breaks that only meet once a week
- Most people don’t have classes on Monday or Friday and most people go home on for the weekend. Some people even have full-on jobs back homes that they go to on the weekend.
- Going out days Sunday/ Monday and Wednesday nights since most people are either returning back to campus (Sunday/Monday night) or leaving campus to go home on Thursday night (which is why Wednesday night is going out night)
- Makeup and the wearing of makeup. Some of the girls from Magee and around Northern Ireland wear what I would call a full face of makeup. Full coverage foundation, highlight, contour, smoky eye, and lipstick. Some are dressed up and sometimes others are wearing a sweatshirt and leggings. I honestly want to know their secret to how they keep their face set with all this rain and mist here.
- People definitely dress nicer/ are more fashionable here. Again it’s like the makeup, it’s not everyone, but enough to where I’ve noticed.
- It would also be nothing to see someone walking around with a skirt or a dress and maybe some tights or not even though it’s totally cold outside.
- Heels on cobblestones =a very impressive sight to see.
- Smoking! Whether it’s cigarettes or vapers, people seem to smoke a lot more here. It would be nothing to see a group of students standing outside for a smoke between classes, or seeing people crowding around the outside of a pub for a smoke, or seeing someone riding a bike and also having a smoke.
- Sinks in the dorm rooms. There is a sink next to my wardrobe which is very useful! You don’t need to go to the bathroom, every time you need to wash your hands, or do your face routine, or brush your teeth. It’s just very convenient and I wish we had that in the States.
- Single rooms/ no roommates. My entire dorm building here is made up of nothing but singles.
- Dialects and range of accents. People from L’Derry tend to speak faster than some other parts of Northern Ireland. I meet a man you grew up in a different region in Northern Ireland and we got to talking about the range of accents here. He’s from a county that talks noticeably slower than those who grew up in L’Derry whereas Belfast has their own distinct dialect.
- Paying for bags at stores. If you do not bring your own reusable bag or a bookbag to put your stuff in, getting a bag from the store costs some money. It’s nothing outrageous, it just makes bringing your own bag an initiative for most people which I appreciate thinking about it from a sustainable standpoint.
- Alcohol and pub culture. I ‘ve never had a professor or advisor give a recommendation for a pub or bar before, but it seems to be a thing here. Whiskey and little cups of Guinness was also offered at a Culture Shock event that was put on for international students. There was also a Refresher’s Quiz put on my either the student union or Reslife that was BYOB (bring your own bottle). Not necessarily bad, it’s just different.
- The obvious driving on the opposite side of the road and the use of roundabouts. I’ve almost been hit at least 10-15 times since being here just because I keep looking the wrong way. I dream for the day that I don’t have to look at both ends of the road 4 times before crossing.
- Young men wearing Adidas tracksuits seems to be a popular thing
- “What’s the craic”? “Where the craic”? Now, in Northern Ireland and the Republic “craic” means the news/gossip, entertainment, fun, how’s it going, etc. The first time someone said that to me I just stood there like a deer in headlights and said “Good”. What I was saying good to or why I was saying good, I don’t know but it was a natural response.
- “Cheers”! I am not completely sure of the use, it just seems to be an exclamation after an action. For example, a cashier saying cheers after I’ve signed my signature on the receipt after a transaction. I’ve seen a man buying a bus ticket and saying cheers after getting their ticket, and he said it again as he was getting off the bus.
- “Wee” is a word used pretty frequently here. “Can I have a wee signature”? “It’s just a wee walk”. “Do you need a wee bag”? “We’re gonna take a wee break”.
- You pay for meals at the till (cash register) at restaurants rather than a waiter/waitress bringing out the check and you handing them the money. Sometimes you tell the person what you had and other times they seem to already know.
- Brexit is a hot and relevant topic here given the history of L’Derry and its proximity to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
- Stay in a pub long enough and you’re bound to be approached by an older Irish man and regaled with a story or two along with a firm handshake.
- There is literally a street with nothing but pubs.
- There are switches that turn on the outlets. In order to use the outlet, you have to turn on the outlet.
- If something says it costs 5 GBP then it costs exactly 5 GBP
- Raincoats are a must because the wind can and will destroy your umbrella.
- Speaking of the wind here, it is a force to be reckoned with. I’ve almost taken flight a couple of times.
- There are restaurants that sell literally everything. A food shop could sell burgers, kebabs, pasta, pizza, wings, Indian food, traditional Irish breakfast, and everything else under the sun. You could literally eat several different kinds of foods at one place.
That’s all I could think of for now. Until next time!
