Things to know when visiting Dublin
By: Jackson Briggs
Issue date: 9/19/08 Section: Diversions
There is a lot of history in Dublin, and subsequently, a lot to see. I present to you a few words of advice that are sure to prove useful if you happen to find yourself in Dublin:
Coins are worth more in Europe.
The first day I was in Ireland, I was on my guard against locals who try to cheat you out of your valuable Euros - just as every travel book in the world will tell you to be. After I purchased my first meal in Dublin, I was due about €8 in change, so I was a little suspicious of the muscular, bald cashier who handed me my change. I politely informed him of the amount of change that I was due. He informed me that he had given me the correct amount. I insisted I was owed more. He glared at me like he was going to punch me in the face. Suffice to say, I learned on my first day in Dublin that there are coins worth both €1 and €2. I just wish it had happened sooner, so I could have avoided angering the locals so early.
Irish people do not all have an accurate perception of the US
Most Irish people have a good knowledge of American geography and practically everyone has an "America story" from a vacation or foreign study trip. Nevertheless, such widespread familiarity with the States is by no means a guarantee of complete knowledge of our exotic way of life.
A man in church asked me and a few friends about the recent hurricane scares in the southern US. When we explained to him that most of us have been in or near tornadoes or hurricanes, he got an incredibly frightened look on his face.
"America must be a frightening place, with all of those deadly storms to worry about all the time," he said.
I imagine he was picturing the entire country as a hellish landscape, constantly ravaged by powerful storms and wicked witches. I almost said "they don't call it the Home of the Brave for nothing," but I refrained.
This exchange was both preceded and succeeded by questions about the Presidential election. Everyone in Ireland seems to follow American politics religiously. You can guess who they all want to win (Hint: I've heard the same bad joke about "O'Bama" being Irish multiple times).
Coins are worth more in Europe.
The first day I was in Ireland, I was on my guard against locals who try to cheat you out of your valuable Euros - just as every travel book in the world will tell you to be. After I purchased my first meal in Dublin, I was due about €8 in change, so I was a little suspicious of the muscular, bald cashier who handed me my change. I politely informed him of the amount of change that I was due. He informed me that he had given me the correct amount. I insisted I was owed more. He glared at me like he was going to punch me in the face. Suffice to say, I learned on my first day in Dublin that there are coins worth both €1 and €2. I just wish it had happened sooner, so I could have avoided angering the locals so early.
Irish people do not all have an accurate perception of the US
Most Irish people have a good knowledge of American geography and practically everyone has an "America story" from a vacation or foreign study trip. Nevertheless, such widespread familiarity with the States is by no means a guarantee of complete knowledge of our exotic way of life.
A man in church asked me and a few friends about the recent hurricane scares in the southern US. When we explained to him that most of us have been in or near tornadoes or hurricanes, he got an incredibly frightened look on his face.
"America must be a frightening place, with all of those deadly storms to worry about all the time," he said.
I imagine he was picturing the entire country as a hellish landscape, constantly ravaged by powerful storms and wicked witches. I almost said "they don't call it the Home of the Brave for nothing," but I refrained.
This exchange was both preceded and succeeded by questions about the Presidential election. Everyone in Ireland seems to follow American politics religiously. You can guess who they all want to win (Hint: I've heard the same bad joke about "O'Bama" being Irish multiple times).