12 Differences between Brazil and Ireland that can make our hair stand on end

Ireland has a huge Brazilian community, especially formed by students who are looking for an international experience in a beautiful country, located in Europe, which speaks English and offers the possibility of obtaining a study visa with authorization to work. The differences between Brazil and Ireland are also many and may surprise anyone who sets foot on the Emerald Isle for the first time.

Knowing this, the awesome.club made a list of curiosities about Ireland that may sound strange, but it’s all about cultural differences — remembering that each country has its own beauties and particularities. Check out!

Brazilians arriving in Ireland tend to be surprised by the locals’ habit of apologizing — sorry — in various situations that we would not normally think was necessary, such as: when calling the waiter, coughing, dodging people on the street, asking to speak in meetings, etc.

The truth is that the term has become more than an apology and is also used to apologize, announce something and introduce a speech, for example. If you plan to go to Ireland, chances are, when you least expect it, you too will be spreading the word sorry in your daily life on the island.

The Irish are known for being nice and friendly, which certainly makes our stay in the country easier. The difference is that they tend to avoid physical contact with strangers. So, when being introduced to a location, the most common thing will be to receive a handshake or just a wave. Kisses and hugs are best reserved for friends and family.

Contrary to the custom of many Brazilians, Europeans are not in the habit of paying for everyday purchases in installments, so much so that this option does not even exist in most stores. Asset financing with higher values ​​is available and is usually considered as an option.

The Irish people are second in ranking of the biggest tea consumers in the world, since they consume an average of five cups of the drink per day, second only to the Turks.

Traditionally, tea is a little stronger than we are used to and can be served with milk, in addition to accompanying fruit cakes and cookies made especially for the occasion — the so-called teacakes🇧🇷

Due to cultural factors and the cold climate, there are parents who choose not to bathe their children daily. The HSE – a government agency that promotes social assistance and public health – even advises parents to give babies two to three baths a week, and may be more if they find it necessary, or if they notice that the bath is therapeutic for the little ones.

Of fish and chips (breaded fish and fries), inherited from the British, to the fries sandwich… the tuber is one of the most important ingredients in the Irish diet. On average, its annual consumption in the country is 85 kilos per person, two and a half times more than the world average. Potatoes are undoubtedly the favorite of most Irish people.

“Hi Pedro! How is it going?”

Ireland has two official languages: Irish (also known as Gaelic) and English. The first is spoken daily by less than 2% of the population. This means that communication mostly takes place in English, making the country more attractive for students and workers.

However, the Irish accent is a little different from what we are used to hearing in movies and music, which can cause a certain strangeness at first. Some expressions can also vary, as is the case with what’s the craic?, which is a cross between English and Irish and means “how are you?” or “What’s up?” an informal greeting.

The Irish breakfast might not be for the squeamish of stomachs. To accompany morning tea, beans with tomato sauce, sausage, chorizo, fried egg, bacon, bread, butter… the table is plentiful to start the day warm and full of energy. Are you going to face a little bean early in the morning?

As bathrooms in Ireland (and in several other countries) only have a drain in the shower and sink, it is not possible to wash the entire room in the way that many Brazilians are used to doing.

This is not to say, however, that the bathrooms are dirty. To clean it, it is customary to use a mop and a bucket with water and cleaning product, as well as cloths to finish sanitizing. In the end, the task can get even easier.

The island maintains a strong tradition of practicing centuries-old sports created there, especially Gaelic football and hurling🇧🇷 While the former combines field football with rugby, the latter can be described as a mixture of hockey, rugby and baseball.

If you’re a fan of traditional football, don’t worry, you’ll also find plenty of fans to share that passion there.

The island’s postal addressing system, called EirCode, was implemented in 2015, making it easy to find addresses. Unlike Brazil, the Irish “CEP” is not by street or region, but for each house or apartment. However, it is still little or never used by 60% of the population.

Previously, the capital Dublin was only divided into D1, D2, D3… until D21, with the even “Ds” being on one side of the River Liffey and the odd ones on the other. The other cities did not use any postal addressing system. So it’s common to get a little confused at first.

The climate of Ireland is so different from Brazil, that it is common for Brazilians to have some difficulty getting used to it. Dublin, for example, has an annual average temperature of only 9.4°C, it also has a lot of wind and rain, which make blue sky days a rarity!

In fact, the humid climate and generally low temperatures that vary little are the price the country pays for its beautiful green landscapes.

Interested in Ireland? Tell me in the comments what else you know or would like to know about the country.