12 Sep 2009
Parlez-vous anglais?
I’m pretty sure I have met more non-Irish people than Irish
since I’ve been here: mostly Brazilians, but also a ton of Italians,
Lithuanians, Spaniards, French, Americans, Canadians, New Zealanders and
Netherlanders. Where are the Irish hiding? I thought, coming to Ireland, I
would meet a much larger percentage of natives and leprechauns. I was grossly
underestimating the cultural draw of the Emerald Isle, and overestimating the
existence of mythical creatures.
This lack of Irish folk isn’t a bad thing. Meeting people
from any culture different than one’s own is always rewarding. And I must point
out: I have met a good deal of locals as well; I’ve just met many more foreigners.
However, a new problem arises from this global mixture. Back
home, I was used to meeting someone in a bar, saying hello and getting the
conversation going from there. Now though, it’s slightly more difficult when
meeting someone whose English is hitting just below par. I have to first figure
out what language this guy actually can speak, if I know any of that language, and then try to keep the conversation flowing
amid what seems like every important detail being lost in translation. It’s a
lot tougher to flirt when witty compliments turn out to be horrible insults in
your man-of-interest’s language.
As with all things, I suppose the art of international
flirtation will take practice. There will always be enough cute foreign guys
out and about, and there’s plenty of time to hone my skills. And while I
mingle: fingers crossed I’ll spot that leprechaun any day now.
Looking forward to experiencing the world through the gay
community,
An American in Dublin
