Archive for category: Limerick, Ireland Fall 2025 Kopplin

Drum roll, please! Bda da da da da… This is the final blog! Blog #8. The blog of reflection, accomplishments, stories, and blessings. Today, December 18, 2025, marks day 110, and a great deal has happened in that time. Besides Limerick, I got to see parts of the Aran Islands, Dublin, Galway, and the most recently, London, where Katie Gilkey and I got to see Trafalgar Square (more on this later) and see The Phantom of the Opera Musical and from box seats (so cool!), and The Nutcracker Ballet. We also visited Pooh Corner, a tea house and small Winnie-the-Pooh museum. No one else could have had the London adventure we did because we were a bit spontaneous. If we saw a sidewalk lit up by Christmas lights and a bunch of people on the other end, you bet we walked over to see what it was. We found a few cute Christmas markets and food stands and took a picture by every Christmas tree we saw. We visited rooftop gardens and traveled the English countryside by train.

I haven’t been everywhere or seen as much as others, but I got where I wanted to. It’s not about doing what everyone else does or getting to the most places. It’s about the adventures you make and those you make them with. This semester, I had the opportunity to meet and live with two lovely ladies, and I made more memories with an old friend. We’ve added many more laughs and inside jokes that we can look back on for the years to come.

What are you most proud of?

I am proud of my cooking accomplishments in a kitchen that doesn’t have everything, and having to make do. I’m proud of figuring out how to grocery shop in unfamiliar stores. I’m proud of learning (not quite mastering) public transportation and being more active and going for walks. 

I am most proud of getting out of my comfort zone and being okay when things are a bit uncomfortable or new. Getting out of your comfort zone is a healthy and beneficial practice. Not only does it encourage personal growth, but it also broadens your perspectives, enabling you to relate more to others and understand their situations more effectively. It can also increase resilience, enhance problem-solving skills, and boost confidence. I can confidently say I have seen all of these in myself over this last semester. I challenge you to intentionally find one thing to do before the end of the year that makes you a little uncomfortable and do it. Tell it to one other person to keep you accountable. Afterwards, be proud of what you accomplished. You don’t have to like it in the end, but at least you are certain of that now, and at least you tried. Learning and growth come from reflection.

What would you do differently if you could?

Nothing. I don’t want to change anything. It’s not because everything was perfect. No. I don’t want to change anything because this was the adventure God had planned for me. I had to experience the adventures and challenges because I have learned and grown from them. Have I changed a little? Yes. Am I completely different? No. Would I have learned the same things if I hadn’t studied abroad? I don’t know. I won’t ever know. It’s our experiences and adventures that shape us. It’s the path of life God has laid out for each of us, and the people he brings into our lives that help make us who we are. 

What will you incorporate into your life back home?

Compost. No, I’m not bringing rotting food scraps back to the States. Gross. Why would you think that? What I mean is that I want to be more aware of the environment. Ireland does a better job of maintaining a clean environment and preserving the land. They have compost bins/dumpsters like we have regular trash and recycling collections every week. I loved working in the garden when I was younger, picking and eating the fresh fruits and vegetables. Although I don’t have my own garden, I hope to someday when I can recycle food scraps.

Lighter schedules. Or the attempt at it. Why do we always feel rushed? In my last blog, I mentioned that I was thankful for lighter class schedules and how they give you room to simply be. America is a doing culture, always moving from one thing to the next. Ireland is more of a being culture, where people take personal time to socialize or enjoy alone time. I know it will be challenging, but it will be another goal to work towards. I want to be more intentional about setting aside time to relax and take a pause. I think this is something we should all strive for and is often overlooked in life at MLC.

What are you most grateful for?

