This past weekend, I traveled to Derry with a friend. Derry was a lot of fun! I was inspired to go to Derry by a show called “Derry Girls,” which is a funny show about a high school friend group that lives in Derry. While there, I saw many of the sights that I recognized from the show. I also saw a mural of the famous Derry Girls friend group. The experience was surreal, as it felt like stepping into scenes from the series. We also explored the historic city walls and enjoyed local cuisine, making the trip even more memorable.

While in Derry, I also ate great food and saw amazing live music. Derry is a very small city. Derry brings a very family-like vibe in that everyone seems to know each other. When you are out in town, you hear everyone saying hello to each other. I also learned that even when you do not know the person, when they are leaving, you say goodbye by saying “see you later.” I think this truly captures the family-like vibe. The sense of community and warmth in Derry made me feel incredibly welcome and at home, despite being so far from my own country.

Working outside of the United States, in a different culture, can be very difficult. While Ireland and the United States’ cultural gap is not necessarily large, it can still raise a few difficulties. For me, communication style has posed the most difficulties in my workplace. The communication style in Ireland is generally pretty indirect. When my boss gives me instructions, I find them to be slightly vague and do not always know exactly how he would like me to complete the job. This is different than in America. For example, I find that in America, our instructions are very clear and precise. For jobs, I would often get a detailed outline on how to complete said job, leaving little room for ambiguity. This difference has required me to adapt quickly and develop new strategies for seeking clarification.

Additionally, I find it slightly difficult to figure out if my boss is satisfied with my job. When I show my boss a completed task, he does not always give me a clear answer about whether it is satisfactory or not. Also, he does not always give me pointers on how to go about fixing the task. However, whenever I ask for feedback, he is happy to give it. I have found that it will usually not be directly given to me unless it is asked for. I believe this lack of direction is actually an attempt at the Irish trying to be polite, it is just something that I am not completely used to. 

Similarly, I find it slightly difficult to pick up on the Irish humor. Humor plays a large role in the workplace and friendly conversations in Ireland. I really appreciate this attribute of Ireland. However, I feel as though I am not totally aware when my coworkers are making jokes. I believe this is because I am not fully caught up on the Irish lingo. Sometimes when my boss makes a joke, the only way I know how to respond is to laugh and not add anything to it. This has nothing to do with whether the joke was funny or not and usually has something to do with the fact that I did not totally grasp the punch line.

While these miscommunications can be difficult, overall, I really appreciate these attributes of Ireland. I really enjoy the more laid-back dynamic of the Irish workplace. My boss treats me and the other interns as friends rather than also acting as our boss. He makes jokes and sometimes even brings us in food. This has helped me to feel more comfortable in the workplace. Because my boss makes us feel comfortable and makes the workplace a welcoming and inviting place, I am not afraid to ask for help or for advice. I believe that this has helped me be more productive at work.

Lastly, I find it a little more difficult to travel to work. The buses are very easy to take, yet the act of crossing streets occasionally proves to be more difficult. Sometimes I get slightly confused on which way to look when crossing the street, as the traffic patterns are the opposite in the United States. Additionally, I find the pedestrian crossing signs to be slightly brief. Because of this, many people cross the street without the pedestrian sign being on. However, this was more of an issue for me the first week. I have become very accustomed to these differences.