Ich heiße Romy und komme eigentlich aus der Nähe von Nürnberg – aber nach den neun Monaten in Irland ist Galway ganz genauso mein Zuhause! Ich habe dort eine Schule besucht und bei einer Gastfamilie gewohnt. Schon nach ein paar Tagen habe ich mich wie ein Familienmitglied gefühlt und das hat bis zum letzten Tag angehalten. Ich war auf einer ganz normalen Schule und habe dort auch schnell Freunde gefunden, mit denen ich auch jetzt immer noch in gutem Kontakt stehe – ich werde in den Herbstferien vermutlich wieder nach Irland fliegen, um alle Leute wieder zu sehen! Die neun Monate waren ohne Zweifel die schönsten meines Lebens und ich würde jederzeit wieder in den Flieger steigen, um noch einmal dort zu leben. Nicht einmal der viele Regen konnte diese Erfahrung trüben, wobei man sich manchmal wirklich lieber zwei, drei Tage ohne den Niesel gewünscht hätte... Aber auch das Wetter gehört dazu und die Freundlichkeit und die Lebensfreude der Iren für neun Monate zu erleben ist es definitiv wert! Jedem, der ein Auslandsjahr machen möchte, kann ich nur empfehlen nach Irland zu gehen. Aber für egal welchen Anlass: niemals den Regenmantel vergessen!

Hi, my name is Nina and I was in Ireland for 9 months. I lived in Greystones, a small town on the East Coast of Ireland with my host parents and four kids (3 girls and 1 boy) between the ages of 4 and 11. The house was always busy but I was so happy to stay with them. They made me feel like a real family member and they always supported and helped me. I loved every moment with my family and I miss them very much. I know I will stay in contact with them as during the summer holidays we are going to spend 10 days in Spain together. I cannot wait!

I was part of the Transition year group in St. David’s, Greystones. Transition year is the year between Junior and Senior cycle. Throughout my time in St. David’s, I tried various new activities, for example rock climbing, bushcraft and sailing. I also attended different talks and retreats. My highlights were sailing, the self-defense workshop, making a short film and writing a song. In St. David’s Transition year students do three weeks work experience. This gave me an opportunity to meet new people and think about my future career. I also joined the hockey team, I never played hockey in Germany, but it is such a great sport and I might continue playing hockey in Germany. To go to Ireland was the best decision in my life, I met awesome people, tried so many different things and became more confident in myself. If you are not sure if you want to do this or not: GO FOR IT! You won't regret it.

Hi, my name is Francesco and I am in Portmarnock right now, a suburb of Dublin. I have already spent 8 months in Ireland and in a few weeks I am going to return to Germany. My host family is very nice and the house is always busy as there are three generations living here, amongst others three kids from 5 to 10 years old. I also have a Ukrainian host brother living with me. All of them are very open-minded and always kind.

I am in Transition Year at Pobalscoil Neasáin in Baldoyle near Dublin. As I am here during the pandemic, Transition Year is not how it is supposed to be with many journeys and activities in school - but it is still incredibly good and I am happy to be here right now.

My class has been genuinely nice to me since the first day I joined the class. Also, the teachers are always friendly and caring about exchange students and I do not feel excluded in any way.Although I cannot do activities through school, I still found other things to do such as playing basketball and football with my friends or going swimming in the beautiful sea. I also started skateboarding here, when the restrictions are being eased, I might go windsurfing or canoeing. I will also go to all the places which I could not see during the year such as Galway, Cork, Belfast, etc.

Throughout the year I met many new people from all over the world and after this year I will stay in contact with them. Some of my friends will come over to Germany and I will visit them.

Overall, it was definitely the best and most interesting year of my life even though there were some restrictions by COVID-19. So do not have any doubts about an exchange year and JUST DO IT!

I am Izzy and I spent 10 months in Waterford, Ireland. I went to a boarding school and after some days, I felt like a member of a big family. The school was so different to Germany but in a good way: everyone knew everyone as there were only 300 students and 30 teachers which made the relationships closer and more personal than in my old school. The music and sports facilities were gigantic: you could take music lessons for any instrument, join the chamber choir or the orchestra. We had a hockey team, a football team, a swimming pool and loads of sport competitions throughout the whole year. But it was not about being the best, it was “all about participation” my PE teacher used to say. All in all, I got to know the Irish as very open-minded, honest and friendly people. It literally was the best year of my life and I can only suggest you to do the same for the greatest experience you will ever make. I could tell you loads of stories but better go out there and collect your own ones :)

Hi, my name is Katharina and I spent four months in Wicklow. This is a little town near Dublin on the East coast of Ireland. I was very excited to see my new family. I liked them from the beginning. The first few weeks in Ireland were hard, because I didn‘t understand everything and didn‘t know anyone, but after two or three weeks I made friends at school and in Irish Dancing classes. I was also in a liturgical choir called „Village Voices“. Joining the Dancing classes and the choir made so many things easier. There I came in touch with the Irish people. I attended the Dominican College in Wicklow, which is a convent school only for girls where you have to wear a school uniform. Actually it wasn‘t as bad as I expected it to be. All the girls were really nice and also the uniform was ok. Ireland is an awesome country with very nice people.

I had a great experience there!!! I learnt a lot and made loads of new friends, so go and make the same great experience!

Katharina

Hi my name is Frieda and I spent 10 months in Wicklow, Ireland. Wicklow is a small town south of Dublin on the East Coast. I was really nervous when I first arrived in Ireland but when I met my host family everything was alright. My host parents were as old as my grandparents in Germany but much more relaxed, as everyone in Ireland. I stayed first in a so-called double placement in my host family. My host brother was from Spain and we were a little shy at first but it changed with the time and as we knew each other a bit better. In the end my Spanish brother moved to another family. I had so much fun there and after some time, I made some really good friends. The lessons were not too hard and always fun. Because I was in 5th year, I could choose my subjects like in Germany. I was also able to decide if I want to do them in higher or ordinary level. The subjects I chose were Math, English, History, Music and Geography. I had to choose a language as well, so I chose German and helped other students, mainly with the genders of the nouns. The school started at 9 am and finished in the afternoon. After school, there was not enough time to meet friends, so we always met at the weekends. We went to town or to Dublin for sightseeing. After my year abroad, my host parents became my "Irish nan and granddad". I hope to see them again soon. I am still in contact with my friends and hopefully they will come over and visit me in Germany. All my German friends were so jealous, so do not be the person who is jealous but start your own adventure!

Frieda