Aye, what's the craic?!

This blog is a bit more interesting than previous ones.  I have been keeping a journal of the ‘differences’ in the cultures from the Irish to the Americans. So some of these will just be listed out and other will have a story or explanation with them and if you need any explained just ask! I really hope this one might provoke some comments unlike my last long, boring one about government-ha! Well here goes, and as a warning it might be a bit unorganized too.

Common phrases/sayings/names for food:

No bother,  -- Don’t worry about it

What’s the craic? (Pronounced ‘crack’ but doesn’t mean a drug)  -- what’s going on or ‘craic’ can be used in some places as is it fun or lively.

Aye, -- ‘yes’

Feck, Fecking, Feckless  -- used instead of the F-word

They cuss a lot here! And the cuss words will vary from person to person depending on what religion they are.

Wee  -- and this does not always mean small. Can be used to describe any size.

Cheers/Cherrio – form of goodbye

Ye alright? – Normal question kind of like how are u doing?

Fortnight –two weeks time

Chucks=slang for IRA

Pants=panties

Plaster=band aid

Goal=jail

Quid=pounds

‘want a ride?’=sex; instead ask ‘want a lift?’

to let=to rent

solicitors=lawyers

Quay=pronounced ‘key’’ land form

They use the middle finger to flick people off as well as the first two fingers with back of hand toward them. So we have to watch how we count ‘2’ and say the peace sign, not to offend them.

Tea Time—always offer tea—tea time is all the time

Tea is different very general, not flavored; served with milk unless specified and have to ask for sugar.

Tea=dinner

Supper=tea; or toast w/hot chocolate

Biscuit=cookie

Chips=fries

Crisps=chips

Chip Butty- (Sandwich)- Bread, butter, chips (meaning fries). Yup that’s all. Carbs and fat!

Peanut Butter!! Their peanut butter is not very good compared to ours. No PB & Jelly here! My Irish friend, Sean tried it because we told him about it but he said it was just too weird.

Wheaten bread-very hearty, dense bread. Homemade is normally very good.

Sit in/take away=here/to go

Bolognese sauce=red sauce

No alfredo sauce unless from scratch

One word—CHOCOLATE!!! Its sooo good

Potatoes, so many potatoes…

Bread

Sausage, tastes a little different but they love it here.

Blood pudding…yeah not going there.

Champ-mashed potatoes w/chives and herbs in it.

Cider-alcoholic drink, really good but bad for your liver.

Pints-what alcohol is served in.

People randomly stop by to visit and normally have a spot of tea and sweets.

Top-up phone—most prepaid not plans

Expensive to call-->text

Rain- as expected but different. Heavy mist most of the time.

Trainers: tennis shoes

Dogs walk without leash most of time. A lot run loose through the day and go home at night. They poop everywhere! Always watch you step, yes I know from experience.

Kids run wild through streets all hours of the night, just like dogs.

Broken glass/dog poop on every sidewalk.

Travel by public transportation bus/train and everyone does it.

Coins: 1p 2p 5p 10p 20p 50p 1 pound 2 pound

Shops in Derry close by 5pm except the mall wed-fri. open till 9pm

Kids in pubs

Driving on left side, right side of the car, though the review mirror is in the middle of the car my Aunt said it feels like it’s in the wrong place since its over the left shoulder instead of right; roundabouts, stoplight- red to yellow because everyone drives shift, also goes green to yellow to red.

Bus lane

Driving permits: 18 years old to get license I think.

L-earner --> R-estricted  

Soap Operas! Every night women watch religiously in fact on 2x a day.

Shows don’t start on hour or half hour, varies.

They love friends—3 episodes a day!

They watch American and Irish shows.

X-Factor=American Idol except: 3 groups: under 25, over 25, and groups.

Sunday nothing opens till 2 pm.

Student discounts for a lot of things.

Hot water is expensive as is electricity so we always turn off lights and unplug everything.

Shower string-pull to get hot water.

Coal/peat fires

Different expectations of what is clean, sanitary, or healthy.

Tipping not expected.

Drink from glass not bottle

Duvet-bed covering instead of comforter.

Deodorant or lack thereof, and roll on or spray only!

Body odor is much more common.

Fashions are different, PDA is much more shown here, funerals 3 days/cover mirrors/statues so the soul doesn’t get lost in trying to get to heaven.

Ulster fry-sausage, bacon, egg, white/black pudding, soda bread, potato bread, baked beans.

Hot water bottle

Black taxi-associated with the IRA

Commercials after 9pm are much more graphic. Especially one that is about drunk driving and kills kids.

Halowe’en fireworks/festival

So this list isn't extensive completely but is a lot of what I have observed over my semester about the differences. Hope you enjoy it!