There are no words to describe the mix of nerves and excitement I felt before officially landing in Ireland. I was looking forward to experiencing new sights, sounds and smells of an entirely new country. However, leaving the familiarity of the states was quite nerve wracking! I don't think reality sunk in until I saw the green fields of Ireland come into view as my plane was preparing to land. After so many months of planning, I was finally here!
One of the biggest challenges of integrating into my Limerick community was figuring out navigation and transportation. The bus system has so many different buses and schedules that it can sometimes be hard to determine when and where to be in order to catch the correct bus! My first few weeks here required asking several bus drivers and pedestrians for directions.
Taking classes abroad has been another major adjustment! Unlike my college at home where I have small assignments due every day, here I have only a few large assessments for the entire semester. Group projects include working with people from all across the globe and integrating several points of view and working styles.
Overall, my journey abroad has suprised me in several ways. While planning this trip, I believed that this semester would involve more solo time.
