Irish Bars: Great success or taccy opportunists?

So, one of my colleagues at work really annoyed me the yesterday, whilst we were sitting in the cantine nattering. I told him how excited I was for St. Patricks day in Munich, and that there is to be a great parade on the streets this year. He snubbed at me and told me it'd be a load of fake nonesense, that would just end up in one of Munichs many Irish watering holes. I thus became very offended and took a stark stance whilst standing up for the great culture of Irish pubs abroad.

As an Irish person myselff, sure these pubs are full of Irish fakeness on the wall, such as lepricorns and county flags, but more importantly, they are filled to the brim with warm, open and very hospitable Irish people, who are undoubtedly always ready for the 'craic'.

I'm thinking of this as I sit here at work, hungover as hell, alcohol sweats en all, pondering why we spend 80% of our lived in Irish bars. And do you know what, I bloody love it! Can you imagine people trecking to an English bar every week, hell no! It's the culture, the people, the attitudes, the appeal is boundless. Thinking about this a little further, I suppose it also helps that Ireland, on the International scene, has never really offended anybody too greatly.

Last weekend, myself and our group of friends, pretty much spent the whole weekend in Irish bars, watching the rugby. They sell great cider from home, the pub grub is tasty, and it's packed to the brim with all kinds of nationalities, but most of all.... Germans! Which other land or culture would you see alluring so many Germans; in their own country. I challenge you to tell me any.

So, the next time anybody decides to come up to me and diss the Irish Culture, it's many pubs in Munich, or anything negative about the celtic folk whatsoever.... they better think before they speak!

Puncto

Grüßtig Blog

So! I started this blog in July 2010, and how many posts have I written since then? Absolutely nada. So, jetzt geht's los! This blog is now turning into a mischung of all of my interests, and generally blogging about issues that appear in my life.

So, a little bit about where I am right now in my life. Well, literally, I'm sitting in the office on a beautiful sunny day, with all the blinds closed, looking out onto my beautiful view of the R&S post room. But on a life-map-road type view, I'm half way through my year abroad in Munich, doing a placement as an International Training Intern at a top electronics firm. I love this company, if only English companies would treat their employees so well. But more than doing this placement; I mean it's really just a means to an end, I'm living and loving an awesome German city.

I have a great group of friends here in Munich, and we're all 'travellers'. Every weekend we thrive to experience new places, new experiences and new cultures. Whilst on our travels, we undoubtedly imbibe a hell of a lot of lecker lecker German bier, and tell the 'lustig' stories then after.

As you can see, I love to pop German words into English sentances, it amuses me, and if you understand Deutsch yourself, it will you too.

My aim in writing this blog are threefold:
1. Firstly, where my political and cultural blogging tendencies are concerned, I want to engage in the debate and gain a greater understanding of the issue myself; somewhere along the way I'd also like to form and discover what really is my opinion. I find that on too many issues, I am able to see both sides of the debate, and argue both ways logically, I don't want to do this anymore, I want to have a strong and one sided opinion! Well, let's see how this works out.
2. My second goal through writing this blog, is Anne Frank style really, I want it to be a diary type thing, to be able to look back and reminisce about the great experiences I've had whilst living away from home, in a foreign land. The problem is, I'm not really one of those easily giver away of emotions, I like to keep a lot of things to myslef, often my philosophy is that a 'problem shared is NOT a problem halved'.
3. Lastly, I suppose this blog is a carthatic type thing, writing things down helps you logically see through to an end. Although I don't necessarily want all of my viral 'friends' to read this, if I'm writing to some kind of invisible internet sphere I feel like I'm achieving something, whilst also improving my writing skills aswell.

If you're interested in German culture, living abroad, politics, travelling or languages you may enjoy reading this blog.

Pre departure nerves

Its 5 days till take off to Munich and the nerves are kicking in. Trying to do all of the menial tasks that I'll find a hassle once in an alien land. Check up at the doctors, filling at the dentist, lightweight suitcase for that lethal easy jet limitation, haircut at my favourite dressers.

I'm spending the year abroad in Munich, working for Rohde und Schwraz. Exactly what I'm doing, I'm not quite sure, but hey, that's the fun of it I suppose. I study German and Politics, and after months of searching on the language placements, turned to the International Management ones. I'd definitely recommend this; they're better paid in general and there are far more jobs than applicants.