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Erin and I have been in Ireland for about a week now and we decided to make a list of the things we’ve learned so far on our journey.

1. Irish people are very passionate and proud about their sports and music. – Last week during orientation, an Irish musical group called Celtic Steps came and performed for all the international students. Celtic Steps is a group that includes Irish dancers performing traditional Irish dances, with musicians on the violin, accordion, drum, guitar, piano, and other Irish instruments. It was incredible to watch how quickly the dancers could move their feet! In addition, Erin and I attended a Gaelic Sport session, where we learned how to play hurling and Gaelic football. The organization that was running the session broke down the game for us and had us practice particular skills that together, make up the game. Since both of us have a passion for sports, we had a grand time. At the end of the 2-hour session, we got to play some Gaelic football against another international student team; it was a blast. On Sunday, there was a huge hurling match that was on TV. This hurling match is of equal importance to the Super Bowl. So we watched our first hurling match on TV!
2. You have to turn on the hot water in order to take a hot shower. – Our houses that we live in are very nice. You are in a house with 5 other people, in which you all have your own room and share a kitchen, living room space, and 2 bathrooms. One thing that takes some getting used to though is turning on the hot water booster in the kitchen so that you don’t take a cold shower. You just have to remind yourself that this simple step is helping conserve water and energy. 🙂
3. Their schooling system is a lot different than back home. – Freshman students, often called first years, are given a list of classes, based on their major, that they have to take that semester in order to graduate on time. Life is pretty simple for them. As an international student, it’s a little more intense. For the first two weeks of school, you can go to whatever class you want and attend how many classes you want because you don’t register for classes until after the second week of school. They do this laid-back sort of style in order for you to get a taste of the classes so that you can decide what classes you actually want to take. In a way, it is nice to go to a variety of different classes; after all, the amount of classes that they offer here are incredible! So many classes sound interesting, applicable, and engaging, how can you only choose five? In another aspect, it is super stressful because you aren’t guaranteed a spot in any of the classes you might want to take. Some classes only take a certain amount of international students. This has caused the first week of school to be a little bit of a rollercoaster, trying to find what classes will transfer back to MLC for credit and how to fit all of your classes, often called modules, into your schedule. (S/O to the people at MLC that have helped Erin and I get classes!) All modules have tutorials that you attend, which are like a breakdown of the topics covered in the lecture. In addition, some classes have labs. In the end, you have to schedule a lecture, tutorial, and possibly a lab into your schedule for one class. Sounds a little bit harder now, right?
4. Irish people talk in a different language. – Yes, Irish people can speak Gaelic, but that’s not the language I’m talking about. Irish people like to connect their words together, drop the endings of words, and like to talk fast. They also have an accent that can be hard to understand at first, but in the end sounds so cool. (Like I am so used to hearing these accents on movies and now I hear them while I’m walking down the hallway…Crazy!!) Irish people are not afraid to say what’s on their mind, even if it means saying a vulgar word.
5. Professors, instructors, doctors, whatever you would like to call our teachers, go by their first name. – You address your module instructor by their first name, meaning you use no Mr., Mrs., Dr., or Professor. It’s a little weird writing emails to them because you feel like you are being improper, but it just the way that they do things over here! The teachers are very laid back, wearing jeans and polos to class, some even wearing socks and sandals (my physics teacher…it was great). Classes don’t start before nine because they believe that anything before that is far too early. Even nine is “way too early” for most people!
6. Weekly trips to the grocery story are starting to become part of the routine. – Aldi, Lidl (which is just like Aldi), and SuperValu are all grocery and convenience stores that have been visited quite often the past couple weeks. We get all our groceries there and other things we need for the house. They are very affordable and luckily are in walking distance, meaning we can save money by not taking the bus.
7. Ireland is filled with beauty and we’ve only explored a little part of it. – Ireland is very green. Ireland has a lot of fun castles to climb. Ireland has got some great views. I feel like I breath better in Ireland…do they have more oxygen here since it is greener?
8. The campus is huge, but we are making our way around it. – We are starting to get used to where buildings are and how to read what room our classes are in, but I’ve still gotten lost. Thankfully, there are people that are spread out throughout campus in orange t-shirts that are there for you to ask them questions like where your class might be at. In a way, I feel like I am a first-year freshman, trying to make my way through all the people, worried that I might not get to class on time. To walk from our houses to the opposite side of campus can take 30 minutes, so we have to plan ahead to make sure we leave on time to get to class.
9. The weather is unpredictable. – The morning will start out being windy and cool, then the afternoon it will downpour, and then the evening will be clear and sunny. The people here say that you can get all four seasons in one day; I believe it! There have been some days where it’s been in the 70s, but those days will soon decrease, as the 50s and 60s look like they are becoming more common for the next couple weeks. The weather keeps you on your toes; Erin and I both have raincoats and are prepared!
10. Philippians 4:12-13 has been very meaningful. – It reads (with special inserts by yours truly), “I know what it is to be in need (In need of food, in need of help with school schedules, in need of hugs from home), and I know what it is to have plenty (Realizing how blessed I am to be where I am at in life; and that even though I wish I had more clothes or that I wouldn’t have a cold, I have plenty). I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation (Even though family and friends are back home), whether well fed or hungry (Because you need to budget money and may not have enough to buy that Starbucks you’re craving), whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through him who gives me strength.”

