Archive for category: Galway Spring 2024

Wow. It feels like I was sitting in my bed at home typing my pre-departure blog just yesterday. But here I am, four months later, sitting in the same position, writing my final blog. My experience studying abroad in Ireland was fantastic! I can genuinely say that I loved everything about it (both the good and the bad). However, I am so glad to be home. Before I begin reflecting on my experience, I want to tell you a story. In my Medieval Literature class, we read an Arthurian legend called Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Here’s a very simplified version of the story:

Our story begins with King Arthur in his court celebrating a Christmas feast. The feast is interrupted by a mysterious Green Knight who offers Arthur a unique proposition. The Green Knight’s proposal is simple: Arthur can strike the Green Knight’s neck (unchallenged)– if the Green Knight dies, Arthur wins the axe, but if the Green Knight survives, Arthur will have to face a return blow in precisely one year. Arthur wants to accept the challenge, but after some deliberation, Gawain decides to take Arthur’s place. Gawain takes the axe, holds it high overhead, and THUNK! The axe passes cleanly through the Green Knight’s neck, and his head is chopped off. Blood spurts everywhere, and as you can probably imagine, it’s a very gory scene. But here’s the thing– the Green Knight stands up, picks up his head, and says to Gawain, “See ya in a year!” and rides away on his horse. As you can imagine, Gawain is terrified. About nine months pass, and then Gawain sets off to find the Green Knight’s castle to receive his return blow. On his journey to the Green Knight’s castle, he faces several trials and tribulations (I won’t spoil them for you), and he eventually meets the Green Knight to receive his return blow. Spoiler alert: Gawain survives. Gawain returns home from his quest triumphant, but when he arrives back at Arthur’s kingdom, he feels like something is off. He’s gone on this great adventure, learned much about himself, survived, and even though he’s looked forward to returning home, his home feels uncanny. He feels out of place among his friends and family. And that’s how the story ends.

The reason I retold that entire story is because I feel like Gawain. Everything has been surreal and uncanny since returning home about two weeks ago. Sometimes, it hasn’t felt like I’m even at home. Other times, I’ve felt like a stranger in my homeland. To apply a modern term, what I and Gawain have experienced is called “reverse culture shock.”

Supposedly, it can be worse than standard culture shock, but I have yet to experience anything worse than the culture shock I dealt with in my first two weeks in Ireland. Most of the reverse culture shock I’ve experienced involves little things here and there. Here are a few examples:

1. Paper towels. Paper towels are in public restrooms here! The bathrooms in Ireland only had air dryers, which I dislike. Yes, I understand it’s better for the environment, but my hands don’t get dried unless I stand there forever. God bless America and her paper towels!
2. Single-use plastics. There were some single-use plastics in Ireland, but not nearly as many as in the United States. I would encourage you to count how much plastic you use daily. You’ll probably be shocked. I’ve noticed that I use more plastic in the US, mainly because I’ve been drinking coffee after coffee from my Keurig. 
3. Water in the toilet bowl. The toilets in the US have SO MUCH water in them that’s unnecessary. Toilets in the US have probably five times the amount of water as toilets in Ireland. I don’t understand why there’s so much. It’s wasteful, and quite frankly, it splashes.
4. Traffic. Galway has the worst traffic in Ireland. Ireland has some of the worst traffic in Europe. Although I never drove in Ireland and rarely rode in cars, I was constantly surrounded by traffic. Driving in South Dakota/Minnesota has been weird. I drove 14 miles on Highway 14 at around 10 am on a Friday without seeing a car. I’m genuinely from the middle of nowhere– and I’m okay with that! On a side note, I’m enjoying the silence of being at home. Instead of waking up to the sound of traffic in the morning, I wake up to birds chirping.

Shifting gears, I’d like to reflect a bit on my experience by answering some questions that I’ve been asked to answer:

