Every move has a story. Sometimes that might be a new job in a different city, moving closer to family, or even just looking for a change in scenery.

For Maria, the catalyst for her move was actually her husband, Carl. She met Carl and they fell in love. So, once they got married, the two decided to settle in Ireland, where Carl is from. As for Maria, she felt ready to try something new after leaving Russia.

There are plenty of places around the world that have a tradition of large families and Ireland is no different. When you get your family together, be prepared!

Maria shared that she has no hope of a family gathering of fewer than 30 people, even with just their closest family. She said if she wants to extend that invitation to the whole, entire family, that she’s looking at a guest list of at least 120 people! She said this especially comes up when it’s time to buy everyone gifts.

As mentioned earlier, Marie moved to Ireland to be with her now-husband, Carl. As such, it makes sense that she would have learned a thing or two about weddings.

For one, they’re a pretty big deal. This is particularly true because, as the last point said, Irish families are big. This means that you’re probably looking at a pretty long guest list. Not to mention, with such beautiful scenery, a wedding at the right venue can be a gorgeous moment.

With all of this in mind, Maria says that the cost for an average Irish wedding can reach pretty high. She says to expect to pay €25,000 to €31,000 for a wedding.

To put this amount into perspective, she says that this is about a year and a half of the average mortgage! This includes the costs of such a big guest list, which can be €70 or €80 per person. On top of that, there’s the photographer, venue, the bride’s gown, and more!

As far as an individual sense of humor, people from Ireland can vary quite a bit. As a whole, though, the country is known for its dark sense of humor.

This type of humor isn’t everyone’s preference but it can break the tension in a dark moment too. This could include anything from a joke about politics or sports to a prank that many would wince at. It might be unexpected at first but it’s just another way to deal with daily life through comedy.

Maria was also surprised to see the results of a death in Ireland as well. The funeral and memorial services are often more openly discussed than you might expect.

In many places and cultures, the technical and financial aspects of a funeral are kept quiet. Maria says that in Ireland, though, it isn’t uncommon for someone to ask how much a memorial or any of its components cost. Interestingly, she added that this is fine but don’t ask how much someone makes.

An interesting tidbit that Maria also learned is that in Ireland, people’s first and last names go on their ticket. That alone isn’t odd but others can see it.

This means that it’s easy to see who other people are on the train. She shares that the system works by showing the date in the window while the upper lines show window seats and lower lines are aisle seats. She says that someone may know their neighbors’ names without asking!

Maria advises tourists to keep an eye on their wallets when they head to a pub. While you’re there, it’s easy to get carried away and spend more than you need to.

This is because it isn’t the same as visiting a coffee shop where you slowly sip at a drink while you do something else. It’s not great to spend your whole day on one drink. Rather, she advises that most people drink their drinks in about six or eight sips before ordering more.

You might be wondering if there’s an outlet for emotion besides dark humor that’s popular. According to Maria, that’s actually where music comes in.

She says that while not everyone may talk about their feelings, they’re sure to enjoy a song about it. Going even further, she states that it sometimes seems like the sadder the song is, the more well-loved it is. Even at weddings, the band may get more attention than anything else.

Of course, if music is this important in Ireland, it isn’t just at happy occasions. You’re just as likely to see a band or hear music playing at a funeral as a wedding.

This doesn’t have to be a sad song either. Rather, the music is often focused on what that person liked and they may have even requested it! When it comes to funeral planning in Ireland, a song request is usually present alongside any other more technical parts of planning.

The role of the father in a new family can vary from country to country. Some get extended parental leave and others are expected to go back to work right away.

The good news, according to Maria, is that husbands are very involved with their new families in Ireland. The father-to-be also attends prenatal classes and are almost always there to support them during the birth. Once the baby is born, the father can easily get paternal leave.

After the baby is born, the support that families receive for their families isn’t over. There are other things that they can take advantage of to be there for their children.

This includes concepts such as easily taking sick days at work to care for sick children. They can even get time off for milestones in their children’s lives! This includes things like taking the evening off to catch a school play or taking the time to go to a sports event their child is participating in.

Maria starts this point out by clarifying that there are pediatricians in Ireland that are dedicated to child care. However, she learned when she moved that family GPs are common.

These GPs are who you go to when you first need an appointment. If you need further care from there, they can refer you to a specialist to help you out. Pediatricians are more focused on maternity ward care and working in children’s hospitals. GPs do tend to be limited in infant care, though.

Maria said she was also surprised to learn just how close Irish children are with their mothers. She specifically mentions that she was surprised at how close these connections stayed in adulthood.

According to her, it isn’t uncommon for her husband and other men she knows to call their mothers multiple times a week. On top of that, in-person visits are frequent when it’s possible. This means that grandmothers are usually pretty involved in their grandchildren’s lives.

The main point that Maria had regarding this close relationship was related to something else she learned after she moved to Ireland. Grandmothers are often paid for babysitting.

Specifically, mothers-in-law are often paid for their time spent with their grandchildren. Honestly, it makes a lot of sense. Even if grandmothers are thrilled to see their grandchildren, it’s a lot of hard work to watch children, especially if you don’t already live a lifestyle with young children. Being compensated for babysitting only seems polite!

