From Bucks County to County Galway

~ Meg

I’m finally settling into my new home in Ireland after spending nearly two weeks in a hotel. The sale of the home in Pennsylvania was complicated and as a result delayed the transfer of funds for us to complete the purchase of our house in County Galway. Now that it’s done, I’m putting things slowly in order. As you can imagine, things work a little bit differently here and I’m finding my way by trial and error and by not being too embarrassed to admit when I haven’t a clue. Since I haven’t had either time or inclination to write (thank you stress and worry) I thought I’d try to get back in the routine by sharing some of my experiences in settling into life in a foreign country.

Everything takes 7-10 days. Patience is the word of the day. Americans, let me tell you, we are spoiled with instant gratification. We are so used to getting immediate results that waiting a full week for satisfaction feels like an eternity. But that’s just the way it goes over here and no amount of complaining will change anything. (Not that I’m complaining, I find it rather refreshing actually.) Except for being without internet and TV for that long. And while being disconnected and quiet has an appeal, it’s difficult when you’re trying to take care of business that, these days can only be handled online! Finally we got connected yesterday.

The country is far more ecologically/environmentally responsible than I’m accustomed to. I cannot believe the stuff we are able to recycle, for instance. In the ‘traditional’ recycling bin they will take not just the numbers 1 and 2 plastic that I was restricted to in Pennsylvania, but ALL plastics including plastic bags and shrink wrap! In this bin goes all glass and metal cans, cardboard, chip board and paper, too. I get another bin for COMPOST! All food and kitchen waste goes in here along with paper towels and napkins. Then finally there is a third bin for regular trash that can’t be recycled. I can barely think of what I might throw in it.

Another way the Irish (and possibly all of Europe, I imagine) are conservation-minded is the way the household power is managed. My water heater has an off-switch. No one leaves the water heater on full time. Many homes have them on timers so that they don’t run during hours when hot water isn’t needed. The oil burner is also on a timer so that the heat shuts off over night when you can keep warm under the covers. All the appliances are super energy efficient, most cars are small and hybrids are very popular. They tax fuel very steeply to encourage efficiency and public transportation is readily accessible even out in the hinterland where I live. Thanks to that, we are going to try to get by with one car for now.

Speaking of cars, our car is a Skoda and it’s not only right-hand drive, it’s a manual transmission. Thank goodness I learned on a stick shift and drove one for several decades. I picked up the feel for it again right away.

GMO foods are banned, pesticide use is restricted and many suspicious ingredients like preservatives and dyes are not allowed in foods. The produce is beautiful and plentiful. I feel healthier already. And get this: eggs don’t need to be refrigerated. Naturally, eggs have a coating on the shell which protects against spoilage. In America, chickens are raised in such abhorrent conditions that eggs need to be pasteurized, thus destroying that protective coating and requiring them to be refrigerated for storing. My eggs are sitting on the kitchen counter. Good thing, too. Refrigerators are small!

Stores don’t stay open late. Thinking about shopping in the evening? Forget about it. Grocery and convenience stores might stay open till 11:00 pm but every other store closes at 6:00 or 7:00. I guess having a life trumps getting the extra sales. I find that really refreshing, too. Lot’s of places are closed on Sunday as well. Vacation, weekends and time to spend with family and friends are valued here, not just by workers but by the employers as well. That’s pretty cool.

And finally, my daily walk now takes me along a narrow lane that skirts the old walls of Headford Castle. My view across the road is a farm with sheep and cows. The bank, the supermarket and the pub are all within walking distance. So far everyone has been friendly, kind and helpful. The weather has been lovely but we’re prepared for the inevitable rain and chill. I will build a little peat fire in the fireplace and curl up with a book and a cup of tea. Made with my electric kettle!

Published by Meg

Easily amused, never bored and constantly distracted. My creative pursuits include writing, drawing, painting and photography.

51 thoughts on “From Bucks County to County Galway”

  3. How fantastic! We Americans could certainly learn a bit from Europe. Clean food, walking or biking everywhere, relaxed vibe, no hurrying, fresher air. So much more progressive. I’m thinking we should move too. Those little fridges are hard to get used to though. 😃😃

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    1. Oh yes… I see myself shopping for only what I need for a few days at a time. But that way everything is fresh, too! The small fridge, the small oven!!! I never considered it but the baking sheets I packed don’t fit! Oops!

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    1. This one is tall but really skinny and shallow. It’s all good. We will adapt! My biggest obstacle is in calculating cooking temperatures – from Fahrenheit to Celsius – my recipes are all obsolete!

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  12. Nice to hear you’ve settled in at last. It sounds so marvelous! I love that they value life on earth there. Great pics – I’ll look forward to more. It will be interesting to see how Ireland infuses your arts.

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    1. Thanks, Eilene! I’m sure it will. Waiting on the shipping box to arrive with all our stuff. Still living out of our luggage right now. But I’m eager to get back to my creative routine. I’m sure this climate is conducive to that!

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  13. Hey, welcome to what we think of as the ‘real world’, Meg! Yes, we have all those things in the UK, too. This post was actually quite an eye-opener for me in what it said about what is taken for normal in the US. Glad you’re settling in well.

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    1. Thanks, Mick! It’s really a shameful state of affairs back on the other side of the ocean. If it isn’t convenient then it isn’t getting done. I’m very much looking forward to my new lifestyle! And new places to hike! 😃

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  14. Hello Meg! I just got done reading this to Granny. You got several smiles and chuckles out of the pair of us. Granny actually ooed at the idea of you being able to make do with one car. We are glad to hear you are settling in. We’re sending all our best wishes to you and Harry.

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    1. Hello! Thanks so much! I love having public transportation to use. It won’t be a hardship to get by with one car. And so far, with patience, we’re getting along well! Love to you and Granny!

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