open letter to the next person that is going to live in my first irish home

Hello, stranger!
I know this might sound weird, but my name is Diana and I’m the person that, before you, lived in the same room you’re living now.

I got there in 2020, on the first day of February. I had been in Ireland for exactly two weeks, so I didn’t know anyone, I didn’t know any places and I was still struggling with the Irish weather. If you just landed in this country and like me you’ve never experienced the cold before, you’re probably still trying to figure out how to dress for it without shivering as you walk through the city. I know it’s hard, but you’ll get there. Believe me.

You’re also probably still wondering how to go on about living with strangers. When I got there, Caroline, Barry and Muffin (who you unfortunately didn’t get to meet, I’m sorry) were still strangers to me. But they were very kind and helped me since day one. She offered me a cup of tea, gave me a tour of the neighbourhood and respected my space as I unpacked my bags and tried to figure out where to put everything (I didn’t own much back then, but still). It was the first time I was living outside of my mum’s house, so every little thing was new to me. Finding a job, paying the bills, taking care of myself… If you’re in this situation too, there’s only two things I can tell you: save a bit of money every week and stay the hell away from Penneys (I’m sure you’ve already been there at least twice since you arrived haha). You’ll thank me in your head sooner or later.

Also, bad days are going to happen. They’re inevitable. We don’t post those in social media, but I had really bad days during this one year that I lived in Ireland so far. Of course I was also surviving a pandemic (and I hope that by the time you read this, covid doesn’t exist anymore. But if it does, stay safe!), but like I said I was living on my own for the first time, in a foreign country having limited vocabulary in English to get by and struggling with money until I found a job to work with something I’ve never worked before.

Everyone says that studying in a foreign country is amazing. And of course it is. But at the same time I recognise that and the privilege that it is to be here, I still want to make sure that you know that those days are going to come. And someday you’ll probably be lying on your bedroom floor crying because you found an old picture of your cat.

But remember that you’re here because you wanted to, that you’re having a great opportunity and that when you come back to you country you’ll be full of stories to tell your family and your friends. And they’ll be so proud. Just as proud as you should be of yourself right now. So live your fears, have your moment, cry whenever you feel like for as long as you need to, but don’t forget to look around and see how much you’ve accomplished. Another thing that I must tell you is that the cold Irish wind isn’t here just to make us shiver as we’re walking home from work on a Sunday night, but it also helps a lot to keep us awake. There’s one thing I always love to do when I’m feeling overwhelmed with life: I go to the Liffey. Yeah, that one, the river that splits Dublin in two and has 21 bridges that you’ll never memorise the names no matter how much you try. I know it sounds very weird when I say that, but the Liffey is a good friend and it’s going to help you when you need to take deep breaths as you watch the seagulls steal bread from the tourists.

Well, stranger… That’s it. Now I’ll leave you to it. Enjoy this little attic room that was my first home in Ireland and that through 12 months of joy, anger, hope and sadness made me feel safe. Enjoy watching the clouds move in the sky through its windows and don’t forget to close the blinds at night (the moonlight can actually keep you awake, who would’ve thought?).

Hope you have a great time in Beaumont and don’t forget to lie down on the grass in Fairview for me.

Diana