Maria also noted that since she moved to Ireland, she’s seen much less regarding health food and fad diets. That being said, she stresses that it’s not like no one touches vegetables.

Rather, she said it seems like they just aren’t as worried about it. In her own experience, she’s said that some of the salads that she makes are enjoyed but do stick out at the family dinner table. Yet, she also said that she hasn’t seen as many frozen foods as she did before she moved.

Online, Maria has shared that the average Irish family is actually typically led by a woman. If you aren’t sure, keep an eye out for the spoon.

The spoon, she says, is presented at the wedding. She described the wooden spoon as a “scepter of power” to many families. This means that when the woman in the family, whether a mother or wife, is waving the spoon in the window, everyone should hurry and comply.

Maria advises those shopping in Irish grocery stores to keep an eye out for labels. You can’t just grab a bag of potatoes and do what you will with them.

On the other hand, potatoes in Ireland are often labeled for their use. For instance, one bag might contain potatoes meant for mashing while another one might read that it’s for boiling. There are different types of potatoes for the dish you’re trying to make, so keep an eye on your options!

Aside from potatoes, Maria has noticed that her Irish family and friends take their meat seriously as well. She states that many Irish opinions include that they have the best meat in the world.

This isn’t without reason either. The cows in Ireland are grass-fed up until they’re full-grown and ready to go to market. This means that the meat that consumers get is often incredibly tender. Speaking of cows, Maria also shares that milk only costs €0.80 to €1.20 per liter.

In some cultures, when someone comes over to help you in a professional manner, you might offer them a coffee or tea. That isn’t quite the case in Ireland, advises Maria.

In Ireland, these workers are seen as businessmen, just in a different specialty. As such, it’s expected that you might treat them as you would any other professional you encounter. The only time you might offer tea is when you meet them or if the weather is particularly harsh.

Ireland, as a whole, can be split up into two parts. It’s important to define “Ireland” and “Northern Ireland” to understand Maria’s next point.

The division of Ireland is split into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland is a part of the UK. This means that when you cross over into Northern Ireland, you’re technically crossing over as if you’re in another country. So, there are some differences.

With this information in mind, you might be wondering how you can tell if you’ve crossed into Northern Ireland. That is, other than the signs you’re likely to see.

According to Maria, since she’s moved, she’s learned a few key differences. For one, you’re more likely to see the UK flag everywhere in Northern Ireland but not in the Republic of Ireland. You’ll also notice the miles change to kilometers and you might need to convert your currency to the local one.

People around the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with clovers and green clothes. As expected, who would do St. Patrick’s Day better than Ireland?

On March 17th, Maria says that you can expect it to seem like the whole country is clad in green. On top of that, there is a parade for everyone to enjoy as well. The parade is massive too and goes through several days of planning. People tend to start celebrating early in the morning too!

When it comes to winter in Ireland, there are a few things that stand out, as Maria says. This includes worries about what to do in an emergency and preparing just in case.

First, she noted that you’re likely to see people stocking up for food as winter comes close. This way, no one has to leave their home unnecessarily to make sure their family has their basic needs covered. She recalled seeing some people buy as much as 25 loaves of bread!

As we said, there are a few things that make Irish winters memorable. The second part of that is preparing beyond bulk buying just in case of an emergency.

Maria said that once she moved, they lived in an area where not everyone could get their car over the terrain in winter weather. As a result, the community came up with the solution that the men would walk to town if it was necessary. We hope they don’t have to do that often!

In Ireland, if you see a sheep that belongs to a farmer, it most likely has a number. In fact, Maria shares that they’re required to.

Even further, the Minister of Agriculture has actually released a guide to numbering sheep. This is called the National Sheep Identification System. This code has a lot of information in it, including the name of the owner in case the sheep gets away and needs to be returned home safe.

When it comes down to it, though, not every farmer has the time to chase every sheep they own. So, they sometimes get a little creative in how they label their sheep.

This means that you might see sheep that have an alternative identification form. This could be as simple as a mark or two of paint but some farmers get a little more creative. You might see a sheep painted with an image or the colors of the flag of Ireland!

When you walk through a store somewhere like the United States, you have a selection of different eggs. For the most part, these eggs are usually the white variety.

In Ireland, this isn’t quite the case. When you’re walking through a store on average, you aren’t likely to see anything other than brown eggs. The good news is that if you aren’t familiar with brown eggs, they aren’t that different. You can use them the same way and they have a similar nutritional value.

If you wait all year long to have the chance to paint eggs for Easter, the brown egg prevalence can seem like a problem. Since Maria moved, she’s said it has been a challenge to keep the tradition.

She cited instances of watching grocery store announcements to see if they had white eggs and even stores only selling them to friends and family. In instances that they did find white eggs, many were expired and only for decorations.

When it comes to Christmas, Maria said that since she’s moved, she’s seen that Ireland doesn’t mess around. Families spend a lot of money on Christmas when the time comes.

On average, she says that about €450 is spent on presents each year. They start early too! Someone might start buying presents as early as 12 weeks ahead of time. Not to mention, the celebration itself can cost money. That adds up to an average of €1,300 per family!

