I feel a little bit like a newbie on this site, even though I’ve had a profile since the original TCKid site, where I used to post every once in a while. Since then I’ve managed to make some roots. 

I’ll always be that girl who comes from everywhere, but some how that has turned into a joke amongst my friends. Whenever people who don’t know me ask me where I am from, a communal groan is emitted from all of their throats, whilst one yells ‘Don’t ask her that question, she’ll never shut up!’

That being said, they have all at one point or another sat me down and interrogated me as to where I’ve been, where do I think I’m from, what is my nationality according to my passport etc. Which means at this stage they are all getting almost as fed up of it as I am! Which I find very amusing.

Many of my friends have started travelling, which I think is fantastic. They always come back with new eyes, that understand some of my foibles a little better than before. Each time one comes back, they always have a chat with me afterwards, and then try to explain some of the things they learned about other cultures while travelling. I always surprise them by understanding exactly what they mean.

My best friend recently came back from an architectural tour of Switzerland. One of the first things we talked about was the efficient public transport system, which is something I’ve had problems with for years. After living in Switzerland, no other system is good enough. Every time a bus comes late, it feels like an insult. In Ireland there is a 70% chance that the bus will actually arrive, let alone arrive on time. The chance of the bus or train arriving on time, and making their entire route on time, is about 5%… This may be an exaggeration, but it really doesn’t feel like it. Her ranting about the abysmal system that is Dublin bus, has brought all of my repressed frustration back to the surface.

When she was telling me about how amazing the timing and efficiency of the trains was, I started laughing. For the past few years I have been controlling my ranting on the absolute lack of efficiency in Ireland, which is not just the transport system. If you arrange to meet someone at 1pm, do not expect them until at least half past. Whether it is their fault, or the bus drivers fault for loosing track of time, it still means I have spent a ridiculous amount of time waiting around for people, as I have always timed my leaving the house so I got there about 10 minutes before the agreed time.

I now always have a book in my bag so that I don’t get bored. I recently ended up waiting 3 hours for someone who fell asleep. Thankfully the weather was unusually nice, and I sat in the park with my book and mp3 player to while away the time. However in the middle of winter, that is not an option…

No matter what I do, I cannot acclimatise myself to this aspect of the Irish, but at least I’ve managed to inure myself to it. Though I will one day move on somewhere else, Ireland has definitely become the place that I will keep returning to. Somehow without my knowing it, I’ve started settling here and making roots. For the first time in my life I bought a year long contract with my blackberry. I walked out of the shop in a state of shock. I know I will be staying here for the foreseeable future as I have 2 years of college left, but I have always been prepared to just get up and leave. without my knowing it the bizarre charm of the Irish has finally made me feel at home. That being said I still do not tell people I am Irish, even though my father is. I pick a country depending on either the day of the week, or what mood I am in. 

I am looking forward to the opportunities I will have to travel the world with Geology once I’ve finished my degree. One of the things I love about Geology is I can get a job anywhere in the world. I will get to see parts of the world that few people would ever bother going to, which really excites me. I’m currently trying to compile a Geological bucket list of places to visit in the world, which I fully intend on making my way through after college.

For now, I am as settled as I’ve ever been, and happy being this way. Feeling at home is a great experience but surprisingly nothing like I thought it would be. I was a little disappointed by the lack of fireworks when I realised I had made first real home. Maybe next time..

  1. Anonymous says:

    Thanks for sharing!  It is wonderful to see a balance of being ready to travel, while at the same time not being afraid to see some roots growing:)  I’ve lived in northern colorado, usa for almost 18 yrs now, having moved from southern california (n latin countries just like that culture before) and still am so afraid i’ll become something i don’t want to be out here if i grow roots…but through all the tck networking/sites am hopeful (in the Lord) that i won’t lose that southern cali/mexican spirit:)  yes, i am always ready to move, and my hubby graciously has been supportive of us at least moving out of our cookie cutter mcmansion (2500 squ feet) in a few years to the noisier downtown possibly, or maybe even somewhere more like so cal:)  no matter what i had to come to a peace that God gave me my past and knows the desires of my heart…ie not to turn into a farming family etc:)