Week 20 - Professional

Mixed emotions

As this is the week before the last week of our Erasmus study feelings in the group were different to say the least as everyone was either stressed about the work load we had, sad about having to saying goodbye soon or happy just to still be here. If I could change the title of this week’s blog I would change it to emotions or feelings as this week has been so strange.

The week really wasn’t filled with anything all that exciting mostly filled with doing assignments and trying to meet the deadline. As I am generally organised and hate being disorganised I had already made a start on most of the assignments due to one of the assignments being on our school placement that ended up to be six pages long which was very unexpected! I always see that through my organisation it does pay off for me as it leaves me with less stress as the deadline date closes nearer.

“First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination.” Hill, N.

Things coming to an end...

While doing all the assignments all I could think of them as ultimate signs of Erasmus coming to an end. Trying to think of Erasmus from a professional point of view is difficult as the assignments are similar to the ones that are set back home in Stranmillis but sometimes there was a lack of guidance on the tasks set as well as no clear success criteria given. No matter I got all my assignments sent in on time and thankfully after a few stressful days, once I clicked ‘send’ I knew that I had more or less just been given my summer break! This was fantastic as I was constantly seeing on Facebook all my friends either finishing exams, finishing with essays to gain their summer holidays or seeing posts about what they had achieved in their degree. Now that I too was gaining my summer it again just made me think more of home…

Additionally we finished all our classes this week too! We had a group presentation which surprisingly made

Where to go from here?

me nervous and made my voice shake a little (strange as I normally like hearing myself talk haha) but no matter the presentation went very well! As others carried out their presentations I realised that all of us were all going to be teachers which made me think of our futures. We already have plans for next year to meet up and go to America but what about further future plans? Should we grow up too quick – graduate and get a job? Or should we travel? More or less it showed me that as Erasmus closes a whole new adventure is going to be opened up due to what this experience has done for us. It has changed me as a person and this will be influenced through my teaching.

“I never think of the future - it comes soon enough.” Einstein, A.

As the final week approached I am feeling very anxious as I don’t want to have to say bye to some of the most amazing people I have ever met. I also am anxious as professionally I have performed well here but going back to home I feel that it will be difficult to get back into the ‘Stranmillis’ routine. No matter I have no choice and I just have to get used to it.

P.s. Top tip for this week don’t dwell on the past and don’t spend too much time pondering on the future but live for the moment and acknowledge what you are doing right now during the present.

References:

Einstein, A. Available: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_future.html#0I6Khpz6xX19u0l1.99. Last Accessed: 26/06/13

Hill, N. Available: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/organization.html#rEz4KdSTwkGSxUHH.99. Last Accessed: 26/06/13

Week 19 - Personal

All my presents and cards

As each week feels shorter and shorter this was a week that I was going to try and make a memorable one as my birthday was on Thursday. I was turning the big twenty one and I had though awww I really want to be at home but as the big day got closer I was getting more and more excited and I realised it was going to be a brilliant day! On the Thursday I woke up early and was finally able to open the cards I had received during the week from my friends and family. It really made me think of home more but made me realise that I was going to be spending my birthday with some of the closest people in my life at the moment and who I will continue to be close with.

The jungle decorated flat

Now on my birthday at home the thought of going to class… well really I would probably not go. However, I went to class during the day and after a couple of Happy Birthday songs being sang in more than one language I actually enjoyed class on my birthday. Now as these past few weeks have went by, I have got to gain a very good friend from Finland, Mikael. As I said before if someone told before I had left for Erasmus that I was going to be friends with a Finnish guy I really would have told them to wise up. However, this is the case and so I went for usual birthday pints (of beer) with Mikael and we just enjoyed the beers and banter together! In the evening then we went back to the flat and Eimear, Beth and Sarah had made me my birthday dinner of a fry; it truly was awesome! A true taste of home! Also to make it even better Eimear and Beth had decorated the flat to look like a jungle for my jungle themed party… It really looked amazing! We then had a flat party that night with everyone on Erasmus and we really did have a good night. With many presents given and many drinks consumed I really did have a brilliant birthday with truly awesome people that I will never forget.

Reunited with Dojo!

To make the week even better we had booked to see our French friend Dojo (Jodie) in Bordeaux! Excited was an understatement! When we got to see her it just felt like we hadn’t left her! The weekend was full of laughs and memories/stories being retold. We got a true French taste of life in Bordeaux, walking through the city; down Europe’s longest street, tasting some Bordeaux wine etc. We also got to hit the beach and stay at Dojo’s beach house… words could not describe how beautiful the place was. The house was lovely and the scenery… unreal! One memory I will not forget was on the Sunday night sitting outside talking, drinking etc while a thunder and lightning storm lit up the sky! Even though saying good bye was very hard we still know that we will continue to see each other.

P.s. Top tip for this week, whenever a special occasion occurs in your life remember to try and realise how lucky and blessed you are to have so many things. 

