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    You are at:Home » News » Craic » Top 10 biggest culture shocks for Americans in Ireland
    Craic Culture

    Top 10 biggest culture shocks for Americans in Ireland

    Jade PoleonBy Jade PoleonSeptember 1, 2022No Comments5 Mins Read
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    Visiting Ireland can leave many Americans confused or in awe at our unique cultural habits. So, here are the biggest cultural shocks they notice on arrival

    Irish and Americans have a tight nit relationship, mainly since so many Irish have emigrated across the water over the years. Still, when Americans visit Ireland, they don’t always get what they expect.

    While there may be many Irish stereotypes out there, Americans have preconceptions of what Irish people and Ireland itself, for that matter, are like.

    So, with that in mind, let’s take a quick look at the biggest culture shocks for Americans in Ireland.

    10. How friendly everyone is – it’s on another level

    Being down to earth is just one of the reasons to go on a date with an Irish man
    Credit: Pixabay / melancholiaphotography

    One of the biggest culture shocks for Americans in Ireland is finding out how open and friendly Irish people really are.

    Irish people are well known to be social, but it can shock Americans just how welcoming we can be, especially if we invite you round for dinner, having only met you that day.

    9. How expensive it is – not like it used to be

    The prices are one of the culture shocks for Americans in Ireland.
    Credit: Unsplash / Ibrahim Boran

    Yes, Americans visiting Ireland for the first time are surprised at how expensive Ireland is.

    Those who visited years ago will be shocked by the soaring prices, which have made us one of the most expensive countries in Europe. But a visit to Ireland is priceless, right?

    8. We are not all farmers – we’ve gotten with the times

    You'll be surprised to discover we aren't all farmers.
    Credit: Facebook / Ireland’s original Culchie festival

    It’s no secret that many Hollywood movies portray Ireland and its people as farmers, getting around town on their horses and carts down dirt roads.

    So, one of the biggest culture shocks for Americans in Ireland is that we are a modern country, and some of us have never even stepped foot on a farm.

    7. The placenames are tricky to pronounce – as confusing as they look

    The placenames are one of the culture shocks for Americans in Ireland.
    Credit: commons.wikimedia.org

    Just watch the bewilderment of any Americans looking to find their way to places such as Dun Laoghaire, Cobh, or even Glendalough, to name a few.

    The Irish place names and tricky pronunciation can be a huge culture shock for anyone visiting Ireland.

    6. We drive on the left – the difficulty of driving

    You might be surprised when you see we drive on the left.
    Credit: commons.wikimedia.org

    Americans wince at the sight of our tiny narrow cliff roads, and they tend to get slightly hysterical at the number of roundabouts we have, let alone the fact that this all has to be achieved when driving on the left.

    Of course, this is a considerable puzzlement for many Americans, who aren’t used to this.

    5. Not EVERYONE drinks Guinness – it’s not everyone’s top choice

    One of the culture shocks for Americans in Ireland is that we don't all drink Guinness.
    Credit: Pixabay / Engin_Akyurt

    Americans picture Irish people living their lives with a pint of Guinness in their hand – at all times.

    While this might be true for some folk, it is not the norm for everyone. Some Irish people cringe at the thought of sipping on a Guinness, which can confuse Americans.

    4. The accent can be hard to understand – a nation with many accents

    Our accents can be hard to understand.

    Irish people may speak English fluently, but one of the biggest culture shocks for Americans in Ireland is how hard it is to understand the accent – and there are MANY to decipher.

    If you think all Irish people speak the same way, you are certainly in for a surprise.

    3. Tipping is not a thing in Ireland – it’s not customary

    One of the culture shocks for Americans in Ireland is that we don't all tip.
    Credit: Flickr / Global Panorama

    One of the biggest culture shocks for Americans in Ireland is most definitely the fact that we don’t have a tipping culture like in the States.

    In Ireland, tipping is not mandatory and is seen as a bonus if you have an extraordinary service, unlike the tipping culture in America, which can be confusing.

    2. Our directions are a little peculiar – it’s the Irish way

    How we give directions is a little unusual.
    Credit: Flickr / Bureau of Land Management

    In Ireland, it is customary to give each other (and foreigners) directions, such as “turn left at the big tree” or “take a right at Mrs Murphy’s house”, assuming the person knows what you mean.

    Americans can get very confused by this standard Irish cultural practice, leading to many wrong turns.

    1. We don’t all know each other – a nation of strangers

    You might not believe that we don't all know eachother.
    Credit: Flickr / William Murphy

    Yes, we tend to politely agree when someone asks us if we know John O’Brien from Carlow. However, we are rolling our eyes in secret because it is a stereotype that all Irish know each other.

    It might be a small country, but many people don’t know each other, something Americans can be left puzzled by.

    So, there they are, the ten biggest culture shocks for Americans in Ireland. Plus, there are plenty more where that came from. Ireland is full of surprises, which is the unique culture’s beauty.

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    Jade Poleon

    Jade is a seasoned traveller, yoga enthusiast, adventure seeker and travel writer passionate about seeing the world and sharing hidden gems with others. As well as having travelled to 91 countries thus far, she has written for several websites, including The World Bucket List, Meanwhile in Ireland and Ireland Before You Die. In 2022 Jade’s first book ‘ The Ultimate Irish Road Trip Guide’ was published and is currently available on Amazon. She is a keen writer of satirical articles, as well as ‘The best things to do’ and ‘The best dishes to try’ around the globe. Jade is currently on a campervan adventure around Europe, where she continues to get her travel and food inspiration. She is excited to share what she discovers with her readers.

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