Regan: this reporter misinterprets Irish charm

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Editor’s Note: Regan, who was previously the living arrangements reporter, is currently living in Ireland and will be sharing her experiences abroad in a weekly column that will focus on everything from culture differences to study abroad to work. Regan will be interning for an LGBT publication in Ireland later in the summer and will periodically check in with The Kansan about her experiences.

My parents and I traveled around Ireland before I had to report to Dublin for my study abroad program this month. We were in Kinsale, a small artsy town, on my mother’s birthday and celebrated with a few too many drinks at dinner, followed by more at a pub. A nice elderly couple sat next to us at the pub, and after I told them I was a journalism student, the woman replied, “Well you’ve got a face for T.V.”

The reaction that went through my head was something like “Hell yeah, someone thinks I’m pretty!”

She fueled my vanity more with comments such as “With your wit, you’ll do great!” and before we left, she called to me to come closer.

“This is so European!” I thought, sure that she was going to kiss my cheek.

I got in position and touched my cheek to hers. She pulled away very quickly and told me good luck. As we walked back to the hotel my dad teased, “You tried to kiss an old woman!”

“Did not!” I yelled back.

I totally did, and the worst part was that I realized I wasn’t the worldly traveler I likened myself to be.

From June 5 to August 3 I will be living in Dublin, experiencing life abroad. I’ll be checking back in with The Kansan and letting you know what I learned about the culture, as well as our own.

Mark Twain wrote “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.”

With Twain’s words in mind, I think some travel is just what I need.

— — Edited by Justin Hilley

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