Dublin is much different than a typical American city. The cobblestone roads landmarking Temple Bar, remnants of an older city wall, and vehicles driving on the other side. Even knowing some information about Dublin, a few things surprised and stood out to me. Most people know about the pub culture, but the prevalence in the number of pubs astonished me and the number of cafes. On each block, there were bound to be numerous spots with people sitting down, enjoying a drink of coffee or the ever-famous Guinness with the company of friends or strangers.
Ireland has had a strong association with Catholicism throughout time. However, the level has dropped in recent years, and the area is becoming less conservative. Most interesting to me, Dublin does not have a Catholic cathedral. Very surprising to me the influence the Catholic Church has had over time.
Black pudding, a meat-based item, is very similar to scrapple, a dish from Central Pennsylvania. Surprising to find something similar to my home area, but understandable from some of the influences of earlier immigrants.
Experiencing and understanding the culture and history of a place is crucial in an area of business. Knowing about the history and events leads to one, appreciation for taking time to learn about one’s home, and two, understanding how the values of a place have become. Understanding the values enables better communication and direction when communicating and working together on projects.
So far, Dublin has opened its arms, and I cannot wait to see what else it has to offer.