Maynooth, Ireland

Slainte, international students! ("Slainte" is Irish, or Gaelic as we Americans call it, for "cheers." It's a common greeting, expression of thanks, toast, and saying for almost anything here in Ireland.)

My name is Liz, and I'm currently a junior at Boston College spending my spring semester abroad at the National University of Maynooth in Ireland. Maynooth is located in County Kildare, Ireland. It's a small town about 40 minutes west of Dublin, and I do mean small. The main town itself isn't much more than two streets lined with shops, banks, cafes, and pubs, and college kids are everywhere. It's the best of both worlds because Maynooth has a real college town feel, and a big bustling city lies close by in Dublin. In that sense, Maynooth is actually pretty similar to BC. Also like BC, because NUI Maynooth is located outside the city, it has a large, sprawling campus with lots of green space (not that green is hard to come by in Ireland!), so you definitely get that campus feel.

That's about where the similarities between NUIM and BC end, though. At BC, most students take 5 courses, but at NUIM, we take 6. The courses are radically different, though. At BC, for example, attendance is often a pretty significant part of your grade for a course (or it's at least factored in). Only two of my classes at Maynooth take attendance, but we're only penalized when we miss half of them. At BC, we're penalized once we miss three! For the rest of the courses, it's up to you to go to them. Another thing I've found different is that the professors at NUIM (all but one of mine) use slides and always put them up online. I've actually heard the phrase, "These are on Moodle (the student website), so there's no need to write the notes down" more times than I can count. The biggest difference is that fewer assessments make up the grades here. At BC, especially last semester, I'm used to having three papers and a test most weeks of the semester. At NUIM, however, most of the courses are assessed by either one test or paper at the end, or one in the middle and one at the end. It makes for a pretty relaxed semester right now, but I'm sure it will get stressful at the end. Another huge difference is in the course readings. We get a large course bibliography at NUIM, but they're all "recommended" rather than required. They're mostly for our own further reading on topics covered in lecture instead of the primary sources for the class, like at BC. Classes at NUIM are also much larger, especially English courses. My two English courses here are in huge lecture halls that seat over 400, and when everyone comes to class, the lecture hall is filled. I've had one English course in a big lecture hall at BC, but it wasn't 400+, and it broke into a weekly discussion group of 10-15 kids. Moreover, we had some kind of assessment on every book covered at BC. At NUIM, though, our assessment is on just one of the works we cover...and it's one of our own choosing.

Outside of academics, the lifestyle in Ireland is also pretty different from that of BC. Everything is a little slower here, and everyone is much more easygoing. You don't run into people frazzled and jacked up on caffeine after an all-nighter in the library here. The social scene is really different from BC's, too. At BC, weekends are the nights for socializing. At Maynooth, though, because most of the students are Irish, a lot of kids go home on the weekends, so socializing during the week (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday) is huge. Mondays are huge for going out at NUIM, a concept that still blows my mind. A typical Monday night at BC would be me staring at my to-do list for the week, waiting for Gossip Girl to start, and wishing for the week to be over. Another difference that I'm still getting used to is the lack of a mealplan. There are, like I said, cafes in town and places to get food on campus, but unlike at BC, it's paid for with "real" money, not BC dining bucks or Eagle bucks (which I like to think of as Monopoly money). It's more independent living, then, since we're doing our own grocery shopping and cooking - something I didn't experience at BC since I've always lived on campus without a full kitchen - which is good preparation for the scary real world after college.

So, even though I get an occasional pang of nostalgia for BC, and a more than occasional craving for a latte from Hillside, I really am loving my experience studying abroad so far. I've had the opportunity to travel to Paris, Barcelona, Belfast, and London so far, and I'm going to Brussels and Amsterdam in a few weeks - weekend trips I'd never be able to take at BC. Ireland might not be as radically different from the States as some other abroad programs, since they do speak English here, but the culture here is distinct, unique, vibrant, and energetic. It's been great so far just living here and taking in the culture around me. Everyone in Ireland is just so friendly, and if you ask them how they are or how things are going, it's always "grand" or "lovely" or "gorgeous." It's pretty hard not to catch on to that mindset.

