Dia Dhaoibh!
A warm welcome to the Living Abroad Forum!
Embarking on a mobility program is a journey filled with enrichment and excitement. If you're part of this community, chances are you're either planning to, or currently experiencing life in Ireland. This forum is your go-to resource for answers, inspiration, and making new friends through OLS. Let's use this space to share our experiences and plans about living abroad!
I'll start things off with my own story:
When I was 17 years old, I went to Lorient in France for the summer break. This was part of a foreign exchange program with another girl named Manon. How it worked, was that Manon came to Ireland for 4 weeks and then I went to her home for 4 weeks. In these time frames, Manon experienced Irish culture first hand. Although most families in Ireland no longer speak Irish, Manon had been lucky enough to stay with a family who spoke it daily. This meant that Manon was truly immersed. In Manon's 4 weeks in Ireland, we travelled to Dublin for a concert, to Ceann Trá sa Ghaeltacht and went to see a few shows in the local theatre. Then after the 4 weeks were complete, I stayed with Manon's family in a mobile home, in a beach town outside Lorient. I fully immersed myself in the french language and only spoke what french I had while I was there. We went to exhibitions and enjoyed being teenagers in a new place. The biggest highlight was certainly "Le Festival Interceltique de Lorient". This is an annual celtic festival celebrating celtic culture. As I was Irish and I spoke Irish, I was deemed a celebrity by the locals and it was very enjoyable!
I came home from France, with a newfound confidence in myself and my ability to speak French. I then went on to get an A+ in my state exams.
(As Gaeilge)
Nuair a bhí mé 17 mbliana d'aois, chuaigh mé go Lorient sa Fhrainc le haghaidh sos an tsamhraidh. Bhí sé seo mar chuid de chlár malartaithe eachtrach le cailín darbh ainm Manon. Mar a d'oibrigh sé, tháinig Manon go hÉirinn ar feadh 4 seachtaine agus ansin chuaigh mé go dtí a teach féin ar feadh 4 seachtaine. Sna tréimhsí ama seo, d'fhoghlaim Manon faoi chultúr na hÉireann go díreach. Cé nach labhraíonn an chuid is mó de theaghlaigh in Éirinn Gaeilge a thuilleadh, bhí Manon sách ádh a bheith ag fanacht le teaghlach a labhraíonn í go laethúil. Ciallaíonn sé seo go raibh Manon tumtha go hiomlán. Le linn 4 seachtaine Manon in Éirinn, thaistil muid go Baile Átha Cliath le haghaidh ceolchoirme, go Ceann Trá sa Ghaeltacht agus chuaigh muid chuig cúpla seó sa amharclann áitiúil. Ansin, tar éis na 4 seachtaine, d'fhan mé le teaghlach Manon i dteach soghluaiste, i mbaile trá lasmuigh de Lorient. Thum mé mé féin go hiomlán sa teanga Fraincise agus labhair mé an méid Fraincis a bhí agam agus mé ann. Chuaigh muid chuig taispeántais agus bhain muid taitneamh as a bheith inár ndéagóirí in áit nua. An buaicphointe is mó, gan amhras, ba ea "Le Festival Interceltique de Lorient". Is féile bhliantúil Cheilteach í seo a cheiliúrann cultúr Ceilteach. Ós rud é go Éireannach a bhí mé agus bhí mé in ann Gaeilge a labhairt freisin, measadh mé mar réalta ag na háitritheoirí áitiúla agus bhí sé an-taitneamhach!
Tháinig mé abhaile ón bhFrainc, le muinín nua i mé féin agus i mo chumas Fraincis a labhairt. Ansin, d'éirigh liom A+ a fháil i mo scrúduithe stáit.
(Caoimhe agus Manon, 2012) Caoimhe Ní Chearbhaill 2023
Now it's your turn to share!
Where are you from? And where are you going to go with your mobility program? Are you looking forward to moving? Or if you have already moved, you share the best thing about the city where you live!Can't wait to read about your adventures and experiences!
Can't wait to read about your adventures and experiences!
Caoimhe, OLS Community Manager – Gaeilge (Irish)