1. What are you most proud of?
   • I met an American girl in my study abroad group. I could not stand her from the moment I met her. She drove me up a wall and pushed my buttons. We had very differing views on several things. I wanted to avoid her, but instead, I forced myself to try to get to know her and enjoy her presence. Guess what? I ended up getting along with her and now consider her a friend. I’m very proud that I didn’t take the easy way out by avoiding her. Instead, I tried my hardest to show her Christian love and was rewarded with a new friend.
2. What would you do differently if you could?
   • I mentioned earlier that I loved everything, both the good and the bad. While that is the truth (because I don’t believe in wasting time on “what ifs”), if I had to change one thing, I probably would’ve picked a bigger city to live in. By the second weekend I was in Galway, I had seen everything there is to see in Galway. If I had gone to a bigger city, there would’ve been more great things to explore and see. 
3. What will you incorporate into your life back home?
   • I kept a daily journal in Ireland and plan to continue to journal daily. I did a poor job when I first arrived home, but I’ve been getting back into the habit in the past few days. In my daily journal, I wrote a prayer each day, and the most sensational experience I’ve had is reading old prayers and seeing how God has answered them.
4. What are you most grateful for?
   • I am most grateful for the opportunities I had to travel at the end of my semester. I visited London, Madrid, Rome, and Florence in two weeks. I loved London– there were so many cool things to see– and my favorite was seeing a modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet in the Globe Theater. 100% worth it. Madrid was charming, and I loved my time with the best tour guides I could ask for, Sarah and Alaina! I did not care so much for Italy. While I loved the history, ancient landmarks, and artworks, I despised the infrastructure and the tourists. Yes, I know I was a tourist, but there were simply too many people. I also found the cities to be dirty and the air quality terrible. Nevertheless, I enjoyed all of my experiences traveling.
5. How have you seen God’s hand in your experience abroad? What unexpected blessings or provision have you seen?
   • I saw God’s hand everywhere, especially in answered and unanswered prayers. It surprised me, but when I think of the times that God felt the furthest away from me, he tended to be closer than ever.
   • Some unexpected blessings were the opportunities to make good Christian friends and learn about other Christian beliefs. After interacting with Christians of various denominations, I became more convicted of my personal beliefs. Also, changing my major to the pastor track was entirely unexpected!
6. What advice would you give future semester-abroad students?
   • Do your research. I went into my experience without knowing much about where I was going. I also didn’t know much about the university I would attend. I would’ve benefited from more time exploring the internet and learning about where I would live for 3.5 months.
   • Know yourself. I think one of the keys to the success of my study abroad experience was making sure that I prioritized what I needed to do to take care of myself. For example, I always made sure that I had plenty to eat. I made sure I slept enough. I made sure I set aside time for reading and writing each day. I went to the gym multiple times per week. In other words, I developed a routine and stuck to it. By having control over my daily routine, I could deal with many of the uncontrollable aspects of studying abroad with grace and a clear mind.

Now that I’ve returned from Ireland, what’s next for me? Well, I’m headed to work. I’ve started working in the warehouse at Millborn Seeds (my family’s business), bagging seed mixes and preparing shipments. I worked there in high school all the time, and (surprisingly) I’m having fun “reliving my glory days.” Not only am I working in the warehouse, but I’m also helping my Dad with some cowboy work. I’ve tagged along several days to help check cattle and help with anything my Dad might need. Sometimes, it’s as simple as opening a gate; other times, it’s holding a ferocious calf in a chute to prevent it from kicking me. I love it all. It is gratifying to do honest work with my hands.

I’ll continue to work for about a month until I leave for Buenos Aires, Argentina, for my second Spanish immersion trip. I’ll be spending five weeks studying Spanish literature this year, and I’m incredibly excited. Once I return from that trip at the end of June, I’ll move back to New Ulm, where I’ll be house-sitting for Professor Degner and bartending at the New Ulm Country Club. Once August hits, I’ll return to school, beginning my studies in Greek, Hebrew, and Theology. I’m thrilled for the future.

Finally, I’d like to end with a special treat:

“David, you’ve read all those books (33.5 in total). Which ones would you recommend?”

1. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Anonymous
2. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
3. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
4. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
5. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
6. Stoner by John Williams
7. Summertime by J.M. Coetzee

Thank you for reading my blog(s). I enjoyed writing them as much as I enjoyed studying abroad. I found all of the writing and reflection that I did valuable for my experience.

Photos explained:

1. My view in the Globe Theater
2. Passing time with my lovely tour guides in Madrid
3. Teaching my friends about Donatello’s Marble David in Florence
4. A photo from checking cattle

Hi everyone,

This blog will be a bit different than my other ones. I have been tasked with interviewing someone from a different culture to learn more about them. As soon as I realized I needed to write this, one man came to mind instantly: Eli Williamson. Eli is a friend that I made here in Ireland. He was one of the very first people I met at the Dochas Christian Society meetings and invited me to come to his church on Sundays, where I ended up going every Sunday for the rest of the semester! Eli is one of those rare individuals that makes his presence known in a room without being overbearing. He’s quick to a joke or a conversation, and if he’s talking, it’s a guarantee that his laugh will follow. Eli’s boisterous laugh resembles the call of an American crow, but it’s a laugh that you want to hear because it’s always genuine. Eli is Scottish, but more specifically from Lerwick in the Shetland Islands. The Shetland Islands are unique because they are the northernmost islands of the United Kingdom– so north that they are in line with Norway!

