By Kathy Morgan

As an American living in Galway City, Ireland, I have it on pretty good authority (my own Irish friends) that the Irish people really do like Americans. As I've been legally resident here for over two years and am no longer regarded as a "tourist" or "outsider", my friends tend not to "mind" their tongues when I'm around. From comments and conversations I frequently overhear on the subject of the United States, I've gathered that the Irish perceive us to be a gregarious lot. Bold, often cheeky and outspoken, but respected as a people with whom one usually knows where one stands.

In preparation for writing this article, I posed the question directly to one of my closest friends, Brian, the kind of friend who can be counted on to let you know if you have spinach stuck between your teeth. Well, Brian replied that although the Irish, as a whole, aren't particularly keen on American politics at the moment--a view, I might add, which seems to be shared by most of the EU--Americans ourselves...they like us just fine.

Another friend I spoke to echoed Brian's sentiments, then went on to relate a conversation he'd recently overheard, where a man from the U.S. had taken great offense at being referred to as a "Yank". This particular man had complained loudly that the term was almost a racial slur, akin to an American referring to an Irishman as "Paddy".

Well, as one who makes my home here, I would have to strongly disagree with that fellow's interpretation. Point in fact: Brian has two friends named "Kathy", and he has me listed in his mobile phone address book as Kathy Yank. When I brought the matter up to him for clarification, he explained that the term Yank is meant to be affectionate, not derogatory.

All that said, however, no one would argue that there are cultural differences between the two societies. If I do say so, I've become pretty adept at spotting an American tourist before he opens his mouth. It's hard to put into words, but there's just something about our personalities: we're more demonstrative, more assertive--and maybe tend to demonstrate a little less patience-- than our average Irish friend.

Of course, watching us wandering through medieval castles, ancient stone circles and other millennia-old heritage sites with our mouths unhinged in awe is pretty much a dead giveaway in itself. And it's easy to spot us in the pubs, as well. As the Irish trad musicians jam on fiddle, uillean pipes and the bodhr'n (those round, wooden, hand-held drums played with a double-beater), we're the ones with big grins on our faces while bobbing our heads to the lively beat.

And it would be those very things that seem to endear us to the Irish people. (The other day I told my friend Jackie that I was "slow as molasses" at getting something done. And, sure, I'll never hear the end of that one.) But let's face it, age-wise, the United States is a mere infant in the grand scheme of things. A big baby, to be sure, but still a country less than three hundred years old. Then we discover Ireland and are suddenly surrounded by age-old structures and artifacts, many of which date back to prehistoric times.

I will always remember the awe I felt during my first trip here. Driving the narrow, winding roads through County Clare leaving Shannon Airport, I suddenly looked up. And there on a hilltop was a real, true to life, ancient stone castle! Fairytale awesome!

So the only advice I would give anyone visiting Ireland--or any other foreign country for that matter--is to mind your manners. I mean, we are guests in someone else's home here, after all. So we should behave accordingly, using proper travel etiquette.

With that in mind, I've written a short list of "Dos and Don'ts" that will make a person welcome, not only in Ireland but anywhere in the world.

* Don't complain about the prices, the wait in line, or the weather (Come on now... you knew it rained a lot here before you came).

* Don't brag about how much bigger, better, more modern, etc., things are in the U.S.

* Keep your voice down. The people three tables over don't really care to know how much you made when you closed that last deal.

In closing, I'd have to say to those Americans planning a visit to Ireland, Cead mile failte (a hundred thousand welcomes). Come along and enjoy the ceol agus craic (music and fun) and experience for yourself the obsequious warmth and charm of the Irish people.

Who knows? You may be just like me and find you never want to leave."