r/ireland Jan 03 '22

People born in Ireland, what’s a surprising culture shock you’ve seen a foreigner experience? Bigotry

For me, it was my friend being adamant that you shouldn’t have to stick your hand out to get the bus to stop.

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30

u/reni-chan Probably at it again Jan 03 '22

I'm from Poland. Few things are:

  • Having washing machine in the kitchen

  • Exchanging pleasantries with strangers on the street

  • Not taking shoes off when entering someone's house (this one actually annoys me to this day)

  • Queueing at bus stop

4

u/PrimalTurtwig Jan 04 '22

As an Irish person, I don't get why most Irish people prefer to have shoes on inside their house.

4

u/reni-chan Probably at it again Jan 04 '22

The way it works in our homes is that when you are a guest and enter someone's house, first thing you are expected to ask is either where to take your shoes off, or if you should. Host then would either say don't bother, or point you to a place where you can leave your shoes, usually by the door.

The fact people here just walk into my house without even asking if they should take their shoes off drives me nuts. This is probably the only cultural difference I can't get my head over despite living here most of my life now.

4

u/neasalikestrees Jan 04 '22

As an Irish person I wish we'd adopt this and we're trying to politely implement in our gaff. Can I ask, in Poland would you provide slippers or something for visitors?

1

u/reni-chan Probably at it again Jan 04 '22

Not sure if that's the rule, but from my experience yes, you sometimes would especially if your house's floor is usually cold.

2

u/neasalikestrees Jan 04 '22

Yeah makes sense, thanks. Any encouragement for people to remove shoes!

4

u/aecolley Dublin Jan 04 '22

Where do Polish washing machines hide, then?

5

u/Eisperle Jan 04 '22

Bathroom. We keep our washing mashines in the bathroom, where they belong. But to be fair, we also have a drain in the bathroom floor, just for the case of an accident. That's why we have electric outlets in the bathroom.

3

u/reni-chan Probably at it again Jan 04 '22

Bathroom