Before I get into the interview, I’ll explain how I’m structuring this blog. I did not write down exact answers from Eli, so I am merely paraphrasing his answers, but I had him verify that the words I attribute to him are the truth. I wrote all of the questions hoping to learn more about Eli and his culture. The blog’s structure will go like this: question, Eli’s answer, my reflections on his answers. Eli told me he loves to talk about his culture, and I hope my interview shows his passion for his homeland.

1. Describe your family: Number of siblings, parents, wife, etc.
   • Eli’s answer: Eli has two parents, both of whom are in the paint business. He has six siblings, one of whom is actually a cousin that his family adopted. He also has a lovely wife named Elin.
   • My response/reflection: I find it very interesting that Eli’s parents own their own business because my parents are business owners as well. I have also had the privilege of meeting Eli’s wife, Elin. Elin is a wonderful Welsh woman with a thick Welsh accent. She works in a Christian ministry that specializes in reaching students across the college campuses of Ireland. They make a great couple.
2. What values did your family hold and impart to you?
   • Eli grew up in a Christian household, meaning he grew up with Christian values. When I prompted him to be more specific, he answered, “You are known by your fruits.” Eli’s parents instilled the importance of how he ought to conduct himself with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22). Considering Eli’s parents were also business people, he grew up in a house that emphasized the value of hard work, persistence, and making your own way.
   • When I look at Eli, it’s easy to see a man of great faith. Yes, he is not perfect, but he exemplifies Christian love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control every time I see him. I also grew up in a household that valued hard work and persistence. Eli talked to me about how he never had an allowance, and if he wanted money for something, he had to work for it by sweeping floors or mixing paint for his parent’s business, even as young as eight years old. I also grew up without an allowance. My parents were disciples of Dave Ramsey, so I earned a “commission.” As soon as Eli mentioned that he swept floors for his Dad’s business, I felt a surge of camaraderie well up from within me– I, too, swept floors for my Dad’s company all the time. In fact, my Dad, on more than one occasion, said to me, “You wanna run the company someday? Pick up a broom.” This statement’s point was less about becoming the company owner but about the importance of servant leadership– something that I see in Eli.
3. What is your job? Dream job?
   • Eli is a salesman for a luxury shoe brand in a store in the Galway Mall. Unfortunately, I did not get the specifics of what shoes he sells, but I know they are pricey! Eli enjoys his job as a shoe salesman, but his dream job would be to buy and sell things on eBay full-time. Essentially, Eli would want to be a flipper, buying things cheap and selling them for a profit.
   • Eli is a natural salesman. It’s just in his demeanor– the way he speaks, the questions he asks, and the details he catches on to. It is easy to see how his sales skills also transfer to his ability to talk to people about Jesus.
4. What is your religion?
   • Eli told me that he is a Bible-believing Christian who believes that God created us and sent his Son, Jesus, to redeem us from our sins.
   • I knew Eli was a Christian, but I hoped he would identify with a particular denomination for his beliefs. Instead, based on our conversations from the past and what I know about him, I believe that his beliefs are most in line with those of a Baptist.
5. What is the role of men/women in your society?
   • Eli replied that men and women hold “traditional” roles. Most men work in fishing, agriculture, or the oil industry. Men still hold the role of providers, whereas women are in more of a supporting role. Some women work around the home, and some have careers. He also mentioned that knitting is incredibly popular among most women and can often be a secondary source of income for families.
   • I think the roles of men and women in Eli’s culture are very similar to mine. In my opinion, men are still definitely seen as the providers, but women are caught in a limbo phase– some have careers, some are stay-at-home Moms, and some do a little bit of both! 
