I officially moved here two weeks ago and I think I am finally settled in. It’s been a bumpy few weeks of emotions and I’d be lying if I said it was all good. However, I think I am definitely heading in the upward swing of my culture shock, becoming more and more at home. Just a few days ago I was walking home from classes and I realized that this just feels like where I live now; this feels like home.
I also started classes this past week, and have completed my first week of graduate school! Yay! I am still getting used to the style of schooling here. We only have one paper and one exam for each of my classes so there is no day to day or week to week homework. It puts the responsibility of learning on the student. I feel confident I will be able to step up and stay on track of studying and not leaving everything until the last minute. It’s just hard to shake the feeling that I should be doing something that was drilled in to me after almost two decades of schooling focused on homework and regular assignments.
It has given me a lot of free time though, which I have been taking full advantage of. I have joined several societies and sports clubs which will all have their welcome programs and start having weekly meetings in the coming few weeks. I have also been exploring the town and pubs with some friends I’ve made along the way. Even though it’s odd, I think it’s a great opportunity I have been given so that I can actually have time to explore, travel, and make lots of friends and memories instead of being too focused and caught up in school work and studying.
Updated Fitness Counts, 9/1-9/13 (13 days in Ireland)
Steps: 222,372 Miles: 98.82 Flights of Stairs: 430