Blog 5 – Joy in Jesus

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Smiles, my dear friends!

 

Smiles indeed! I must say that this past week has brought me many, many moments of smiles, prayers of thanks, and joy in Jesus! It is hard to believe, but this blog marks the mid-point of my time in Ireland – I have just about two months left! My time here has been immeasurably blessed, and I can joyously say each morning, “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). Thank you for reading this today, and I pray that you are finding ways to be joyful in your own life!

 

One of my favorite parts of my day is when I give gratitude and pray with my boyfriend, Micah! We share the things that we are grateful for in the day, prayer requests that we have for ourselves and people that we know, and then we pray together! It is such a blessing to be able to find the good in such a broken and sinful world – God is good and therefore there is no shortage of amazingly good things to find through gratitude! Here are some of my “gratitudes” from these past few weeks!

 

Three things I am grateful for:

  1. The Kopplin Family (Laura’s parents came to visit, and they invited me to come along on their adventures – they are the absolute sweetest!)
  2. The North Wild Atlantic Way (with the Kopplins, we drove this coastal route along the ocean and saw some magnificent sights – the juxtaposition of green hills and rocks with blue water and sand is a tremendous sight to see!)
  3. God’s Strength (there have been a few different moments this past week where God gave me the opportunity to talk to people about Him – He gave me strength and the right words to say when sharing His glorious Gospel message!)

 

For this blog edition, I have been tasked with answering four main questions regarding my experience thus far. I have so many thoughts as this marks the halfway point of my adventure!

 

  1. How do you feel about your experience so far? Why? 
  • I feel blessed!

To be honest, many people have asked why I decided to come to Ireland, and I really don’t have a precise answer to give them! One morning in my Freshman year at MLC, I woke up and felt really called to study abroad. Three years later…and here I am! In the back of my mind, I have always felt sure that there is a reason that God wants me here, in Ireland, at this particular time. Why? I don’t know, but I am certain that God is using me in His will. I couldn’t be happier to be in a place where I can learn, grow, and flourish in ways that wouldn’t be possible in my home country. 

This experience so far has been blessed in every possible way. God has allowed me to meet new people, make connections, learn a wide range of academic ideas, volunteer for societies and organizations on campus, work on building better personal habits to care for my well-being, and most importantly, share the light of Jesus with others! The depth of perspective that I am gaining from individuals around the world is astounding! I feel myself becoming more aware and compassionate towards others by valuing how they see the world and recognizing that every person walking around me was made by God! Jesus loves them, forgives them, died for them, and wants them to be saved! 

 

2. Which goal have you made the most progress on? 

  • To have a basic knowledge of Irish music and dance.

Well, friends, I can safely say that I will be coming home with a very decent amount of knowledge in the world of Irish music and dance. I have learned loads about the history of Irish dance, explored traditional musical instruments (and how they are played), and drilled the practical components of how to dance a variety of Irish dances! I am being spoiled this semester…hehe! I have classes that are mandatory for me to go to and consist of me doing my favorite thing on the face of the planet…dance!!! 😀 

However, may I say, Irish dancing is far harder than it looks! The control needed to keep your upper body stiff and yet move your lower body with such precision is undoubtedly an art! There is also a sense of rhythm that is quite demanding in Irish dance. I find myself at times getting lost in the syncopation of beats because the footwork is about how many different steps or sounds you can accomplish in one beat of music, not dancing to each beat of the music individually. For any of you who know me really well, I actually have the worst time with rhythm – I always have, even from when I was little. I used to get yelled at when I was at dance because I could never count the music very well…ironic, isn’t it?! 😅 Needless to say, not only am I really working hard on learning new moves, but I am focusing SO hard on the rhythm of the dancing that I bet I sweat double the amount necessary! 

Anyway, I am super excited because at the end of the semester, I have the opportunity to do a mini performance with each of my dance classes! In my Ceili dance class, our class will get to perform two different Ceili festival dances that we enjoyed. In my Irish Dance Performance Skills class, we are collaboratively creating a dance! All but two of us in the class are dancers of other genres, but have never Irish danced before. We decided on a theme for our dance – Irish Traditional Dance vs. Contemporary. We are having a hoot blending Irish trad with the emotional and fluid complexities of contemporary dance! Dance is about expression, interpretation, imagination, and creativity within the confines of movement – it is brilliant because there is never only one way to dance. The idea of what dance is can be pushed, and the boundaries are endless as long as the body is in motion. What a gripping thought! 

 

3. What are the three areas that you can improve on for the second half of your time abroad? 

  • Comfort zone
  • Group Work 
  • Balance 

Though I have made a ton of progress in becoming more comfortable with the uncomfortable, there are still some areas that I want to explore to feel accomplished. At the moment, my comfort zone includes traveling around Ireland with others and alone, going on spontaneous adventures, and living on my own (though my housemates and I do most things together). I would like to continue to push myself and travel outside of Ireland sometime soon! Navigating the bus system in Ireland is normal at this point, but I want to seek the challenge of having to figure out a different culture’s transportation system to enjoy new places! I would also like to push myself and, at least one time, go to a pub in the evening to see what their nightlife is really like. It is not my cup of tea to be in a location of such sorts at night with alcohol around, but I do feel like it is my due diligence to understand their culture and what is considered “craic” to the Irish people! 

