<p>I am trying to finish up my essay for EA on Nov 1 and was just hoping for some tips. It’s not finished yet but I would love for some thoughts on how it looks so far. It’s about living in Ireland and the USA and the differences I experienced between the two cultures.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>Have you seen many shootings? This was one of the first things I was asked by my new classmates after I moved to Ireland during the summer before sixth grade. I looked around at the curious faces, waiting for them to start laughing, but the smiles never came - they were serious. I came to learn that most of the people I went to school with in Ireland had this opinion that everyone in America was fat, violent, and had a Southern drawl. No, I dont eat at McDonalds every day. No, Im not a member of a gang. No, I dont have any tattoos. This relentless questioning subsided after my peers got used to me. I learned to accept the fact that to my classmates, I was the official spokesperson for anything having to do with America.<br>
The reactions of Irish students were nothing compared to what my classmates in America asked me when I returned after several years across the Atlantic. Since I had last seen them my accent had gone through a drastic change and it made a lot of difference in how I was treated. Coincidentally, my first day of school back in America was the same night as the St. Patricks Day dance. This dance epitomizes the American perception of Irish society. Unfortunately, I had to tell many of my classmates that we dont believe in leprechauns, were not all drunks, and I have never even considered saying Top O the mornin to you! If my Irish friends were to see this unintentional mockery of Ireland they would be offended.
I have lived in two countries that on the outside might not seem too different, but on the inside they are worlds apart. After experiencing life in the United States and Ireland, I can say that I have a unique perspective on society. The people of America and Ireland have opinions of the other that are polluted by advertisements, books, magazines, movies, and television. I understand why an American might think that Ireland is the most hospitable nation in the world or why an Irishman would believe that America is dictated by gang violence. I used to believe what I saw on movies like The Luck of the Irish or Lucky Charms cereal advertisements and now realize that much of what the media tells society about other cultures could not be farther from the truth.
I feel that growing up in two countries has allowed me to broaden my perspective and not accept everything I am told by the media. My experiences in Ireland have made me sympathetic to those who are stereotyped against.</p>