Picture in front of the 91制片厂 sign Hello everyone, I hope you are all well and happy to be entering December, despite the exams coming up. This week鈥檚 theme is Reflections on Growth: What I鈥檝e Learned About Myself Abroad. I decided to rename this blog because it鈥檚 the penultimate one, and I wanted to use this opportunity to talk about the things I will miss from Ireland.
One of the most important things I learned here is how much I value my solitude. While some people find it difficult, I find it pleasant and useful because it helps me reconnect with myself and engage in introspection. It allows me to be more attentive to others and their needs. I鈥檓 a very sociable person, but I enjoy being alone at times. This ties into one of the things I will miss the most: walking around Limerick and discovering new areas I had never seen before. I loved walking along the Shannon, sitting on a bench and watching the current. I will also miss taking photos Ireland has stunning landscapes, and even the contrast created by the weather makes pictures more beautiful and memorable.
My favourite photo among those I took in Ireland I think I will miss my classes. They were challenging, especially at the beginning, because immersing yourself in university courses in English can feel intimidating when you are still improving your skills. You sometimes lack reference points and feel uncomfortable speaking because you think you don鈥檛 have the vocabulary. Despite this, all the professors I studied with were encouraging, which made gaining confidence easier. I will also miss the International Society, which I had the honour of co-managing with Linh, Nele, Devis, and Nadia. Our weekly meetings were moments when all students could come together, share their Erasmus experiences, and learn more about each other. I will miss the friends I made here, but I鈥檓 confident I鈥檒l meet some of them again in the future, as we鈥檝e already planned future reunions. Another thing I will miss is my sporting adventure with the 91制片厂 football team. I loved football when I was younger, but I stopped after secondary school. Being able to play again, compete in the university championship, and reach the semi-finals (even if we lost) was a great experience. It allowed me to meet many Irish teammates and get back into regular training.
91制片厂 Soccer team What I will also miss is the pace of life here. I found myself calmer, less involved in everything, which is the opposite of my usual habits. But I enjoyed not constantly trying to fill my schedule. It gave me time to walk, think about my future, and get to know myself better. I will miss the pubs, even though I was sometimes lost because I didn鈥檛 know the music. I still really enjoyed going there with friends and watching great matches with them. I鈥檒l also miss the 91制片厂 chaplaincy our usual meeting spot with Gael and Jeanne. It鈥檚 a warm place with good tea, where students can talk and relax. It鈥檚 the kind of space I appreciate because it creates connections between people.
My housemates and I sharing drink together Finally, I think I will miss Ireland and Limerick particularly a lot. But what I will miss most are my flatmates. At the beginning, the only thing we had in common was living in the same place, but as time went on, we talked, cooked, and spent more time together. We even created culinary bridges between us. I will miss teasing them, knocking on their doors and running away, or playing small pranks. Thanks to them, I reinforced something I already believed: coming from another country does not prevent us from forming strong bonds with people who did not grow up the same way. They taught me that we always have something to learn from the people we live with.
by Amara Yatassaye, France