Birthday memories!

Week 18 - Cultural

The Lake/Beach

As this week approached we were very excited at the fact that our friends from home were coming to visit us here and we knew for sure that this week would be fun for everyone! I firstly though finished placement this week and it was quite sad to think that this was one of the first things to finish for us over here. The children gave us some presents and are making us some summer cards and are sending them to my home in Northern Ireland… This really made happy! The rest of the week was mostly just sunbathing as the weather has been brilliant this past week, with the sunglasses and shorts on we decided to head to the lake/man made beach. The beach was filled too with Dutch people and it showed that the Dutch are similar to us that we think, as back at home if there was one glimpse of sun everyone has their shorts on and head to the beach too.

Friday then came and it really was just like having a piece of home with us here in Nijmegen, as Rukaya and Shonagh came and reminded us so much of being at home and University. We talked so much about things and people at home and about the different things we miss here like foods, music, shops etc. It showed me how long we have been away for and how everything here in Nijmegen really seems so natural now but yet we still have our own culture that we miss.

“A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” Gandhi

Us meeting Barrack Obama!

We decided to show our friends Dutch culture by bringing them to the Dutch capital Amsterdam. Here we did a lot; Madame Tussauds, The Ice bar, The Heineken Experience, Flower Market and Anne Frank’s house. All of these different activities let us still bond more with our friends and reminisce about past events that we had at home and of course tell them about our experiences here in Holland as well as introduce our old friends to our new Erasmus friends. Through the memories and talking I found myself saying words that I would normally use at home, for example “Aye” or “C’mon” etc. It really reminded me of home and the way everyone understood your accent, common words etc. Again it showed me how I have changed; slowed my speech, my stuttering when I get excited is practically not there and I can deal with anger a lot better.

“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” Churchill

The Rainforest

On Sunday we went to The Zoo and without a doubt it was the best Zoo I have ever been to. It had different areas for example, the rainforest, the dessert, the ocean etc. In each area the landscape and surroundings were all made like that area so the dessert was covered with cacti, the rainforest filled with trees, vines and even rivers and waterfalls! Really the zoo was brilliant and I will never forget it!

We finished off with a relaxing day at the beach and it was just perfect, sitting talking and having nothing to do but soak up the sun. This week really has just reminded me of Northern Ireland and about my culture but in a good way. I am not missing home or home sick but just happy to be able to establish what my culture is and how I have changed as a person. 

Lazy day at the beach!

P.s. Top tip for this week when thinking of your own culture try and remember that Northern Irish people burn easily in the sun so don’t forget your sun cream or you’ll end up like me… A red faced lobster!

References

Churchill, W. Brainy Quotes. Available from: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_change.html#vg0MhgkotzpgOEaY.99. Last Accessed: 11/06/13

Gandi, M. Brainy Quotes. Available from: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/culture.html#RQW8wPpORvpYWb8W.99. Last Accessed: 11/06/13

Week 17 - Personal

Really to be honest my week has been pretty boring when I come to think about it. I just had a normal week with placement and with my other classes on a Thursday and Friday. The main event really for me was our spontaneous trip to Den Haag beach as we had got Tuesday off at school placement. The weather was beautiful; it was warm with the sun splitting the trees, so really why not? Put it this way the shorts were put on and I was a happy man!

“The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach - waiting for a gift from the sea.” Anne Morrow Lindbergh

When we got to Den Haag again we were able to find our way and make our way to the beach through using the trams. This made us all think back to when we first arrived how nervous we were to use public transport especially as we didn’t know where we were going and we didn’t understand anything anybody said. Now however, we just jump on to the transport, look for our stop and jump off with it all just feeling so natural now. It made me think… this has changed in me so I wonder what else? It’s hard for me to think about what or how I’ve changed but I am sure people will inform me when I get back home at the end of my Erasmus experience.

So we arrived at the beach and it was beautiful and because it was a random Tuesday there were not that many people so we really just had time to relax. We had a few drinks firstly at a beach bar and we all said you would think we were in a different country as it didn’t feel like The Netherlands at all. We then walked along the pier and then along the beach and it occurred to me that we didn’t have that long left in The Netherlands as we only had a few weeks left. This really made me think how weird it is going to be to go back to normality and not to see the people who I have become so close with within five months. Yes, I am excited to go back and see friends and family but as people say… “It will be some culture shock” to go back home.

“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” Oprah Winfrey

P.s. Top tip for this week whenever you have an opportunity to go somewhere or do something… Grab it for it may be the best decision in your life… So far.

References

Lindbergh, A.M. Available: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/beach.html#iY2lhlYxzRQ2q1yg.99. Last Accessed: 05/06/13

Winfrey, O. Available: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/adventure.html#Ji1EvMT4APbpDPYd.99. Last Accessed: 05/06/13