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Able to step into the footsteps of a faculty scholar who studied overseas in Eire? We lately caught up with AIFS Overseas program participant Lauren from the College of Northern Colorado. She selected to spend her fall semester finding out overseas within the metropolis of Maynooth after a summer time program in Limerick!
Learn on to study extra about her research overseas expertise with AIFS Overseas and the influence of being a world scholar in Eire.
Brett: Hello, my identify is Brett. Welcome again. I’m a senior at Flagler School in Saint Augustine, Florida, and I research Spanish and Worldwide Research with a minor in Pre-Legislation. I studied overseas with AIFS Overseas in Granada within the spring. Would you inform us a bit of about your self and the place you studied overseas?
Lauren: My identify is Lauren, and I’m a theater research main with a certificates in theatrical design and know-how, I minor in American Signal Language and Historical past on the College of Northern Colorado. I’m from Aurora, Colorado, and I simply graduated [during] my research overseas semester, so I’m tremendous enthusiastic about that.
I went to Maynooth College in Eire. I picked Eire as a result of I visited there in 2023, and it was such a phenomenal nation. I additionally wanted an English-speaking nation as a result of I don’t converse one other verbal language. I had a buddy who studied there over the summer time final yr, and I used to be simply actually excited to see what else Eire needed to supply.
Each day Life in Maynooth
Lauren: I used to be in Maynooth, close to Dublin. On a faculty day, I lived in an condominium with three different women—one in all whom was my youthful sister, truly. She additionally did the research overseas journey with me, which was an unbelievable expertise to do collectively. It was the 4 of us in an condominium. We had a full kitchen, full lounge, and we every had our personal bed room and loo.
In America, [classes] are typically on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday or Tuesday-Thursday [schedule], however in Eire, it’s not like that. You may meet as soon as on Monday morning after which once more within the afternoon, otherwise you meet on Tuesday and Wednesday evening, and even Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. It was a really bizarre schedule, so daily was totally different.
I had a number of associates. It was me, my sister, and our closest associates who have been truly German research overseas college students, so we realized loads about Germany. We additionally had a Canadian buddy, so we’d often meet up for lunch. After class, we’d both go to the coed union or again to our condominium. Typically, we went into Dublin—it was a few 45-minute bus trip from Maynooth. Tons and plenty of buses. I bought very used to that. We don’t have that form of public transit [in Colorado], in order that was actually attention-grabbing. No one had a automotive, however there was at all times heaps to do in Dublin—it’s the capital of the Republic.
Brett: I really feel like as an American, determining a rustic’s transportation system is such an accomplishment. When you get used to it, you don’t even have to consider it. However I figured it out, and it makes issues a lot simpler—you simply hop on a prepare and pay €2 or €3, and that’s it.
Lauren: And the humorous factor was all the opposite Europeans have been like, “Eire’s public transportation is horrible.” And I [thought], “What are you speaking about? That is unbelievable!”
Touring with out Dad and mom for the First Time
Lauren: I grew up touring loads, principally throughout the States. I had been to the U.Okay. twice earlier than with my household, after which my sister and I went to Eire alone, so I had been on a aircraft alone earlier than.
Determining a whole metropolis and place by your self is basically loopy. Fortunately, I had a variety of help from my AIFS [Program Director] and nice associates.
My dad and mom came visiting us over Christmas. We ended up staying an additional week. It was form of humorous as a result of I deliberate their entire journey. I used to be like, “I do know Dublin… we’re doing this and this and this,” and I bought the tickets and their bus playing cards. It was so bizarre as a result of they’ve at all times deliberate our journeys [since] I used to be a child. So, that was a extremely weird expertise to be the one who knew what was occurring.
Brett: Yeah, it’s undoubtedly an accomplishment to get to that time. When you will have the chance to make it your individual and journey by your self, you at all times make it work. It’s simply having that confidence in your self and with the ability to present your loved ones these are all of the issues I realized, and these are all of the issues that I’m able to now.
Touring Past Eire
Lauren: My sister and I went to Paris over our fall break, which was completely unbelievable. We [went to] the Louvre and the catacombs. I used to be so unhappy as a result of Notre Dame was simply three weeks away from being reopened once we have been there. However we nonetheless bought to see the skin and so many [other] cool issues there.