6. What is the most popular form of entertainment in your society?
   • Football (Soccer). Everybody cares about football. Eli also mentioned that the Shetland Islands have Europe’s largest oil terminal (Sullom Voe), and because of that, the communities on the islands get large sums of money for the oil rights. Why is this relevant to sports and entertainment? A lot of the oil money got invested into state-of-the-art recreation centers on the islands, and in fact, the Shetland Islands have the largest amount of rec centers per capita in the world!
   • From my understanding, the United States sports culture and that of the Shetland Islands are very similar. People in both cultures are borderline obsessed with sports. Eli’s descriptions of how the communities on the Shetland Islands were affected by the oil money reminded me a lot of the North Dakota oil boom towns of the 2000s and 2010s. 
7. What is considered the most respectful/disrespectful in your society?
   • Eli explained that the Shetland Islands have a “small-town vibe” and that kindness, communication, and reputation are all vital. To be kind and talkative is respectful; doing the opposite is disrespectful. A person’s reputation is significant in the Shetland Islands.
   • I agree that this is similar to my culture but also different. Perhaps it’s a generational thing, but people seem to be much more accepting of those who don’t care to be talkative or communicate in public. Maybe it’s the smartphones…
8. What do you think are the most commonly held misconceptions of your culture?
   • People are stingy with their money (true, but because of a concern about being responsible with their money). The food is all very heavy and deep-fat-fried (mostly true– Eli describes it as “fisherman food”). Everyone frolics around in kilts playing the bagpipes all the time (untrue, but it does happen occasionally). Everybody sounds like Mel Gibson in Braveheart (untrue; nobody sounds like him).
   • I thought that these were a nice mix of serious and comedic. 
9. What are your stereotypes of United States citizens?
   • Eli informed me that from his experience, all Americans are friendly and outgoing but also terribly LOUD. Americans always seem to be searching for their identity, whether it’s searching for their “true selves” or their genealogical heritage. Americans also tend to be wealthy, but the mindset around wealth is also different. According to Eli, if someone is financially successful in his culture, they are sort of discriminated for it– jealousy and envy play a role in creating an “us and them”/”rich vs. poor” mentality. In the US, however, if someone is financially successful, their persona and wealth are glorified. 
   • Wow. Some things definitely clicked for me as I talked to Eli about this. Yes, I knew Americans are loud. I think that the aura of our freedom follows us wherever we go. I was amazed by the observation that Americans are always searching for their identity. Isn’t that so true? I know I’ve experienced the search for my identity (that’s why I ended up in Ireland), and it seems like everyone my age is searching for who they are. I think that this can be attributed to a variety of factors, but the main one is that my generation is the first to grow up and be able to experience life without actually experiencing it. Let me explain: my generation has always had the internet. We’ve always been able to ask our questions and have them answered within seconds. Through this extreme consumption of information, my generation has crippled itself– we worry too much about the possible outcomes of our decisions because we can find all of the answers online. In this way, we’ve come to passively experience our lives. Why risk doing something if we can get the second-hand experience of watching someone else do it? There’s no risk of failure in watching a screen. Indeed, this pervasive fear of failure and lack of purpose results from all the passivity. I don’t know; maybe I’m just hollering nonsense? Let me know what you think. I also agree with Eli that the glorification of wealth and prosperity is prevalent in US culture and has caused people to search for purpose in meaningless things. There’s an opportunity to show people the answer to their search for purpose: Jesus.
10. Do you believe in the Loch Ness monster?
    1. Eli’s answer: “Yes. It would be ignorant to not have hope that Nessie exists.”
    2. It made me laugh at how serious he was, and he wasn’t joking… maybe.

