Blog 2 – A Grand Beginning

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Dia duit friends!

 

Hehe! That’s ‘hello’ in Irish! How cool is that?! It’s wild to think that I have officially been living in Ireland for nearly two weeks! But may I say, WOW! It’s unbelievable here and I can’t wait to tell you all about my arrival and first impressions in this blog! Thank you for your time reading this! I hope that you get excited about Ireland like I do! 

 

To start off like normal, I have my three gratitudes for you! However, I must say that I have a tremendous amount of gratitudes in my daily journal as this whole experience has been loads of fun! 

Three things I am grateful for:

  1. The People (they are so kind, helpful, warm, and inviting).
  2. Cars Stopping (no matter where you are crossing the road, cars will come to a halt, in no time, to let pedestrians safely cross the street – it’s amazing).
  3. Prayer (guys – we GET to pray to the God of the universe, who made all things)!

 

For my topic this week, I have the opportunity to share with you what my arrival and my first impressions are of Ireland, Limerick, and the University of Limerick (UL)! 

For my arrival:

  • Flying into Shannon International Airport
  • Checking into my accommodation 
  • Grocery shopping 
  • Orientation week 
  • Modules begin 

 

To start, my friend, Laura Kopplin, and I flew into Shannon International Airport and it was the most beautiful view! It was early in the morning, the rain had just ended, and the sun was peeking out through the clouds. This allowed for the luscious green landscape to pervade every inch of sight and to showcase the natural beauty of land that could only be fashioned by God! I literally cried tears of joy. 

We continued our journey of collecting our luggage, getting our passports stamped for study abroad immigration, and boarding the Hynan Travel bus to take us to our village. Once we arrived at our accommodation, we were able to easily check into our house, receive our keys, and unpack in our rooms!

With living in a house and no cafeteria on campus, Laura and I had to go shopping straight away! We went to the local grocery store, Lidl, where we purchased our necessities. For the first time in my life, I had to actually grocery shop for myself. I was very out of my comfort zone thinking about what food I would need to survive three meals (plus snacks) every day – by the grace of God, I had Laura with me! Now, I am feeling a lot more confident in what I need, what I like, and I have even been giving ideas for what to make for dinner! Laura has been graciously teaching me her wonderful ways in the kitchen!

Then, I had to overcome the obstacles of orientation week. These lectures brought much excitement and loads of stress. I quickly learned that we had to create our own timetables (class schedules), avoiding clashes with other modules, finding classes that were available to international students, getting into modules with limited space, and emailing professors. This felt like a weight that was pressed down on my shoulders. I was in a new country, with a new school system, and all of a sudden, I had to figure this out too. I was anxious and nervous, especially when one of the classes I really needed to take could no longer be taken. This caused me to have a moment with God. One day, I just prayed a deep prayer about surrender. I decided that I was no longer going to stress about my timetable or anything else. Rather, I would surrender it all to the Lord and begin to enjoy this incredible experience. Since then, I have been feeling calm and inexplicably joyful ever since! 

Now that modules have begun, there is a bit of uncertainty because not all of the tutorial and lab classes are taking place in the first week. However, I am still surrendering my burdens to God and I am finding peace as I enjoy some free time and the opportunity to soak in new content. I really love my professors thus far and I am thoroughly looking forward to all of the learning that is to come and the growth that may ensue! 

 

My first impressions of Ireland:

  • IMMENSE beauty everywhere 
  • Kindness of people
  • The vastness of UL
  • How quickly the weather can change 

 

The very first thought I had when landing in Shannon was, “Wow. I can’t believe I am here. This is a dream come true. The land is stunning!” and then I cried happy tears. The green landscapes are absolutely breathtaking. But the beauty of this place does not just come from the land, it comes from the hearts of the people. Their genuine care and love towards people is uncanny. They want to make connections with me. They ask where I am from and try to connect my response to their previous schema. They care why I am here and if I like their home. They will reach out to me to ask if I have any questions before I could even think of forming a question. I feel incredibly welcomed here. 

Additionally, the campus is massive. There are lots of buildings and as one orientation leader said, “Oh my, the main building is bananas!” This is true! The first floor is “G”, second is “O”, third is “M”, fourth is “1”, fifth is “2”, and sixth is “3.” Not only are those floors whacky, but then there are sections A, B, C, D, and E that are all separate buildings/blocks connected to one another with all of these floors and classrooms willy-nilly. Needless to say, finding classes can be a real hoot! But every person is willing to help if I just use my words and ask (or if I look like a wandering lost American duck) 😅. I had a wonderful young man walk past me the other day and turn around to ask if I needed assistance finding a class because I looked confused—how amazing is that?! 

