For the Love of Wifi!

The most important question every American wants an answer to, ‘What about my cell phone?!’

At first I was stubborn and did not want to use anything other than my cell phone from the states. My family and I even switched to a plan that allowed us to call and text each other. However, I still need to keep in contact with people in Ireland. The leaders of Irish Experience made a good point by telling me that if we needed to call or text each other (which we often do) then it will charge roaming fees to anyone with an Irish number. That being said, I had to get a prepaid phone. This was a much better idea because I rarely use my cell phone from the states unless there is wifi.

Its easier to just purchase a phone in Ireland because there are several providers throughout the town of Carlow. However, there are some people who bought an unlocked cell phone from amazon which is more expensive of course. The cheapest prepaid phones are typically 20 euro with an additional 20 euro for a SIM card. So you’re looking at a minimum of 40 euro unless you want it to look prettier which I find to be a total waste of money. However, this phone is yours and you’re able to use it in any country you want. Its a nice investment in my opinion and makes staying in contact with your friends a lot easier and inexpensive. Also, you can just continue to take the prepaid phone with you if you ever leave the states again. That way you’re just paying for a SIM card each time and not paying an expensive bill.

Like I said before, I only use my cell phone from the states when there is wifi. The college has a nice wifi connection. However, this is not how it is all over Europe. Some pubs, cafes, and hostels have free wifi or there are internet cafes that allow you to use computers for a small fee. There are computers in the campus library if you need to look something up between classes. However, the computers are limited to what you can search. Its better to just use your own laptop since the campus already has wifi. My favorite part about the college is that they give you a flash drive on orientation day. That way you just throw it on your keys and have one designated for school work.

What if I don't make friends?!

Being in a new environment can make anyone nervous, especially if you’re traveling by yourself. If you’re nervous about meeting the people you’re going to be living with, remember that everyone is in the same boat. They are all just as new to the country as you are.

Making friends in the program is similar to making friends your freshman year of college. In the beginning everyone typically hangs out together and is super friendly. Then once you get to know each other, you typically split up into groups depending on what you're interested in doing while traveling abroad. Although it seems like people are breaking up into cliques, that is not what is actually happening. This is actually the most effective way to get to visit places and see what you want while you're in a different country.

On weekends we keep each other informed on what we’re doing and its basically an open invitation for whomever wants to attend. I think this is nice because it gives everyone in our group different options of what there is to do in Ireland. 

Just as it is important to keep an open mind about the culture of a new country, it is also important to keep an open mind about the people you are living with. Remember that the people you are living with are able to provide the type of support you would get back home.

Getting Settled In

I have been in Ireland for almost two weeks now. So far, I can say that Carlow County is very beautiful and full of charm. The locals are extremely friendly and very approachable if you need to ask for directions. Although it is viewed as a smaller county, there is a lot more within the area compared to the small towns throughout Pennsylvania. Throughout the town there are many shops and stores on most streets. The streets and sidewalks are kept extremely clean because littering appears to be a rare occurrence here. 

When I arrived to Carlow my first observation was that people are rarely on their cell phones. Instead of going on Facebook or texting their friends, the locals tend to focus on who their surrounding environment. Even during orientation when there were speakers talking for a long time, everyone was attuned with what was going on. As silly as it sounds, that was completely mind boggling to me.

Orientation day consisted of an overview of Carlow College. It began with a tour from members of the student union who were able to point out important aspects about the college such as seeing the nurse is completely free or that showing our student identification on the bus gives allows us to have discounts. 

Carlow College

What really stood out to me during the orientation was how they continuously talked about the end of the year essay. Instead of taking an exam with true/false or multiple choice questions, students are given an end of the year essay question. This is a major portion of my grade this semester, so the college wants the students to spend their time focusing on the essay itself. So while students are learning new concepts and ideas in their classes, they are able to apply these ideas to the essay question as well as using the provided required and secondary readings.

They also talked a lot about the types of support the college provides like tutoring, understanding different learning styles, and essay tutorials. However, the college first and foremost stresses the students independence. This is because the students are given several pages of reading lists that they are expected to keep up on.

My Last Hours in America

Why did you decide to study abroad?

I can honestly say that I am not completely sure why I decided to study abroad. I haven't taken many once in a lifetime chances, so I figured this was my time to experience one.

How do you expect to be changed by your experience?

Besides having a better understanding of the metric system, I’d like to get to know different people. I think that spending a significant amount of time in a different country allows outsiders to gain a better understanding of the locals and the culture. I may take this opportunity to reevaluate the cultural values of America and how the differ in Ireland.

My goals while abroad:

• Independence
• Good Grades
• Trying new things
• Make new friends

How I expect to achieve these goals:

• Independence--Since I am traveling alone I think I will be able to learn how to be more independent. However, I think Independence only comes with practice. I know I will feel independent when I have the courage to get on a bus by myself and find new adventures.
• Good Grades--I plan on writing down a strict schedule for the week which will hopefully give me time on the weekends to travel. Although I trust that I will do a lot of studying, I know that the style of learning will be very different.
• Trying new things/ Making new friends-- While abroad I want to live life differently. However, I cannot expect to turn the cultural differences on and off. I know that in order to try new things I will have to take some time for myself as well. Some days I might just have to stay back and relax in order to stay focused on school and not become too overwhelmed with so many changes of a different country.

What fears or apprehensions do you have?

Besides missing my loved ones back home, I am quite nervous about getting lost in a different country. In America I can just get directions from my smart phone, however I will not be able to use my phone like I do back home. From what I’ve read about the citizens of Ireland is that they are very kind. Hopefully if this occurs I will be able to get help from the locals.

What are you most looking forward to?

Most importantly I’m looking forward to a change of pace. I'm excited to meet new people and live a different way for a few months. However, I’m also interested in finding similarities between both cultures.