We additionally went to London and Oxford with a buddy. We have been enthusiastic about Bathtub as a result of we’re massive Jane Austen followers, and that’s the place she wrote Delight and Prejudice, our household’s favourite [book]. So we bought to see all of that and the Roman Baths. We went to Scotland on the finish as effectively.
Brett: I’ve heard nice issues, however I didn’t make it to Scotland. I went to Dublin, I went to Eire, however Scotland was on my checklist. And everybody was like, it’s a must to go. I’ve heard it’s stunning.
Lauren: Yeah. It’s wonderful.
Tackling Research Overseas Nerves
Lauren: I undoubtedly had some [anxiety before leaving]. This was the longest period of time I used to be away from my household ever. Even after I’m at college, I’m an hour away from my dad and mom, so I see them no less than each three weeks, if no more. So [I knew] being gone for a bit of over three months was going to be fairly a problem. I used to be nervous about that and a bit of nervous about whether or not I might make associates and if I would really like my lessons.
I referred to as my dad and mom each week, and we FaceTimed, in order that was all fairly good. Apart from that, it was simply remembering that I’ve been doing faculty on my own. I make it by on a day-to-day foundation, and I’m nonetheless alive. It’s simply in a distinct place. [I knew that I was] going to determine it out—there wasn’t actually one other selection. I used to be going to be abroad.
Additionally, understanding that I had help from AIFS Overseas was tremendous useful. I had our Program Director there if something went mistaken, and that assuaged a variety of my fears. There’s loads much less handholding on a European campus. They’re form of like, “Yep, you’re a grown-up, go do stuff,” like there’s no RAs or something. So having that additional layer of help was very useful in assuaging that nervousness for positive.
Brett: Positively. AIFS Overseas does a terrific job of constructing positive that everybody feels snug throughout that transition time. After I bought to Spain, we landed in Málaga, and Alberto, the Program Director, was standing there with an enormous signal. All of us bought on the bus from the airport, and so they drove us from Málaga to Granada. The entire time, he was telling us all of the issues we’d expertise, what we’d study, what we’d see, and the way nice the college was. It’s comforting to have them there as a result of if one thing does occur, you’re not alone. They’ve sources and issues like that, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly much less handholding and extra of a “go determine it out” strategy.
I didn’t dwell on campus—I lived with a number household, which, when you get previous the primary few weeks of residing in a stranger’s home, turns into comforting as a result of they begin to really feel like your loved ones. You are feeling like you will have that help system in an analogous method. Nevertheless it’s very very similar to, “Okay, go to highschool, do your homework, research, do no matter you need.” It’s not like they’re truly your dad and mom.
However the AIFS Overseas staff does a terrific job. I don’t even know the way they’ll do higher—I can’t consider any enhancements. And from the entire experiences I’ve heard, everybody says that the on-site employees within the host nation makes all of the distinction.
Lauren: Completely.
Favourite Recollections from Learning Overseas
Lauren: I believe the second that basically stands out to me after I take a minute to mirror was once we had our German and Canadian associates over for a tradition evening at our condominium. Everybody came visiting, and all of us made meals from our international locations. We listened to music from everybody’s nation, and we watched humorous movies that, in the event you’re a youngster or a teenager in that nation, you’ve undoubtedly seen.
That was actually particular. It was a easy evening, however [we created] distinctive connections. These have been individuals we have been getting nearer to, associates we’d been speaking about our international locations with, and we needed to expertise extra of one another’s cultures. Clearly, we couldn’t journey to one another’s houses, so we introduced our cultures to one another.
In fact, I may discuss for hours about all the opposite issues I did and the particularly Irish experiences I had. However I believe assembly the individuals is basically what made it for me.
Brett: Positively. After which you will have these connections that don’t finish when your semester ends. You may have reunions, journey collectively, or simply proceed studying about totally different cultures. And also you by no means know who you’re going to fulfill. You possibly can sit subsequent to somebody on a bus and simply begin speaking to them. However these are the individuals I keep in mind—those you meet alongside the way in which.
