Berkley Center

Today is the first day of November, and this month brings even more wind to the city streets of Dublin, Ireland. It is hard to believe that two months have already passed since I stepped off the plane in Dublin. I arrived with a whirlwind of expectations and excitement for my semester abroad. This was coupled with various preconceived notions about Ireland and its people. I have since learned that there is so much more to Ireland, and I look forward to spending my last remaining month and a half discovering more truth behind that statement.

One of the things that I am most grateful for is the fact that my program here at the University College Dublin (UCD) mixes students from all different nations, including Ireland, in the class programs. This mix has created a classroom environment full of knowledge exchange in more ways than one could imagine. It is beyond fascinating to learn about the different education systems and universities located around the world. I naively expected to be in a classroom of mostly Irish students and a few other Americans studying abroad for the semester. Thankfully, the list of home countries that my UCD classmates hail from includes Australia, Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, New Zealand, Austria, Italy, China, Belgium, and many others.

This cultural diversity has dramatically enhanced my experience in the classroom. I quickly realized how different the classroom norms are in different countries. For instance, some students had no problem shouting out their thoughts in class and even talking over other students. The varying writing styles and class presentation techniques were also something to take note of. There appears to be less pressure for students here in Ireland, and the overall demeanor of class is more calm and relaxed. Perhaps the biggest shock of all is within the classroom discussions. As an undergraduate studying business, a large portion of class time is spent discussing the economy, businesses, current events, and world events. It is very strange to hear students from other countries discuss “America” and our role in world affairs. In one particular class, I am the sole American, and the conversations consistently fall back to the United States and even our current president. It was a bit funny getting accustomed to certain vocabulary used in a discussion with “them” and “the Americans”. At the same time, I was surprised to discover the large extent to which students from Ireland and other countries stay informed about America, and I was also humbled by how little I knew about their respective countries. The cultural differences are very evident when you are sitting in class listening to students give their opinion of America.

While these differences are striking, there are incredible connections between the Irish and American cultures. Orientation was filled with numerous speeches from the university's deans and program advisors further emphasizing the link between the two countries. The dean's welcome speech started with a look around the room at all of my fellow Americans studying abroad. According to the dean, an overwhelming majority of us had “Irish features,” and he could feel the “blood of Ireland running through the auditorium.” Hearing this was very moving and inspirational. He ended his speech by remarking how happy he was that the “great grandchildren of Ireland have finally returned” along with diverse students from all over the world to study here and develop into culturally aware adults. There was a large importance placed on learning (both in and out of the classroom) from each other. I finally started to see the “semester abroad” as a two-way street. As much as I am learning from my international surroundings, the students who call this university “home” are presented with a wonderful opportunity to interact with students from all around the world. When I look back on this semester, I know that the articles I read and the papers I write will only make up a portion of my overall learning experience in Ireland. I look forward to spending my remaining time here benefiting from and participating in the exchange of different ideas and cultural values shared by my fellow students, while also making lifelong friends from around the world!