That's all for now. Slainte!

Ciao from Parma, Italy!

Hey International Students!

My name is Rachel, and I am spending the spring semester of my junior year at the University of Parma (Università degli Studi di Parma) here in Italy. I have been here since January and won't be home until June! I'm having a great time here in Italy, but I'm also realizing how different school, and life in general, is here.

For example, Allie talked about how many fewer hours students at the universities in England spend in class. Here in Italy it is the complete opposite. My classes at the University of Parma require six hours of lessons a week, as opposed to the three hours per week we spend in each class back at Boston College. However, at BC we always have homework or are preparing for an exam or paper. In Italy, students are given a required booklist, which they are expected to read on their own time. After classes end in May, they have a few weeks off to study. Then, it's an all-or-nothing shot with one exam. For me, coming from a school system where one's grade is determined by many factors, this idea is quite intimidating!

Another difference is that attendance at BC is certainly expected, and there is often a lot of class discusssion and involvement. Here in Italy this is not the case. Students are not required to come to class, although almost all do, and class time is for the professor to lecture. Class time is meant to give students the information they will need to pass their tests, not much more.

Although people say Italy, like the rest of western Europe, is very similar to the US, I don't see it this way at all. Life here in Italy is slower and less rushed. Shop owners take breaks in the middle of the day. Trains are not just a viable mode of transportation, but a very reliable and easy one. And having a cappuccino or espresso at an Italian bar is nothing like grabbing a coffee from Starbucks. Although this last one is maybe what I like most. The friends I have made from Parma and the University here are so much fun--and I learn so much each time we discuss Italian politics and our different ways of life over coffee, and they are incredibly patient as I stumble through the conversations in my imperfect Italian!

I'm enjoying my time here in Parma so much, and every day I feel so lucky to be here. I miss BC, but right now I'm thrilled to be in Italia! 'Till next time!

All Good Things Must Come to an End

A Semester at the University of Oxford, St. Edmund Hall

'ello international students!

I have successfully completed my term at the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. It went by so quickly that I am afraid I will wake up and it all will just be a dream. I made many great friends and had countless memorable experiences during my time in Oxford.

View from the River Thames

As amazing as it was, the term wasn't always easy! The Oxbridge system, as it is called, is very different from what I am use to as Boston College undergraduate. First of all, the amount of time Oxford students spend in class was an adjustment. Not only was the term just 8 weeks long (compared about 16 at BC), but I met with my tutors (e.g. professors) for a total of 12 hours the entire term. For those of you who aren't familiar with the American collegiate education system, undergrads spend about 15 hours a week in class. While it may appear as though I had a lot of free time, I spent around 40 hours a week reading and writing essays for the tutorials (sessions with the tutors).

St. Edmund Hall Library

The number of subject areas studied is another significant difference. I took two tutorials, both in the same area, as is common at Oxford and Cambridge. However, at BC, students can take classes in as many as 5 different areas every semester (i.e. political science, psychology, biology, art history, etc.). Not to say that one way is better than the other but, I prefer Boston College's system. Having experienced both approaches, I am confident that the diverse array of courses has made me a more knowledgeable and well-rounded person.

Although the Oxbridge system is certainly different from that of America, it is just one cultural difference that makes England a unique and wonderful place. I think people often assume that the UK is very similar to the US because English is the primary language spoken. However, my time in England has revealed that this is not the case. Everything from fashion to food are very distinct between the countries. I was even told by a five-year-old British boy that I don't "speak English." Despite his naivety, in some sense, I think he is right.

Without a doubt, I will miss Oxford and all the friends I have made. The long walks down the city's winding and ancient streets and the thought-provoking discussions about parliament with Oxford students are memories I will always hold dear. Looking back, it is clear that my decision to study abroad is one of the best decisions I have made thus far. Thanks for reading. Cheers!

 

High Street

XXX
Allie