What are some things an American should know about the Irish Culture?

iangobl

Out of Interest has starting this thread made you more or less apprehensive about coming to Ireland?

Jen Pigs Fly

smash wrote: »

And you only hang around with girls that you think aren't as pretty as you.

Exactly, they make me look better.

/no one is prettier than me :mad:

ectoraige

onlyrocknroll wrote: »

When people are insulting each other wildly don't join in until you've got a good feel for it. In my experience it takes newcomers a while to get used to what's acceptable and what isn't.

(And no one will give a rational explanation because there isn't any)

Example

Irish person- "Look at the state of ya big eejit"

New arrival - "Well you're fat and ugly and your mother doesn't love you"

Irish person "Why would you say that?"

I've seen it happen many times

FYI they weren't having the craic with you. You're fat, ugly, and your mother doesn't love you.

HTH

nukin_futs

WickedWest wrote: »

I'm an American woman from the heartland of the United States, and I've been thinking about getting involved in the study abroad program at the university and studying in Cork, Ireland. However, I don't want to feel like a fish out of water if/when I go, so if you could give me a few tips or facts about the culture that would be awesome!

i.e.
What are some examples of slang?
How do you spend free time?
Is it hard to learn how to drive on the opposite side of the road?
What are some things I should/shouldn't do when trying to make friends?
How do Irish men express attraction?
What are classes like?
Add anything else you think will be helpful!

No, one of our politicians even managed to do it while drunk URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_McDaid"]Clicky[/URL. However I recommend driving on the correct side of the road, whichever country you are in.

Classes are like a big room, full of young people. An older male/female will be at the front attempting to pass on knowledge to the younger generation. May take place in a school or university - see also Education.

beazee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52bna-tn_dY

A simple test for you:
You are told that someone is "going spare," should you (a) Find him a job (b) Find him a girlfriend (c) Avoid him

Ming the Merciless is (a) A comic book character (b) A TD and Mayor from Co. Roscommon

What is a holy show? (a) Religious programming (b) Something garish worn without the wearer knowing the impact

Someone says "I like your top." Your response is (a) Thanks (b) Penneys

If a feature on the RTE news reports that an incident took place at tea time what time did the incident occur?

"Story horse!" translates as (a) A child's toy (b) A greeting between friends

"Bleedin rappih" means (a) It's very fast (b) It's very good

If someone was a 'gas man', would they (a) work for the gas company (b) be really funny

You'll get "some land" means (a) you're about to become the owner of some property (b) you're about to be surprised

Do you have an ineradicable belief in the restorative powers of flat 7up?

When you're telling someone a great yarn and they implore you to "Stop," do you (a) stop (b) keep going with gusto

If someone offers to "put you in the pot", should you (a) flee from the cannibals (b) accept their kind offer of dinner

How many is 'just the one'? a) One b) Three c) a Rake

If a fire alarm goes off how long should you spend looking for the fire before getting back to work?

Deadly buzz means (a) a great time (b) a lethal Toy Story character or (c) a faulty vibrator ?

Question: In Dublin what word can get you any relevant information you require from a friend? Answer: 'Story?'

Who would be the correct recipient of a brown envelope ? a) The postman b) a politician

Was Bosco a Strings Down or Hand Up the Jaxie kind of Puppet?

Do you say to people* You must call round sometime* and expect never to see that person , ever?

Pronounce 'The Taoiseach and Tánaiste met Tadhg and Caoimhe on Aungier Street between the Dáil and Ranelagh'

If a number of glasses are dropped in a pub what is the correct response? a) Help the barman or b) Cheer!

If pub closes at 12 and last bus is at 11. What time should you leave to go home? A: The walk will do you good.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056535391

Tonyandthewhale

If someone says something about 'those fecking black and tans' they're not being racist. Well they might be, but only against English people.

ballsymchugh

WickedWest wrote: »

Girls make out in greeting?

yes!!

WoollyRedHat

Don't ever trust buses, they'll always let you down

onlyrocknroll

WickedWest wrote: »

How do Irish men express attraction?

Attachment not found.

I think you'll figure that out sooner rather than later.

Mint Sauce

Dara O'Brein on English/Irish relations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4cxzfEuDQs

exador

If a guy says "I'd love ta ride the hole off ya" He thinks that you are a cutey.

"How am i fixed" means the same thing.

Latchy

The Irish weather isn't exactly part of the culture but it's best to pack an extra suitcase full of galoshes /rain gear .The extra charge on the suitcase at check in will be worth it in the end . :pac:

WickedWest

Cokeistan wrote: »

I think the best piece of advice I could give you would be to not live on College Road as your house is likely to get robbed (not a certainty but a hell of a lot more likely than if you were living in a different area)

Robbed? Is it that bad?

