Bring half of what you think you need, and twice as much money. You’re going to see that on every travel website should you ever search for tips concerning semesters abroad.
But most of the advice I gathered from these brief googling sessions didn’t make much of an impact on my travel plans. Like the aforementioned phrase, most of the advice I came across was general knowledge, or irrelevant to my chosen program. I opted to ask people that have attended Maynooth University or been to Ireland a few questions, and search for logistical information on Irish government site and general things like the weather.
That said, some of the more crucial things I’ve done to prepare for my semester abroad were not noted on any of the travel advice sites I scrolled through. So, I’ve listed those things along with some general tips, on the off chance that this might prove to be a relevant hit on your study abroad search.
- Find a few good apps or online resources for local transport and hostels. You’re going to be using those a lot, especially if you plan to spend some weekends exploring the country. *Look for deals on both, and hostel locations that are near local transport, a grocery store, and whatever you’d like to see. **Pack light and don’t forget about sleeper buses.
- Money, money, money. *While at home exchange enough currency to afford you a good meal once you land, transport to your institution, and just a bit extra. Airports have the worst exchange rates, but your bank may be able to order you some cash if you can’t find a currency exchange near you. **You might consider starting a word document where you list your cash and deduct your daily spending. This will give you a better idea of how much you’ll be spending on produce, toiletries, and such for the next few weeks and how you should budget.
- It is important to note that racism, sexism, homophobia, classism, and other forms of discrimination will manifest differently outside of the U.S. *Take a look at how your chosen institution addresses diversity and inclusion by looking for a statement of equality, or nondiscrimination policy on the Human Resource Page, and look for a society or student organization that reflects your identities or passions. **Don’t forget to take a look at country-wide policies, institutions, and the news in general.
-One of the first searches I ran on Maynooth was for an LGBTQ organization. Their Pride Society is one of the largest societies on campus, and the college has been moving towards gender neutral bathrooms and gender neutral identity declarations on forms, not to mention an extensive statement of equality. These were signifiers that Maynooth would be a relatively safe environment to study and live, and one of the top reasons I applied to Maynooth. - If you’re American, people will probably know before you open your mouth. If you’re worried about looking like a tourist or just not fitting in, understand that this is a part of the experience and you will waste time fussing about the inevitable. Do get a grip on the culture before you go by reading up on customs, things like tipping and general manners.
- Read up on the department you’ll be studying under. Look at the work that has been done in that department, and the backgrounds of some of your future professors. This will get you excited about your classes, and might give you an idea of what your coursework will be like. *If you’re passionate about a particular field, look for professors doing work in that area. They’ll probably have an interesting perspective on the same work.
- Sláinte. Find a few key phrases that will get you through the most common social interactions. Run these phrases by someone who speaks the language and lives in the country to make sure you’ve got the pronunciation down and you’re using the most commonly used phrase. Some apps like Duolingo and Google Translate will teach you a phrase that is rarely used.
As with all advice, you’re free to take this worth a grain of salt should you choose to. But if you happen to be in Ireland and have a question, just take a cab and casually pose this question to the driver. They will tell you everything you need to know, as well as a few Irish phrases, a rundown on the public school system, and a brief analysis of the state of the youth in Ireland. All in under ten minutes.