Ireland: culturally rich and accepeting Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The work load in Ireland is completely different than what I have been used to back hom ein the states. Most modules require only a midterm essay and a final essay, with nothing in between. There aren't any tests that we have taken and the class environment is different as well. I go to a small school and at NUIG the class sized are much larger than the 25 student classes I have been exposed to. The lecturers don't really have any type of open discussion except in seperate classes they call tutorials. Some of these things are especially new to me, things such as the lecturer not caring if the students ever come to class, the times being different (ex. language course at the same times on certain days) the times are scattered and the days are different. In some aspects they are the same though because if any student had a question they have office hours, give out their phone numbers and e-mail addresses, and if it is a question during class it is a comfortable environment to feel free to ask even though there aren't open discussions.

On-site administration of your program

If anything was needed by any of the international students all we needed to do was ask for help and we recieved it.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

When i first arrived the group of students, including myself, stayed in a hostel for two nights in Dublin. After that we arrived at our apartments we would be in for the rest of our stay in Ireland. After about a week we stayed with a host family for a weekend.

I didn't know what to expect before I arrived in Ireland. Anyone I had asked back home told me the stereotypical answers "blood sausage, cabbage, and potatoes" I figured since just about every other stereotype is inaccurate this one was too. And I was right, the food here is amazing. They have some of the same things we would eat back in America,some very different things (black/white sausage) but overall I have not been dissatisfied with what i have eaten during my stay here

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

My cultural experience has just begun. I have met people from all over Ireland as well as in other parts of America and the world. I am going to Northern Ireland in a few days, after that I am going to London, and then traveling more in Ireland to experience the culture of the Country I currently go to school in. The people have been exceptionally nice, they all seem to love America and plan to or have been there as well. It is everything and more than I had expected it to be. The pub scene is fantastic, going to different pubs and enjoying the live music and Irish step dancing and meeting new people is exciting and very different than back home. The way people drive here is a bit crazier than back home, they arent very padestrian friendly, other than that everything is grand.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There were garda if we needed them, we were given an emergency contact card and the apartment complex where we reside has it's own security.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Select all that apply

• Host Family
• Apartment
• Hostel

Select all that apply

• Other