At the moment, I have five group projects lined up with a variety of my classes, and I am struggling. I find that the communication style here is quite indirect compared to my own direct communication style, so I easily get frustrated when people do not reply in regards to getting work accomplished. I like to be organized and proactive in completing tasks, but I am unable to do such work until I have people who are willing to work with me. As I continue to reflect on these experiences, I am going to make a conscious effort to acknowledge how other people prioritize their time. I pray that through this shift in perspective, I will stay positive and calm when working cohesively with many different teams…leading me to feel adept at working in groups with people from other cultures, communication styles, and with different perspectives.

I can definitely continue to improve the balance in my daily life. From classes to school work, devotions to reading, and naps to watching “Gilmore Girls”, I do a vast array of things in a given day. As of now, I have created some lovely habits, including: morning and night devotions, reading, journaling, working out, more sleep, getting a good breakfast in the morning, and resting in the evening (watching “Gilmore Girls” or playing sudoku). I am really happy with my progress thus far! At home, none of these things would have ever occurred on a regular basis, so I am thrilled that my days are filled with such activities! But at this point, I would like to take these activities and put more realistic time restraints on them so that I can have better time management, but still take time to live in the moment! I definitely feel like I am succeeding in many of my goals, but I think that I could do an even better job of being a good steward of the time that God has graciously given me! 

 

4. What has surprised you about the culture of your host country? What have you improved on? How have your opinions evolved? 

  • How much they care for their environment. 
  • Giving myself grace. 
  • I miss aspects of American culture. 

From the moment I arrived in Ireland, it was evident how conscious the people of Ireland are about the environment. There is not a lot of trash anywhere outside, rubbish bins are few and far between, they sort their garbage into waste, recycling, and compost, they don’t use paper towels, and they have a huge emphasis on reusable materials. These are just a few of the many examples that I see on a daily basis of how they strive to care for the environment that God has blessed them with! I know that I will be much more aware of how I am recycling and disposing of materials when I go home!

I am really pleased with my progress while being in Ireland! All of the goals that I set for myself are most certainly being reached and continuously worked on as I adjust to a different culture and put more focused time into improving my mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being. One thing that I have greatly improved on is giving myself grace. I am a perfectionist by nature, and I have always struggled when things didn’t work out exactly the way I intended. I don’t know about you, but I like to have control and to know that when things are complete, they are completed with the best quality possible! Here, I don’t have control. I have to rely on learning the ways of others, going with the flow, and just doing the best that I can in a given moment! This is really becoming an area of growth for me, particularly in my group projects. I know that I have previously touched on that, but I am learning to have grace with myself when people don’t respond right away, and I can’t complete my work when it is convenient for me. This is not my problem or their problem. This is how the culture is – full of indirect communication, which is neither right nor wrong – just different. Therefore, there are many times that I say a quick prayer and surrender my frustrations, worry, stress, and anything else on my heart and mind to God! I trust that God is helping me grow through these tedious moments of surrender.

The first few weeks I was here, many people asked me, “How are ye finding yourself?” I am not sure what is going through your mind right now, but I can certainly say that I was a bit confused by that question. Like, what do you mean “how am I FINDING myself”?? I found myself in Ireland, and it is beautiful! But no! They were really asking me, “How are you doing? How is Ireland?” Oh! Well, with that tidbit of golden knowledge, there would have been a lot fewer awkward moments at the start of this adventure! Once I figured that one out, my answer looked a bit more like this: “Oh my, I love it here! The land is gorgeously green, and the people are so kind! I would move here, if I could!” Interestingly, many people gave me curious looks when I said that I would move here. Apparently, they don’t see the beauty of the place they live. But isn’t that true for all of us? It is really hard to see the blessings you are given when you are always surrounded by them. Sometimes it is healthy to take a step away from what is “normal” and look with a fresh, outside perspective to see the absolute love that God has bestowed upon us! This couldn’t be more true for me right now. I want you to know that I still adore Ireland, but I do think my answer has changed from the beginning. I don’t think that I would want to move here after all. 

Think about your favorite season or time of year. What makes it your favorite? What smells, tastes, and vibes give you that feeling of excitement and joy that you wait all year for? For me, September through December is undoubtedly my favorite time of the year. I love the fall, the drinks, snacks, and homey feeling that comes with fall into Thanksgiving into Christmas! While I am not feeling homesick, my feelings at the moment would be best described as feeling culture sick. Ireland does not engage in all of these fall moments like America does. Partly because they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, the feelings that I wait all year for in America are not the feelings that I am experiencing. This is not a bad thing, it is a different, new experience that I am blessed with! I am just really thankful to call America home. With a fresh perspective, I think that I will not take the specialness of fall into Thanksgiving into Christmas for granted, ever again! 

 

Highlights of my many days include: 

  1. The BeMindfUL Programme (there have been some amazing insights, and I have been blessed with the opportunity to share the Gospel message with a lovely gal)
  2. The Cliffs of Moher (it has always been my dream to go there and they are STUNNING – also, many movies have been filmed there and I got to see the “Cliffs of Insanity” from “The Princess Bride” – hehe 😁)
  3. Killarney National Park (I took a trip to Killarney and hiked around the National Park for a wee bit – it is absolutely beautiful)
  4. Pilates (I try to do it once a day, and it makes me feel so rejuvenated)
  5. Chats (I have been having so many chats with friends and Professors, and I always feel a surging rush of joy getting to talk with people who give such good perspective) 
  6. Bible App (I started doing more daily devotions, and I am feeling God’s love and power in such intense ways – He is so good) 

 

Low-lights of my many days include: 

  1. Anxiety 
  2. Time Management 
  3. Missing People

 

Learned Insights from the Low-lights: 

