Category: Ireland

Believe it or not, the Irish have been celebrating Christmas since late November. (Well, if they’re not “celebrating,” they’re certainly eager to start). This is obviously a big change from home, since we have Thanksgiving to break up the slog between Halloween and Christmas. So it was a bit odd for me that Cork decided to throw a Christmas parade on November 15th:

It was actually the first annual “Corkmas” parade, so now I can say I was part of Cork’s history. Kind of.

Usually, it’s easy for me to get into the Holiday spirit. Christmas is my favorite holiday- and not just because of the whole presents thing. Christmas, for me, makes me feel nostalgic for when this time of the year had a sort of magical feel. There’s something special about it that brings family, friends, and even strangers together. But for some weird reason that I can’t put my finger on… it doesn’t exactly feel like the Holiday Season here in Cork.

I’m not used to being away from home during this time of year, so maybe it’s that. It’s not for a lack of trying. The city itself is very merry, lit up on every block, a Christmas tree on every other corner in the city center.

I think it also has something to do with the fact that I’m not typically still doing school work at this time of the year. (Which, I am thankfully almost done with. I submitted my fourth- and final- paper yesterday and only have one exam left next week!)

All of this to say, it’s difficult to get into the Holiday Season mindset away from home. A lot of my friends here have expressed a similar sentiment. I guess there is something to be said about the notion of being home for the holidays.

And I only have about another week here in Cork, so I think seeing all the holiday decorations also kind of signals an end to my study abroad experience. It is almost unfathomable to think that I’ve been in Cork since early September- it sometimes feels like I’ve just gotten here. I suppose the Holiday Season is kind of a physical reminder that my time abroad is winding down, which obviously makes me sad. All good things must come to an end. But I still have some time in Cork, a city I have truly grown to love.

While I’ve had absolutely wonderful experiences in Cork so far, probably the least favorite of mine has been adapting to this academic system, especially now that the semester is starting to come to an end. Which means it’s time for finals.

Luckily, I don’t have any “real” exams- my finals are either papers (submitted outside of class), or in-class essays. However, most of these assignments are due within a few days of each other, which is starting to become a bit overwhelming. I have four papers I have to write and all of them have to be 2,500 words each. That doesn’t sound like a lot of words… until you’re writing them. I’m a psychology major, so I’m no stranger to writing lengthy papers (and I do prefer them over multiple choice exams) but nearly 10 pages- depending on the line spacing- for each? It’s a lot of work. Especially when they’re due very close together.

For my other final, I have an in-class essay. I have one hour to answer the prompt and provide evidence from sources that have been provided. That also sounds pretty daunting to me. I’ve done essay questions on exams before, but they’ve been primarily argumentative (where you don’t really need sources to provide evidence) or about material we’ve learned in class, so I am a bit nervous about how it will go. Especially since all of these finals are worth a majority of my grade.

My biggest challenge during this study abroad experience has been adjusting to this academic system. I can say that, even now, I’m still not comfortable. And I’m not a fan. I’ve found that I need more than just readings to keep me accountable throughout the semester. Turning in assignments over the weeks leading up to the midterms or finals gives me a way to mark my progress in the course, and track how much I’m learning. Or if I’m learning enough, at the right pace. It’s been extremely difficult for me to hold myself accountable to actually absorb the information I’m learning. Which is why I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed now. I didn’t think that my study abroad experience would be without challenges, but I wasn’t exactly expecting them from the “study” part. Which I’m now realizing was a bit of an oversight. I’ve always been a really good student, so dealing with this new system has been- probably- the biggest culture shock for me. And, unfortunately, a source of anxiety.

I actually have finished and submitted one final paper, and I will say, I do feel a bit better now. I made sure to start with a paper that I felt the most comfortable with and knowledgeable about, which I think has built my confidence a little more. I don’t feel as overwhelmed as I did last week, but I still have a lot of work ahead of me. I need about 500 more words for my second paper, so I am hoping to have it finished tomorrow (just over a week before the submission date) so that I have time to go back and edit it before submitting.

So, I’m getting there. I’m a bit overwhelmed, but I’m getting there. I’m trying to remind myself that it feels like a really big deal right now because I’m living in the moment, but in two months, two years, ten years, it will just be a distant memory. It won’t be a big deal anymore, and I’ll feel silly for making it such. It’s all about perspective. One day, I won’t look back on my study abroad experience and remember the four 2,500 word papers I had to write, I’ll remember all the other wonderful experiences I’ve had, and the amazing people I’ve met.