I asked Eli many more questions about food, festivals, and other customs, but if I were to write it all out, it would be way too much. So, I settled with my top ten favorite questions. I enjoyed talking to Eli and asking him some very pointed questions about him and his culture. I will really miss getting to see Eli each week. He truly is one-of-a-kind, and I believe God blessed me with the opportunity to meet him and his wife, Elin, while I was here. Never underestimate the power of simple kindness– I can genuinely say that I am better off having met them.

I hope you enjoyed reading my blog, and I look forward to updating you more in the coming weeks.

Please continue to pray for me!

David

 

Hello, I hope that you are doing well! I am doing well in Galway. I have lived in Ireland for almost two months and have adjusted to my new life abroad. I have had the privilege of traveling around Ireland, visiting several cities and magnificent sites. I have made new friends, gotten involved in a church and Christian society on campus, and also have been reading and writing voraciously. However, studying abroad isn’t simply travel, social activities, and leisure– there is an academic aspect to it. In this blog, I’ll discuss my educational experience by describing each class I’m taking and comparing my experience here with that of MLC.

Iconography: the Classical Tradition in Western Art

I start with my Iconography lectures each Monday and Wednesday morning (at 10 am). My lecturer is a soft-spoken Irish man whose voice is as soft as sheep’s wool. He is a firm believer in art appreciation and being able to see art clearly, so his lectures are conducted in classrooms with zero light or windows to see the projected images on the screen. As you can imagine, the combination of these factors make my Iconography lectures a battle to stay awake. Nevertheless, most of the classwork is based on independent research for an overall project. I am about halfway done with my project, an exploration of statues of David from the Italian Renaissance and how they reflect the mores of Florentine society during that period. The project culminates with a 3,000-word paper and a 20-25-minute presentation that I will give. Within my paper and presentation, I analyze the artwork and historical era and then make assertions based on my observations. I sound unbelievably pretentious when talking about art, making me feel more intelligent than I am!

Genre Studies: Satire and Sentiment in 18th-Century Literature

In my opinion, Genre Studies is an exciting course. We read poems, plays, and prose from the long 18th century. I attend two weekly lectures, one on Monday at 5 pm and the other on Thursday at noon. My lecturer is a vigorous 30-something Canadian woman. She has very entertaining lectures and breaks down complex concepts and ideas in an elegantly simple manner. My favorite poem that we have read is Johnathan Swift’s “Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift” (1731). The poem is about Johnathan Swift reflecting on his life and how he imagines certain people will react to his death. It has a very similar nature to that of the book of Ecclesiastes. I highly recommend it.

Studies in Medieval Literature

Studies in Medieval Literature is a two-part course that breaks down two legendary medieval works: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and The Canterbury Tales. I attend lectures twice weekly from 3 to 4 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Because it is a two-part course, I have had two separate lecturers. My first lecturer was a whimsical British man with great humor. He taught Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, an Arthurian legend written around 1375. The story is rife with Biblical allegory and deals with the uncanny issues of pride and chivalry. I highly recommend it. My second lecturer is an intense Irish woman and she has only given two lectures on The Canterbury Tales, but I am enjoying them. They were also written in the late 14th century, and reading Middle English has been challenging. I would compare it to trying to understand someone speaking to you underwater– you can understand most of it, but some parts are lost due to interference.

Exploring Shakespeare

Exploring Shakespeare is a somewhat interesting course. It is my only seminar course, and we meet every Tuesday from 4 to 6 pm. The class time can feel a bit long because my professor, a talkative Irish woman, half-lectures/half-discusses the Shakespeare plays we read and occasionally asks questions of the class. A lot of the time, it doesn’t feel like a seminar course. We have read Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Henry V. I have enjoyed the plays, especially A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This class is probably the most different from the experience I would have had learning Shakespeare at MLC because my professor (over)emphasizes the “sex, drugs, and rock and roll” aspect of Shakespeare.

So, how does the academic experience differ from MLC…?

Quite significantly. Let me explain:

1. Attendance. Class attendance is optional in Ireland. I could skip every lecture and still pass a course if I wanted to. It would be tricky, but it could be done. At MLC, if you miss a single class, it feels like you missed a significant amount of knowledge (in my opinion). The attitude towards attendance is much more lax compared to MLC, which treats skipping class like a mortal sin. (I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing.) I have yet to miss a single lecture this semester because MLC has engrained a mindset of perfect attendance.
2. Rigor. The academic experience is super relaxed compared to MLC. To succeed at MLC, you need to be disciplined with your academics– you can’t just blow off your daily assignments. Oh wait… I don’t have daily homework here. I have some reading to do each week, but reading isn’t truly homework for me. I only have to work hard for about two weeks in the entire semester. I honestly miss the academic grind of MLC because the structure forces you to be engaged with the courses. Also, my final grades are based on two to three grades. I have papers and presentations for all of my classes worth between 40 and 70% of my overall grade. 
3. Engagement. I am not engaged with my courses here like I am at MLC. Yes, I attend all of my lectures and complete my projects on time, but my studies are not an important aspect of my life. It is nice to be able to relax on my nights and weekends, but I also am not getting as much out of my courses. I also only have class from Monday to Thursday, giving me a three-day weekend every week. I yearn for class with Professor Grubbs and Professor Degner again (even though I grumble about their homework sometimes…). 
4. Size. Class size is much different; two of my lectures (Iconography and Shakespeare) have about 20 people, similar to MLC. However, my Genre Studies and Medieval Literature lectures have around 150 people each. Surprisingly, it’s not been a difficult adjustment– I sit near the front in every class, making it feel smaller than it is.
5. Diversity. Galway is the most diverse place I have ever experienced in my life. Every day on campus, I hear at least three languages spoken (not including English). Galway is a popular destination for students from Asia, Africa, Europe, and North and South America. Through the Christian Society I am involved in, I have met and made friends with people from Italy, Portugal, France, Mexico, Canada, Nigeria, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Spain, India, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and many more. Surprisingly, I’ve made more friends from international places than from Ireland. It has also been a welcome surprise that I’ve been able to use my Spanish much more than I thought I would. Sometimes, I’ll casually start conversing in Spanish with strangers before or after class. Other times, I’ll eavesdrop on conversations by Spanish speakers who think I can’t understand them. It’s great fun to shock people because I don’t look like someone who can speak Spanish! I am also regularly complimented by native speakers for my “acento tan hermoso“– something that boosts my confidence!
6. Individuality. The academic experience is much more individual than at MLC. At MLC, for better or worse, it is tough to “fly under the radar.” Almost everyone lives, eats, and studies in the same places. Even if it isn’t perfect, MLC is uniquely blessed with its collective mindset. I occasionally see people I know around campus here, but I miss going anywhere on MLC’s campus and always knowing someone. Also, the attitude of Galway’s student populace is much more egalitarian than MLC’s hierarchical structure. At MLC, it would be unfathomable for me to go on my phone during class and call my professors by their first names, but these things happen regularly in Galway. I miss MLC students’ respect for their professors and fellow students.