You would think that with everyone so excited for Christmas, they’d take advantage of Black Friday sales right away. Actually, sometimes these sales last quite a while!

Maria explains that this is because many people shop online for items rather than looking into stores in Ireland. To incentivize people to shop in the country, the sales holiday is extended. She said that one year after she moved there, they pushed Black Friday to last up to two weeks!

To round out her observations since moving to Ireland, Maria has also listed a handy guide. It gives us a brief list of reasons that we should all visit Ireland one day!

Among the more expected reasons on the list is the beautiful scenery that Ireland has to offer. She specifically suggests driving around the country clockwise to see how the landscape changes. You’ll see cliffs and green fields one minute and later on make your way back to gorgeous beaches.

If you like to learn about the world by looking into the past, Ireland is a great choice for you too. The country is rich in history and that’s evident if you spend any time there.

Some of the most iconic snapshots of history in Ireland are the castles, abbeys, and more. There are even some buildings that pre-date iconic parts of the ancient world. This doesn’t even touch on all the history that Ireland has that doesn’t make the brochure.

If you like to travel for culinary experiences, Maria says that you shouldn’t count Ireland out! She says that she had the chance to try all sorts of new things once she moved there!

This includes some of the dishes you’d expect, like steaks, as well as a few unexpected ones like Dublin shrimp. If you aren’t sure where to start, Maria suggests trying out one of the food festivals that Ireland hosts. This way, you can enjoy the festival and give some new dishes a try!

For many people, the thought of a whole neighborhood banding together can seem like a rare concept. Maria said that after she moved, she was delighted to see the tight-knit community.

Now that she’s settled there, she said that she knows almost all of her neighbors. That isn’t just their name or what they do either. In fact, she says that she often goes over to see her neighbors and knows quite a bit about their personal lives. Seems friendly!

There’s more to having neighbors you know and love than being in good company, though. It also offers a chance for neighbors to help one another out.

This is a pretty convenient setup too. Since your near the people you rely on, they can do a lot for each other. This could include a variety of things. It could be a task as small as letting a handyman inside, take out the trash when someone’s gone, or even help move furniture.

This rolls two examples into one section but Maria says few homes lack a kettle or toaster. Once she moved there, she saw just how popular these two items were.

She says that the toaster is important because toast is important. It’s more than just a side for breakfast. Instead, it’s seen as a staple food that people turn to when they’re having a bad day, need a quick snack, or even want to eat when the fridge is starting to look a bit empty.

This might seem a little odd to many people, but Maria said that laundry is important in Ireland. At the very least, one’s own appearance is something to take pride in.

As such, almost every Irish home has a washing machine which Maria found notable. She said she was surprised to see that a washing machine and a dryer were par for the course. Without one, you’d be hard-pressed to keep up with the daily household tasks.

This might seem like just another common thing that, of course, every Irish person would have. However, Maria describes her dishwasher as one of the most important items in their home.

She explains that this is because her family doesn’t have hot tap water. She also mentioned that this can cost them in the long run if they want to heat it. It’s much more affordable and much easier to simply run the dishwasher for a cycle. Sounds like a solid solution!

There are certain things that weren’t always around but have become a part of everyday life. Now, though, Maria says that Irish families can’t imagine living without.

One that many people can relate to is the need for a TV. To be fair, this can vary and not every single person or family owns a TV. Yet, she says in her experience, it’s a regular happenstance that everyone settles down in front of the TV to catch up on their favorite shows.

In her closing points, Maria points out that a trip to Ireland may not be cheap. This is partially because of the tourist VAT and that Dublin is already fairly expensive.

She shares that since January of 209, the tourist VAT in Ireland has raised 4.5%. As a result, some prices are rising as well. She says that in some places, this can vary from a few cents to up to €10 to €12.

Because of this, Maria says that it’s a good idea to travel carefully. She even had some tips to help you out!

First, she suggests looking online for discounts. She suggests checking international websites like Groupon that can help you save on a variety of costs. On top of that, she suggests checking more targeted sites that focus on helping you find things like affordable hotel rooms or restaurants. This way, you can save money as you go.

One thing to establish in this story is who the narrator is. Who is this woman that moved to Ireland who is telling us what she learned?

That role goes to Maria. She shares that before she moved to Ireland, she had lived her life in Russia, so there were plenty of new things to get used to once she moved. She also shares that she has never regretted her decision to move either.

Now that Maria is more settled in Ireland, she’s managed to learn some things she thinks she wouldn’t have if she hadn’t moved. It makes sense, there are some things you learn from familiarity.

In this story, we have looked at some of the lessons Maria has picked up over the years. This way, you were able to get a taste of what Ireland is like according to Maria. Plus, this way, you don’t even have to move to Ireland to learn the ropes.

All in all, it seems like Maria is more than happy with her choice to move to Ireland. She even has an adorable family and a group of friends to help make her new home a little homier.

In the end, she suggests that even if you don’t take a huge leap like her and move to Ireland, to at least pay the country a visit. After all, it has a lot to offer and you’ll have the chance to explore so many new experiences.