Lauren’s Semester Overseas In Maynooth

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Able to step into the footsteps of a school scholar who studied overseas in Eire? We not too long ago 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 impression of being a global 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-Regulation. I studied overseas with AIFS Overseas in Granada within the spring. Would you inform us a bit 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 ravishing nation. I additionally wanted an English-speaking nation as a result of I don’t converse one other verbal language. I had a pal who studied there over the summer time final 12 months, 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—certainly one of whom was my youthful sister, really. She additionally did the research overseas journey with me, which was an unimaginable expertise to do collectively. It was the 4 of us in an condominium. We had a full kitchen, full front room, 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 would possibly 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 had been really German research overseas college students, so we discovered rather a lot about Germany. We additionally had a Canadian pal, so we might normally meet up for lunch. After class, we might both go to the coed union or again to our condominium. Typically, we went into Dublin—it was a few 45-minute bus experience from Maynooth. Heaps and many buses. I acquired very used to that. We don’t have that type of public transit [in Colorado], in order that was actually attention-grabbing. No person 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 had been like, “Eire’s public transportation is horrible.” And I [thought], “What are you speaking about? That is unimaginable!” 

Touring with out Mother and father for the First Time 

Lauren: I grew up touring rather a lot, 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 airplane alone earlier than. 

Determining a complete metropolis and place by your self is admittedly loopy. Fortunately, I had numerous assist from my AIFS [Program Director] and nice associates. 

My dad and mom came over us over Christmas. We ended up staying an additional week. It was type 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 acquired 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 happening. 

Brett: Yeah, it’s positively 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 discovered, 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 unimaginable. 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 had been there. However we nonetheless acquired to see the surface and so many [other] cool issues there. 

We additionally went to London and Oxford with a pal. We had been enthusiastic about Tub as a result of we’re large Jane Austen followers, and that’s the place she wrote Delight and Prejudice, our household’s favourite [book]. So we acquired to see all of that and the Roman Baths. We went to Scotland on the finish as properly. 

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 record. And everybody was like, you need to go. I’ve heard it’s stunning. 

Lauren: Yeah. It’s wonderful.  

Tackling Examine Overseas Nerves 

Lauren: I positively had some [anxiety before leaving]. This was the longest period of time I used to be away from my household ever. Even once I’m at college, I’m an hour away from my dad and mom, so I see them at the very least each three weeks, if no more. So [I knew] being gone for a bit over three months was going to be fairly a problem. I used to be apprehensive about that and a bit apprehensive about whether or not I might make associates and if I would love my courses. 

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 school on my own. I make it by means of 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 alternative. I used to be going to be abroad. 

Additionally, figuring out that I had assist from AIFS Overseas was tremendous useful. I had our Program Director there if something went fallacious, and that assuaged numerous my fears. There’s rather a lot much less handholding on a European campus. They’re type of like, “Yep, you’re a grown-up, go do stuff,” like there’s no RAs or something. So having that additional layer of assist was very useful in assuaging that nervousness for certain. 

Brett: Undoubtedly. AIFS Overseas does a terrific job of creating certain that everybody feels comfy throughout that transition time. After I acquired to Spain, we landed in Málaga, and Alberto, the Program Director, was standing there with an enormous signal. All of us acquired 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 might expertise, what we might study, what we might see, and the way nice the varsity was. It’s comforting to have them there as a result of if one thing does occur, you’re not alone. They’ve assets and issues like that, but it surely’s positively much less handholding and extra of a “go determine it out” method. 

I didn’t stay on campus—I lived with a host 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’re feeling like you will have that assist system in the same means. However it’s very very like, “Okay, go to high school, do your homework, research, do no matter you need.” It’s not like they’re really your dad and mom. 

However the AIFS Overseas workforce does a terrific job. I don’t even know the way they will do higher—I can’t consider any enhancements. And from the entire experiences I’ve heard, everybody says that the on-site workers within the host nation makes all of the distinction. 

Lauren: Completely. 

Favourite Reminiscences from Learning Overseas 

Lauren: I feel the second that basically stands out to me once I take a minute to replicate was once we had our German and Canadian associates over for a tradition evening at our condominium. Everybody came to visit, and all of us made meals from our international locations. We listened to music from everybody’s nation, and we watched humorous movies that, when you’re an adolescent or a teenager in that nation, you’ve positively seen. 

That was actually particular. It was a easy evening, however [we created] distinctive connections. These had been individuals we had 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 speak for hours about all the opposite issues I did and the particularly Irish experiences I had. However I feel assembly the individuals is admittedly what made it for me. 

Brett: Undoubtedly. 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 can sit subsequent to somebody on a bus and simply begin speaking to them. However these are the individuals I bear in mind—those you meet alongside the way in which. 

