Arcadia Ireland

One of the greatest and most important things in life is to be part of something. In many ways it really is central to the human experience. We learn from each other, relate to each other, grow within ourselves and at a deeper level feel relevant.

 In the context of being on a study abroad programme students are provided another opportunity to be part of something. They have the chance to be part of an engaging community with others who share similar goals, dreams, ambitions and struggles.  It enables a group to share these intentions and support the growth that comes from being away from the familiar.  Creating the Arcadia Community in Ireland is central to everything we do here as a team. This begins before students even get on the plane to come to Ireland when we meet and break out in the virtual space. Students know who we are, who their peers are and how their goals sit within study abroad. It is perhaps the first part of connecting with the community.

Orientation is about learning for sure but it is also about community building. It is where students come through something important together at a time when feelings of vulnerability, tiredness perhaps even extreme excitement and happiness are strong. Things like our scavenger hunt and dinners and name games begin the ground work of creating the feeling of connectedness.

As the Semester goes on, we are constantly trying to find ways to encourage the building of community. One of these ways is through our co-curricular events. This weekend we prepare for “Pobail in Dublin”. Pobail means community and this is our chance to bring students together as one big group. It sounds cheesy but parts of it resemble a big family reunion. We connect with long lost “cousins” from Galway and Limerick who we have only heard of but never met. Pobail is about experiencing culture, food, sport, landscape together. Not only does it provide the chance for us to celebrate the Arcadia community, it also allows students opportunity to learn about Irish Communities. This is done intentionally through the Experience Gaelic Games on Saturday afternoon. Students learn what it means to be part of a Gaelic games county club and the passion that comes with it.

Have you found your sense of belonging here? Have you done all you can do to connect with and relate to others? It does not just come. It does take work and effort on your part. It means sometimes taking risks and feeling the discomfort that sometimes comes with that. In Ireland there are opportunities to be part of so many different communities – the Study abroad community, clubs and societies on campuses, volunteer groups off campus, roommate communities and lots more.

Think about what you have been doing and perhaps what you could do more of to really feel that sense of belonging!