I am so excited to be in Dublin! After a long plane ride, we got started right away with tours and orientation to the Plus3 program. I have already had so much fun exploring the city within two days, but I have encountered a few surprises along the way. Coming to Ireland, I pictured cobblestone streets and castle after castle, yet this is not the case. While the city is older and there are many castles, the city also has areas of full modernization. It surprised me that this city has modern architecture and it switched so quickly from modern to medieval. Additionally, I was surprised that there is not a “downtown” type area, filled with skyscrapers and offices. We were able to see the Dockland area which consisted of many buildings, yet none included the large skyscraper-like buildings that I was expected to see in this city.
Another large surprise I had after my second day here is not feeling very out of place. While there are differences like driving on the other side of the road and the irish accents, I feel as though I have adapted to the city quite well. I do not feel out of place or worried at restaurants and shops as I was expecting to be. This was quite a happy surprise to me!
Looking at the professional side of things, throughout the past two days, we have learned a lot about Ireland’s history and culture. I believe that it is very important to learn about the history and culture of the place you are doing business. It is important due to the creation of beliefs and ideologies that are formed from history. If you can understand the history and culture of people from different backgrounds, you are able to make better connections and understand where the thought processes of individuals are coming from.
Overall, I have had a great time in Ireland so far, and I am excited for what is to come over the next week and a half!