Expectations v. Reality: an Internship in Ireland

With my first official week in Ireland put down, I can start reflecting on my initial expectations of Cork, and Ireland in general, and also on the things that caught me by surprise but in a very good way. 

My expectations of Ireland

I have been waiting patiently for months for my internship in Cork to begin and now it is finally here and I couldn’t be more excited. I’m French and naturally my first language is French but  I have always loved the English-speaking world I saw on television and heard from music. So when we had an opportunity with our school to do an internship in a different country, Ireland quickly came to mind as Ireland is renowned for being a very culturally rich country and a great student destination. I had also spoken with students from my university course that came to Cork over the past few years, and they all gave me excellent feedback on their experiences, which ultimately convinced me that there was no better place than Cork.

Before arriving, I, of course, had heard some of the clichés about Ireland - a lot of rain, a lot of pubs, and an incomprehensible accent.

Cork city

The reality of Ireland

The former is not true (for the moment at least). Since I arrived, it has been nothing but sunshine and warmth, with a little bit of wind at worst. I travelled to Ireland with my winter coat and it still hasn't been seen the light of day since I arrived and I won’t complain about it either. Though the locals have warned me that this long stint of beautiful weather is rather unusual for this time of year or just plain unusual.

My preconceived notion about the amount of pubs in Ireland is true, there are certainly a lot of pubs but not that it is a problem. In fact, I'm really excited to experience Irish pub culture as it is renowned for being incredibly sociable and brimming with traditional live music. I went to one pub when I arrived, where I was offered a mushroom soup, with bread and butter. So random but such a fun anecdote as this would never happen in France. They even came back later on to offer a beer. Am I that charming? Probably not. Did I still eat all of the soup? Absolutely. 

The accent is more than okay. Sure, there’s a difference with those I’m used to in English oral comprehension class, or American and English TV shows, but nothing too crazy, nothing to scare me. Though I have heard there are many accents in Cork, nevermind the whole of Ireland so I may be speaking too soon. Everyone I have met so far is very accommodating and if they notice me struggling with comprehending what they’re saying, they slow down and go about another way to explain what they’re trying to say. The Irish are certainly living up to their welcoming reputation on this front. 

The weather? Great (so far). The pubs, Very fun. The accent? Not a problem. As you can see, I've been having a blast since I arrived in Ireland. Initially I thought I would be homesick and ready to go home after my nine-week internship but that is certainly not the case, if anything, I will not want to return to France. 

Cultural differences between Ireland and France

Now what about things that surprised me. Well, there was nothing too crazy. The driving on the lefthand side of the road disoriented me for the first few days, I kept looking the wrong way and to be frank, I still do. In no way could I see myself driving here without making a mess, I would be a hazard on the road. 

I love how Cork, even though it’s the second biggest city in Ireland, feels almost like a bigger town once we leave the centre. I didn’t expect it to feel that way and I think it offers a more authentic “Irish” experience as there is more of a community-feel to the place. Having all the structures, shops, and entertainment we could need, while still being able to enjoy the calm and peaceful vibe of a small city. I didn’t think it would feel that way, but I’m pleased it did!

Another thing was the food. I looked up typical Irish meals and dishes before the trip, and I thought these are very much outside of my comfort zone, as some of the dishes, I must admit, didn’t appeal to me at all. In reality, since I arrived in Ireland, almost everything I ate for dinner I would have eaten something similar in France. Of course for lunch we are not used to eating “only a sandwich”, or eating cold lunches every day, but I am lucky enough to have a host family that prepares fresh and handmade meals for me everyday so it just goes down like a lead balloon!

The verdict so far...

To wrap it up, as of right now, my trip has been filled with good food, good weather, good moments and good anecdotes. Things I thought would be, weren’t and things I thought wouldn’t be, were. My expectations have been exceeded and in the best way possible. Ireland is one of the nicest, most welcoming countries I have travelled to and I cannot wait to see what the next two months hold. 

I’m sure there will be more surprises, discoveries, and memories to come, but that will come with time. As of right now, I have beautiful weather to enjoy, new pubs to experience and new accents to grasp (or at least try).