Orientation for a student studying abroad is about as important as a student studying at home.
If you don’t know how to use the internet, you should go. If you don’t know how to read a map, you should go. If you don’t have roommates who are from the area, you should go.
The Orientation, while a quick test in my ability to comprehend the Irish accent was an experience that I have had before, namely my first week of college. The leaders of the school get up in front of the fresh faces and explain to them all of the things they have already been told.
Granted, it wasn’t without its merits. One thing that it did tell us was how to extend our time here abroad. When you go through Immigration to enter a country and you are deemed “worthy,” you are given a month to find the Garda station (police station) and extend your time.
They gave a very detailed, albeit flustered, description of how to do this.
Which brings me to my point:
Learn some lingo before you go. Maybe not slang per say, you can pick that up as you go, but know what normal words mean.
In Europe, classes are called modules. Police are Garda. Bars are pubs. Fun is craic. (sounds just like Crack) if you learn a few of these things before you go you won’t have to try to translate English as you go.