Recommendation for Future Research Overseas College students
Lauren: Probably the most sensible recommendation is to pack gentle! As a result of getting all the things house was fairly the journey.
However my extra private recommendation is don’t be afraid. I do know that sounds ridiculous since you’re going to be afraid. It’s an enormous factor—to go far-off, to be round individuals and cultures you don’t know. Nevertheless it’s a chance. And the very best moments typically come from the issues that scare you. In the event you’re scared to climb a tower, discover ruins, or determine the bus system, these moments are sometimes the very best components. You get the satisfaction of claiming you probably did it, which is wonderful. And also you’re constructing reminiscences with the individuals round you. These are experiences you’re by no means going to overlook.
So perhaps my recommendation ought to be to do it even in the event you’re scared. As a result of you’ll be scared, nevertheless it’s so value it.
Brett: And there’s at all times a flight house! Worst-case state of affairs, you’ll be able to return. It’s only some months, and whereas which may look like a very long time, within the grand scheme of issues, it’s short-term. However the experiences, reminiscences, and studying alternatives stick with you for the remainder of your life.
The opposite factor that helped me was remembering why I selected to do it. And I really feel like that simply helps individuals. I keep in mind why I wish to do that, the issues that I’m attempting to perform, and the issues that I wish to study, after which my perspective modifications.
I utterly agree. It’s scary, however I really feel these dangers are value it in the long term. I keep in mind leaving my dad and mom on the airport, and I used to be like, “I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t learn about this.” And I had been so excited earlier than. And in that second, I had these ideas: “I don’t know what I signed up for. I don’t know what I’m going to do.” However now I look again on it, and I keep in mind that feeling, and the entire reminiscences and experiences and the issues I realized simply overpower that preliminary worry. It’s throughout only a nice expertise.
Coping with Tradition Shock Overseas and Reverse Tradition Shock Again Residence
Lauren: In Eire, each the tutorial tradition [and] the category schedule is totally different. The grading system can also be totally different. Technically, it’s a scale of 0 to 100, however you can not truly get increased than 75, [which is] an American A due to how they grade it. So it was actually bizarre to be getting again assignments that I had a 60 on as a result of I’m very excessive reaching, I hate getting lower than an A—it drives me loopy. In order that was actually exhausting to regulate to. And it’s rather more laid again. [For example,] my buddy was asking her professor, “Can we now have the directions for this task?” And he was like, “Loosen up, it’s not due for weeks.” And we [thought], “No, can we do it although?” In order that was very totally different.
Everybody in Eire is tremendous good. And I imply, not that individuals aren’t good in Colorado, nevertheless it’s only a totally different vibe. Even the toilet stalls are totally different. And, the most important factor—[Ireland is] an enormous proponent of the surroundings. I completely get why there aren’t any paper towels in any of the loos, solely air dryers. [But] I believe that was the toughest factor for me as a result of my palms have been at all times damp. So, stuff like that was undoubtedly tradition shock after I bought there.
Coming again—that is going to sound so silly—I had a extremely exhausting time with doorways. As a result of in America, I perceive what a push and pull door appear like—the deal with often tells you. In Europe, it might probably appear like it’s a pull door, and it’s a push door. However stuff like that, and coming again [home] and simply being in a home with my automotive… realizing after I was in Eire, we’d go gasoline stations on the bus, and I used to be like, “Oh, I ought to keep in mind the place that is.” After which I [remembered], “I don’t have a automotive. It doesn’t matter.” That was actually bizarre. There was a variety of stuff that, coming again to America, I used to be like, “This feels bizarre now,” for positive.
Brett: I utterly agree with you on the grading. I additionally form of had that preliminary panic as a result of I’m the identical method with my grades. And when the Spanish system is 0 to 10, we bought assignments again and I might ask the professor, “An eight is what?” And he or she’d say, “Okay, it’s good to relax. It’s not the top of the world, that’s good.” However not seeing a 90 and seeing one thing like an eight, [I’d wonder], “Did I do effectively?”
