Ironically, I was working in the dole office but I decided to leave Ireland anyway in January 2011. I saw first-hand what the recession was doing to the place. Whilst it was an exciting place to work in ways, having to serve genuine people experiencing hard times such as my friend’s parents made it kind of depressing.
I had just graduated university, and my girlfriend (now fiancée) was living in Singapore. Having met in the US during exchange, I got a taste for living abroad. So my decision to emigrate was clearly a mixture of push and pulls factors. People say travel broadens the mind, and I have to agree. I have no regrets.
Of course, there are many things I miss about home, starting with family. Having a laugh with my brothers, playing with my nephews, mum’s cooking, dad’s stories, and even my cat’s purring.
Heading to the pub with the lads is something which I greatly miss. Alcohol prices in Singapore are excessively high, but this could be a good thing. I find myself drinking a lot less, which was a big part of Irish culture. My dependence on and tolerance of alcohol have plummeted since leaving Ireland.
I go home for Christmas every year, back to the frosty and gloomy winter. It’s a big change from the 32 degree heat of Singapore, I couldn’t think of a better place to spend the holidays than at home with family. The fry-ups are plentiful, since black pudding is banned here. Somehow that cup of Lyon’s tea doesn’t taste the same here compared to the rusty teapot of home.
My aunt recently passed away and we’ve had a few health scares in the family, which makes it harder being away. Meeting fellow Irish people makes it easier though, with an Irish population here of a few thousand, a chamber of commerce, a GAA team, and of course, many Irish pubs.
A few days ago, I found a book in Singapore for Irish kids to learn Irish and I even considered buying it for myself to brush up. I am instead using an app called Duolingo which encourages people to speak more Irish.
I will no doubt return to Ireland in a few years’ time, hopefully not on the other end of the counter in the dole office. To ensure this won’t happen, I will get more experience under my belt at work. I will raise my future children in Ireland, and my soon-to-be wife, Andrea, will have to get used to the freezing winters, since my sallow freckly Irish skin can’t take the sun for much longer.