Overall, I have learned a lot about what I like and don’t like about academics from this experience. I have grown a greater appreciation for MLC. I enjoy the freedom I am given for other activities from this experience, especially reading and writing. So far, I have read 17 books in 2024 and have started writing a second novella. I’ve also spent more time studying my Bible, praying, and getting involved in the Christian society on campus. I’ve been asked to lead a Bible study on the book of Jonah, and I’m looking forward to using my gifts to teach others.

Please continue to pray for me. Thanks for reading!

Photos Explained:

1. This is me using a quill. As you can probably see from the look on my face, I loved it.
2. This is the view from the English department, looking over campus. It still can’t beat the view from 3rd floor Old Main, but it’s pretty good.
3. This is a photo of what walking at night on campus looks like.

Hi.

I was given little instruction on what I needed to include in this blog other than to outline my initial impressions of Ireland and my study abroad experience. So, I’ll use that as an excuse to exercise creative freedom concerning how I’ll address my initial impressions. However, I believe this blog ought to start with a quick recounting of my departure from home and arrival in Ireland. The trip was uneventful, which is a great thing when traveling. I sat beside an old lady on my flight from Sioux Falls to Chicago, and we talked briefly. She was very excited to hear that I was studying abroad and studying to serve in the gospel ministry. I include this because I’m always appreciative when someone encourages me to continue training for public ministry, especially strangers.

After a lengthy layover in Chicago, I boarded my flight to London and got a grand total of three hours of sleep on the flight. I can’t complain too much because that’s excellent for an airplane. It also allowed me to watch the sun slowly rise over London as the plane came close to landing. I find it interesting to watch how European cities and streets snake in violent directions compared to the uniform grids of cities in the US. Once safely in London, I had to go through security again and boarded my final flight to Shannon Airport. It was brief, and I landed without any problems. In fact, once I retrieved my checked bag, it was the fifth bag that appeared at baggage claim– a miracle!

I met up with the group I am studying abroad with through ISA (International Studies Abroad), and we took a taxi to our housing. On the drive over, it suddenly started raining but stopped a couple of minutes later. After the rain stopped, the sun came out, and a rainbow appeared in the sky! It had been forever since I had seen one and it was a great reminder of God’s promise to never flood the world again! Once we arrived, our group leader, Karen, took us to buy bedding and other basic amenities. After that, I spent time getting unpacked and trying to stay awake to adjust my circadian rhythms to my new environment.

—

As a student of MLC, I was required to take a class called Fit for Life. Although I don’t remember much from the class, I do remember learning about the six different types of health: Physical, Mental, Emotional, Social, Environmental, and Spiritual. I think these six health aspects are a perfect starting place for reflecting on my initial experience.

1. Physical

Physically speaking, besides a minor cold I’ve developed in the past day, I feel healthy. One of my fears before arriving in Ireland was being unable to locate food that I would be able to eat due to my intolerance to gluten and lactose. I had nothing to fear. I have many options for buying healthy, nourishing food within one mile of my housing. Eating out has been a little tricky because many of the staple dishes of Irish restaurants include dairy and gluten.

