Study Ireland – Stories & Guides from International Students

1. Introduce yourself, where you are from, and what you are studying in UL? (What University did you go to for Erasmus?)  

Hi everyone, my name is Naoise Mac Loone and I’m currently a 4^th-year student here in UL on the BSc in Psychology course. I’m originally from Nenagh, a small town in county Tipperary but I’ve been based primarily in Limerick for the last 6 years, completing my Leaving Certificate exams in Limerick Tutorial College in 2021 after 2 years of studying there, carrying out my co-operative education placement as part of my degree with the wonderful UL Global marketing team here on campus in 2023 and still now in my final year of the course here at UL. In saying that for the first 6 months of 2024, I had the pleasure of completing a semester of Erasmus in sunny Seville as a mandatory component of my course. I studied at the Universidad de Sevilla from January until June of this year which I very much enjoyed. 

2. What motivated you to choose that University for your Erasmus, and how did it align with your academic or personal goals?  

  I wanted to go to on Erasmus to Seville because of the exceptional academic opportunity the university provided. I knew I would be able to take modules over there that were taught in English, that I had significant interest in, that would add to and advance my knowledge in the field of Psychology and that were not available for me to study at home. I had researched the university before making my decision and was immediately impressed by the various modules on offer, the stunning campuses and the semester dates which lined up with the usual academic calendar back home meaning I could still be home to enjoy the Summer.

I was also looking to go on Erasmus to somewhere I hadn’t been before, that wasn’t too far from home and of course that had good weather! I chose Seville because of the inviting lifestyle it would provide me with, the vibrant atmosphere it seemed to portray and the location of the city which would give me easy access to exploring other Spanish towns and cities. I wanted to get more out of my Erasmus experience than just academics and by choosing Seville I felt I could broaden my horizons, create international friendships and see more of the world, which is a massive personal goal of mine. From an academic standpoint, I felt Seville suited me. After I graduate, I hope to pursue a career in Educational Psychology. I have always liked working with children and feel like that area of the field will meet my career aspirations however, I have never had the opportunity to really get to know what a career in that section looks like.

Unfortunately, there is no Educational Psychology on offer to me here in UL so when I saw there was not 1 but 2 modules available in Seville, I was adamant on going there to become more familiar with educational psychology and to get some experience before committing to a masters or anything back home.  

3. What were the biggest challenges you faced during your Erasmus experience, and how did you overcome them?  
     

Luckily, I was very excited and grateful to be on an Erasmus semester, like I mentioned seeing the world and doing as much travelling as possible is probably my biggest personal goal, so I was fortunate enough to not have too many difficulties or challenges present themselves while living abroad. In saying that, moving to a new country practically on your own in your early twenties is not the most straightforward process and of course there were some hurdles and bumps in the road. I think the biggest challenge for me initially was the language barrier. I had never studied Spanish before and it wasn’t a requirement for me to have as I was studying through English over there so academically there was no barrier but in some areas of the city the locals didn’t have great English, meaning at times there was a mix up in communication when ordering at a restaurant or trying to buy something in a shop. I did manage to pick up some basic Spanish while living there however the local Andalusian accents and expressions were something I could never have grasped.

Fortunately, there weren’t many academic challenges, there was a big emphasis on group work and oral presentations which I didn’t mind. What I did find difficult at times was trying to find the balance between college work and the desire to explore the city, go to new places with my friends and just enjoy myself as I was desperate to make the most of every opportunity but still perform well in class.

I was also lucky enough to have made a close group of friends quickly, I really got on with my housemates which was great, and we met many people through different Erasmus events and trips which really helped in keeping occupied and not feeling lonely. There were of course days where homesickness set in especially during important family occasions and sometimes just on days where I hadn’t much to do. These challenges although sometimes difficult to adapt to allowed me to grow academically and personally and taught me resilience, independence and appreciation which were all very rewarding revelations that I gained from my Erasmus experience. 