  1. My counselor always says, “Katie, anxiety is a control disorder. You need to surrender to God.” Boy, isn’t she right?! That is exactly what I explained earlier: I am a perfectionist, and I want control that I can’t have, so it causes me to feel anxious. But she is also spot on. God is the only one who is and can ever be in control. I must continue to learn to surrender to Him and give myself grace in the process. God says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). 
  2. Due to the fact that the time I have here is more loose than it would be in America, I find myself wasting time every so often. But then I get upset with myself that I didn’t use my time as wisely as I could have. The difference is that Ireland is more of a “being culture” than America is. America is a “doing culture,” and it is a strange adjustment to make, having more time than normal. Having more time is an absolute blessing, and I am going to continue to do my best to make the most of it, give myself grace, live in the moment, and pray for motivation to complete the tasks that I need.
  3. I find myself missing the familiarity of home and people that I would typically see on a regular basis! I am not homesick, but I definitely miss my friends and family, and I think about them all the time! This is such a blessing that I have so many people that I love so dearly that I can have this feeling of “missing”! When I do have the opportunity to reunite with everyone, there will be endless joy – just as there will be endless joy when we come together and meet our Creator in heaven someday! 

 

Scripture that has been close to me these past weeks:

  • Judges 6:12 – “When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, ‘The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.’”
  • John 6:35 – “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
  • Matthew 9:37-38 – “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” 

 

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, these are all of my thoughts, reflections, and things that have been on my heart and mind! I pray that God continues to bless you immensely and that you can look to God in everything you do! Not every moment of life can be happy, but every moment can be joyful because you have been given the gift of forgiveness and salvation by your Savior! Rest in the joy of Jesus!

 

Blessings,

Katie Gilkey 

Halfway Done???

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I can not believe I am writing this blog post right now. Looking back at my experience so far, I am overwhelmed with good memories, ones that I’ll cherish forever.  Not only have I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and tried new things, but I have learned so much about myself. If you ever find yourself traveling abroad, especially if it’s solo, you are going to learn SO much about yourself. You’ll figure out how to navigate your feelings better, and get a clearer understanding of who you are as a person. I came into this experience of study abroad fairly comfortable and confident with myself, but, wow, has this experience taught me so many things, and these are things that I would never have found out about myself if I had stayed where I was.

During your time traveling, I’ve found it’s so important to take time to experience things for yourself. Slow down, process, and cherish every moment. Day in and day out, I feel very blessed to be able to be here studying in Germany.

When I first arrived, I gave myself some goals to try and improve. I feel like I have made the most progress on speaking German and really taking time to slow down and appreciate moments.

It’s crazy how helpful and beneficial being in Germany has been for improving speaking German. It definitely makes a world of a difference to be able to learn it in the morning and immediately be able to speak it with locals the rest of the day. On that same note, I am really proud of how my confidence in approaching German people to speak with them has improved. That was a dream of mine, and it is awesome to see it become more of a reality every day.

Looking ahead to this next final part of my semester,  I hope to keep improving this even more. I would also like to maintain a better sleep schedule, fingers crossed, as well as make sure I’m eating breakfast every day (food is fuel!). Getting enough sleep is not only essential for brain function, but it also helps keep you healthy and gives your body time to recover, which, as Berlin starts to get colder and more rainy as we approach winter, is something my body desperately needs. As for breakfast, it’s important for me to eat something, even if it’s not a lot. No one wants to have a rumbling stomach in their morning German class 😉

All in all, my opinion of German culture remains high. They have surprised me though! After being here for several months, I do not find them cold or uninviting at all. In fact, I have been treated with so much hospitality that I wish to carry that mindset, how to host and treat others with hospitality back with me to the US. If you take the time to talk to and get to know a German, they are so friendly and welcoming. Before I arrived, I had only learned that the Germans were a “cold” culture, but I do not believe that to be the case. As a whole, they may be more reserved, yes, but I have had too many lovely conversations with Germans to label them as “cold.” This factor has helped me greatly improve my confidence in approaching people, which was a major goal of mine coming to study abroad.

I hope everyone at home is doing well! I miss all of you so much!

Tschüss!

(Below is a panoramic view of Berlin in fall and a picture of my chai, which I have started making as a nice warm treat as the weather begins to get colder.)

Blog #5 We’re halfway there! Wo-oah! Living on a prayer!

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It’s the halfway point blog! In this blog, I’ll reflect on experiences and goals and evaluate the last half of this experience.

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b

Let’s be real for a moment. I’m in another country. Crazy. I still don’t really believe it. It’s not easy either. Yes, it’s fun and exciting, but I didn’t stop to process enough that those feelings will wear off eventually. Yes, I learned about culture shock, but I didn’t know what to expect. When will it hit? Is it like one big moment or a very gradual thing? Will it wear off? How long could it take? What will it feel like?

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b   

Homesickness is real. I’m not homesick for a place. I miss my fiancé. I miss my friends. I miss my family. I miss the laughs and memories we make when we’re together. I miss people I know. Don’t get me wrong, I’m having fun and making many memories! My housemates are fantastic, and we love hanging out together. We just had a mid-term for the academic semester. Assignments are coming due every week. Thanksgiving is around the corner. We don’t get Thanksgiving break. Christmas decor is going up and is in stores all over the place. I’m looking forward to Christmas, family, and memories. I love the anticipation of Christmas, but it’s coming earlier than usual. Being at a higher latitude than the US is different. It was completely dark by 5:30 pm today. So in my mind, it’s later in the year than usual, and Thanksgiving is less than a week away (not a month). Then the music can be played and the tree can go up. 

