Moving country is scary, but exciting. There is the change in weather, getting a new place to live, cultural differences, knowing where to shop, so hopping over the Irish Sea seemed like a good way to go. Try out living abroad, without really feeling like it is abroad; same language, same systems – easy!

As history tells us, the UK and Ireland are not the same, really I should have known this. I had done the history tours, visited some of the main cities and have friends and relatives caught up in the various bombing campaigns that punctuated Irish life for so long. But still I wasn’t prepared for how different it would be, some good, some not so good.

So, here are the top things that have stood out to me. It isn’t a definitive list, just a collection of random observations.

1. Citizensinformation.ie is the most amazing website. This one site has everything you need to now about everything. Want to know how to how to rent a flat, Citizensinformation.ie. Want to know how what minimum wage is, Citizensinformation.ie. Controlling a dog, getting a TV license, moving to Ireland… it’s all there. Information is up to date, comprehensive and useful. Essentially an encyclopaedia for living in Ireland.

2. The above website also has centres where you can go and talk to people about the information online; which brings me to my next point. If you work full time, many of these centres and many other government services are not available to you. It’s normal for services to open 9:30 – 4 and be closed at lunchtime. It is very frustrating to have to take a half day off work just to sort out paperwork.

3. Importing a campervan is a nightmare. Just don’t do it, it takes forever, requires many visits to the test centre and ultimately required 6 months of bank statements with grocery and other day to day shopping highlighted to prove we had lived in the UK. Ridiculous. However, having a campervan in Ireland is amazing, so much to explore, campsites almost all have campers kitchens and many are right on the beach.

4. Dublin isn’t all that. This may be controversial, but stay in Dublin for more than a weekend and you will notice the dog poo and sick on the streets, the crazy traffic and the noise of construction at all time of day and night. Bike lanes suddenly disappear into 4 lanes of traffic and the public transport app shows buses that never arrive (this phenomenon is so common that they are called “ghost buses” by the locals).

5. Ireland is beautiful, once you are out of the cities there are lovely beaches, mountains and wildlife. Porpoises can be spotted from the cliff tops, birds of prey circling overhead. If you come, get outside and go wander.

6. The vast majority of roads are amazing, but you have to pay for them. A quick 1 hour 15 minute drive into Northern Ireland at the weekend cost us €13 in tolls. There are other roads that can be used to avoid them, but then you risk losing 30 minutes stuck in traffic – you just have to decide what is more important!

7. I don’t get the Cliffs of Moher, they are just cliffs, how did they get so famous? Further south are what have been dubbed “the spectacular cliffs of Kerry” and they are much more amazing than the Cliffs of Moher – they probably just don’t spend as much on marketing.

8. Banks in Ireland charge for an account. Maybe this is well known, but having always lived somewhere with free banking, this was a shock. Every time you use your debit card, you get charged. As a result, most people avoid it and either pay cash where they can or use a Revolut card. Also, lots of taxis don’t take card – make sure you have enough cash.

9. Irish life is expensive, particularly Dublin life. Think London prices. As a result a lot of people commute a really long way to get to work. People spending an hour and thirty minutes to get to work isn’t unusual, nor are those who rent a room for the week and go home at weekends.

10. GP surgeries have a price list for everything. Growing up with the NHS I haven’t ever thought much about the cost of getting your ears syringed or getting your blood pressure checked; turns out, they are expensive. I think Dentists are even worse, several people from work head over the border to get their teeth checked.

So, that is my list. I am aware that I am privileged to be a visitor in Ireland, especially to be allowed to work here. Every place works differently and has its good and bad points. I guess I’m lucky enough to have been able to discover both.