I would recommend to not come across as stereotypical American, e.g. saying OMG and other phrases that are associated with American women. I'm not saying every American says these things but it seems to be a common enough view.

Most Americans (or at least those who've passed middle school) don't say OMG, hahaha.

Fluorescence

Robbed, robbery = burgled, burglary.

Mr.David

Copper Face Jacks

Tayto

Three-in-one

That is all. Go forth and shift/flick/lob the gob

Dostoevsky

WickedWest wrote: »

Are you talking about Gaelic or just the vast amount of slang? I'm not sure I could learn an entire language in such a short amount of time

If the great Yu Ming can do it, anybody with moderate intelligence can do it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA0a62wmd1A

Fluorescence

Also, it's not called Gaelic, it's Gaeilge. Everyone calls it Irish though. We speak English as our first language, and very few people outside Gaeltacht areas (where Irish is spoken on a daily basis - they're bilinguals) have a decent level of the language.

WickedWest

beazee wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52bna-tn_dY

A simple test for you:
You are told that someone is "going spare," should you (a) Find him a job (b) Find him a girlfriend (c) Avoid him

Ming the Merciless is (a) A comic book character (b) A TD and Mayor from Co. Roscommon

What is a holy show? (a) Religious programming (b) Something garish worn without the wearer knowing the impact

Someone says "I like your top." Your response is (a) Thanks (b) Penneys

If a feature on the RTE news reports that an incident took place at tea time what time did the incident occur? 4PM?

"Story horse!" translates as (a) A child's toy (b) A greeting between friends

"Bleedin rappih" means (a) It's very fast (b) It's very good

If someone was a 'gas man', would they (a) work for the gas company (b) be really funny

You'll get "some land" means (a) you're about to become the owner of some property (b) you're about to be surprised

Do you have an ineradicable belief in the restorative powers of flat 7up? I suppose? I only drink it if my stomach is upset...

When you're telling someone a great yarn and they implore you to "Stop," do you (a) stop (b) keep going with gusto

If someone offers to "put you in the pot", should you (a) flee from the cannibals (b) accept their kind offer of dinner

How many is 'just the one'? a) One b) Three c) a Rake

If a fire alarm goes off how long should you spend looking for the fire before getting back to work? Until you find it?

Deadly buzz means (a) a great time (b) a lethal Toy Story character or (c) a faulty vibrator ?

Question: In Dublin what word can get you any relevant information you require from a friend? Answer: 'Story?'

Who would be the correct recipient of a brown envelope ? a) The postman b) a politician

Was Bosco a Strings Down or Hand Up the Jaxie kind of Puppet? Umm... Strings down?

Do you say to people* You must call round sometime* and expect never to see that person , ever? No.

Pronounce 'The Taoiseach and Tánaiste met Tadhg and Caoimhe on Aungier Street between the Dáil and Ranelagh'. You'll never know if I pronounced it right or not

If a number of glasses are dropped in a pub what is the correct response? a) Help the barman or b) Cheer!

If pub closes at 12 and last bus is at 11. What time should you leave to go home? A: The walk will do you good.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056535391

My answers, am I right?

WickedWest

fluorescence wrote: »

Robbed, robbery = burgled, burglary.

Haha, I know what a robbery is, I was wondering if crime was pretty bad in Cork (or Ireland as a whole).

ICANN

This is what goes down in Cork City on a night out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcPaWK9g-6s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7Yfpxq9TRg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9GmX7tezDA&feature=related

onlyrocknroll

WickedWest wrote: »

Haha, I know what a robbery is, I was wondering if crime was pretty bad in Cork (or Ireland as a whole).

Crime isn't bad in Cork in general. I've never been burgled nor do I know anybody who has been.

Areas where many students live, like the College Road, are often seen as soft targets though.

ICANN

WickedWest wrote: »

Haha, I know what a robbery is, I was wondering if crime was pretty bad in Cork (or Ireland as a whole).

Well you can use it in the following circumstance:

'I'd like a pint of Bulmers and a packet of taytos please.'

'That'll be €6.20.'

'Feckin robbery.'

WickedWest

ICANN wrote: »

Well you can use it in the following circumstance:

'I'd like a pint of Bulmers and a packet of taytos please.'

'That'll be €6.20.'

'Feckin robbery.'

We call that Highway Robbery in good ole Lincoln, Nebraska!

ICANN

WickedWest wrote: »

We call that Highway Robbery in good ole Lincoln, Nebraska!

