All of the miscommunications between me and my coworkers in Ireland have been extremely minor. In fact, they were so small that I would hesitate to even call them miscommunications at all. They felt more like brief moments of confusion that passed as quickly as they came. For example, with my boss, one of us would occasionally use a phrase that the other had never heard before. When I first showed up to work, she told me to “have a crack,” and I just stared at her blankly because I had absolutely no idea what that meant. It didn’t lead to any sort of problem or mistake, just a brief moment where one of us had to laugh and explain what the phrase meant in our respective countries. These sorts of interactions happened a handful of times, but they were always lighthearted and became a fun way to learn more about Irish sayings and culture. They reminded me that language, even when two people technically speak the same one, can be full of nuances that aren’t obvious until you encounter them firsthand.
Outside of those occasional moments, the biggest adjustment for me was learning how to “read between the lines” in the Irish workplace. At first, I found this to be frustrating because I wasn’t always sure what was expected of me. Tasks weren’t always spelled out in the way I was used to back home. I felt unsure at times, as though I was missing something that everyone else just intuitively understood. However, as time passed, that discomfort faded away. Now, it feels as though that problem never even existed. It turns out that getting used to this style of communication only took about two months, which, looking back, is not a long time at all. Because of this, I now have the confidence to believe that I will be able to adapt to other work cultures just as quickly. Learning how to navigate an unfamiliar workplace taught me more than just how to complete my tasks—it showed me how to be flexible, patient, and willing to observe and adjust my approach rather than forcing my own expectations onto a new environment.
The biggest takeaway for me is not just that I was able to overcome these small challenges, but that they helped me grow in ways I did not expect. It can be easy to assume that learning to work in a new country will mostly be about performing your job duties in a slightly different way. What I found instead was that so much of the growth comes from the little things—understanding a joke, learning a common phrase, or figuring out how to politely ask a question when you aren’t sure what to do. These are small moments, but together they shape how you connect with the people around you. By gradually picking up on these cultural details, I found myself becoming more confident and more willing to engage with my coworkers. That confidence, in turn, made me better at my job. When you understand the people you work with, even just a little bit more, it becomes much easier to collaborate and contribute meaningfully to the team.
One of the most valuable things I will carry with me is the knowledge I gained about Irish culture. The sayings, phrases, and everyday behaviors of my coworkers were all things that I grew to really enjoy. There was a certain charm in hearing expressions that felt completely new to me, and even though I was the outsider at first, people were always happy to explain what something meant. These moments helped me feel like I was not just working in Ireland, but truly experiencing Ireland. If I ever have the chance to return, I will be able to navigate both the culture and the workplace with a better understanding than before, and that feels like a meaningful accomplishment in itself.
More importantly, this experience gave me confidence in my ability to adapt. Jobs will always vary but the ability to enter a new environment, observe how things are done, and gradually adjust your approach is a skill that is valuable no matter where you go. I believe that is far more important than getting used to any one particular type of job. My internship taught me that adaptability is not just a vague concept, but a skill you actively build by being placed in situations where you don’t initially feel comfortable. In the future, I plan to use what I learned during this internship to help me adapt to new workplaces, connect with new people, and handle unfamiliar situations with patience and confidence. Even though my time in Ireland was relatively short, the lessons I learned about culture, communication, and flexibility will stay with me for far longer.