My journey in the Republic of Ireland, Dublin started in 2015.
Back then, I was only 16 years old and had just completed my GCE O-Level Examinations. However, I was optimistic and believed that I was ready to be independent and embark on this new journey. I was wrong. It was frightening - the environment was different, and the familiar accents and slangs of home had vanished. It got to the point where all I wanted to do was turn to my parents for solace and comfort (and I was never the kind to ask my parents for help). As I was still considered underage then, I was placed in a host family. Thankfully, my Irish landlady took good care of me and gave me good advice as I navigated around my new life in Dublin.
In a blink of an eye, nearly six years have passed, and I’ve since graduated from high school and entered medical school.
If you are coming over to the Republic of Ireland, allow me to impart some of the knowledge and tips I have on getting around this cheery and hospitable country (just like what my landlady did for me all those years ago).
Befriending the Locals
I am naturally quite shy, and thus would typically wait for others to approach and make friends with me. While this worked out well in Singapore, it did not work too well overseas. I remember being really upset after my first day in high school, and went to confide in my Irish landlady that I did not manage to make any friends. She told me that I had to approach others first, rather than waiting for them to come up to me.
This was quite the cultural shock, and it was not easy making the first move, but my efforts did pay off as I made quite a few local friends and am still in contact with them after graduating from high school. As such, do take the initiative - go up to someone and introduce yourself! You might just end up really good friends with them.
Time Management
The pace of life in Singapore is much faster than in other parts of the world, and I found it somewhat difficult to adapt to the slower pace of life in other countries.
With regards to Dublin, most shops will close by 7 PM on most days, and the traffic congestion in the city was ranked as the worst in the whole of Europe. To manage this, make sure to plan your time well if you need to buy essentials such as groceries and medicines and take public transport as early as possible (to account for traffic jams and congestion).
Waterproofing
The one thing I dislike about Singapore is the frequent heavy downpours, and I thought that I would be able to escape these after going overseas. However, it still rains pretty frequently in Dublin and you can get drenched if you aren’t well-prepared for the weather. As such, I recommend buying waterproof jackets, bags and shoes (and not umbrellas as the winds will destroy it) and also to check the weather forecast when planning your outfit for the day.
I hope this blog has given you a better idea about studying in Ireland. If you do come here, feel free to reach out and ask your friendly locals for help or advice - you may just learn a thing or two from them!
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Nicole is a student studying in the Republic of Ireland, Dublin and aspires to create her own skincare product line. She can be found at @hengitsnicole on Instagram and at @kremipeach when she has the money to try out new restaurants and cuisines.
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