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b

I have gotten out of my comfort zone more than usual. And to be honest, I don’t always know where my comfort zone is now. I have learned so much while here, most of it not from classes. I have gained so many new experiences and learned from them. I have learned how to navigate using public transportation. From taking buses and trains across the country, purchasing tickets, taking the bus across town, or just walking and navigating the city, I’ve become more comfortable with navigating unfamiliar places. This is a goal accomplished. I have attended the Christian Union Society (a club) multiple times. I’m still not completely comfortable, but I’ve definitely improved. This is a goal in progress. It’s hard to enrich connections with those who are far away. But the fun part is planning and anticipating the sweet reunion and hugs to come. Calling and just talking isn’t always my cup of tea. I like doing things and making memories. This is a goal in progress.

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b

Where can I improve? I’ve got more than three. But that’s what we’ll stick to. 1) Planning things to do with my people in the States. Minecraft? Games? 20 questions? Digital escape rooms? All things I’ve done or thought about. 2) Devotions and livestreaming church. Getting to a WELS church is not possible here. There are none. The closest one is in London. Did you hear a good sermon? Share it with me! Read a good bible passage? Send it my way! Text or Facebook Messenger is great! 3) Motivation for school work. What I learn is applicable and fun. But I need a better homework motivation schedule. Most of the time, I don’t want to sit in my apartment and do homework.

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b

I was surprised how similar it was to the US. There are still some significant differences, such as Ireland being more of a being culture than a doing culture. In the US, everyone is always go-go-go, but Ireland is a bit more laid back. In my education course last week, a guest speaker gave us information on the writing center, telling us tips and tricks for planning to write a paper (this class is mainly for first-year students). When discussing planning to write our paper, she told us to put a beer break in the schedule. No joking. She said, “And think about when you will have a beer in there.” I was stunned. I love how the Irish people aren’t as focused on every task they have to do. They take time to live and just to be. I did not know this before, and it has changed my opinion that we all could use a little break. We only get one life. Why rush through it? God has blessed us with time with our families and friends on this earth. Don’t ignore that. Don’t toss it away. Don’t live to work. Work to live. Take time just to be.

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b

 

 

 

 

 

Song to check out! → “Across the Pond” by JigJam

Song to check out! → “Young Again” by Barry Kirwan

Halfway There

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I’ve just returned to Berlin from a week-long break in Italy. Now I’ve realized that my time abroad is halfway over. I definitely see it from the opposing side: I only have half my time left here. The first half of my semester has been great, and I am excited for the second half as well. Unfortunately, the second half of this semester is going to be very cold and wet.

I have made good use of my time here in Germany and throughout Europe to get out of my house and area, and see and experience new things. I’ve definitely grown in my confidence to speak German in the wild as well. The other night, I was out and about doing night photography and ran into another person doing the same thing. I started asking him questions in German, and it went well. I plan to continue this trend of getting out and speaking, even as the weather gets colder and more challenging, making it harder to want to leave the warmth and comfort of my house.

My goal of speaking to new people in German is going well. Often, these interactions are not super long, but they are still beneficial. These interactions are both intentional and forced, so sometimes I go out of my way to talk to someone, and at other times, I have no choice but to do so. Another thing that is going well, honestly better than I thought it would, is my Church attendance. Given that I’m in a different country and travel frequently on weekends, I’ve attended about 5 ELFK services so far, which is more than I initially thought I would. ELFK is the German church with which we are in fellowship. Honestly, that has been an enormous blessing to be able to hear God’s word and sing his praises in a familiar manner.

As I move into the second half of the semester, I also have some areas for improvement. Number one is my daily devotion habits, as I was on it every day for some weeks, but with the week-long school excursion, my semester break, and other travels, I have definitely fallen behind where I want to be. That is what I want to definitely get on top of soon. Another thing I want to improve is keeping my private journal up to date, as I often fall a week or two behind. It would be nice to be up to date. The final thing to improve is using my limited time to its fullest, as many hours of my week are spent on transit.

Free water is scarce here; even now, as I’m writing this, I’m parched, and throughout the school, I don’t think a bubbler exists. Even in restaurants, water is paid for. I really want to ensure I’m drinking enough water as I continue, because I haven’t been. Overall, I still thoroughly enjoy Berlin, and each day brings something new to discover or learn about, primarily due to its rich history.

 

This picture I took the other day while exploring, and maybe you might recognize it from several movies such as The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 or The Bourne Supremacy

Cheers to Part Two!

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I decided that as an opening to my midterm blog, I would share an ode to the thing that I have found myself longing for the most- my car. (Also, please note how I said ‘thing’ and not ‘person’. I feel the judgment already.) Anywho, here goes nothing…

Dearest auto
On these days of anxiety
I miss you so

Oh, how I long for your convenience
When my knees ache
After a long day

Even through your minor flaws
You always start
And you have a great stereo

Fear not, I will return home
Five quarts of oil in tow
Never to put off routine maintenance again

Ok, I admit, not my finest work, but it came from the heart. I have been pining for dear old Lafawnduh* since practically day one abroad. I miss the ease of access that her four tires and engine provide me. I was especially feeling it at 3:37 AM this fine day whilst awaiting my second bus of the morning on my way to the airport. What could have been a 40-minute drive from my apartment to the airport turned into a 2-plus-hour commute by public transport. A cheap commute, but yet another reminder of what I left behind.
On that note, I do feel very accomplished having finally gotten a handle on public transport, specifically buses. I actively avoided them for a while, preferring to utilize the train and walk anywhere after that, but I quickly realized that not everything is conveniently close to said station, most importantly, the airport. I am proud to report, however, that after a couple of missed buses and a few anxiety-filled rides, I finally feel fairly confident about using Dublin buses. I have found that my confidence in general has risen since this triumph, especially after my most recent solo trek from my apartment to Frankfurt. Yes, ma’am, I made it all in one piece, and I only forgot an adapter. Oops! But luckily the Germans are very efficient and the local technology store outfitted me with another charging cable for only £4. I can now use my laptop in both the UK and Germany, but not in the US – peak comedy for this American writer. The picture on the left is what I would consider a peaceful moment in Germany- coffee and writing my blog while looking out the window to the village below.