Finally, the weather can change lickety-split! One second there is sun and with the snap of a finger, it is downpouring rain! Lesson learned—never leave home without a raincoat! 

 

These past days have been a blur, but have been filled with incredible moments. Upon reflection, I am certain that I am exactly where I need to be and I couldn’t be happier to have the space and time to create healthy habits, to make mistakes, and to learn. All of which help me to gain perspective and understanding. 

 

Highlights of my first days in Ireland include:

  1. Meeting new people from all over the world (Ireland, Germany, France, Netherlands, India, Hungry, Turkey, U.S., and Sweden)
  2. Completing personal daily devotions 
  3. Learning the words that are used in everyday language here (Grand = very good, good, okay, not okay, bad, Craic = fun, Chips = french fries, Crisps = chips, etc.) 
  4. A campus scavenger hunt that I completed with two friends from the U.S., two friends from France, and a friend from Germany (we made a story out of pictures and had an absolute blast)
  5. A majestic bike ride around the Aran Island of Inis Oirr 
  6. Watching the extraordinary “Celtic Steps” show

 

Low-lights of my first days in Ireland include:

  1. The stress of figuring out my timetable 
  2. Figuring out communication with time change
  3. Frustration from different communication styles among cultures 

 

Learned Insights from the Low-lights:

  1. There is no need to stress. God is in control. He provides, and He asks that we cast our anxiety on Him because He cares for us. With this in mind, I ought to surrender myself and my stress to Him who cares. 
  2. Though time change is hard, it is temporary and healthy to step out of my comfort zone and not talk to people back home every day. This provides me with amazing opportunities to talk with more people in my house and to attend later events on campus! I can make memories, make friendships, and try new things! 
  3. Communication is a way of life and depending on culture, may look different. I experienced a moment of asking a question with direct communication and I received an answer with indirect communication. I was confused and still didn’t understand. But, this helped me to conclude that when there is variance in communication styles, it is okay to recognize this and not be afraid to ask for clarification. It does no one good if there is no understanding. Therefore, even when it is awkward, I have found that it is important for me to use my words and ask more questions so that I can know what I need to do to succeed. 

 

Scripture that has been close to my heart these past days:

  • Luke 22:41-42 – “And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” 
  • Matthew 16:25 – “Whoever wants to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
  • John 14:1 – “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” 

 

This is all that has been on my heart and on my mind these past days! Truly, I couldn’t feel more joy or more gratitude for this opportunity. I absolutely adore Ireland and all that it has to offer. I look forward to many more memories made and adventures taken over the next few months! May the Lord continue to richly bless you always! 

 

With love, 

Katie Gilkey 

Blog 1 – Awaiting Finding Myself

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Hey friends!

My name is Katie Gilkey, and I am about to leave the United States to study abroad in Limerick, Ireland, for one semester! There are so many emotions and exciting things to prepare for at the moment. Through this blog, I hope to share with you what I am experiencing and help you to be a part of my adventures along the way! Thank you for being here and reading what I have to say!

 

First things first…something that I hold in high regard is to keep a positive attitude, even when things are challenging! So to help overcome this, I gratitude every day. This means that I find things throughout the day that I am grateful for in order to keep a more positive attitude – gratitude! 

Three things I am grateful for:

  1. Family and Friends (and their constant love and support).
  2. Technology (to help me stay connected to people all over the world).
  3. The Sun (it is warm and always makes me happier).

 

Last semester, I took a pre-departure class where we examined ourselves and constantly thought of goals to help guide our experiences while being abroad! I want to share with you what some of my goals and expectations are prior to leaving in one week!

Two expectations I have for myself during this semester:

  • Improving my cross-cultural communication skills. 
  • Learning how to live in the moment, to “just be”. 

I have had many previous opportunities and experiences to travel around the world and I always come to the conclusion that I love seeing the way different cultures communicate! It is important to me to accept, love, and cherish the beauty of the way people express themselves in a variety of ways including body language, facial expressions, movement, and language itself. As a result of focusing on my cross-cultural communication skills, I hope to communicate God’s love to all people more effectively! 

