In three weeks, I'll be in Ireland! It's hard to believe...I feel like February 4th will never arrive. I've never been to Ireland before, and I've never spent a significant period of time in a foreign country before, so this semester is certainly going to be an interesting and exciting experience for me.
First, some facts. Dublin, Ireland has been in a state of economic growth for the past twenty years or so, although it has slowed recently because of the recession. It is also one of the most expensive cities in Europe (yikes). Close to half of the population of Dublin is younger than 25, which means it is definitely an up and coming city. All of these things have huge impacts on the culture of the city, the repercussions of which are spreading outwards to the other lesser cities of the state (and even slowly reaching the smaller, more rural areas).
Although I haven't actually arrived in Dublin yet, I've already been talking to a few students studying at Dublin City University. I've been trying to get a feel for the culture of Ireland so it's not such a huge shock when I get over there. Here are some things I've heard about Irish culture, particularly in Dublin, that I'll have to confirm for myself once I'm over there.
Because of the economic boom of the 1990s and early 2000s, Ireland definitely isn't the wild and uncivilized cousin of Great Britain that it once may have been considered. I've heard Dublin is a very multicultural city, just as much if not more than many of our state capitals are. I feel like people in America, or at least my family and friends that know I'm going abroad, underestimate Dublin. They keep asking silly questions like "Are you going to have internet?" "Do they use cell phones there?" and my favorite, "What are you going to eat?!" When I expressed concern about finding vegetarian fare in what I assumed was a very meat and potatoes cuisine, my DCU friend told me there were more Polish, Czech, Thai, Chinese and every other type of eateries than I would know what to do with, so getting whatever type of food I wanted would not be a problem. From everything I've read and everyone I've talked to, Dublin is definitely a city of the 21st century.
Something I am particularly interested to see for myself is the supposed secularization of Irish society. The younger Irish are increasingly secular and more tolerant with different religious views, I've heard, than the older more avidly religious generations. Since I've always thought of Ireland as a very religious place (which has caused quite a bit of trouble there, no pun intended), I was pretty surprised to hear that most young people don't consider going to church or going to Confession a big deal. Although I don't think 4 months is enough time for me to fully grasp what this means for past and future generations of Ireland and how it is affecting society, it is something I'd really like to at least talk to a few people about when I'm over there.
I cannot wait to get over there and just experience everything for myself instead of hearing about what other people say about the place. I've been using guidebooks and websites and Irish newspapers, reading and watching some Irish literature and movies, and I'm anxious to get over there and experience it for myself! Peace and love!
Hi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you will be quite prepared for your semester abroad. A few quick questions: Have you read or heard of many foreign companies' presence in Dublin? If so, is there a certain sentiment directed toward these MNCs? Also, in regard to the economic growth, what is the unemployment rate like now as compared to the past?
Have a safe flight!
I am not familiar with particular companies in Dublin, but because of their economic growth in the 90s and early 2000s I know many foreign companies invested in real estate in Dublin, especially European countries. I'll try to see what the situation is like once I'm there thought. As to the unemployment rate--just like the rest of Europe and most of the world, Ireland's economy is in a recession now. The best estimates I can find say that in the Republic of Ireland unemployment is around 7% (most say 6.6-7.1%) and I recently read in the Irish Times they're predicting 15% of the population to be unemployed by summer, although that number might be a bit inflated. However, the Irish are losing jobs much faster than Americans--there's a good article about it in the Irish Independent if you want to read up on it. Thanks for the comment!
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteI hope your time in Ireland is wonderful and I am so excited to be able to follow your blog. I know your not there yet but I have a few questions about what you are expecting once you get there. You mention in your first blog the "supposed secularization" that is happening with the younger generations there in Ireland. Where did you get this information from and how do you think you will recognize it while you are there. Is it lerge part of the population or is it something that has just started and can barely be seen? Also, are you excited to see how this is being accepted by the older generations?
Hi Tabitha! My friend Keri Owens is in Dublin right now, and has been for six months. I asked her about the religious situation over there (aka how religious people were) and she informed me it was similar to the US in that some didn't feel it necessary to go to church at all, although some still did go on a regular basis. I also read about it in the Lonely Traveler Guidebook about Ireland that CIS (my study abroad program) sent me so I could learn more about the country before I arrive. I hope to bring it up with friends when I'm over there, once I get to know them pretty well and everything. Otherwise it's not something very visible. I don't know how much interaction I'll have with older Irish since I'll be living in an apartment and not a family, but I hope to do as much "research" as possible!
