So, why am I (we) here?

I must be crazy. My wife and I emigrated six months ago to a country, Ireland, that everyone seems to want to leave. Many of the eastern Europeans have gone home, and the newspapers are full of stories of recent graduates picking up and going to either Australia or Canada. The economy is in the toilet, I can't afford a house, and as much as people have this romantic image of Ireland it is only marginally true. I gave up a tenured and endowed professorship in the US to move here. Most of my American colleagues called me crazy. Am I crazy? I don't think so. Obviously I wouldn't have moved here if I didn't have a guaranteed job, but in this economy is any job guaranteed?

Yeah, this country has a lot of problems. So why did we move to Ireland?

That's actually very difficult to answer as there were many, many considerations. But overall, I've always had itchy feet, love the next challenge, and didn't feel comfortable in the US. When I got tenure I saw it as been there, done that...what now? Most tenured people see it as being secure for the rest of their lives. I guess I'm not most people.

My wife and I spent a year in the UK where I was a director of a study abroad program for my former university. A one-year gig, then back to the main campus. Well, that one year was like a homecoming to me. I was born in England and spent quite a bit of time there in my youth, and only on this trip did I realize that it (well, English-speaking Europe) could be my (our) home. I never did make it back to the main campus except to clear out my office.

So the ideal job came up doing the same thing (basically) in Ireland for a different American college. I applied, was interviewed, offered the job, and with very little hesitation here we are. It just felt like the right thing to do. Six months in, it still does.

This blog will chronicle life in Ireland from the perspective of an outsider, or 'blow-in' as they call them here. I think I can evaluate and comment on this country, its ups and downs, having lived at various times in England, Canada, the USA, and now Ireland. It will talk about the rubbish public transport system, the wonderful scenery, the complete lack of convenience in anything you want to do, and the amazing people.

Six months in and I still love it!

Stay tuned, Stephen