Wrapping up my semester in Ireland, I have some reflections to share….
Briefly describe an experience where you were confused by or had to adapt to an aspect of your host culture?
When I first arrived in Ireland, I got from the airport to my apartment using a coach bus. Ireland has a great program where they offer free airport transportation to every higher education foreign student studying in the country, so getting to my accommodation originally was very easy. However, after moving in, I quickly realized how frustrating public transportation here is. Ireland has a great rail program that is very easy to understand, yet trains do not start running until 8am, and are often late. I chop this up to the relaxed speed of Irish culture. Additional to the speed of transportation, classes often started late, cashiers take their time, etc. To be simple, the country seems to have a no-rush policy.
Though frustrating to not have transportation as accessible as the United States, I learned to adapt. I called taxis when necessary to get to an early flight, and planned out extra time when using the train. And, in my own life, time seemed to slow down. I wasn’t as nervous about showing up late to something, or worrying that I wouldn’t get an assignment done on time. The adaptation to the pace of the country not only affected my actions, but created a more relaxed, positive attitude in my own life.
2. Share your perspective: now you can make judgements and let us know how you feel
All in all, I really enjoyed my time in Ireland. I feel like the best way to describe my perspective is through a table..
- Best parts of my experience
- History: Ireland has such a long, unique history, in which the preservation of this history is prioritized. The Irish government, for example, has implemented laws in which no construction can be done on land that contains architecture prior to 1700. Before building, surveyors must come to the area and take soil samples to make sure there is no artifacts that could be buried. Through my classes and personal trips around the country, I was able to learn a ton about the history.
- Improvements
- Meeting People: The Maynooth University program at Rollins is amazing, yet small. Typically, only one or two students from Rollins College take advantage of the program every year. This definitely created a unique experience for me, but is very overwhelming being alone. As an improvement tip, it may be a good idea to get in touch with other universities with this program, so that Rollins students can meet other students before going abroad. For example, Denver University has about 30 students attend Maynooth every year. Having a community before leaving, in my opinion, would make the preparations much less overwhelming.
3. Describe how someone from your host culture would view your experience
I believe that someone from Ireland would view my experience as culturally calming. Yes, as most study abroad students experience, I did have some culture shock (ex: public transportation). But, overall, my experience was very relaxed. In the United States, I am always super busy and running around and never had time to take care of myself. In Ireland, I started going on walks, journaling, or even just going out to eat with some of my friends. From the host culture perspective this may seem more subtle, but knowing the background of typical US students helps to appreciate the beauty of a relaxed culture like Ireland.
4. How do these reflections prepare you to respond to future cultural misunderstandings and conflicts?
I think these reflections allow me to approach cultural misunderstandings and conflicts with a calm attitude. Overall, my study abroad experience was exceptional. I met so many amazing people, and got to experience another culture in a way I never would’ve imagined. In the moment, missing a train or not understanding a foreign lecture seems like the end of the world. But, overall, everything worked out. I got on the next train, and I paid closer attention in the next lecture. Cultural conflicts seem like a big deal at the time, but with a clear head I am able to work through future problems that arise.