{"id":2477,"date":"2025-10-29T16:52:45","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T16:52:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.mlc-wels.edu\/study-abroad\/?p=2477"},"modified":"2025-10-29T16:52:45","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T16:52:45","slug":"blog-5-were-halfway-there-wo-oah-living-on-a-prayer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.mlc-wels.edu\/study-abroad\/2025\/10\/29\/blog-5-were-halfway-there-wo-oah-living-on-a-prayer\/","title":{"rendered":"Blog #5 We\u2019re halfway there! Wo-oah! Living on a prayer!"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s the halfway point blog! In this blog, I\u2019ll reflect on experiences and goals and evaluate the last half of this experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.\u201d Matthew 28:20b<\/span>\"\"<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s be real for a moment. I\u2019m in another country. Crazy. I still don\u2019t really believe it. It\u2019s not easy either. Yes, it\u2019s fun and exciting, but I didn\u2019t stop to process enough that those feelings will wear off eventually. Yes, I learned about culture shock, but I didn\u2019t know what to expect. When will it hit? Is it like one big moment or a very gradual thing? Will it wear off? How long could it take? What will it feel like?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.\u201d Matthew 28:20b \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Homesickness is real. I\u2019m not homesick for a place. I miss my fianc\u00e9. I miss my friends. I miss my family. I miss the laughs and memories we make when we\u2019re together. I miss people I know. Don\u2019t get me wrong, I\u2019m having fun and making many memories! My housemates are fantastic, and we love hanging out together. We just had a mid-term for the academic semester. Assignments are coming due every week. Thanksgivi<\/span>ng is around the corner. We don\u2019t get Thanksgiving break. Christmas decor is going up and is in stores all over the place. I\u2019m looking forward to Christmas, family, and memories. I love the anticipation of Christmas, but it\u2019s coming earlier than usual. Being at a higher latitude than the US is different. It was completely dark by 5:30 pm today. So in my mind, it’s later in the year than usual, and Thanksgiving is less than a week away (not a month). Then the music can be played and the tree can go up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.\u201d Matthew 28:20b<\/span><\/p>\n

I have gotten out of my comfort zone more than usual. And to be honest, I don\u2019t always know where my comfort zone is now. I have learned so much while here, most of it not from classes. I have gained so many new experiences and learned from them. I have learned how to navigate using public transportation. From taking buses and trains across the country, purchasi<\/span>ng tickets, taking the bus across town, or just walking and navigating the city, I\u2019ve become more comfortable with navigating unfamiliar places. This is a goal accomplished. I have attended the Christian Union Society (a club) multiple times. I\u2019m still not completely comfortable, but I\u2019ve definitely improved. This is a goal in progress. It\u2019s hard to enrich connections with those who are far away. But the fun part is planning and anticipating the sweet reunion and hugs to come. Calling and just talking isn\u2019t always my cup of tea. I like doing things and making memories. This is a goal in progress.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.\u201d Matthew 28:20b<\/span><\/p>\n

Where can I improve? I\u2019ve got more than three. But that\u2019s what we\u2019ll stick to. 1) Planning things to do with my people in the States. <\/span>Minecraft? Games? 20 questions? Digital escape rooms? All things I\u2019ve done or thought about. 2) Devotions and livestreaming church. Getting to a WELS church is not possible here. There are none. The closest one is in London. Did you hear a good sermon? Share it with me! Read a good bible passage? Send it my way! Text or Facebook Messenger is great! 3) Motivation for school work.\u00a0<\/span>What I learn is applicable and fun. But I need a better homework motivation schedule. Most of the time, I don\u2019t want to sit in my apartment and do homework.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.\u201d Matthew 28:20b<\/span><\/p>\n

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I was surprised how similar it was to the US. There are still some significant differences, such as Ireland being more of a being culture than a doing culture. In the US, everyone is always go-go-go, but Ireland is a bit more laid back. In my education course last week, a guest speaker gave us information on the writing center, telling us tips and tricks for planning to write a paper (this class is mainly for first-year students). When discussing planning to write our paper, she told us to put a beer break in the schedule. No joking. She said, \u201cAnd think about when you will have a beer in there.\u201d I was stunned. I love how the Irish people aren\u2019t as focused on every task they have to do. They take time to live and just to be. I did not know this before, and it has changed my opinion that we all could use a little break. We only get one life. Why rush through it? God has blessed us with time with our families and friends on this earth. Don\u2019t ignore that. Don\u2019t toss it away. Don\u2019t live to work. Work to live. Take time just to be.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.\u201d Matthew 28:20b<\/span><\/p>\n

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Song to check out! \u2192 \u201cAcross the Pond\u201d by JigJam<\/p>\n

Song to check out! \u2192 \u201cYoung Again\u201d by Barry Kirwan<\/p>\n