Dear Northern Ireland

Dear Northern Ireland,

Thanks for agreeing to let me come live in your country. I know you speak English of course, but its a wee bit different than what we know here in America. I tried to tell my son about this today and I am not sure he got it. We saw a dog on a leash and I told him that in N. Ireland you may call it a "lead." He told me that even when we move there, he'll still call it a leash. Is that ok, just this once?

So what else can we expect? We know that you drive on the "other" side of the road/ and the car. And when someone asks if the baby likes his "dummy" we should understand this as pacifier, right? And a "nappie" is not a cute name for an afternoon sleep, its a diaper. If I order a "soda" I will get the bread. So, my big question is how do I order a soda/ or pop/ or Coke??

I have a lot to learn. Our whole family does. I am sure I will be "scarlet" many times over. When I lived in Romania, I once very confidently and politely asked a clerk for 10 sheep instead of 10 eggs. I was all kinds of scarlet that day.

Are the people from your country going to find my accent amusing or annoying? Will they think I am "dense" because I talk a wee bit different? Do you think that we all sound like "Boggers" or hillbillies? We love your accents by the way! So charming.

So, Northern Ireland, I am excited to meet you.

Maria S. Kristiansen