Ok, now that I’ve had a good laugh, I will move on. Along with gaining confidence through independence, I have also had some super fun experiences by going out of my comfort zone in order to interact with people on campus. Knowing that relationships are built on mutual respect and vulnerability, I have focused on breaking the ice with people by being semi-vulnerable from the start. The temptation to not reach out until another person reaches out first is very great, but I find that you have to ignore the feelings of pride in order to build relationships. By stepping outside of my comfort zone and approaching people, I have gained new friendships. Meeting for coffee often turns into multiple-hour conversations that span across at least two locations. My ideal friends? Chatty and ready for a laugh.

When it comes to my personal faith goals, I think that I could be doing better. I will not express all the details in length, but overall, I could always spend more time with God. I have found myself getting back into the habit of praying as I fall asleep and whilst walking from place to place. A silent stream of conscious prayer. This may not seem like a habit that is difficult to maintain, but to do so, one must think about it initially before it becomes a subconscious habit. When it comes to goals, however, I feel that the minute I put a numerical value or limit on the goal, I am less likely to have motivation to achieve that goal, so I will continue to take initiative to keep up with my faith by reaching for my Bible immediately after the thought pops into my head.

In regards to other goals, I am finding that the same is true. If I do not immediately seize the opportunity to do things, such as go for a run or go do homework in the library, I will not do them. I find some comfort in the fact that I am persistent, and I gain a lot of joy from completing tasks and looking back on a productive day. Along with that, my flatmates and I are reaching the point of real comfort; the point where being around them does not drain my social battery as much. Hanging out with them or just occupying the same areas while doing different activities does not leave me feeling tired like interacting with strangers does. We are not at the point of close friends, but I feel that their presence is more of a comfort rather than something that I have to escape from in order to decompress and go to bed. As a new goal for the second half of the semester, I will make an attempt to find a reliable place to study outside of my apartment. I will try to do all of my homework and studying, creating a separation between work and fun, and allowing my apartment to be a place of only relaxation. This plan will also force me to make it a habit to leave the house and interact with others outside of just classes. While I don’t find it difficult to approach people that I don’t know, I think that it will be good for me to have other people around to keep myself conscious on task.

I’m hoping that any of that made sense to someone. Words are very difficult sometimes, no? Side tangent, really quick (feel free to skip to the next paragraph if you’re not interested, I’m not offended…) I am currently staying with relatives in Germany who learned to speak English many years ago, but, since then, have not used it very much. I have the same problem with my German. I can understand a great portion of what they say in German, but I am not confident in my speaking ability. As a result, I tend to respond to their German in English, but I try to put my English into German word order or use words that I know are similar to German words. In spite of the broken languages or language turnstile, if you will, we have had many lengthy and lively conversations. Ok, where did that come from? I suppose the point of the story is that, regardless of whether my way of communicating is exactly the same as someone else’s, we can both be flexible in order to be understood. Ah, also, if some of this is written in a strange syntax, kindly ignore my errors and continue reading. Or you don’t have to, I’m not going to stop you. I hope you enjoy a picture that needs no language to understand- a happy cat in a window : )

Okay, Mathilde, let us get past all these side tangents. I fear I have too much creative freedom with these blogs… that being said, I also feel that I have too much creative freedom over my schooling in Ireland. While I am only taking a few classes, I find it very strange that I have only had one assignment since starting school, and it is already midterm. As I said in my last blog, it is nice to not have homework, but I have learned its value over this past semester. I need some homework, although perhaps not as much as back in the US, in order to gauge my understanding of the material. On that same note, I am also surprised at the lack of noise in Ireland. While the people speak fairly loudly, in comparison to the US, they are much quieter. My flatmates and I were in a McDonald’s a couple of weeks ago, and we found that in a full restaurant, you can barely hear the people’s conversations next to you. It honestly makes me cringe to hear other Americans because they now seem so loud to me.
Another thing that I have been happily surprised with is the lack of high fructose corn syrup in products in Ireland. While it is not illegal to use as a sweetener, it is strictly regulated. Considering the fact that corn is not as readily available in Europe as it is in the USA and the fact that people in Europe are used to eating products that are sweetened with regular sugar, HFCS is not popular**. Considering the health concerns surrounding the product, I am very happy to avoid it, and I much prefer the less sweet products, including chocolate and even soda. Although too much sugar can still cause health problems, I believe that everything should be enjoyed in moderation, so I will continue to indulge in my £.95 dark chocolate Digestives from Aldi, along with my tuna salad. Please keep your opinions to yourself unless you’d like to join me; then, take a seat, and I’ll get you a plate.

