14 days went by so fast! Two weeks ago, I was in the airport waiting for the airplane to Ireland and now I am waiting for the airplane to go home. Yes, it was indeed a wonderful experience, both in an academic/professional and personal point of view. I am glad I had the opportunity to be part of the 1st plus3 for transfer students along an amazing group of students, faculty, staff and program coordinators from CAPA (Dublin’s study abroad organization). For me, every day of our program was very meaningful, unique and I learned something new at every activity and event by living as an Irish business student.
My main takeaways from Plus3 Ireland are:
· I learned that Irish love their culture, roots and history and it was easier to learn about the culture of Ireland than I expected. I would say that in ALL of our site visits, we learned something about Irish culture through employees, lectures, tours and presentations.
· I confirmed that Irish value relationships, and they put a lot of time and effort in cultivating and maintaining them. They care about how people are doing. They are willing to help friends and strangers, because when I asked for directions on the street locals always helped me get find my way. I felt happy every time I talked with CAPA staff because they always received me with a sincere smile.
· There is an excellent education system in Ireland and companies are looking for the best talent. The employees at the company sites were very knowledgeable about their job duties, industry and the global market. Also, I learned that Irish are working hard to export their products along with their culture, and I hope they can reach and increase their presence in Latin America.
· It was my first time living in a “dorm environment” because I live at home with my family. Therefore, in this trip I adapted myself to different environments while abroad: an apartment with other 3 students, a new country, Irish companies and universities, public transportations, restaurants, the countryside and more!
· Ireland can be seen a homogenous country in terms of demographics and strong cultural traditions. However, in my opinion, it is very diverse. When I walked around, I listened to many different languages including Spanish, Italian, Mandarin, German, French and more. I was impressed and glad to find restaurants from different cultures. Therefore, I can wait to see the increase of diversity in Ireland in the following years.
Now that I finished my 4th study abroad program, I feel even more motivated to travel again and to work abroad. I am not afraid to go to a new country by myself even if I don’t speak the official language of that place. I love to experience food from other countries, explore new environments and live like locals do. My favorite part of the trip was when we visited the sheep farm in the country side because is an attraction that only Ireland can offer to the world. And, it was relaxing to take a break from technology and to see that part of Ireland’s Globalization is made up from agriculture and their green lands.
Thank you, Dublin, for an unforgettable experience!
Hope to come back again as a professional!