Nonetheless, I love cooking for myself because it’s easy to control portions and ensure that I won’t contaminate my food with allergens. I’ve also had the privilege to buy a pass for the school’s gym, which has everything I could want and more. So far, I’ve consistently gone to the gym three days a week and lifted weights. This has been great, but what amazes me is how much I walk everywhere. I live about one mile from my University, so I’ve easily walked an average of 15,100 steps per day (about 8 miles per day).

2. Mental

When it comes to my mental health, I know I’m doing well because I’m able to think clearly and keep a level head. I’ve been getting plenty of sleep here (about 8 hours per night), which has helped.

3. Emotional

Emotionally speaking, I’ve had some successes and failures. The most significant success I’ve noticed is my ability to remain calm despite the uncertainty regarding the academic registration process here in Ireland. In Ireland, they only have you register for classes once you arrive on-site, and even then, classes start before your registration process is complete. When I started the registration process on Friday the 5th, I quickly discovered that I couldn’t take two of the four classes I had been approved to take by MLC before I left for Ireland. However, I was able to explain the situation to Dean Clemons at MLC, and he was able to provide me with alternative options. I want to give a huge thanks to both him and Professor Grubbs for quickly helping me resolve the issue!

Additionally, this uncertainty has already led to me missing a class (in my mind, a grievous sin) simply because I couldn’t access adequate information to know where the class would take place. I’ve discovered that the first week of classes is considered optional, so it’s not a big deal, but I still don’t like missing out on information, especially at the start of a semester. Despite the turmoil, I’ve stayed calm and gone with the flow. I should also note that the Irish education system cares less about class time and more about independent learning. This is a struggle for me to adjust to, but the benefit is that I don’t have any class on Fridays!

While this has been ideal, the biggest challenge that I’ve been facing so far is homesickness. For the most part, I feel great during the daytime (when the sun is out), but at night, once I run out of things to do and stay busy, I start to feel the sadness creep in. As embarrassing as this is, I’ve also been experiencing random bouts of missing my home and family during the daytime that drive me to tears. I seldom cry, but I’ve cried more in the past week than in the past three years combined. This has been the most homesickness I’ve ever dealt with, even more than when I left home for the first time for high school and college. I think it’s because I’ve developed a greater appreciation for my family and friends in the past year. I miss my parents, sister, and roommates, Rees and Adam. This is the first time in my life that I’ve been able to confidently say that I feel like I belong in a friend group, so leaving them has been very hard on me. In fact, I’m tearing up a little bit as I write this right now. I’m just so thankful for them, and even though I’m missing out on a semester with them, I know I’ll appreciate the time I spend with them when I return even more than I would’ve before. However, one of the blessings of the homesickness is that it’s caused me to read my Bible and pray more (more on that in a bit).

4. Social

My social life has actually been going better than I expected. When I arrived, I met a group of students from all over the US because we are all studying abroad through the same company. This group of people has been super lovely, and despite our differences, we’ve bonded over the fact that we are all studying abroad and struggling with similar things. In the first week that I’ve been here, we’ve all gone out together numerous times for dinner or drinks. This is an interesting comparison point between the US and Ireland cultures. Generally speaking, in the US, when you refer to going out for drinks, you’re going out for 1-3 drinks. In Ireland, when someone says they’re going out for drinks, they’re going out for 5-8 drinks. I honestly don’t understand how they do it! The drink prices are ridiculously expensive (almost 6 USD for a pint of beer and 10 USD for mixed drinks), so I’ve avoided drinking beyond 1 or 2.

It is effortless to meet people here as long as you’re willing to be the person to speak first. From my (very limited) experience, people rarely will address you first, but if you smile and greet them and ask how they’re doing, they’ll happily respond. I’ve met several people this way, either in orientation or in classes. I have started forming a friendship with a Canadian named Josh (from Winnipeg), and the pleasure of getting to know him has been that he is very curious about God. He’s admitted to me that he’s jealous that I can have faith in God, so I’ve used this as an opportunity to share the gospel message a couple of times. He was also curious about why and how Lutherans differ from Catholics, so I got to teach him about the Reformation! Thanks be to God for allowing me to share the good news about Jesus!

5. Environmental

The environmental aspect (my surroundings) has probably been one of my most eye-opening and culturally shocking experiences. I am definitely outside of the WELS bubble. This isn’t necessarily bad, but I think it contributes to my homesickness. I was quickly reminded of this Bible passage from 1 Peter 2:11, “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.” Obviously, I am a foreigner here in Ireland, but I am also a foreigner of this world, simply on a journey toward my heavenly home. It’s easy for me to forget that I am a foreigner on earth when I’m at home. Being in Ireland (and especially experiencing homesickness) has caused me to remember where my true home is. The reason that I was reminded of this verse is because of the experiences I’ve had living in the “post-Christian” society that is Ireland. I have already heard several malicious quips made about either the Catholic church or Christianity as a whole….

