Hayley’s Spring Semester in Maynooth
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Able to discover what an AIFS Overseas program in Eire is like? We lately related with Hayley from Mount St. Joseph College, who studied overseas in Maynooth throughout the spring semester.
Uncover how Hayley’s examine overseas expertise in Maynooth helped her develop as an individual and journey all through Europe!
Selecting a Research Overseas Vacation spot
There are 1,000,000 methods to decide on a examine overseas vacation spot—you may determine based mostly on a selected program, a metropolis or tradition you’re considering, a language you wish to be taught, or, in case you’re like Hayley, since you wish to examine overseas along with your greatest pal:
“I really selected Maynooth, Eire due to my greatest pal. [We] go to separate universities and wished to discover a college overseas that each of our packages related at so we may go to highschool collectively once more. Maynooth ended up being one of many solely colleges each of our packages have been providing. We additionally selected Maynooth out of all of our choices as a result of it was the proper combine between countryside and metropolis, and it wasn’t too huge or too small. I might suggest Maynooth to college students that don’t love a giant metropolis however nonetheless wish to have the choice to go to town in the event that they wished. I might additionally suggest it to those who don’t need an enormous college.”
Lecturers Overseas
Once you examine overseas, you get to expertise a totally new tutorial setting, together with a singular tutorial tradition and a completely completely different faculty campus. Considered one of Hayley’s favourite features of Maynooth College was its smaller dimension:
“I attended Maynooth College in Eire which was situated roughly 45 minutes from Dublin. Maynooth was the proper dimension and the proper distance from all the things. I’ve by no means been one to like town and Maynooth was extra of a giant countryside city that held a college that wasn’t big but in addition wasn’t too small. I actually loved the programs I took inside and outdoors my main. Being taught exterior of the attitude I’ve all the time recognized was a very attention-grabbing expertise!”
Under, Hayley describes her lessons at Maynooth College (MU):
“The classroom setting at MU ranged from a small class of solely 20 college students to giant lecture corridor lessons that held over 100 college students. I solely had one different AIFS scholar in my program [whom I had] class with all through the semester! Maynooth’s scholar enrollment consisted of just about 40% worldwide college students. I took one course referred to as Irish Language 1 (to additional [immerse] myself within the tradition) that was 100% worldwide college students from all around the world!
One class that stood out to me probably the most was my English class and my local weather change class. My English class stood out as a result of we [learned about the] historical past that was taking place [when our assigned books were written]. Studying [another] perspective on historical past… was so attention-grabbing because it was completely different from… what I grew up being taught. My course on local weather change additionally stands out as a result of I usually hear within the US how local weather change is all the time up for debate, however in Eire it was no query concerning the truth it was taking place. Listening to these completely different sides have been tremendous fascinating compared to what I already knew!”
Private Progress
AIFS Overseas on-site employees are all the time there to assist examine overseas college students, however being in a totally new cultural setting encourages you to be taught extra about your self, develop into extra impartial, and develop as an individual, as Hayley explains:
“I feel being alone overseas and having to navigate and stroll round on my own all over the place was one thing that actually helped me develop. Earlier than leaving dwelling, I all the time felt like I used to be considerably depending on these round me, however being overseas helped me achieve my independence again. Total, having to funds/store for myself, make powerful selections, and assume fast in unplanned conditions actually helped me develop as an individual and achieve plenty of duty and emotional intelligence.”
Housing
Housing is included in all AIFS Overseas packages, which might actually take the stress out of planning! Hear Hayley describe her expertise in her shared condo:
“I used to be in an condo with 4 different individuals, and all of us had our personal rooms and bogs, however shared widespread areas like a kitchen and front room. I received positioned with 4 different worldwide college students from America, and I’m nonetheless superb associates with two of them to today! It was a number of the nicest campus lodging I’ve lived in throughout my faculty years.”
Cultural Appreciation
Once you examine or intern overseas, you get the possibility to essentially immerse your self within the tradition as you reside like an area. Hear Hayley clarify one in every of her favourite features of Irish tradition:
“I actually loved this common idea of ‘Irish time.’ Mainly, it’s this unstated thought to not rush via what you’re doing and that it’s okay to not be totally on time. Each single Irish particular person I interacted with would point out it relying on dialog. I actually loved this concept as a result of it’s starkly completely different from the quick American way of life we [learn].”
Making Associates Overseas
As Hayley explains, learning overseas is a superb alternative to make lifelong associates, no matter whether or not you go overseas alone or with a pal:
“Upon arrival, I used to be concerned in a world scholar orientation for Maynooth College. Whereas I used to be right here, we did many ice breakers that led me to fulfill a ton of worldwide college students and befriend them! I really feel like I met most of my associates while out within the city and inside my lessons. My recommendation to these desirous to go overseas is to not be scared to place your self on the market! Particularly with regards to fellow examine overseas college students since you are all going via the identical worries of not discovering associates in a brand-new nation.”
Weekend Journeys
Once you examine overseas, you may journey to your coronary heart’s delight at any time when you have got time on the weekends. If you happen to’re like Hayley, this implies taking loads of journeys inside and outdoors your host nation:
“I took MANY weekend journeys in the course of the semester. A few of the huge ones I took have been to London, Paris, Venice, Edinburgh, Bari, after which small areas throughout Eire like Howth, Galway, Cork, and so forth. My all-time favourite locations I visited have been Edinburgh and London. The structure, vibe, and recollections I made with my associates have been extraordinarily enjoyable. I feel probably the most memorable small journey I took was with my three associates that I met whereas overseas (nonetheless a few of my closest associates to today) to Howth, Eire! We awoke at 3:00 AM to journey to Howth to look at the dawn on this little hidden seaside. 10/10 suggest.”
Hayley’s Research Overseas Recommendation
For any future examine overseas college students, Hayley presents the next recommendation:
“I feel one of the crucial vital issues with regards to learning overseas is to choose the nation that attracts you in probably the most. Whether or not that is due to the tradition, your loved ones heritage, or just because you have got all the time wished to go, discovering the proper place so that you can examine in is important. And while you do choose your nation, don’t be scared to ask questions and do your analysis to see what’s in retailer! I bear in mind staying up tremendous late simply to analysis the college I used to be staying at and the way the transportation programs labored so I may higher put together myself.
Additionally do not forget that you’ll ALWAYS have a help system in AIFS. Feeling alone in a brand new place is horrifying and AIFS understands this, which is why you all the time have a contact inside AIFS to reply any of the questions you have got for them. Total, whilst you could also be hesitant and nervous, simply know that these emotions shall be outweighed by the individuals you meet, the tales you get to inform, and the unforgettable recollections you’ll make.”
Are you able to take the leap and examine overseas like Hayley did in Maynooth? We’d love that will help you begin your journey!
Right here at AIFS Overseas, we all know a factor or two about serving to faculty college students examine overseas. Our packages are extremely inclusive, which takes plenty of the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to offering issues like cultural and social actions, excursions, complete insurance coverage, 24/7 emergency help, on-site employees, and extra, you’ll take consolation in understanding you’ll have help all through your whole expertise overseas.
