For the past (nearly) two weeks, I’ve been 3,000+ miles away from my home, family, and most of my friends. I’ve been plopped down into a completely new and unfamiliar environment and left to my own devices. Luckily, one of my best friends, Abby, is here with me. We’ve been wandering around Dublin for the past 12 days eager to experience life in this city and this country; we’ve already learned our way around the winding medieval streets near our apartment building, and we’ve been going to classes at Trinity College. Being in a foreign environment is challenging—we’ve gotten caught in the rain on more than one occasion, gotten a little lost, and been severely jetlagged. But every challenge is a learning experience, so here are 5 things that I’ve learned about life since leaving home to live in Ireland.
1. Getting lost is a good thing
Temple Bar at night, by me.
My sense of direction has certainly improved in the last 12 days. Neither Abby nor I have access to data, so if we’re without wifi (which we usually are) we’re without a map. On our first day here, we went up the wrong street trying to find our apartment building. After a few more turns and a little backtracking, we eventually made it back. In getting lost though, we saw more of the city, catching glimpses of Christchurch Cathedral and several traditional pubs. Now I try to find a new way to get where I’m going every day, by taking a new side street or by going a different way home. The lesson here: you’ll find your way back eventually—get lost and enjoy what you find.
2. Always ask for help if you need it
Trinity College Dublin, by me.
Since getting here, I’ve had to send off a flurry of emails to professors, the IT desk, and the administration. As someone who would normally just wait to figure things out for myself rather than asking for help, being in a very unfamiliar environment has forced me to actually ask people to help me. It’s made my life significantly easier, unsurprisingly. The lesson here: it’s better to ask for help than be stubborn.
3. Don’t take anything for granted
Trinity College Dublin, by me.
Registering for classes at Trinity College was a nightmare. Following the system they’ve had for the last (no kidding) 200 years, Trinity students must do paper registration—getting approval from individual departments and professors in order to take classes. I’ve always complained about Geneseo’s registration (which is still a bloodbath but nothing compared to what I’ve been experiencing). You’ll never hear me complain about having to wake up at 7 am to click a few buttons to register ever again. The lesson here: minor inconveniences are just that—minor.
4. Record it
The River Liffey in the evening, by me.
Whether it’s journaling, taking pictures, or writing down the funny things that happen in the notes section of my phone, I’ve been sure to keep an active record of what I’m doing, how I’m feeling, and the things that are happening. And it’s made me realize that just recording my life when I’m travelling isn’t enough. Sure, I write stuff down while I’m living at home or at Geneseo, but not nearly enough. The lesson here: the things that happen to you, that you do, and that you feel are important, regardless of where you are, and you should record them as best you can.
5. Everything is happening for a reason
Corner of Abbey Street Upper and Liffey Street Upper, by me.
This one speaks for itself, but also connects back to lesson 1 and lesson 4. I sometimes get lost, but I always eventually get where I need to go. I record my life so I can go back and read about my own experiences and realize how formative they were. Traveling (and life) is about taking each day and deciding how you want to use it, but understanding that the distractions, the delays and the accidents can oftentimes lead to the best moments.
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