Bridget Sweeney
- Bridget Sweeney moved from New York to Northern Ireland and shares the cultural differences she saw.
- She says her health has improved and the quality of food in Ireland is much better than in the US.
- Her grocery bill has decreased by almost half, despite buying more fresh food.
I am originally from Upstate New York, Binghamton to be exact. At the time, I was working as a mental health professional, when I met my fiancé online.
I decided to visit him in Northern Ireland. He lives there and I quickly fell in love with the idea of living there, too.
I love how glorious it is in Northern Ireland. From its strikingly green patchwork fields, to its breathtaking coasts, it's overall a beautiful place.
But there are other reasons, I like Northern Ireland, too.
1. The people are more active in Northern Ireland
I live in a village, where people will walk or take their bikes to and from places. Since being here, I've noticed myself walking a lot more, too, and I'm much more active here.
This is partially because everything is much more accessible here. If I need to go somewhere on foot, such as the store, I can. Then if I need to get somewhere further away, I can walk to the train station.
I've also noticed many families carpool here. In fact, it's common for families to only own one vehicle.
Walking has improved my physical health. Within a month of living in Northern Ireland I lost weight, allowing me to feel physically better. But, I also feel mentally better here, too.
2. Mental health is better in Northern Ireland
I've also noticed that people are happier and calmer here. Don't get me wrong, people still struggle with stress here too, but in my experience, the people I've met seem to have better mental health.
Many of my friends and family members in the US had mental disorders, and because of America's expensive healthcare system, they weren't always able to get the help they needed. I've seen loved ones lose their jobs because they weren't able to perform due to their mental health.
But, it's not like that here, or not as much, anyway. I think you can attribute some of that to the active lifestyle, but also to the publicly-funded healthcare system in Northern Ireland. It is mostly free to all citizens of Northern Ireland and makes treatments and other health services much more accessible.
People who are struggling with mental health and addiction have access to healthcare and therapeutic interventions without having to spend their life savings.
Also, when it comes to work, they are provided with more days off and more sick days too. This includes more maternity leave, paternity leave, and more paid holidays in comparison to the US.
3. The quality of food is better in Northern Ireland
Personally, I've struggled with polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormonal imbalance, since I was a teenager.
When I moved to Northern Ireland, I noticed I wasn't struggling with the same symptoms that I was struggling with in the US — my symptoms have greatly decreased. I believe that the food quality in Northern Ireland was a direct factor in the improvement of my hormonal health.
The food is much more clean than in the US. Even the processed foods have a lot less ingredients than in America.
The UK bans certain chemicals from foods that the US still allows. If you look on the back of the packaging of a UK food product, you will notice maybe 10 ingredients, but if you look at the ingredients of the same food in the US, you'll see more preservatives listed.
In Northern Ireland, people seem to value fresh foods and local farms, too. They have a lot of farm stands where you can pick potatoes, corn and other vegetables. I love that fresh foods are so easily available here.
4. Groceries are more affordable in Northern Ireland
Groceries cost less, specifically fruits and vegetables. Our grocery bill has decreased by almost half, all while buying more fresh food than ever before.
As a vegetarian, I rely heavily on produce, and I've found they taste far better here in Northern Ireland than in the states.
There are things I miss about the US
When it comes to the US, there are things I miss. I miss my family, my friends and certain comfort foods including the Italian food I could get back home.
I also really miss the national parks and the coffee too. I don't like the coffee they have here in Northern Ireland as much.
But overall, I'm happier here and I just feel as if I live a very content, and full life in Northern Ireland.
If you left the US for another country and want to share your story, email Alyshia Hull at ahull@insider.com.