On our very first day in Dublin, we walked around Dun Laoghaire (Dun Leary) looking for a way to let everyone at home know that we had arrived safely. We were able to get a cell phone but it needed to charge overnight before we could use it. (figures) So we were directed to McDonald's (of all places) because we were told it was the only place, close, with free wifi. So...reluctantly, we made our way there and sat down to write our mass-email. We asked a couple with some school-age kids if they knew a good place to buy bedding (as we needed pillows and a comforter for our first night). They were all too happy to help us and even told us to write down their phone number to call if we needed any help at all getting settled. We were floored by this.
Two days later, we made our way to the Post Office in Glenageary (about 1.5-2 miles from our apartment). We had to pick up the 5 boxes we had shipped from Seattle. After we picked up the packages, I called a taxi company to bring us back home (with our 5, 15 lb. boxes). A woman walking out of the post office, in a fancy Volvo SUV, asked if we would like her to give us a ride home! I thanked her, of course, but told her they had just sent a taxi for us. I told Wayne, and once again, we were floored by the hospitality of the Irish. This would, NEVER, I repeat, NEVER happen in Seattle. Not that Seattle is some awful city - I love it and it's Home but we Seattleites are NOT the most outwardly friendly of the bunch. We like to keep to ourselves, prefer not to speak to anyone in public and certainly don't engage with strangers if being antisocial is at all possible instead. =)
Today (Dec. 7th):
We stopped on the street to ask someone if we were going the right way to the Social Welfare office (which is where you get your PPS number [like a social security number]). He kindly pointed us in the right direction when I heard a very loud horn right next to me. I look up (at a garbage truck) and the driver has opened the door to the truck and is saying to us "Where yah need tah go??". He obviously saw us ask the guy for directions and not only took note but honked his horn to get our attention, opened his door and wanted to make sure we knew where we were going. Do you think this would EVER happen in Seattle?? It was so sweet. Again.....floored. We LOVE Irish people.
I'll update this as we have more of there experiences. I know there will be many more.
Dec. 13, 2011:
Our phone rings (which is odd and usually means either Andy is calling or someone from the apartment management company). Who is it? Oh it's Mimi that we met at the UCD PhD pub night last week. (we call her Mimi 2 so as not to confuse ourselves as my sister is Mimi as well) We chatted it up with her last week and she was lovely so at the end of the night we exchanged telephone numbers. She was so great! She's just finishing her PhD on "young children and identity formation" (which I find fascinating). She's probably in her early 40s and has a 14 year old and 18 year old. Anywho, she was just calling to invite us to dinner at her house next week, 3 days before Christmas!! How NICE is that??? That would NEVER happen in Seattle. I adore our friends but Wayne and I were giggling that our own friends don't call us and invite us over for dinner let alone someone whom we just met!! (Shaunna, that excludes you, you're fantastic at that) Again, floored by the Irish kindness. So, we made our dinner date and we'll go over there next week.
Dec. 14, 2011:
Today, I had to go back to the Glenageary Sorting office (Post) to collect a package that Suzy and Uncle Dan mailed from La Quinta, CA! So, I made my way there on the bus and handed the postman my paper with my info. Lo and behold, he brings out a box the size of half my body. No big deal. =) The nice buy behind the counter took one look at me and said "You have a car do ya?" (thick Irish accent) and I said "no, I'm taking the bus but I'm pretty strong". Turns out the box wasn't actually very heavy at all but it was huge and awkward. As I turn to leave carrying this massive box an older man (mid-70's) in his whole Irish get-up (Irish hat, overcoat, scarf, sweater, tie) says "Where are ya goin'? I'll give ya a ride." (thick Irish accent as well) So I said where I lived and he said he'd give me a ride. Of course, the American in me thought, "hmm... should I get in a car with this man? Is he going to kidnap me??" but then I looked out and saw the brand new massive Mercedes sedan and thought... "eh.. he seems safe". haha! Awful but that was my thought process. Had it been a van with no windows I would have replied "you know, my husband just called and he's going to pick me up" (as I proceeded to the bus stop). So I waited for him outside and then we loaded up into the huge Mercedes. We had a nice chat on the way home. His daughter is a pharmacist, yadda yadda. It was sort of surreal to be in this stranger's car but I just kept trying to squelch that feeling that he was about to put a tranquilizer in my neck and kidnap me. Turns out, he was just a VERY kind Irishmen and I was very thankful for him after I tried to carry that box from the curb up into our apartment. I don't think I would have made the 3 blocks to the bus stop, the 2 mile bus ride or the 4 block walk to our apartment from the bus stop.
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