Paradigms

The most common question I get once identified American:

"Who are you going to vote for?"

I'm apolitical. (Actually, I'm politically incorrect.) 3 Australians and a New Zealander, by way of London, knew completely the issues in the upcoming election for US president. Healthcare, the War, Gas Prices, and the inevitable racism question. Fascinating. Don't they have anything cool to talk about with their politicians? My apathy was a surprise, but respected.

A prime minister of Australia was caught in a strip club. (Cultural Dance Center, in Rugby parlance). His popularity soared. This rare moment of press exposure actually helped the man.
2 of the Aussies were doctors, residents specifically. Why Ireland? Less competition, and easier boards. James wanted to be a cardiologist. Both he and Phil were recruited by the NHS to come to Ireland. The Irish don't want to become doctors. So these kids get to work only 40 hours a week, get paid well, and live in Galway. Actually, they live in O'Connell's pub.

American Residents get worked over like a guy caught cheating in a casino. 40 hours over 3 days, not 7, is common. Wages are subhuman when calculated per hour. Our Australian Doctors want nothing to do with America. Even though they'd make more money, the price for the prize is too high for them.

Our TV dramas are all about Doctors and Lawyers. Theirs tell stories of regular 9 to 5ers. Fascinating, the small cultural differences.

Like tipping. You don't tip here. It's fucking freakish, especially for a drunk like myself who's usually tipping high because he sang some obnoxious song; or was louder than a Daisy Cutter, scaring the pretty ones out of the bar. In Galway, they sing back, and don't expect a gratuity.

I'm learning about the difference in Ambition. The Irish Dream, while changing due to the Celtic Tiger Economy, is still not the American Dream. Our politics concern them from a global perspective, not dramatic. Despite the massive changes, they remain Irish.

I've only seen this in Galway. Dublin had only brief moments of charm.

Visit here soon.