I am most grateful for my sweet Michael. ❤️ Why? Because he’s him. And I love him that way. I have missed him a lot. 8 days, by the way. 🙂 He’s always made time to call and spend time over the phone. Sometimes it’s to chat, do homework together in each other’s presence, watch a movie, or even fold laundry with me. I can’t wait to be able to give him a hug and kiss, hold his hand, or go for a walk together. He’s listened to all my stories and challenges along the way and encouraged me to do my best, and he’s proud of me. I’m proud of him for all his determination and effort he put into this semester at work and school. I love you, Michael! See you soon! ❤️

How have you seen God’s hand in your experience abroad? What unexpected blessings or provisions have you seen?

We have met many people from all over and had the opportunity to explain what MLC is, how our system works, and how Katie and I met in high school in Wisconsin, despite being from Nevada and Texas and attending college in Minnesota. A year before Katie and I left for Ireland, we felt a big pull to study abroad, and that there was someone we had to meet. We don’t know why we felt this mission; maybe it was God putting this on our hearts. Although we’ll never know for sure who this was, we had to meet, and now that we have reflected on our time and the people we’ve met, we think it might have been one of our housemates who needed big sister advice and encouragement.

An unexpected blessing was getting to sing Christmas carols in Trafalgar Square during our first evening in London. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to go caroling, and I didn’t realize how much I’d missed it, even just getting to sing the traditional Christmas hymns. We were just about to leave when I overheard the small brass band from the other side of the square, amidst all the commotion of hungry shoppers. I quickly sought out the music, eager for what I might find. We weaved our way through the crowd—we got really good at this over the next 3 days in London—and found the musical group. To our surprise, we also found the carolers. After making our way to the front of the crowd to see and hear better, and unable to contain the joy, we joined in with the songs we knew from memory. We found a seat up front, and during one of the free-will offering collections, the church lady invited us to join their group. They even had extra music folders for us to use. We had a blast. We sang some of the classics, new melodies with familiar lyrics, and familiar melodies with variations in the lyrics. We didn’t realize how much we needed it until we were in it. This was our favorite part of our trip to London. 🙂

What advice would you give to future semester-abroad students?

1. Plan things, even small things like a day in town or a different part of town, to look forward to and get excited about the next big adventure. The little motivation and things to look forward to really help keep the time moving and prevent getting down.
2. Ask the locals for good places to eat or visit. Nobody knows the lay of the land better than they do. Ask your teachers and other people you meet about places they might suggest.
3. Find a buddy abroad. This is more fun with a friend to make memories with. But it’s also good to get out and do things on your own.
4. Ask questions… and be ready to get a vague answer. Ireland’s communication style is more circular than straightforward. It may take some probing to get the answer you’re looking for. Keep asking questions and be specific.
5. Track the weather for your location the year prior to your study abroad semester. This will be particularly helpful when packing, taking into account factors such as rain, humidity, and wind.

It’s been an amazing experience studying abroad and immersing myself in a different culture! Thanks for keeping up with my posts and reading about my adventures. I still have so many songs I wish I could share. So for this last one, I’ll let you choose your own adventure! Listen to one or listen to them all! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

“Time to Go Home” By JigJam

https://youtu.be/BXx0NzjaLfI?si=rtC1cLOQq-gXbmLl

“Christmas in Killarny” (and the rest of the album) sung by Rend Collective

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqIMZGbkbbo&list=PLGXQK3aC61FQ2TtOR3UIXKhQBHheVQ6fH&index=2

“Hurray for Christmas Day” (and the rest of the album) by The Irish Rovers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYgjsD20UQI&list=OLAK5uy_kaQrlpp_TovhT1_7VZD0feBeGNhf6hsrU&index=2

November 11, 2025

Hello everyone! This is the 3rd to last blog! My, how time flies. This is a slightly different kind of blog, as the assigned topic for this one was an interview. The assignment was to interview someone from a different culture and take note of the multitude of differences, similarities, and unique things about the other person’s culture. It is my pleasure to introduce you to Akira! We met at one of the meetings of the Christian Union Society (think of it as a club) and hit it off while chatting afterwards. Akira is currently studying early childhood education (just like me!) at Mary Immaculate College on the other side of Limerick. Even though she does not attend the University of Limerick, she still comes to campus for the Christian Union meetings every week.