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteBeing Irish and experiencing so many Irish traditions growing up, it is so neat to be able to follow your blog and grasp what life might be like for a person my age in the actual country. I am excited to learn more about the culture and hopefully see pictures.
In Lead 203, we are reading Friedman's "The World is Flat", which explains globalization and how interconnected the world has become throughout history. One of the 10 reasons for this "flattening" that Friendman discusses deals with the introduction and evolution of the world wide web. Your blog is a prime example of how Marietta College students can communicate with someone in a completely different culture and share information and experiences through the internet. It is also neat that you say Dublin is quite technologically advanced like we are in America. Many of the bloggers seem to be a few years behind in that sense, so I am excited to learn about an area that seems to be in a similar position to us. Please let me know of additional technology advances that you come upon.
Enjoy your time!
Lauren Yanko :)
Hello Melissa,
ReplyDeleteYou may not know me but my name is Tom Neel. Like my compatriots in the McDonough I am going to be responding to your blog the rest of the semester. Like Lauren, my family came over on the boat during the potato famine and at that time the Irish economy was down in the dumps. I was surprised to hear about an increase in the Irish economy, what companies have based themselves in Ireland? Also, all economies need to have a strong population base, but with all the conflict between the Northern Irish and the mainland Catholics, how was this possible? The one big question though can you see the cultural differences between America and Ireland because I have thought that they were kind of similar.
Well that is all I have to say, but I must say I am extremely jealous that you get to experience Ireland. I hope to study abroad there next year.
Have Fun.
Tom Neel
Thanks for the comments guys! Lauren, I'll be sure to blog about any technological advances I see in Dublin, particularly relating to the technology we have in America.
ReplyDeleteTom, I'm sure I'll be able to give you more detailed answers to these questions when I'm over there, but I'll tell you what I know now. Intel employs about 5000 people in Ireland and Microsoft employs about 2000 in Dublin alone, and even though both of those companies were cutting jobs across the globe recently, very very few Irish jobs were cut (I read an article about it in The Irish Times if you want to look it up). However, the banking industry was one that really boomed in recent years, as well as real estate.
As for the relationship between the Troubles and the economy, for the most part the level of violence has dropped significantly in the past 10 years. It was Northern Ireland that was most heavily affected by this--they did not experience the same economic boom as the Republic of Ireland.
I have heard from my Ireland contacts that culturally Ireland and America are more similar than most people would assume, but I will talk more about this when I arrive.
Also, an interesting fact I recently learned (thank you Wikipedia! <--something else you guys will talk about in Leadership!) is that many US companies base their European customer service firms in Ireland because of the high percentage of young people willing to work. The world is indeed flat!
I hope you get to study abroad next year Tom, I'm so thrilled to be able to myself! If you want any advice or tips I'd be glad to help out when I get back!
Hi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteI will also be following your blog this semester. Like Lauren and Tom, part of my family came over from Ireland. I have to say I'm jealous of your trip too and very excited to get some details about the culture. I'll save questions that connect to our reading for when you're actually there and experiencing it. I will say though that I'm also really interested in how technological advances compare to life in America, and I'd like to know if what you found about the high percentage of young people working is consistent with the people you meet while you're there. Is it students working? What exactly are they taking on? That sort of thing. Thanks for letting us follow your experience! I hope you have a wonderful trip.
First of all IBM and Microsoft are there, that does explain why Ireland is doing so well economically. It is surprising to me, though, that they have a high level of technical knowledge that allows them to handle those jobs. From what I understand, Ireland is not the most technologically advanced nation in Europe, but is that just a myth. It seems to me that the cities in Ireland are on par with the rest of the industrialized world, but what about the countryside? granted you probably have not been there yet but it would be interesting to look at the differences in technology from the countryside to the city. Also on the topic of technology, how is the traffic in Ireland. I know completely random, but a lot can be said about a country technologically by how much and what they drive. With America now going green, and the rest of the world supposedly having a head start on us, how far are we behind? Or are we not? I just think it would be interesting on how America ranks next to Ireland.
ReplyDeleteHi, melissa,
ReplyDeleteI just wondered do you go to university while you are there. What made you chose Ireland? Do you get college credit for this? I am asking about this because I have a child that is interested in studting abroad. Did you have to pay for you way there, and living expenses while you are there? I bet your family misses you! Did you get homesick? You are a very ambitous young lady. Do you plan to
go on to get your masters after graduation? Enough questions.