You see we don't have highways, still a case of mud track and donkey carts around these parts

micropig

WickedWest wrote: »

How many is 'just the one'? a) One b) Three c) a Rake

Instead of numbers, we count in garden implements:D


One, two, rake, wheelbarrow, shovel...

micropig

WickedWest wrote: »

My answers, am I right?

So near and yet so far, some right some wrong, more study needed here's some help


Bosco was hands up/wooden spoon jobhttp://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTP2UB8NJPjoRxUeptGvl8w8d0bikKLqrXmqZVPNwGWanVawZMa

G_R

WickedWest wrote: »

beazee wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52bna-tn_dY

A simple test for you:
You are told that someone is "going spare," should you (a) Find him a job (b) Find him a girlfriend (c) Avoid him

Incorrect - c. He's angry

Ming the Merciless is (a) A comic book character (b) A TD and Mayor from Co. Roscommon

Incorrect - B

What is a holy show? (a) Religious programming (b) Something garish worn without the wearer knowing the impact

Correct

Someone says "I like your top." Your response is (a) Thanks (b) Penneys

Incorrect - B (Penny's, €4 or Got it on sale are also acceptable)

If a feature on the RTE news reports that an incident took place at tea time what time did the incident occur? 4PM?

Incorrect - Noon (12pm ish) (we don't do specific time here. Around half 2 is the best you could hope for, expect them.at 3)

"Story horse!" translates as (a) A child's toy (b) A greeting between friends

Correct

"Bleedin rappih" means (a) It's very fast (b) It's very good

Technically correct, but in certain parts of Dublin it means b.

If someone was a 'gas man', would they (a) work for the gas company (b) be really funny

Correct

You'll get "some land" means (a) you're about to become the owner of some property (b) you're about to be surprised

Correct

Do you have an ineradicable belief in the restorative powers of flat 7up? I suppose? I only drink it if my stomach is upset...

Correct - just so theres no confusion, it cures everything.

When you're telling someone a great yarn and they implore you to "Stop," do you (a) stop (b) keep going with gusto

Incorrect - b. It kinda shows disbelief, but they really want to here the end.

If someone offers to "put you in the pot", should you (a) flee from the cannibals (b) accept their kind offer of dinner

Correct

How many is 'just the one'? a) One b) Three c) a Rake

Incorrect - c. Usage: Thete was a take of em there!

If a fire alarm goes off how long should you spend looking for the fire before getting back to work? Until you find it?

Incorrect - Apx 10 seconds. A false alarm is assumed after that, the fire alarm is a nuisance after that. It should be ignored, possibly disconnected if that's an option

Deadly buzz means (a) a great time (b) a lethal Toy Story character or (c) a faulty vibrator ?

Correct

Question: In Dublin what word can get you any relevant information you require from a friend? Answer: 'Story?'

Who would be the correct recipient of a brown envelope ? a) The postman b) a politician

Correct

Was Bosco a Strings Down or Hand Up the Jaxie kind of Puppet? Umm... Strings down?

Incorrect - I suggest you watch bosco, just don't go through the magic door.

Do you say to people* You must call round sometime* and expect never to see that person , ever? No.

Incorrect - you see we are nice to peoples face, even if we dislike them. Were very polite altogether.

Pronounce 'The Taoiseach and Tánaiste met Tadhg and Caoimhe on Aungier Street between the Dáil and Ranelagh'. You'll never know if I pronounced it right or not

The tee shock and the taw nish ta met tie ge and q wee va on ain ger street between the dawl and ran a la


If a number of glasses are dropped in a pub what is the correct response? a) Help the barman or b) Cheer!

Incorrect - cheer. Clap also.

If pub closes at 12 and last bus is at 11. What time should you leave to go home? A: The walk will do you good.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056535391

My answers, am I right?

Corrected.

WickedWest

micropig wrote: »

Instead of numbers, we count in garden implements:D


One, two, rake, wheelbarrow, shovel...

Wait just a second... You can't be saying that a wheelbarrow is considered smaller than a shovel!

Fun fact of the day: Up until about a year ago, I though it was pronounced wheelbarrel :rolleyes:

G_R

WickedWest wrote: »

micropig wrote: »

Instead of numbers, we count in garden implements:D


One, two, rake, wheelbarrow, shovel...

Wait just a second... You can't be saying that a wheelbarrow is considered smaller than a shovel!

Fun fact of the day: Up until about a year ago, I though it was pronounced wheelbarrel :rolleyes:

Debatable. We have some big.shovels...

WickedWest

Grand_Rajnah wrote: »

Corrected.

I'm so disappointed in myself