Recommendation for Future Examine Overseas College students 

Lauren: Probably the most sensible recommendation is to pack gentle! As a result of getting all the pieces 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 distant, to be round individuals and cultures you don’t know. However it’s a possibility. And the perfect moments usually come from the issues that scare you. In case you’re scared to climb a tower, discover ruins, or work out the bus system, these moments are sometimes the perfect components. You get the satisfaction of claiming you probably did it, which is wonderful. And also you’re constructing recollections with the individuals round you. These are experiences you’re by no means going to overlook. 

So possibly my recommendation ought to be to do it even when you’re scared. As a result of you may be scared, but it surely’s so value it. 

Brett: And there’s at all times a flight house! Worst-case situation, you possibly can 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, recollections, 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 bear 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 adjustments. 

I utterly agree. It’s scary, however I really feel these dangers are value it in the long term. I bear 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 recollections and experiences and the issues I discovered simply overpower that preliminary concern. It’s throughout only a nice expertise. 

Coping with Tradition Shock Overseas and Reverse Tradition Shock Again Residence 

Lauren: In Eire, each the educational tradition [and] the category schedule is totally different. The grading system can be totally different. Technically, it’s a scale of 0 to 100, however you can’t really get greater 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 attaining, I hate getting lower than an A—it drives me loopy. In order that was actually onerous to regulate to. And it’s rather more laid again. [For example,] my pal was asking her professor, “Can now we have the directions for this task?” And he was like, “Chill out, 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 folks aren’t good in Colorado, but it surely’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 bogs, solely air dryers. [But] I feel that was the toughest factor for me as a result of my fingers had been at all times damp. So, stuff like that was positively tradition shock once I acquired there. 

Coming again—that is going to sound so silly—I had a extremely onerous time with doorways. As a result of in America, I perceive what a push and pull door appear to be—the deal with normally tells you. In Europe, it may well appear to be 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 once I was in Eire, we might move fuel stations on the bus, and I used to be like, “Oh, I ought to bear 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 numerous stuff that, coming again to America, I used to be like, “This feels bizarre now,” for certain. 

Brett: I utterly agree with you on the grading. I additionally type of had that preliminary panic as a result of I’m the identical means with my grades. And when the Spanish system is 0 to 10, we acquired assignments again and I might ask the professor, “An eight is what?” And she or he’d say, “Okay, you might want to settle down. It’s not the tip of the world, that’s good.” However not seeing a 90 and seeing one thing like an eight, [I’d wonder], “Did I do properly?”  

And, yeah, coming again is difficult. For me, it was the language. My courses had been taught in Spanish, [and in my daily life I spoke] principally Spanish. And coming again right here after which all the pieces 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 type of got here again after some time, however the transition is difficult. 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 Affect 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 had been utterly totally different… and that is going to sound bizarre, however really cognitively realizing that folks stay 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 stay on a day-to-day foundation. 

Listening to how a lot their experiences can differ, even inside [western] tradition—that if you get right 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 originally. 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 per week, I do know I acquired that. I do know I can deal with that. I’m able to [travel] all around the [world]. And I feel that’s a extremely cool feeling to have the ability to stroll away with. 

Additionally, I’ve at all times been tremendous uptight about college. I’m planning on getting my grasp’s diploma in a few years. It was very releasing to simply kind of be like, “You realize what? I’m doing properly. I’m simply right here to get pleasure from it.” I don’t have the identical vitality to spend money on being harassed about college as a result of I wish to expertise the issues occurring round me, and it’ll damage it if I let college stress me out that a lot. I did simply superb [being] extra relaxed, and I feel 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 high school. So, it’s going to be very helpful to keep in mind that it’s not the tip of the world, that I can do it, and to not overlook to stay on the similar time. 

Brett: Completely. I really feel such as you study simply as a lot outdoors of the classroom as you do within the classroom. And it’s onerous to overlook that if you’re in class, particularly right here within the U.S. as a result of it’s so targeted on getting the grades and the GPA after which graduating and getting a job straight away that you just overlook there’s extra to life. I feel the European mindset typically [recognizes that] our work, college, and research are essential, however you need to steadiness that with different issues, and also you study simply as a lot doing so.  

These are positively 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 already know? I’m like, take a look at all these wonderful issues that most likely the individuals who stay right here don’t even learn about. 

Brett: And simply to expertise as a lot as you possibly can and to see as a lot as you possibly can—take all the pieces in. 

Thanks a lot for sharing your expertise with AIFS Overseas. I 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 numerous choices to select from. So hopefully, this will encourage extra college students to check overseas and to think about all of the locations they will go and all of the issues they will 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 will help you begin your journey! 

Right here at AIFS Overseas, we all know a factor or two about serving to school college students and pre-professionals research overseas. Our applications are extremely inclusive, which takes numerous the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to offering issues like cultural and social actions, excursions, 24/7 emergency assist, on-site workers, and extra, you’ll take consolation in figuring out you’ll have assist all through your total expertise overseas.