English Breakfast

You know how Americans always complain about Canadian bacon? We're always saying, It's not "real" bacon. I'm pretty sure memes even exist about it.  Well, apparently, we are the only ones who have bacon like that. Ireland had bacon that looks more like ham. And in no way does It look like the bacon I've grow used to, but it's not terrible. (American bacon is still better).
English breakfast exists in Ireland, and I honestly didn't expect Ireland to take so many concepts from England, but they do exist. English Breakfast was the very first thing I ate when I arrived in Ireland. We were tired out of our minds, and we stopped in this small hotel on the way to Cork, and were told we would have breakfast. Well, English breakfast is the only kind of breakfast that exists here. Similar to how we always have bacon, eggs, and toast out in America, the Irish always have over easy eggs, grilled tomatoes, hash browns, and ham (bacon).
It seems delicious, and tastes completely different from the food I was used to in America. The tomato combo really threw me off, but now I've grow used to It. There is also typically mushroom available or sausage. It's a wonderful combo, and something I would never think of.
I remember telling my friends, "I didn't even know you could grill tomatoes." Not that I'm an expert chief, but I thought I knew a thing or too.
Since the breakfast consists of a lot of different food, I tend to stick with the eggs, hash browns, tomatoes, mushrooms, and toast. The ham (bacon) tastes okay, but I always feel like i'm sitting down from dinner if i order It, so I tend to stay away from the bacon. It smells good, but even the taste isn't something i'm a fan off.
I like that vegetables are a part of the breakfast. It's definitely a healthier option, and something I plan on taking advantage of since I'm only here for so long. Plus, the state's don't typically serve vegetables during breakfast, which isn't surprising.
It's interesting to me to think that breakfast is different for countries around the world, and the English breakfast is just a staple here. All of my friends have becomes huge fans, and although I really like it I still prefer an American breakfast. I just wish we included the tomatoes and mushrooms more often.
English breakfast is an acquired taste. and sometimes I still feel like I'm acquiring a taste to certain parts of it.

Fish N Chips

This might sound hypocritical, and we all know that fish n chips are more of a British food than an Irish food, but Ireland was under British rule for a long time so that's my reasoning for It being here. Fish N Chips is definitely my favorite meal in Ireland! It's everywhere, how could It not be my favorite?

It was actually the first day in Ireland, when we were all stuck on a bus from Dublin to Cork that our bus driver pointed out Jackie Lenox. He made sure to tell us that it's the best place to get fish n chips in town! And although half of us thought we were going to die if we didn't get sleep that very instant, I made sure to put a little star on the place in the back of my mind.

And thankfully, that little star came in handy. I was with a group of friends, and we were on a food hunt. It's only fair to state: Ireland isn't known for it's food. I mean, they have good food, but in no way is it a food capital of the world. Trying to find places to eat in Cork is harder than one might think, but we ended up going to Jackie Lenox that night and It was quite an experience.

Jackie Lenox was packed, and apparently our bus driver isn't the only person who knows that they have the best fish and chips in town. So we waited in line, and this place is so busy that you don't even wait to get to the counter to order. They just yell at you while you're in line and then you have to order. And like the bunch of Americans we are, we all just yell Fish N Chips. All 7 of us. We get our food and realize that there isn't anywhere to sit. It's so busy that most of the space is used to hold all the people in line. However, there is a small area for eating the food in the back, and we take up all the seat very quickly.

Now, I've never had fish n chips. It's basically fried cod, filled with more grease than french fries. They didn't offer much in terms of silver ware there, so we had to eat it with our hands. The chips were a larger versions of french friends. Everything was incredibly salted and greasy, and i knew the moment i told a bit out of my fried fish that i liked It. I mean, there was a reason this place had a line out the door. We all nodded our head in approval as we devoured our fish n chips.

Jackie Lenox gives more fish n chips than necessary if I'm being honest. So I always know that i'll have food for the next day. However, i always try to finish the chips when they're fresh and hot, because they just don't taste the same when you heat them up. Anyways, i did discover that fish n chips taste amazing with Mayo and Ketchup. That may seem like a strange combination, but now every time I eat fish N chips I make sure to smoother It in these sauces. It gives the fish more flavor!

Now, Jackie Lenox isn't the only place in town to serve fish N chips. But they're the only ones who serve It for a very cheap price, and is well known. I've gone to other restaurants to get this meal because It is a very popular meal in cork, but they aren't as flavor full, or as well salted or even greasy as Jackie Lenox. I look forward to stepping into the restaurant and smelling grilled fish and salt and vinegar every time. I look forward to eating it even more.

Slow down

I've always been a fast paced person. I walk fast, I drive fast (Don't worry, not too fast), I talk fast, I like to multitask so I get more done. Point is, I always feel like I'm in a constant rush. I mentioned this in my past blog, but Ireland is all about leisure. Cork is like the polar opposite of who I am.

Cork does what it want's when it want's. It rains whenever it pleases, and doesn't really take into account convenience of it's inhabitants. Speaking of it's inhabitants, these people don't seem to care what other's think either. They wear what they want, walk as slowly as they want, and most importantly, it's never a race. And because of being here, i've slowly started to pick up the motto: Slow and steady wins the race. I'm too competitive to cross out being in a race completely. However, I have started to adopt the leisure that Irish people seem to have since being here.

After being in Cork for a while now, I can't help but ask myself why I am the way I am? Why are these people the way that they are? And honestly, it's because of how different our societies are. America is about making it, and competing against everyone. Sometimes I wonder if that's what life should really be? The Irish seem to live life differently but not in a lesser way. Maybe Ireland got it right.
Although I will never be able to truly change who I am, and I really don't want too. I'm glad for these couple of months. They give me a time to live and look at  life differently. If I tried to live this relaxed life in America, surely I would be judged. We see those who do things slower or don't seem as ambitious as lesser. And Cork has given me the chance to see how people live different lives. And no one is better than anyone else because they walk faster and get to where they need to be quicker. Irish people always get to where they need to be, but they do it without rushing and far less worrying.
Isn't that better though? As an American I feel like I could do with less stress. As I meet more people here and walk through these streets I find that stress isn't as much as a problem here. American could definitely learn from some things that Cork has taught me.
I hope that when I go back to America, I will be able to walk a bit slower. Maybe even try to stop viewing everything as a competition, which I know will be hard because I know it has been ingrained into me.
However, I think the time that I have been here will do me good, and just might be enough to truly help me change some aspects of my life. Even when I go back home.