Since I started this blog longing after something I miss, I figured I would end with something that I am grateful for in Ireland and that I will miss upon my arrival home in December- cheaper groceries and ease of access to stores. Since Ireland is much smaller than the US, things are closer together and are built for a culture of short-distance travel, often on a bus, bike, or even on foot. I went from walking only from my car to wherever on campus, then to my dorm room, to walking everywhere I go from my apartment, a train, or a bus stop. I also appreciate their constant use of reusable bags at the stores. While I have to remember to bring my bags, a task unfamiliar to me, I end up having fewer bags to carry, and I don’t have a million tiny plastic bags to deal with after putting my groceries away. Along with that, haven’t seen a single plastic grocery sack hanging a tree, a somewhat regular sight in the US. They seem to consider littering almost a crime; there are even posters and ads that shame people for not putting their trash in the bins. While litter on the streets still happens, it does seem like society puts more emphasis on keeping the country clean through its actions.

During every minute of downtime this week, I have considered what to write about for this blog. As it is the midterm one, I felt that it should be a thorough overview of my feelings about the semester and details about things that I’ve learned and or noticed about myself and my surroundings. While I tried my best to put all of my thoughts together and into words, I’m sure that there are many other things that I have forgotten to write about, as I am the only one prompting myself, and I fear that I have forgotten some of the things that I told myself to write about. For example, I used to think that it was strange to drink tea with milk, but now I prefer it, and always with a biscuit on the side if possible. I cannot claim to be Irish or European, but I truly appreciate many of the aspects of their culture, and I plan to implement some of the things that I have learned into my life back in the US. I have already begun my reusable bag collection, so look out for this fashion icon ; )

Welp, I apologize for my long-winded self, but I do hope that you found this to be at the very least entertaining if not interesting. I cannot wait to see what part two of this semester has in store for me, and I should also start buying souvenirs for people back home… I’m not very good at that, but maybe if I plan ahead, I can find things that are actually useful for them. There’s nothing worse than getting a souvenir from someone else’s travels that will just sit around your house. They are what I would consider the opposite of a great conversation starter. A conversation ender.

“Oh, a (insert random knick-knack here) from (insert foreign place here)! Have you been?”

“No.”

End of conversation. Wow, there’s yet another tangent. I really should let you go before I start writing my grocery list for the week…

Peace and love!
Mathilde

 

*Yes, like from Napoleon Dynamite and duh, of course she’s a Honda 🙂
**While I have noticed the difference in taste, I did have to do some more research about the regulations around HFCS, so here is the website that I used: HFCS

Why does time go by so quickly?

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All right, it’s halfway through the semester, and I feel…amazing! Actually, I’m sad to think that my experience is already halfway over. The reason I wanted to study abroad was because I wanted to find peace with myself, and I really think that I have. With such a busy college life that I choose to live on MLC’s campus, I haven’t felt like myself in a while. I found it easy to get bogged down by homework, work, sports, meetings, etc. but here, in Berlin, I just see the beauty in every moment.

Besides school hours, barely any of my days are planned here, and I intended to do that. I’m learning to go with the flow over here, even though Germany is actually very punctual. I like the quiet dinners with my host family and journaling in my room at night. I like when we go out and see the sights of Berlin or explore a new city on the weekend. I like pausing for a movie and running to catch the train. I love every moment.

What I’m happiest about is that I’ve learned to be proud of trying things. The other day I ran a 5K just to see if I could do it; and I can! Also, my host loves table tennis, and although I’m not the best, I still go to practice with him. Let me tell you, learning the art of a new sport in a different language is such a unique experience! And I got to meet so many more amazing people over here. Trying new things has opened so many doors to me that I didn’t know I would be blessed with.

Another thing I really wanted to focus on was seeing the beauty of God in every moment. His creation is beautiful, and I’m so honored that I’ve gotten to see so much of it. Whenever I explore a new city, it’s all I think about. God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good.

I’ve also had so many laughs this semester so far. I was really nervous about not having a good time over here, and one of my goals was to laugh every day. I’m happy to say that usually I laugh before I even get off my morning bus. And if that doesn’t do it, I have quite a few class clowns in my German class.

Of course, there are always areas of improvement to be had. I know good relationships take time, but I hope to get a lot closer to my host family before moving stateside again. They truly are amazing people, but I often psych myself out of things. Sometimes, I stay in my room when I think time would be better spent talking to them.

I’ve also noticed a lull in my eagerness to get better at the German language. I often think to myself, ‘most people know English anyways.’ But if I’m ever going to grow this skill, this is the best place in the world to do it! I’ve heard kids’ TV shows can help with vocabulary, so I’ll  be giving SpongeBob Schwammkopf a try.

I also want to do a better job of reaching out to the people I have back home. Before leaving, I was so afraid that they would forget about me…turns out, I haven’t done the best at keeping up with them. A simple message goes a long way, and I want to send one when I think of someone.

Every time I think I know everything about the German culture, I get surprised with something new. It’s my host dad’s birthday this week, and when I mentioned getting him a card, I was informed they don’t really do that here in Germany. It’s more of a thing you say to the person.

I’m still in love with the transportation in Germany and the efficiency of its people. But when I got here, the rules weren’t written on a billboard you could just read somewhere, so they were very difficult for me to understand. However, through a lot of people-watching, I think I’ve figured out most of the social cues. 

Overall, I feel like I’m growing in all the ways I hoped I would! I’m learning to slow down, appreciate the moment, and be grateful for the beauty around me. The first half of this journey has been incredible, and I can’t wait to see what the second half brings!

Books, Bratwurst, and Balance

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I’m going to be real, studying at first was… intimidating. I remember the first day I actually walked onto campus for my first class. Brand new faces, teachers, and classes awaited me, and I found myself anxious during my 40 minute commute to campus. Will I be able to sit through the three hour long classes? Would I get along with the other people in my classes? Would I be able to keep up in the German class I got placed into?  All of these thoughts circled my brain as I sat and contemplatively looked at the window of the bus.