What are five random facts about you?

1. Akira is originally from South Africa. However, you would never know it, as she moved to Ireland three years ago. Many think she is from Ireland because of her accent. There are many accents and variations throughout Ireland, so she is often mistaken for being native to Ireland.
2. She can fluently speak three languages. Growing up in South Africa, she spoke Afrikaans. She has since learned Gaelic and English. Akira is also currently learning a little bit of Romanian and hopes to learn Spanish as well.
3. Akira loves to read. Her favorite book series is the Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan.
4. She has five siblings that she loves to hang out with, three full siblings and two step-siblings.
5. Akira did gymnastics growing up for 2-3 years.

What do you enjoy doing? Hobbies? Work? Personal time?

As shared earlier, Akira loves books. Specifically romance books. One of her favorites is “Better Than the Movies” by Lynn Painter. She loves singing and dancing around the house with a dramatic flair. Akira also has some theater experience. She currently works at an Italian-style pizza place owned by a couple from Romania. They are teaching her a little bit of Romanian, and she is helping their child learn Gaelic. Akira loves trying and experiencing many different kinds of foods… more on this later. She is also currently learning how to knit in her spare time.

What is something you wish other people knew about you?

Akira says sometimes she is quiet. Most of the time, she is just tired or thinking, even though most people think she might be mad when she doesn’t respond right away.

What was your childhood like? Where did you grow up? Who was in your home?

Akira was born in Durban, South Africa (see map). She lived with both parents until she was six years old, when they divorced. Her dad remarried, and she lived with her Dad, stepmom, and her two step-siblings. One of her favorite memories is going camping with her Dad, step-mom, and step-siblings, either in the mountains or by the beach. She recalled that they would often invite people to their campsite for a braai. Braais are the South African name for a barbecue. Think hamburgers, hot dogs, pasta salads, fruit salads, and chips. Akria later moved in with her mom. Soon after, she met her best friend, and they have remained good friends to this day, 10 years later.

What traditions or holidays are most important to you or your family? What’s your favorite holiday/time of the year?

Akira’s favorite holiday is Christmas. In South Africa, Christmas is in summer. No, it’s not in June or July. Which is what I originally thought after she told me. Christmas is still celebrated on December 25, but December is not a summer month. Ponder that for a moment. Akira and her family love going to the beach around Christmas, enjoying good food, and celebrating all together as a family, exchanging gifts, or playing games. Because her family loves having a braai, this might be the food they prepare for Christmas. Traditional Christmas food in South Africa may also include lamb, chicken, broccoli salad, pasta salad, potato salad, fruit salad, and various other types of salads.

What is a big holiday in your culture that not many others would know about?

Heritage Day is a significant celebration in South Africa. Akira compared it to the 4th of July. Because South Africa is such a multicultural country, it celebrates the diverse heritages of its people on Heritage Day. Everyone dresses up in their traditional cultural attire and prepares a cultural dish to bring in and share, either at work or in school. In some schools, activities may even be prepared for students to participate in.

How do people in your culture usually greet each other?

Akira says in Durban, where she grew up, people greet each other by saying “Howzit” (pronounced How’s it?), as in How is it going? Just like in America, responses are not too common, as most people have passed each other before an answer can be given. Or, most simply, extend their hand for a handshake to greet the other. But in church, Akira says that everyone hugs each other. I think we could say it’s the same in the States!

How do people in your culture view time or punctuality?

This is a somewhat broad answer. In America, I think we could agree that for most people, being on time is arriving just before, on, or just after the agreed-upon time. But yes, everyone has their own perceptions and practices. Akira told me that in South Africa, “on time” could literally mean arriving right at the agreed-upon time (e.g., 4 pm), or it could be anything up to an hour after. She said most would probably arrive at 20 past or 30 past the agreed-upon time (4:20 pm or 4:30 pm).

