Some of the soft skills I’ve been working on and developing during my time here in Ireland include adaptability, communication, and staying enthusiastic. Let’s go through each of these one by one to get a clearer picture. First up, adaptability. I think it’s pretty obvious that when you move to a new country, you’re going to have to change and adjust to a bunch of new things like the local culture, the way people live their daily lives, transportation methods, weather conditions, time differences, and so on. Honestly, at the beginning, it was pretty tough for me. Especially because I was doing all of this without really knowing anyone here, which made things even more challenging. But I feel really lucky to be in Ireland, of all places, because the people here are incredibly helpful and kind-hearted. That was such a big help and really made the whole process of adapting a lot smoother for me. It’s been quite a journey, but I think I’m gradually becoming more flexible and open-minded because of it.
At the beginning of my internship, I have to admit that I was feeling pretty lost and a bit overwhelmed. I wasn’t exactly doing what I had envisioned or expected to be doing during this experience, which made me feel a little out of place. However, I decided to reach out and talk to the folks at EUSA about my concerns. Luckily, they were super understanding and supportive. They took the time to listen to what I was feeling and offered some really helpful advice. They also communicated with my company on my behalf, which made a big difference. Thanks to their support, I started to feel more at ease and more confident about the situation. They also worked behind the scenes to help me get involved in projects that are more aligned with my major and interests, which has made the whole experience much more meaningful and enjoyable for me.
One of the most tricky soft skills I’ve really had to work on developing over time is keeping my enthusiasm alive, even when things aren’t exactly super exciting all the time. I mean, going into the office every single day isn’t exactly the most thrilling thing ever, right? Now that we’re five weeks into being here and four weeks into actually working, I’ve definitely noticed that the initial excitement of just being in a new place has kind of worn off a little. But I’ve found that making an effort to bring that same level of enthusiasm for myself has actually turned into a pretty fun challenge. Sure, I still work every weekday and all that, but I also try to get out into the city whenever I can and hang out with the friends I’ve managed to meet along the way. It’s about finding those small ways to keep things fresh and fun, even on the less exciting days.
On the technical side of things, I have improved my use of Microsoft Excel, I am better at talking to people on the phone and in customer service, I am managing large databases, doing research, and using some of my coding background to sort that data. I havn’t really encountered too many difficult cross-cultural moments, but I suppose the whole situation here with some folks protesting against immigrants and tourists has been hard to navigate mentally, but I also know that if most people get to know me, they will like me.