At my orientation, we had a “sexologist” come and speak to us about consent, but with very vulgar descriptions and sayings that I honestly can’t repeat. It felt like I was the only person who wasn’t laughing. When I walk around campus, I constantly hear people swearing. I’m generally not that sensitive to swearing, but because I’ve been used to walking around MLC’s campus and not hearing it carelessly used, it’s taken me by surprise. Several of the guys my age that I’ve met have bragged about their sexual exploits, others have bragged about how much they can drink, and the list could go on and on with all of the sins that I am surrounded with.

All of this has not caused me to get angry, but it’s caused me great grief. I am constantly reminded of Jesus’ words on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NIV). It could be my own ignorance, but it feels as though the people around me are unaware of their constant sin. I feel horrible for them, and I wish that they would come to recognize their sins and that Jesus is their savior. At the same time, what I’ve discovered is that (almost) everyone seems to be very curious about the idea of God– I’m surrounded by agnostics. This has been incredibly encouraging. 1) I see the great need for the gospel, and 2) people have open ears and want to learn. I pray that by the power of the Holy Spirit, I can be a tool that can be used to share the gospel with those who need it. After all, that’s what I’ve been spending all my time at MLC for, right?

6. Spiritual

A few months ago, I attended a morning chapel service at MLC, where Professor Waldschmidt preached a sermon about God’s deliverance in times of need. He said (more or less) this: “I don’t know about you, but I need to be saved from something every day.” I don’t know why this statement sticks out, but I remember pondering it as I sat in chapel that day. As Christians, we know that we perpetually need God’s redeeming grace. But at the same time, Professor Waldschmidt also talked about how there are things in our everyday lives that we need God’s help. This is something (perhaps because of my self-reliant nature) that I have come to understand and realize in the past week.

As someone from a very independent society that recognizes self-reliance as the pinnacle of human accomplishment, I struggle with knowing that every good thing I do is from God and that without his power, I can do nothing. I cannot do everything on my own. It’s hard to see when you’re accomplishing everyday, ordinary tasks. I mention this because I have been struggling with adjusting to living abroad. Because of this, I find myself praying and asking for God’s help with the simplest things. Here are some real prayers I’ve had in the past couple of days: “Dear Lord, please keep me safe when I cross through traffic to go buy groceries. Amen.” “Dear Lord, help me remember where I have class. Amen.” “Dear Lord, give me the grace to not burn my food as I cook it. Amen.”

It’s an excellent reminder for me (and possibly you) that we must constantly rely on the Lord. And while I’ve been relying on God for the minuscule things, I’ve also been relying on him for the gigantic things. When I feel lonely, depressed, miss my family, or on the verge of tears for no apparent reason, I call out to God and ask for him to take away my pain. God has answered, not always right away, but I can trust that things will get better. In fact, when I visited the University of Galway’s chapel yesterday, I found two prayer cards in the lobby. I’ve attached a photo of them because I’ve been praying these prayers constantly and felt God was speaking to me with the line, “Give me the hope to believe that things will work out and that all will be well again. Amen.” I can confidently say God will make everything work out in the end (Romans 8:28), even if it’s hard to see amid my struggles.

Also, a quick note: I’ve kept up with my daily Bible reading plan, worshipped at the local Presbyterian church on Sunday morning, and attended morning mass with the Catholics twice. Both have benefited me, even if they aren’t WELS churches. I pray that God will continue to use both as a blessing to strengthen and keep me in the faith. Amen.

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Thanks for reading my blog; I hope you enjoyed it. I know it was long, and there’s so much more I could have talked about, but this was the most relevant. Please continue to pray for me as I study abroad.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.” Philippians 4:7

Here’s a description for each photo attached below:

1. The rainbow I saw right after I landed in Ireland.
2. The prayer cards I’ve been praying (almost without ceasing)!
3. The inside of the Galway cathedral where I’ve gone to Catholic mass.
4. The outside of the Galway cathedral.
5. A random alley near the city center that capture the spirit of Galway.
6. A photo taken on a foggy morning walk to class.
7. The inside of the campus pub. Perhaps MLC should team up with Schell’s to have it’s own campus bar??
8. “American-style” peanut butter– tastes just like Jif, but without all of the added sugar!