And, yeah, coming again is tough. For me, it was the language. My lessons have been taught in Spanish, [and in my daily life I spoke] principally Spanish. And coming again right here after which all the things being in English, I used to be like, “That doesn’t sound correct.” … Some individuals would say issues, and I stated, “I don’t [know what] you’re speaking [about].” So it form of got here again after some time, however the transition is tough. Even the meals—I got here again and thought, “This isn’t the identical.”
Lauren: I miss my Irish milk.
Brett: I miss all of it.
How Does Learning Overseas Influence Your Worldview?
Lauren: This expertise utterly modified my worldview. I’ve at all times tried to have an open thoughts and find out about different cultures, however I had by no means skilled them or met many individuals [from other countries]. So, assembly individuals and speaking to individuals who have been utterly totally different… and that is going to sound bizarre, however truly cognitively realizing that individuals dwell in different international locations and produce other experiences—it felt prefer it lastly sunk in. And simply studying about totally different international locations—about Eire, Germany, and Canada—and their views of America and their very own nation, and the way they dwell on a day-to-day foundation.
Listening to how a lot their experiences can differ, even inside [western] tradition—that whenever you get all the way down to it, it nonetheless is kind of totally different—that was simply so eye-opening. So now I wish to journey much more. I actually wish to go to Germany and see my associates and see what they’ve been speaking about. I wish to go to Canada. I wish to see so many different locations all over the world.
Like I used to be saying, [going abroad is] tremendous scary initially. However the quantity of confidence that I walked out with—I do know I can do that now. And it most likely won’t ever be for 3 months in my life once more as a result of I’ll be working. But when it’s for every week, I do know I bought that. I do know I can deal with that. I’m able to [travel] all around the [world]. And I believe that’s a extremely cool feeling to have the ability to stroll away with.
Additionally, I’ve at all times been tremendous uptight about faculty. I’m planning on getting my grasp’s diploma in a few years. It was very releasing to only kind of be like, “You understand what? I’m doing effectively. I’m simply right here to get pleasure from it.” I don’t have the identical power to put money into being confused about faculty as a result of I wish to expertise the issues taking place round me, and it’ll wreck it if I let faculty stress me out that a lot. I did simply high-quality [being] extra relaxed, and I believe that’s going to be actually useful for me in a grasp’s diploma as a result of I’ll be working and going to highschool. So, it’s going to be very helpful to keep in mind that it’s not the top of the world, that I can do it, and to not overlook to dwell on the identical time.
Brett: Completely. I really feel such as you study simply as a lot exterior of the classroom as you do within the classroom. And it’s exhausting to overlook that whenever you’re at school, particularly right here within the U.S. as a result of it’s so centered on getting the grades and the GPA after which graduating and getting a job instantly that you simply overlook there’s extra to life. I believe the European mindset normally [recognizes that] our work, faculty, and research are necessary, however it’s a must to steadiness that with different issues, and also you study simply as a lot doing so.
These are undoubtedly issues that I’ll additionally take away—to recollect to remain grounded, get pleasure from small moments, and never have as a lot strain on being a scholar and worrying about all of the numbers.
Lauren: It’s inspired me to be a vacationer in my very own state, you realize? I’m like, take a look at all these wonderful issues that most likely the individuals who dwell right here don’t even learn about.
Brett: And simply to expertise as a lot as you’ll be able to and to see as a lot as you’ll be able to—take all the things in.
Thanks a lot for sharing your expertise with AIFS Overseas. I really like to listen to about all of the totally different international locations and the totally different applications as a result of there are such a lot of, and I do know individuals have a variety of choices to select from. So hopefully, this will encourage extra college students to check overseas and to think about all of the locations they’ll go and all of the issues they’ll expertise. Thanks for sharing.
Lauren: Thanks a lot.
Are you a scholar who’s able to take the leap and research overseas like Lauren did in Maynooth with AIFS Overseas? We’d love that can assist you begin your journey!
Right here at AIFS Overseas, we all know a factor or two about serving to faculty college students and pre-professionals research overseas. Our applications are extremely inclusive, which takes a variety of the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to offering issues like cultural and social actions, excursions, 24/7 emergency help, on-site employees, and extra, you’ll take consolation in understanding you’ll have help all through your total expertise overseas.
