Finding a Second Home Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The modules were different from what I was expecting, since they were much more self-driven/guided than any other college classes I've taken before. The rigor of the classes correlated with the level (upper-division versus entry-level), and was overall a great experience!

On-site administration of your program

The IFSA-Butler staff was very kind and helpful in orientating us to Maynooth and its surroundings, and were always available to give assistance if we needed it

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Although I know the majority of the on-campus accomodation was given to international students, I also knew many Irish students who lived on-campus during the week. My entire flat was made up of other Americans; it would have been cool to have a mix of Americans and Irish students in the same flat!

I have many food allergies (several to grains), and finding food both at Maynooth and in the whole of Ireland was so much easier than I've ever found it in America! People in Ireland are so much more careful and aware of the importance and danger of food allergies--even just evidenced by the detailed allergen information on the menus in most of the restaurants I ever visited!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Because of Maynooth's identity as a college town off the beaten path, I loved that pretty much the only non-Irish people in town were the international students. Especially through my involvement with the Maynooth University Chamber Choir and Christian Union, I found myself often surrounded completely by Irish people and their culture.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The beginning of my study abroad experience was rather rough. I struggled quite a bit in the first couple weeks to get the correct classes, to communicate with professors, to organise music lessons and audition for ensembles and figure out how to make it to my modules on time without getting lost. But even though the first few weeks were rather difficult, if I had the chance to go back to the beginning of my semester and do it all again, I would choose to do so in a heartbeat. The number of people who opened up their hearts and lives and homes to me--whether it was the IFSA-Butler program staff, the students in my Christian fellowship and the Maynooth Chamber Choir who became my closest friends, people in my church, or even random strangers on the side of the road who offered me help--the people in Ireland are so full of hospitality, it's almost impossible to feel unwelcome.

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

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• Apartment

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• Americans

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• I loved that it provided the opportunity to meet American, Irish, and international students alike
• It was comforting that the program staff was ready to help us when we needed it
• We had the freedom to become independent and figure things out on our own, but also had people to depend on if we needed help/advice

• Better & clearer mode of communication for disasters (i.e., the IFSA-Butler staff should have a better means to inform them when we left the country)
• More up-front information about living situations
• Staff could work more as liaisons between students & Irish university staff (especially when students are still in America)

The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer