Of course, all generalisations can be inaccurate, but of course some stereotypes are valid to a certain extent. When it comes to stereotypes about Ireland and its people, which are true and which are not? These are some observations I have gathered over the last two months of moving to Ireland from Vietnam.
1. Fiction: Irish food is all about potatoes
Vietnamese cuisine is characterised by great diversity, a balance of ingredients and dynamite flavors. However much I love international cuisines, I always struggle with the absence of Vietnamese food whenever I’m abroad for over a week.
Coming to Ireland, I had my doubts, yet I was pleasantly surprised by what the island has to offer. There is a good range of fresh, affordable ingredients at supermarkets, allowing homecooked meals to be more homely. The Dunnes store in the city center even has Vietnamese rice paper! Dine-out options have ranges and are usually well-made, while international dishes can be easily found. Moreover, the actual potatoes are surprisingly good: fries are crunchy but never burned, well-seasoned but not salty. 10/10 for Irish fries!
2. Fact: Irish people are friendly and chatty
As mentioned in my previous blog post, you can expect to start a conversation with a random person on the street any day just by smiling at or greeting them. And yes, greeting strangers is a real thing here, which can be mood-lifting to participate so don’t be shy!
3. Fiction: It rains every day here
The most trustworthy trait of Irish weather is its tendency to change. Thus, even if it does rain quite often here, just you wait and the sun will come out in a couple of minutes. For September and October, in between wet, gloomy weeks are weekends of blinding sunshine perfect for a day out, so don’t let the shower rumors stop you from planning getaways. In fact, I am so used to tropical thunderstorms in Vietnam that Irish drizzles have been a refreshing experience. It’s the winds that I am no friend of.
4. Fact: It is a green island
After a 17-hour flight, I dozed off out of exhaustion as the bus left Dublin airport heading to Limerick. An hour later, I woke up with the sun piercing my eyes, at first blinding the sight. As the light faded away, patches and patches of green stretching to the horizon dominated my vision. 10 different shades of the color dotted the scene to create a picturesque view that kept extending and expanding on the sides of the road. I kept staring for a few minutes before thinking to myself: “Hey! I’ve really made it to the Green Isle!”
My Irish myth-debunking journey has been a blast so far, and I am certain further delights are ahead.
-Mai Nguyen, Vietnam
