Arcadia Ireland

Fáilte go hÉireann to our Galway, Limerick and Trinity College Dublin students who joined us for orientation this week! Dia dhuit dár Trinity and Cork Early Starts (who have now been here for two weeks!) Welcome also to Wellness Wednesday, a space where each week I write about something related to wellbeing, self care and all things connected to wellness and mental health. I'll try to keep it light (sometimes) and will help students on their journey of study abroad. We are all aware that culture shock can reveal itself in so many different ways; homesickness one minute, becoming frustrated by the rain in Ireland the next or just getting used to "different" burritos or peanut butter!  To help you with this,  I'll try to share tips or suggestions of things you can do, places you can go to or articles that may contain something worthwhile reading. I'll welcome your suggestions too. If you have something that you would like to share with the group, I'll happily do so! 

Let's do this! 

This week, I think, officially marks the start of the school year. Pre-schools, primary schools, secondary or high schools and even some Universities in Ireland will begin the new academic year.   I feel that September has always been the month, where from a young age we learn about structure, routine and rules within a system.  As humans we thrive on that. 

It makes me think of this time last year when I waved goodbye to my [then] 4 year old son as he began the journey of education in Ireland.  The first day there were tears soaked into his father's work shirt. Even with our greatest attempts to get him excited and reassure him, he was having none of it. This was a strange place, new people, an official detachment from parents and an entrance into the known.  The second day he was hesitant to leave us but perhaps he was a little more curious and there were certainly less tears cried than the day before. The third day, well it looked quite different. School, his teacher and his new surroundings had become more familiar to him. He went straight into his line, started chatting with his new "best friends" and said good morning to his teacher with a giant smile on his face! His mam and dad didn't get a look in!   We took up a secret spying spot behind a tree outside the school gate and watched from afar to ensure that all was okay. This time he didn't look back. He had gone.   A bittersweet moment for sure. 

Why am I sharing this story?! You are not 4, but 20. However, I think study abroad and the phases of adjustment can be very similar to this. It can be a rollercoaster of emotions and can hit us when we least expect them to!  Change is difficult for all of us.  I've been working at Arcadia University for some time now and every single August and September I've travelled on the journey of the new school year with so many American students. My colleagues and I have watched students go from excited and literally hopping through the door on day 1 to feeling that study abroad was the worst mistake of their lives a week later! There can be dips, highs, lows, exhaustion, confusion, excitement again and that is all part of it. It can be subtle and it can be more pronounced.  

We have watched on and have had the joy of seeing hundreds of students stick with their journey through thick and thin and fulfill their dream of study abroad.  During moments of doubt students have often thought that this was the worst mistake of their lives. Some have often wondered or worried about how the difference in teaching styles and assessments will impact on future grades and learning outcomes. This is a big part of the adjustment to life in Ireland and being part of a different academic system. We have come to realise that all of these moments of doubt are absolutely normal. Like all things, they shall pass.  

We feel that certain things can help in these and the other challenges of study abroad. Creating balance seems to be something that works in managing culture shock.  We can create new structures and new ways of being in this new school year. I feel that there has never been a better time to reach out. Reach out to others on your programme, to our Dublin staff, to your on campus supports,  through our Ireland Instagram page, through on campus clubs and societies and of course through Arcadia in Ireland's many co-curricular events. 

It is not a time to retreat into your own space and give all your emotional and mental energy to the worry of school work.  That is very important of course and crucial to getting through this phase in your life but other things are needed to create and maintain balance.

Watch out for sign up days for Clubs and Societies at your Irish University. They are the best way to meet Irish students and to connect with others! They are often free to join and everyone is welcome! In a way, I think you have to go along to really find out for yourself! NUIG, UCC, QUB, TCD, UCD, MU, UL. Some day when we have a moment I'll tell you about the time I joined the DJ society!! Okay so it wasn't for me but I made one new friend out of it! 

Happy Wednesday! Happy New School Year! 

Oh and one last thing from me is on the group photo above. It was taken this week at Trinity College Dublin...where better to gather everyone!