A few differences that I have discovered while in Ireland:

• Mother’s Day is different: So, maybe I should have caught on when the cards starting come out in February, but I did not know that Mother’s Day was in March until about a week before Mother’s Day. It was really interesting celebrating Mother’s Day with a family that was not my own and that I have only known for a short amount of time. I have been very lucky to have such a great host mom that I am so close to. We went to her favorite restaurant!

• The paper is a different size: This might seem like something silly to note, but it really messed me up the first week when I was trying to print and I kept forgetting to change the size. The standard paper size in Ireland is A4. I also learned this week that 8.5inx11in is 215mx279m when I was trying to get things printed.

• People drive on the opposite side of the road…

• …AND of the car: I knew both of these things from the first time I was here (and from TV of course haha), but it took me a really long time to remember which side of the car the passenger side was! I kept wanting to get in the driver’s seat!

• Shops open later and close earlier: Especially on Sundays. It seems like most shops during the week open around nine and close around six. A lot of stores are closed on Sundays or open later.

Bonus: McDonald’s is different! I forgot my keys one day when I was out exploring and decided to wait until I was meeting up with my group, so I went to McDonald’s to wait (the only thing that I could find open at that time on a Sunday haha). The food options were a lot different (no breakfast burrito, so sad!). However, they did have free WIFI! Day made!!

– Katie May, Indiana State University

There are many things that I have learned in my first four weeks abroad, but below I have listed my top five learning experiences so far.

Always be open to new experiences. I usually like to know exactly what is going to happen and when, but sometime you have to be open to going outside your comfort zone. I have learned how to talk to people that I do not know. I have learned that things change and that you have to roll with the changes.

Always ask questions. I have always feared being the girl in class that annoys everyone because she is constantly asking questions that everyone else already knows the answer to. I am learning here that asking questions can be really important to making sure that I am getting the right information. Even after a month, I am still learning and it is okay to ask for clarification.

It’s okay to miss home. I can go several days without being homesick and then out of nowhere something will remind me of my loved ones back home, and I will go through a small funk with missing them. I think it is okay to miss home and to sometimes be a little sad, because the people I left behind are important to me. I am learning to be more independent and to step outside my comfort zone. Home is always a phone call away, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

It’s okay to not know everything or to be wrong. This was a hard one for me. I hate being wrong or getting in trouble, but as I said before, this is a learning opportunity. I have a tendency to dwell on mistakes and beat myself up, so this has been an eye opening experience for me. I am learning how to ask questions, how to handle things on my own, and how to own up to my own mistakes.

This experience is going to change you. I decided to pursue an internship abroad for this very reason. I wanted to learn to live a little and to grow as a person. I left home behind to find me and to figure out exactly what I wanted to do in life. Each and every day I learn something new about myself that I would not have realized had I stayed where I was comfortable.

In addition to the things that I have learned since going abroad, I have included my top three favorite things that I have seen/done.

• Glenveagh Castle and National Park
• Glencar Waterfall
• Irish danced in Leo’s Tavern in Donegal

– Katie May, Indiana State University

Living with a homestay family is amazing! This is my second stay in a homestay in Ireland and I have been beyond blessed with both placements. I do not usually like staying with people I do not know because I am shy, but it is such a great experience. I would never have guessed that I would be so close to my host family. They are some of the most amazing people I have ever met and they feel like a part of my family.

A few things to note about living with a host family is that you have to be flexible. You are joining in with their life, so keep an open mind and be willing to try new things! Be respectful of their home and family. The experience is what you make it. You can be included or keep to yourself. One cultural difference I have come to learn, is that people in Ireland tend to eat a little later than I am used to, but all of the food has been delicious! We eat a lot of curry and chips!

I have learned from both of my experiences that everything comes down to what you make of it. Communication with your host family is very important. If you are not having the experience that you want, it is up to you to nicely tell someone. Everyone is so helpful and they want nothing more than for you to have the best experience possible. My host family always makes sure to get me out and doing things on the weekend, but they do have a life of their own so I do things on my own as well. We went hiking this past weekend. Just always be open and willing to try new things, and you will love staying with a host family!

– Katie May, Indiana State University