Student Bloggers

Today is Friday the 14th of September, and I have officially been living in Galway for a week.

It’s crazy to me that I have already completed the Arcadia orientation in Dublin, the visiting & international student orientation at NUIG (National University of Ireland Galway), and the first four days of class! (I have no classes on Friday! So exciting, I know.) This semester is going to go by so fast, but I am determined to make the most of it. Don’t be fooled into thinking that everything about studying abroad is perfect, all this change can be a bit overwhelming and very stressful. Thankfully, the Arcadia programme is incredible, and I have met so many wonderful humans that I am already becoming close friends with. Navigating this new country and culture is a lot more fun with some fellow wandering-souls from America.

The most outstanding and eye-opening aspect of the Dublin Arcadia orientation to me was our visit to the NA Fianna GAA Club. We were greeted by friendly staff, who actively helped us experience Gaelic Games. They taught us that the importance of Gaelic football, hurling, and handball extends way beyond the definition of a sport. The games have a deep cultural history in Ireland and help bind Irish communities together. One thing I learned about myself during this cultural immersion experience is that my hand-eye coordination could really use some attention. In addition to learning about the Gaelic culture, this was such a fun opportunity to get to know the other Arcadia NUIG students.

As much as I loved being in Dublin, it is a really big city. By the time day three came around I was soo ready to move to Galway, a mid-sized west coast city in Ireland.

Over the past week, I have developed a list of interesting or challenging differences between Texas/USA and Ireland:

1. It rains a lot in Galway! (I need to buy rain boots... quickly!) It may be sunny when you look out the window but by the time you walk outside a minute later, it could be downpouring! I’ve decided to never leave my apartment without my rain jacket!

2. It is much more difficult to find produce/food without plastic and packaging! In Texas, we have this wonderful store called HEB... I would always shop in the bulk section where almost everything is plastic free. Unfortunately, almost every grocery store that I’ve been to here in Galway has everything in plastic (even fruit and veggies)! Fortunately, my new friends and I went to check out the Galway farmers market on Saturday morning and found so much beautiful local, organic, and package-free produce and bread!!! I will definitely be shopping at the farmers market every week!

3. I walk everywhere here in Galway! I’ve only taken a taxi a few times, and I have discovered that walking is kind of therapeutic. It is nice to be outside and experience the sounds of the city and campus. Of course, I am also reducing my carbon footprint by walking instead of using a vehicle. This is a big change from Texas where everyone drives all the time! (bonus* I don’t even need to spend money on a gym membership! LOL)

5. Electricity is way more expensive here, so everyone is super cautious about using it too much. Every outlet has a switch to turn the power on or off, and most buildings do not use AC. The water heater was definitely something we had to learn. Instead of there always being hot water available, the water heater is either set on a timer, or you must go manually turn it on before you shower! This system does save energy, but it was quite confusing at first. People are just way more aware of the amount of water that they use here!

6. Many terms dealing with college are similar but not the same here in Ireland. For example: In Texas, I am an English major, but here in Ireland my “course” is English. In Texas, I would attend a class or course, but in Ireland, I would attend a “module”. Also, Students attend university in Ireland for only three years unless they are studying medicine or a few other disciplines. They call their year status: “first, second, and final” year as compared to our “freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior” year.

7. Lastly, the Irish are constantly talking about having the “crack” (actually spelled craic). Nope, it’s not what you are thinking about… Craic just means fun, news, gossip, entertainment, or enjoyable conversation! For example, someone in Ireland may ask a friend: “What’s the craic?” whereas, in the USA we would probably say: “What’s up?” 

I’ll be back soon to let you know all about my experience with academic and college life here at NUIG! Thanks for reading!