4. Can you describe a memorable experience or interaction that had a significant impact on you while on Erasmus?  
     

One of the most memorable experiences I had while on Erasmus in Seville was attending the Feria de Abril with a group of friends, which is a weeklong cultural celebration of the Andalusian culture that takes place in April of every year. Every street in the city was lit up with colourful lights and traditional Spanish flamenco music played on every corner. The locals dressed in traditional attire and were performing Sevillanas, a traditional dance at every opportunity. We had the opportunity to go into one of the casetas, which are private tents set up on the streets by local families where they encourage you to try local food and drink.

This experience and witnessing these celebrations firsthand really helped break down any cultural barriers that existed in my mind and made me feel like a local in my new surroundings. It helped broaden my global perspective and gave me the chance to fully immerse myself in this new culture and way of life. This cultural experience not only taught me more about the traditions of the Spanish and Andalusian culture but also gave me memories to last a lifetime.  

5. How has your Erasmus experience influenced your perspective on your future academic or career goals?  

My Erasmus experience has definitely changed my perspective on my future career goals but has also impacted every aspect of my current goals and situations. Living and studying in a new environment and culture really opened my eyes to the realm of possibilities going forward. I always knew I wanted to live and work abroad at some stage of my life and Erasmus has definitely helped solidify that goal. It has definitely made me consider further study abroad opportunities where I can continue to grow and learn in my professional career but also have the opportunity to explore and create and achieve some personal goals. 

6. Has Erasmus impacted on your future plans?  

I would say yes, Erasmus has given me the desire to travel and move abroad probably earlier in my life than I would have originally planned. I was always set on pursuing a master’s in educational psychology in Ireland after my undergrad but now I plan on moving abroad next year after my graduation to teach English to children and get some real-life experience in an educational setting instead. I have decided to take this gap year (maybe years!) away from studying here at home just because I know the opportunity to do further study here will always be available to me and that I can come back at any time but right now I want to see the world, create endless opportunities for myself, meet new people and just enjoy being in my early twenties without the academic pressure and stresses of college. Erasmus has taught me that life experiences are just as important and can provide you with just as much useful knowledge as the books can and for that reason, I’m deciding to go abroad for another while and hopefully enjoy myself just as much as I did in Seville.  

7. What was the biggest culture shock you experienced while on Erasmus?  

The biggest culture shock I experienced while living in Seville was the daily routines of the locals and how late everything would happen compared to at home. Coming from Ireland where everything happens on a relatively early schedule and where people work from usually 9am-5pm it took time to adjust to the ideas of eating dinner at 10pm and shops being closed for a couple hours in the middle of the day but reopening and staying open late at night. I grew up in a very traditional Irish home where dinner is usually had at 5pm so finding out that some restaurants in Seville don’t open until 8pm was a big shock. Also, the social scene was much later than it is at home with people not going to social gatherings until past midnight and still enjoying themselves in the early hours of the morning was all very new to me. Adjusting to this new time frame and sleep schedule was disorientating at first but I gradually came to terms with it and enjoyed the emphasis Sevillians put on a work-life balance. This lifestyle taught me to be more flexible, free spirited and to say yes to more things which allowed me to make the most out of my time in Seville.

8. What was your favourite thing about your Erasmus experience?  

My favourite thing about my experience is without a doubt the friendships I made with students from around the world. I can honestly say I made friends for life while on Erasmus and they made my time abroad so enjoyable and worthwhile. We grew close very quickly considering the situation we were in, we didn’t have family or home friends with us and we were all in the same boat with feelings of homesickness and apprehension about the months ahead. We shared the same excitement about this new experience and overcame the same challenges of living in a new country together. The conversations we had over tapas, spontaneous day trips we took to nearby towns and relaxing days on the rooftop pool are some of my most cherished memories from my Erasmus. The 3 girls I spent majority of my time with are and will always be some of my closest friends and they made the transition into a new life very easy and smooth for me and I’ll forever be thankful for that. The things I did, places I saw and memories I have would not be the same without those 3 girls and that is why they are my favourite thing that Erasmus provided me with.