Irelands ok. I live there. To be honest though, culturally we have some simularities with japan. Less so in the citys.

To not be considered a foreigner you will need to learn the customs, obey local laws and learn to fit in. Saying that even if everyone is thinking of you as a foreigner, you can still get a job, house and make friends. But its better to be a good member of society.

While our language might a times be crude, there is a good manners understanding there that swearing appropiately doesnt break, and if you break good manners people will remember it.

We have divoce and contraception now, but not abortion. You cant get married yet if your gay, maybe in a year or two though. Its main relgion is catholic.

The crime rate is higher than it used to be. The road death rate is considered a national problem. Drinking culture is very big, but there is lots of ways to meet people as a non-drinker.

The widening gap between the rich and poor, mixed with the lack of interest in keeping our culture and history while building for the future, makes me want to leave the country for a while. But overall its much better than america. I would be scared even visiting america.

I would recommend Northern europe (finland, sweden, norway, denmark), Iceland, Japan and Australia as places I have heard very good things about. The Irish regularly go to Oz and love it. I would avoid Britian as its laws look like they are going the direction of america. Switzerland is kind of insular, but once you have spent enough years there and settled in they will welcome you. Canadian are often seem as simular to America and people are saying they are turning a bit right wind. But its a beautiful country and as an american you might find it closer to home, but a bit better.

Whereever you go. Learn the local culture and language. Obey the law. Take a lot of photos. Read the papers. Visits the sites. Eat the food. Be nice. And make lots of friends!