This past week marks my fourth week in Ireland. The perfect time for a visitor from home! My friend Sophia had just finished another Pitt abroad program in Amsterdam, and decided to come visit me before heading home. Our weekend was packed. We went hiking in Wicklow and Howth, cliff jumped in Dun Laoghaire, visited the Dublin Zoo, and went to a few markets. After being abroad so long, it was nice to have a friendly face from home. I really enjoyed showing her around my favorite spots but also going to new places together. The best part of the weekend for me was swimming in Dun Laoghaire. The water was ice cold, but I felt so refreshed while in it. We went to Forty Foot jump, but I think it should be renamed Four Foot jump because of how short it was. I love a good cliff jump, so I am not complaining, but I did think that it would be more exhilarating. I would even go as far as to say that being in the cold water was more exciting than jumping in. After swimming we all say on the rocks and chatted, which was really nice. We then went into town and I finally had Irish stew! At home I am a huge fan of beef stew, so I have been waiting to find a good bowl here. While eating it I really felt to connect to Irish culture. All of these activities were done with my friend Sophia and the other Pitt students in the Dublin Program. I was happy seeing my different friends meet and hit it off. Sophia left Monday morning, and our goodbye including watching the episodes of Always Sunny in Philadelphia where the group goes to Ireland. This was a great closing chapter to our time together on this trip as we first bonded over the show back at school.

 When it comes to work, my week was another new adventure. Last week’s high school intern was gone, but a new intern from EUSA arrived. It has been really nice to have another American college student who is experiencing the same thing as me. Our supervisor was extremely busy this week so we were left alone to run multiple school tours. At one point we had 25 children to lead, which was a bit stressful. It was however nice to work very independently from my supervisor. I can tell that she really trusts me to get the job done. I also have learned to really enjoy the school visits. The children are always so excited to be on a field trip and even more excited to garden. While they can get rowdy and not listen to me, most are really kind. A few have even tried to teach me Irish phrases, which I can never seem to say correctly. A big cultural shift at work has been going on school visits. One day after a school tour finished, I went with another high up employee to a school to teach about gardening and plants. While it is very fun, I spent most of the visit being shocked that I could just walk into the school by myself and no one was concerned. My co-worker would send me in before him, and I was fully able to walk into the property by myself. When explaining my shock to him, he was surprised to hear that American schools really do need high levels of security. I have enjoyed seeing these school kids and teachers without any worries, and wish that the American school system could go back to a time when all doors didn’t have to be permanently locked.

When it comes to assimilating to the workplace, I do not think that any issues that I am having are Ireland-specific. In my experience, most out-door workplaces are more relaxed and without guidelines, so I expected that going into this position. While I prefer more structure, I have adapted to this new system. Like I said above, another major difference is the trust that these parents and teachers have in me. Even though I am a stranger to them, I have been left alone with children multiple times. It is something that I don’t think will cease to shock me while being here, and will really sadden me to think about once I am home again. The kids here are really lucky to live in such a safe world. Overall work has been good, and I am really starting to feel like a core member of the team. In my personal life, I am comfortable in Dublin and feel very relaxed and almost at home here. This experience is starting to shift from a quick trip to actually living abroad.