I split my year between Ireland and the US. From shopping to driving, the everyday differences in my life are striking.
October 30, 20240
I don’t even have a car in Ireland.
Julia Skinner
My home in Cork is within walking distance of the city center, which is handy because I don’t have a car. I find it’s a little pricier to have one in Ireland, and the driver’s license tests have a long waiting list.
In Atlanta, many sidewalks in my neighborhood are broken or just missing, but in Cork, I can walk pretty safely the whole way through town.
That’s not true everywhere in Ireland, though. Just like in the US, I’d pause before walking down some of the smaller country roads, especially with how fast people drive on them.
The Irish healthcare system isn’t perfect, but at least it’s cheaper.
There is something magical about the Irish coast.
Julia Skinner
My home in Atlanta is a short drive from the Appalachian foothills, which are full of ancient, beautiful forests.
In the hills in Ireland — which actually used to be part of the same mountain range millions of years ago — millennia of deforestation and grazing have left the landscape with far fewer trees. But it’s still a stunning landscape, especially along the coast.
Both places have striking beauty, and I like that I always have something different to enjoy no matter where I am.
I carry a jacket with me every day in Ireland.
I can often find cheap flights to Paris and other European destinations.
Alexander Spatari/Getty Images
Since I’m already using the euro in Ireland, I don’t have to seek out currency exchange (or pay exchange fees) when traveling around the EU.
Plus, there are so many nearby countries on the continent — I can travel to Spain, France, and other European destinations on short (and pretty affordable) flights.
It can be way pricier to fly from Atlanta to other big cities in the US — and international travel can get really expensive.
On average, the houses are smaller in Cork, but I don’t mind.
My Cork house is much smaller than my Atlanta house.
Julia Skinner
In my Atlanta neighborhood, people seem to love building big houses. There are some big houses in Ireland, too, but homes have a smaller footprint overall.
In the US, I tend to be a little less intentional about my home-decor purchases because I have more places to put things. However, in Ireland, I have to really want something to justify it taking up space in my smaller house.
As of now, I kind of prefer the latter way of living.
