Settling In to Life in Ireland
- posted by:
- posted in: Ireland
- posted on: May 01, 2013
My voice carries. Nearly every day I catch myself thinking this, and I warn myself to speak more quietly. My voice is loud and broad, with an American accent and a hearty laugh. Back home, it is one of my gifts—in song and in speaking. But here in Ireland, my words blare noisily above a hushed crowd, and draw attention to me. They seem to call out, “I don’t belong here,” even though I so want to fit in to this place I call home—at least for now.
I push my passport under the glass window, holding my breath as the immigration officer observes the stamps. A visit to the immigration bureau never fails to freak me out.
“You’ve lived here before,” he says.