It’s our final week in Dublin and the thought of leaving feels very bittersweet. I’m ready to leave and return to normalcy (I need to sleep), but I’ll also miss my friends and the new freedoms I had abroad that I didn’t have in the States.
Dublin has turned into a second home for me, where I felt comfortable navigating, I found community, and I worked during the week. My friends and I were talking about our first meal back home when we return to the U.S., and that made me start brainstorming about everything I’m most excited to return to. So, I’ll share a list of things from home I’ve missed the most since going abroad:
- Outback Steakhouse (working there and eating the food)
- Matcha lattes
- My dad
- Target
- Chick-fil-A
- Chipotle
- My hometown friends
- North Carolina trails
- Long drives while listening to music
- Hulu
Now for Dublin:
- Walkable infrastructure
- Reliable public transportation
- Pubs
- My abroad friends
- McDonald’s chicken bacon wraps
- My morning commute
- Cheap and accessible international flights
- Daylight lasting until 10 pm
- Irish humour
- The cool summer temperatures (I can’t stand the heat!)
I would love to return to Dublin in a few years and revisit the same places I frequented from a new perspective! I’ve had such a fun time here and I’ll forever be thankful for this experience. Though I’m sad to leave and I’ll miss my friends, I still have a lot to look forward to in the near future!
I’m working my two hometown jobs and wrapping up the summer to move back on campus in about a month. I now have a greater appreciation for the little things back home that I took for granted like ice water and Walmart. Both Dublin and Raleigh have different strengths and weaknesses, but now I can approach new environments with a global perspective gained from my time abroad! I’m (willingly) working at Outback the day after I return home and I’m so excited to work again and return to my daily routine.
I’m so thankful for the EUSA staff, Pitt Business, and the staff at Allgo for making this all possible and helping me settle into Dublin smoothly. A part of me will continue longing for Dublin as a new second home and I know the same special homey feeling will return when I visit again.
Internship Reflection: Global Competency and Expectations
The biggest difference I have noticed in the Dublin workplace is the lack of a competitive culture, in comparison to the U.S. In corporate settings back home, employees are expected to stand out and seek promotions. There is a stronger emphasis on monetary gain as many people in the U.S tie their success to their salary and or their title. I noticed fewer hierarchical boundaries during my time working with Allgo, where all employees worked in the same area with the same cubicles. Ireland embraces a relaxed work culture marked by humility and collaboration. Whereas the U.S has a stronger hustle hustle with more hierarchical boundaries marked by longer hours and less vacation time. A “successful” employee in the U.S will make themselves available at all hours of the day, work long hours, and strive for a promotion. While, a “successful” employee in Ireland will work to communicate effectively with others and show strong teamwork skills. I struggled to initially motivate myself when I started working with Allgo because the relaxed work environment was a shock to me. Eventually, I found my rhythm and learned the value in slowing down and not racing to finish every task. I admire Ireland’s prioritization of work-life balance, as constantly pushing yourself to work long hours can lead to burnout.