That day, when I arrived at Freie Universität (FU), the university I go to here in Berlin, I settled into my classes, and when they were over, took a big breath. Relief. I knew I was going to be fine, and it was also good to know that I liked the classes I picked. Even the German class I got placed into was very fun.

All of the classes I take here have relatively small class sizes, usually around 10-15 students, and so we are able to have a lot of group discussions, and some classes even have us present to the rest of the class as well. There isn’t a lot of homework given. Most of our grades are centered around participation and major projects like papers, presentations, and tests.

The only class I have every day is German class, and that is by far my favorite class. Not only do I think my grammatical knowledge has grown, but I think I’ve become way more comfortable speaking German as well. It’s really fun to be able to learn the language in the morning and then go and use what I learned the rest of the day. It almost feels as though every day I add a new tool to my “language” toolbox.

Another aspect of classes that I enjoy is the field trips. It is unbelievably cool to just have German class walking around a section of Berlin, and learning and actually seeing what you’re learning about right in front of you. Quick tip, if you like field trips and are considering doing study abroad, take Art and Dictatorship for one of your courses. The professor who teaches that class LOVES to take field trips and I have gotten to see so many amazing landmarks with that class.

As the months move on and I reflect on my time in Germany thus far, studying here has been unlike any other form of education I’ve ever had. It’s been amazing trying to soak up everything I can because it has been such an amazing experience. Despite my initial fear of the three hour long classes, I have come to enjoy my time in those classes. Although, I do think my levels of concentration and focus have increased, which is a good thing. Coming back to America, the classes will seem so short now 😉

Thank you to everyone who has kept me in their prayers throughout my time here. I just finished my midterms today, which means I am officially half way through with my program here. It really does feel like time has FLOWN by, and I can’t wait to see what awaits me the rest of the semester.

Bis später!

(These are some pics from the latest field trip I had with my German class. We went to the Siegessäule “Victory Column” on this nice typical cloudy Berlin day.)

  

School in Germany

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School in Germany is quite different than at MLC. The program that I am participating in tries to make school a German experience. But also the nature of the program does not make school overwhelming either.

Every student has school 4 days a week. Now I am taking the minimum amount of credits, which is recommended. This allows me to have a lot of free time and to make the most of my time abroad. So on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I only have German class from nine to noon. But on Tuesday I have to other classes and go to school from 9am to 7pm. That might sound bad but I still have time to eat lunch and they give us a 15 minute break during class. With this schedule I am able to do a lot of exploring in my free time, especially on the weekends.

As you’ve noticed my classes are about 3 hours long but for all of them except German we only meet once a week. Often the class period is actually a field trip! We have taken a lot into Berlin to learn about German, history, art, and monuments. Those class periods are the best.

The classes operate a little bit differently too. And I think this is where they try to make it more German, by having class be more about discussion. The readings each week are quite heavy and are much longer than I am used to from MLC. However then in class there is much less lecture and a lot more discussion. I feel that in a way it is nice to have more discussion time however lecture is still important but it feels a little lacking here.

My favorite class has to be German class. That’s because it’s the most fun. We are able to have a lot of fun while still learning. Many exercises are focused on speaking, so we often get to talk and practice new things we’ve learned. Plus that class meets every school day so I also feel like it is the main focus. I would also say that it is the most important at least in my present life because it enables me to communicate better in Berlin, with my host, and even in other parts of Europe.

Another thing I enjoy in my German class is how small it is. I only have 8 people in it so it feels like I am definitely getting enough attention in terms of being able to participate and get feedback from peers and my teacher. Also I like being able to get to know these 8 people better because we have class for 12 hours together each week. My other classes are bigger around 20 students. I think in the program in total there are maybe 100 students. So it is nice that we have class sizes that are not to big. We definitely don’t have any lecture halls with hundreds of people so all the discussion feels like you are able to participate and be heard.

Over all I am enjoying my learning experience here, especially German class.

 

– One of my field trips in Berlin. This is the Victory Column.

School Away From School

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A big reason why I wanted to study abroad was to experience what school is like at a public college. I attend Freie Universität Berlin, otherwise known as Free University Berlin. This university was actually formed by students who wanted to be free in how they learned and what they learned. Therefore, the classes that I experience here are often student-led and discussion-heavy. I’ve actually come to really enjoy them!

Here, I take an intensive German class (which really only means that it meets four times a week, not that it’s incredibly hard), a politics class called How (Not) to Govern the Globe, and an art class called Art and Dictatorship.

Each subject class here only meets once a week, but the class is three hours long! As much as I thought this was going to drain me, the teachers offer short breaks after a long time and there’s a lot of movement throughout the classes. I’ve learned that I like them better than the three 50-minute classes a week I’m used to at MLC. With the three-hour chunks, I feel teachers can move more fluidly from subject to subject.

It’s actually midterms this week, and I just took two of them yesterday. They were on paper! And all essays! My hand was cramping, but it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.

Another big difference is that school here ends on Thursdays. It is so nice to have a four-day work week. The weekend just comes so much sooner and there are so many more possibilities! I use a lot of my weekends to travel and see as much of Europe as I can, and it has been such a blessing to get an extra day in a new city.

Instead of the caf, we have the Mensa. And it is not an all-you-can-eat buffet style. You pay for what you put on your plate, and it’s charged per food type. There is always a theme in the Mensa, but the only one I can remember right now is Meatless Monday (and it’s not my favorite). I can honestly say that I miss the caf at MLC.

