Irish hospitality (and helping out Americans)

By Amanda Taylor

My mother believes I’ve come to Dublin with academics front and center in both my mind and my priorities. 

She is, unfortunately, incorrect. 

I came here with two things on my mind: partying and boys.  Being in this country for just under 2 weeks now, I can say without hesitation, that has changed.  

Although the nightlife in Dublin makes Charlotte seem like a playpen full of toddlers drunk off milk, it’s the people I just cannot get enough of.

Americans simply aren’t known for our hospitality, especially toward foreigners. The opposite goes for Ireland. Here are a few examples, Tucker Max style.

While walking around the center of Dublin with my three roommates looking for one of the many school buildings, we quickly realized we were lost.  As the four of us held a map the size of Texas in front of our faces, a man approached with only one thing to say: “Lost, are ya?” 

That’s right, out of nowhere, a middle-aged Irish man realized we were lost and offered to take time out of his possibly busy day to help some obviously discombobulated foreigners.  

After giving us street-by-street instructions, I disregarded my mental filter and questioned him.  

“Sorry, did you say the third left? Or the TURD left?”  

In case you’re unaware, the Irish do not pronounce their “TH’s”.  The man clearly told us to make the “turd” left and, luckily, the Irish are also blessed with an amazing sense of humor. 

He proceeded to call us all a word that starts with F and rhymes with Tuckers, laughed and walked away.   

Keeping in mind we’re currently residing in Rock Hill SC, if you’re lost, you’re either at a women’s basketball game and unsure why, or you’re in a car. Asking for directions from a car is difficult, awkward and uncommon.  

Americans are obsessed with time and we often get aggravated or avoid the situation completely when someone asks us for some of that precious time. 

Here in Ireland, people seem to have all the time in the world.  Generalization or not, the Irish beat the Americans in hospitality any day of the week.