Living in the moment. A hard task living in a “doing” culture. We are always busy and seem to always have something planned, every second of the day. I am looking forward to having a change of pace while living abroad, one that may give me an ideal opportunity to “just be” and live in the moment. I love to give myself to people all the time, but I am finding that it is important for me to begin caring for myself better so that I may care for others more! Therefore, I want to set better boundaries for myself in order to accomplish well-rounded mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health and well-being. 

 

Two expectations I have for the program:

  • To gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for how other cultures learn.
  • To be provided experiences that I can cherish forever. 

Taking classes at MLC and spending time in classrooms has provided me with a vast perspective on the intricacies of how people learn. God is so amazing that every person would be created uniquely, including a unique brain with a unique sense of learning. I am excited to witness for myself the way in which classes are taught to meet the needs of various types of learning in another country. My classes will not only provide me with lifelong memories, but the experiences, excursions, and opportunities that arise will undoubtedly become close to my heart and an integral part of my personal growth. 

 

Two goals I hope to achieve by the end of this experience:

  • To have a basic knowledge of Irish music and dance.
  • To be more confident in being comfortable with the uncomfortable. 

I have always identified myself as a dancer. The joy that I experience when I move my body is unmatched. Unfortunately, I am currently going through a time of growth as I am no longer able to dance the way I once did due to some medical situations. However, I have been able to take a step back and learn to appreciate how different people move. All people move in some capacity, and the way in which people move communicates many things about their culture, their perspectives, and their personality! It is fascinating to ponder, and I am enthused to have the opportunity to be exposed to the way the Irish move their bodies!

Earlier this summer, I was thinking about how I have grown as a person by having to travel back and forth across the country to attend school. It crossed my mind how traveling in my hometown seems almost effortless, easy, and completely and utterly comfortable. I barely have to think about how to get somewhere. But while I was driving down a country road in a different state, it dawned on me how uncomfortable (compared to home) it is to be traveling in a place that is unfamiliar. Depending on who you are and the experiences you have had, this can be a daunting thing to think about. I realized that I felt lucky to have had opportunities to be introduced to uncomfortable situations, and I pray for many more moments of uncomfortability that will eventually lead to learning and growth. 

 

I believe that my greatest challenge will be:

  • To overcome adversity with resilience, patience, grace, and love. 

Adversity is everywhere. Difficulties arise daily, whether that be someone struggling with a particular sin, a relationship that is on the fritz, or a particular nagging negative thought that seems to weigh you down effortlessly. However, there are some particular characteristics that are needed to overcome this adversity. Tenacity, grit, determination, perseverance, strength, forbearance, and love are just to name a few. But ultimately, Christ is at the center of these characteristics. He is our rock, strength, and shield with his mercies and grace new every morning. What a blessing it is that we can rely on Him freely, and I seek to overcome the challenge of putting my faith over my fears in every situation. 

 

Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get. Sometimes things are happy and wonderful and sometimes life is downright hard. However, in every situation that passes through our threshold of life lived, there are always new perspectives to be gleaned! 

Highlights of my time preparing for Ireland include:

  1. Purchasing new luggage
  2. Thinking about what is to come and how to pack for a variety of experiences
  3. Meeting my University of Limerick buddy (Her name is Izzy!) 
  4. Spending special time with friends before leaving 
  5. Welcoming everyone back to the MLC campus as an RA 
  6. Writing this blog

Low-lights of my time preparing for Ireland include: 

  1. Being unsure of what to expect and packing accordingly
  2. Feeling lots of emotions about leaving my friends in my Senior year 
  3. Living out of a suitcase for two weeks before going to Ireland
  4. Missing family and friends 

Learned Insights from the Low-lights: 

  1. Nothing is permanent; this is temporary and not my forever.
  2. Being unsure of things can present an opportunity for low expectations and great surprises when I arrive.
  3. By feeling lots of emotions, it means that I deeply care about everyone in my life and every aspect of my life. This is a blessing that God would give me so many things to miss and love so dearly. 
  4. Living out of a suitcase for extended periods of time helps to give us perspective on the blessings of consistency and routines in our lives! 

 

Scripture that has been close to my heart this week in my preparations:

  • Romans 12:12 – “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” 
  • Psalms 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” 
  • Matthew 5:16 – “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” 

 

With that, this is what has been on my heart and on my mind while preparing myself to leave in one week! I pray that the Lord blesses you in all that you do and that you continue to live your life, “all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31)! 

Joyful thoughts in Christ,

Katie Gilkey