If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go and why?

After some thoughtful reflection, Akira decided on Spain. For three reasons: 1) To visit a good friend, 2) to try churros and dip them in chocolate, and 3) to learn Spanish.

What’s something your culture does really well that you wish others could experience? What is your favorite thing about your home culture?

Food. Yup. We talked way too long about food. And we were hungry after. Akira said, “Our food is the best food, but I guess everyone could say that.” 🙂 She continued on and told me that there are 12 official languages in South Africa, and that the people are extremely kind, with everyone enjoying chatting and visiting with each other.

The main similarities I noticed between our cultures are the significant role food plays in holidays and family gatherings, as well as a strong love for spending time with family, especially around the holidays. The main differences (and I think these are also the unique points) I observed were the seasons and holidays associated with them, as well as Heritage Day. Christmas is a winter holiday, yet it still falls in December. I can’t wrap my brain around that still. I love the idea of Heritage Day. I think sometimes we get too wrapped up in how we are similar and should be like everyone else that we lose sight of the unique things that make us, individually and as a people, who we are. We don’t take enough time to really notice why or how others are different from us in positive ways. I learned a great deal about Akira and South Africa. I really enjoyed my time visiting with her and getting to know her and her home culture better.

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

It is the end of week two! I arrived safely at the Shannon airport and was picked up by the University bus. We were dropped off at our accommodations and unpacked right away. We took a short walk around the campus just to see a few places and had the rest of the day to visit the grocery store and rest. I am living in Plassey Village. Stay tuned for more details later in my next post. 🙂 After two weeks, I have already noticed some key differences.

First, I noticed that the Irish drive on the left side of the road. I was aware of it going into my travels, but it’s very odd to actually see it in person and experience it. 

After a week of orientation and presentations, my first adventure in Ireland was to the Aran Islands off the west coast of mainland Ireland. There are three islands that make up the Aran Islands. After a 2-hour bus ride, we boarded a ferry to the smallest of the three—Inis Oírr, pronounced “Inisheer.” I’m very thankful for the experienced bus drivers who are able to drive many international students down the narrow roads of Ireland. Some chose to walk the island, some chose a horse and cart, but Katie G. and I rented bikes like the Irish do. We practiced biking on the left side of the one-lane road (It got much easier as the day progressed.). We biked all day, taking in all the amazing views of the little island. We saw cows, old ruins of a church and castle, a graveyard and church, horses, a small beach, a shipwreck from 1960, and bought fudge from a local stand—Man of Aran Fudge.

Second, the people of Ireland are all nice folks. They are so welcoming to all international students and are curious about where we call home. Even the drivers on the road are nicer to pedestrians than I’m accustomed to. In the States, I would have to wait for two or three cars to pass before I could walk. Yet, here, the cars and even the city buses stop for pedestrians within a relatively short distance!

Friends are everywhere around us; you just have to look for them. I have met people from Belgium, Ireland, India, Hungary, the US, Sweden, France, Germany, Turkey, England, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Denmark! I attended the scavenger hunt hosted on UL’s campus for international students as a bonding activity. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into it, and I wasn’t entirely sure if I wanted to do it. In the end, I couldn’t have had more fun! I met three lovely ladies, two from France and one from Germany! We had lots of laughs and created memories together. We all even ended up going out for coffee after the scavenger hunt—something I never expected to happen in my first week. Getting out of your comfort zone is a big piece of finding the best experiences and meeting new friends! It’s not easy, by any means. But the first step is learning to be okay with being uncomfortable—because you never know who you’ll meet or the amazing memories you’ll come away with!  

Song to check out! → “Come In” by the Irish Rovers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXozFVGO2ok&list=RDwXozFVGO2ok&start_radio=1

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Laura Kopplin