However, they do give us an hour and a half for lunch every day, so it’s really easy to go down the street or across town for a grocery store or a quick curry stop.

The class sizes are relatively similar to MLC. My German class is the smallest, and it has 12 students in it. My Art and Dictatorship class has about 20.

Our school here also loves to take us on excursions or send us out into the wild for homework. For my term paper in Art and Dictatorship, I was tasked with assessing the Architecture of the 1936 Olympic stadium and relating it to the events in history going on at that time. Pictured here are the Olympic rings and the inside of the stadium. These were the Olympic games very famously held by Germany’s Dictator, Adolf Hitler, where Jesse Owens took home 4 gold medals for America.

The students here are also very different from the people I know back home. Many come from the East or West Coast and carry very liberal ideals. It’s really opened my eyes to see how the rest of the world thinks, and I feel this is an experience everyone should have. I’ve learned so much about who I am as a person through the values that I do and don’t share with others. And it’s been a little fun to try and be a light, because most students don’t know anything about religion in my program.

There is a church in Zehlendorf that is in connection with Germany’s seminary program. It might also be a retirement home, but God’s Word is good no matter where you hear it!

I am very blessed to see a program different from my own. As a future educator, it’s interesting to watch every teacher’s teaching style and ponder what my future classroom will look like. I’ve gotten a lot of good ideas from here, and I have a lot more to learn from MLC when I get back. For now, I’ll enjoy this opportunity that God has blessed me with.

 

Blog #4 Lecture Halls & Labyrinths

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I am officially halfway through the academic portion of the semester! There will be a study and exam week after classes finish. You may be wondering how the classes and academics differ from MLC. I highlight the main similarities or differences in classroom culture, course structure, teaching style, and course workload.

Classroom Culture

Here at the University of Limerick (UL), classes are filled with your typical 18-22 year-olds who like to get distracted or doze off in class. I think that’s pretty typical for any college student. 🙂 Just like at MLC, students are expected to attend every class period held and actively listen to the professor. In the first few weeks of school, they are very considerate of students walking in late because they could not find the classroom. It is a big campus with over 18,000 students and over 1,000 faculty and staff. MLC’s student body is around 700 students—that’s basically the international student population at UL! The main building, composed of 5 sub buildings, is the most confusing building I have ever seen. It is practically a maze. With so many hallways and corners, and doors. You’ve got to be extra careful to read the minimal signage as you venture into the unknown. Thankfully, I have one class in the building, and it is literally 50ft inside the main entrance.

Course Structure

The courses and individual classes are, in a way, similar, but there are some minimal differences. The classes are structured on different schedules from MLC. At MLC, class times are fairly consistent and regular throughout the week. For example, one might have a class that meets 3 times a week—Monday, Wednesday, Friday—and at the same time and duration each of those days. At UL, it’s broken down differently. Every course has a two-hour lecture. These two hours may be back-to-back or split at 2 different times in the week. For example, for my education course, I have a one-hour lecture on Wednesdays and 9 am, and the other is on Friday at 3 pm. In addition to the lectures for each course, most also have a lab period or tutorial. These labs and tutorials are designed to give students a chance to interact with and ask questions about the material from the lectures. Every student in the course attends the same lecture, most likely in theater seating. Students are divided into groups of about 20-30 for labs and tutorials. Traditional UL students are assigned one of the multiple labs and tutorials to attend each week at the same time. Me? I got to pick which one I wanted for the whole semester because I had to put my schedule together on my own. Traditional students are handed their schedule already put together.

The semester is 12 weeks of classes, plus an additional 3 weeks for studying and taking the exams. This is a much different structure than MLC. MLC has 16 weeks of classes and 1 week to take exams. This does make sense because of the drastic difference in the student body populations.

Teaching Style

The teaching style at UL is fairly similar to MLC. Most professors put up a slide show and talk through it as students take notes and write down key points. One of my professors uses no PowerPoint, but instead just talks to the students. I’m still trying to figure this one out. The labs and tutorials are the discussion portion of the course. At MLC, the lecture and discussions are not separated but intertwined as one.

Although I have not quite experienced this yet, I have been told that it is typical for students to address their professor on a first-name basis once initial introductions have been made. Professors are very eager to learn all their students’ names. It is also normal for a student to just speak during a pause in the lesson if they have a question. They are not expected to raise their hand. I still raise my hand to answer questions—it’s a habit.

Workload & Study Habits

Weekly assignments vary based on each class. For example, my history course has two papers. One is due in Week 8 and the other in Week 12. Those are the only assignments. My education course, however, has weekly journal entries. These are not submitted each week, but students are expected to keep the journal up-to-date. Other classes may have weekly readings or smaller projects every other week. For example, in my digital media course, we just had a small project where we were tasked to capture and edit a few photos on the theme of time—two of mine are shown below. I don’t have a set homework schedule, as it varies week to week, and my weekends might be filled with travel adventures. Some courses more heavily lean towards being independent study-led, and others have more guided instruction. Honestly, it just depends on the professor and the course content.

Overall, I cannot really say UL’s academics are more similar or more different from MLC. It truly depends on your courses and professors. My education course feels very familiar to MLC, and I believe it’s mostly because of the content, but also the professor’s teaching style. My Irish history course feels nothing like MLC, and I’m still learning to navigate it.

 

Song to check out! → “The Rattlin’ Bog” by Seamus Kennedy

https://youtu.be/U58ES0aiUJo?si=yzZzHgNqfAqJg8lR