1) IRELAND IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. The weather takes some adjustment if you're a hot sunny person.
The countryside is different, you need to find it's beauty. You are the beholder. This is NOT a tropical Island!
You are mistaken if you think moving here is for a warm and temperate climate. She is seasonal. She has very long mild late summer nights, and stormy windy wet long winter nights. If you're not into this... check out the Bahamas!
2) THE IRISH PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT.
And by that I mean they are not South African.
They don't know what we have lived through.
Everything is new for you.
The sense of humour is different, the culture is different... YOU are the foreigner...
They are welcoming, warm soulful people. They will ask you how you are, when you stand in a queue in the Supermarket, and they genuinely are interested.
They have a thousand different accents for just 5 million people. They have culture going back millenia and music to prove it.
They have seen hard times, heavy times, ask about their history and you will be told family tales, and politics, and about Mary down the road and the myths and legends... gift of the gab for certain!
But they are intensely proud people. They have fought and fought hard for this land.
These are heart-felt people who care deeply and honour humanity not status. We come from a politically charged country too, and often we have some bitterness and anger in that. Don't bring that with you. Irish people do not understand not being fiercly patriotic of your land.
Your SA anger is complicated and your tears are very difficult to explain. Go gently with the tales of violence and crime... instead tell the stories of our soil, of our animals, of our incredible mountains. Tell stories of the wonderful beaches and the big blue sky... we are different, but we are the same. Share a pint and laugh and a song...
3) THIS IS HARD WORK.
No one is coming to meet you at the airport with confetti, rainbows, a pot of gold, Irish passport and a welcome mat.
YOU have to do it. Its not easy. But you have all the skills and ability in your hands. Your attitude is everything.
Go out there and meet people and make friends. You can just sit in expat land and expect to Ireland to come to meet you, or you can go to the pub, meet parents on the school yard and make chit-chatter, take up the chances to visit your neighbour and have a cuppa, join a club... get out there. The loneliness is only as long as your pride.
Things in Ireland happen in Irish time, in Irish ways. Don't compare. Your experience is one to a brand new country where nothing is done the way, the speed or in the manner you are used to. Sit, relax, breathe and accept it will get done. Provide all evidence and proof of any process you want doing for you.
The only consistencies are the in-consistencies. How your friend or person you saw on Facebook got it done, does not mean that it will be the same for you.
4) WATCH YOUR FINANCES.
You're earning Euro but you're also spending it.
You have to adjust quickly.
When you see €10 on a price tag don't think in Rands think in Euro.
You have to know what you're spending. Keep a diary of what you're spending for the first few months so you can keep tabs on the expenses.
Please make sure you come with enough money to cover AT LEAST 3-6 months expenses.
You cannot see into the future and what incidents or accidents can occur to make working not possible, which may means months in a bnb or it may mean back to SA.
Our admin inboxes have stories to tell of people running out of money. Please please dont ignore this warning. And keep a stash of "oh fok" money. You never know when your "oh fok" moment is coming. Most of us have one at sometime in that first year... and pay you will.
5) HAVE FUN!
Get out there and take a drive or catch a train just for fun. If you don't reward your hard work you're not going to experience joy.
Put on some wellies and take a walk in the woods or along the beach.
Enjoy the wind. She is your new hairdresser.
Enjoy the rain she is your new shower.
Laugh when you see the sun... thats a rare moment to savour!
Sit on a bench and watch people.
6) LET GO OF AFRICA.
You have to let this place sink in to your blood. And that may not be immediate. You may take a good 2 years to settle.
The African soil is imbedded deeply in all of us, in our blood
If you don't let go of Africa to some degree you will never have space for Ireland.
(I'm not saying completely let go, let go a bit, give her a break, some time out to see other people)
7) HAVE A PLAN FOR THE FIRST MONTH.
Know where you are staying. Book in to temp accommodation, for at the very least 2-4 weeks, from SA.
Over and over admin have had messages from people in need because they are staying with friends (even family) or just some random people they have met on these groups and situations have got very messy.
Many of us have opened our homes to people to come stay with us and for some that resulted in needing to evict un-wanted chaos which is a problem because tenancy agreements don't allow sub-letting so you can't even get authorities to help (various reasons and scenarios). Winging it with kids and/or pets in tow is highly problematic, can be expensive and traumatic. Dont do IT!
Be prepared for the plan to fall apart. It may not happen in the way or in the time you wish it to happen.
Breathe.
See 4) watch your finances again
8) TRUST NO ONE.
My mother had a saying "Love many, Trust few, always paddle your own canoe".
People can easily take advantage of you.
Keep your eyes and ears open at all times.
There are many scammers in the world... and sadly some of then are South Africans.
Don't even trust everything said on here by admin... read and research for yourself. We have provided files, documents etc but most importantly the LINKS to the actual sources.
You need to read up on all of it.
Don't believe everything you read on the facebook group.
We may come here on the same passport but our experiences can be vastly different.
We are just traffic wardens directing the flow of traffic. You are the one driving... go check you maps!!
Be very careful who you offer your money to and what you pay for blindly.
9) BE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO PAY THE BILLS.
(Barr something illegal) don't expect to walk into your dream job.
They don't hand out jobs at the airport either. SA passport holders who need work permits make sure everything is good with the company as best you can before you get here.
Research.
EU/Irish passport holders: you have 2 hands. They can wash dishes in a restaurant if needs be. Don't be too proud. Your family needs you.
10) KNOW YOUR IMMIGRATION ROUTE.
By this I mean you must know the ins and outs of your process of immigration, EU treaty self-sufficent is vastly different to EU treaty employed, or critical skills permit vs general work permit.
Please dont arrive here and wonder what am I supposed to do, we are here to help guide you, but this page is not legal support nor are we professional immigration specialists, we can help YOU find the info, you must read it fully.
People do get deported because they have not followed the process correctly.
Before you bring those family members along are you certain they can be here?
Please, we get inboxed quite regularly with heartbreaking stories of failure or troubles because people were not fully prepared/ informed... do not listen to anyone who says its "easy Bru, pull in!" ... it just isnt like that. People can only give advice on their experiences, not yours, yours will be different.
Ireland is my home. I love her intensely. She has given me and many like me a thousand blessings. She has given me friend like family.
But she is NOT perfect. She is not some Utopian ideal land. Ireland also has problems and issues.
Read the media and press and listen to talk radio, see the issue the people are facing as a whole.
But don't even contemplate the move until you are prepared... moving to Ireland can be a BLESSING to you and yours... If you do the work!
Important links:
#MapMyMove- Our coaching Services - Confused or lost and need some direction, book a session with us to help untangle the confusion and work out your route of immigration
Steps to take in the Immigration process
Checklist of things to do before you leave South Africa
Bringing Non EU family to stay if you have an Irish or non EU passport
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