Sa chlár seo de Gaeilge Thar Lear, breathnaím siar ar an saol a bhí agam sa Ghearmáin i mo 20í — tréimhse lán d’eachtraí, taisteal, cairde nua agus an tuiscint go raibh an domhan oscailte romham. Ansin cuirim é sin i gcomparáid leis na 30í, nuair a thagann an smaoineamh mór sin chugat: “seo é anois — seo mo shaol buan.”

Pléim an meascán casta sin de mhothúcháin: a bheith i bhfad ó bhaile, ó theaghlach agus ó sheanchairde, agus ag an am céanna a bheith sásta sa ghnáthshaol nua. Ach ní scéal rómánsúil é — tá na frustrachtaí ann freisin: an mothú go bhfuil tú beagáinín “greamaithe”, na paistí beaga a chuireann teorainn le spontaneity, agus na comharsana níos sine a chuireann isteach ort níos minice ná mar a chuireann siad chun suaimhnis thú.

Níl mórán struchtúir ar an gcaint seo — comhrá cineál “glao teileafóin” atá ann — ach tá súil agam go mbeidh sé macánta, in-insinte agus b'fhéidir fiú beagáinín eolach daoibh siúd atá ag tógáil saoil thar lear.

Seo an leagan Béarla-Gaeilge - dhátheangach. Bainigí taitneamh as!

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In this episode of Gaeilge Thar Lear, I reflect on my life in Germany in my 20s — a time filled with adventure, travel, new friendships, and the feeling that everything was still open and possible. Then I contrast it with life in my 30s, when that big realisation arrives: “this is it now — this is my permanent life.”

I discuss the complex mix of emotions that come with being far from home, family, and old friends, while building a new life with its own rhythms and small joys. But it’s not all cosy routines — there’s plenty of frustration too: feeling held back, the limits that come with small children, and the realities of dealing with older neighbours who can sometimes be… less than easy.

This episode has no real plan — more of a free-flowing, phone-call-style chat — but hopefully it captures something real and recognisable about settling abroad.

This is the bilingual Irish-English version - Gaeilge-Béarla - Enjoy!

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