My life in Ireland and US...still learning but worth it!

I don't know how to start with this but let me tell you about myself first. I am a Filipino nurse who have 7 years working experience in the Philippines at CVOR and 2 years in Ireland at main OR. I am now here in the US, starting a new life as a nurse and a newbie wife.

I want to share my experiences in terms of language differences. We, Filipinos, speak and could easily understand american accent and language. I thought when I was in Ireland, it would be easy for me the fact that they also speak english. But not that fast...

On my first day at the operating room (they call it General Theatre), I was greeted by a bunch of Irish nurses. They were very warm but they talk so fast and seems like they mumble. And the accent,,OMG!!! The nurse manager toured me and at the end of it I remembered her asking me "Are you happy?" I thought why? Don't I look very happy? Then I realized what she wanted to tell me is if I was okay on what she had said. Then one time, we were having an operation and I was circulating. A senior nurse approached me and asked me "Did you have a cuppa?" I told myself again, is that a new word? I asked her what cuppa means and she said if I had a break (cup of tea). With regards to my patients, there was one who told me "I am sick." I just thought , that's the reason why she's in the hospital or is she angry? Little did I know that she was nauseated. Another one was "I'm sore." I know "sore" is just a mild pain but theirs, whatever pain it is means sore.There was also one time when I was doing something and there was an Irish nurse who just said "You're lovely!" I thought she was telling me that I'm pretty but to my dismay she was impressed on what I'm doing. Anyway for me, Irish people are the nicest, ever! I was taught to always say "Thank you very much indeed" or "please" when asking. They always say "sorry" instead of "excuse me". In our country, we can greet people like "Hello sweetie" or "Hi dude" esp if I forgot their name. There in Ireland, I have to memorize each of them because it's like saying their name after a greeting is being courteous and respectful. Usually, everytime they greet, they would ask "How's the weather?"and I would say "Not too bad" (but its always raining and very cold).They are very helpful also and will always open the door for you. The best experience I had was everytime me and my filipino friends go to Mc Donalds, most of the Irish kids will watch us eating. Its like they were thinking where in the world we came from?

I was able to adjust in just a short time. Luckily, my Irish colleagues were very supportive and when it comes to their accent, I always rephrase on whatever they said to me so to be safe esp when working. I didn't had a hard time. Sadly, I have to leave them. I was petitioned by my husband who is a Flipino born but an American Citizen. I miss my friends, my colleagues, my 7 weeks vacation leave with pay(hu hu!) in Ireland but being here in the US is also the best. I don't have to deal that much with the language barrier.

I am proud to be a Filipino and will always come back home. I had a good time there in Ireland and I'm having a good time here in the US now. All I can say is IRISH ARE BRILLIANT just like AMERICANS ARE AWESOME!