Here is a short little video of Celtic Steps:

I got my journal, raincoat, and camera all set and ready to go! What else does a girl need while traveling to Ireland?

Hello! Dia dhuit! My name is Crystal Carmichael and am about to start my Junior year at the University of Limerick in Ireland. While I am studying there, I will be taking a variety of classes that will count as credit towards specific classes at Martin Luther College, MLC, where I have been studying for the past two years. Some of the classes that I will be taking include a physics class, math class, curriculum and instruction class, an outdoor physical education class, and a health class. The university has around 11,300 students and 1,300 staff members. In comparison, I would say that MLC has around 800 students and not quite 1,000 staff members… Class sizes at the university vary, depending on the subject; however, class sizes can get be in the hundreds for popular subjects. At MLC, class sizes can be as small as 10 and maybe as big as 30. In conclusion, the big university school life will be a culture shock in itself! However, I am excited to see what it is like attending a big university. I think that this is one of the many experiences that will help me in my future career and ministry. One day I could be helping high school students determine what kind of college to attend and with my experience, I could truthfully say what college is like at a private and a public university!

With hopes of being a teacher some day, I am currently a double major in Elementary Education and Secondary Physical Education with a minor in coaching. One of my best friends and fellow adventurer, Erin Feddersen, will be traveling and studying abroad with me in Ireland! I am so thankful that Erin and I were set up as random roommate freshman year; without her, I don’t think I would be studying abroad. Together, we have accomplished all the applications and paperwork, pushed through all the frustrations and confusion, and have made each other even more excited for this experience. So far, I have learned that studying abroad is a patient process while getting everything together to head overseas. God has granted us guidance so far and I know he will continue to take care of us for the next four months!

The countdown for Ireland is less than a week away; I leave on August 27th! I am in awe of how fast the time has gone; I haven’t started packing yet, but I still have time! 🙂 I am a little nervous on how I am going to fit everything into the two big suitcases I have planned to bring, but I am confident that everything will work out.

Each day has been an emotion of its own; some days I think, “I can’t believe I am going…Is this real?!”. Other days I think, “What am I doing? I don’t know anything about living in Ireland or going to school there. What am I going to do?” With those fears swarming around my head, I am reminded that studying abroad has always been a dream of mine. Traveling has taught me numerous lessons and along with traveling comes growth, understanding, and a greater knowledge of the world and the people that live in it. What calms my fears the most is the comfort and knowledge that no matter where I go, the Lord will never leave me. With all the “goodbyes” that I have had to say lately, I am reminded that it is only a “See you later!” The Lord will always provide for me; I rejoice with the opportunities he has given me and I can not wait to share his name and what he has done with people all over the world! I know full well that not everything will go smoothly while I am abroad; I will face trials of many kinds. It will be an adjustment to not have classmates who share the same faith as I do and not have a chapel to go to every day to worship in. Nonetheless, the Word of the Lord never changes.

While I am in Ireland, I ask you to keep me in your thoughts and prayers. Encourage me with Bible passages, eat an extra cookie for me (basketball girls I am sure you won’t have a problem with that…), pray for my safety, and keep enjoying the little things and blessings that God gives us each day.

Erin and I hope to update the Blog at least once a week and post some pictures up either here or on Facebook. If you would like to try and send a letter, Erin and I will hopefully have our addresses soon, so just let us know if you would like them! Otherwise, WhatsApp, Skype, Facetime, and Facebook are great ways to communicate with us.

Thank you again to everyone who has supported Erin and I with their thoughts, prayers, and love! We are so thankful for you all! #theluckofChrisandFedd

Erin (pictures on the far left) and I, with the help of Hailey and Sarah, are getting ready to head off to Ireland! Thank you, Hailey and Sarah, for sharing your travel stories and advice with us!