Lauren - Study USA Programme

" Going to the USA was filled with a mixture of emotions, but if I were asked to go tomorrow and do it all again, having experienced everything I have, I would say yes every time. Just go for it!."

Memorable Moments

Memorable experiences include taking the first Friday buses to downtown St. Petersburg, where my friends and I would dance into the night; going to my first-ever Renaissance fair and eating a turkey leg; and attending Kappa Karnival (which is another Eckerd tradition). I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Ecophysiology Lab and assist with research into ocean acidification in stone crabs.

Having returned from the USA and had the chance to write this, I am so grateful to have been able to go on this experience and meet so many wonderful people. Through them, I was able to become a completely different person and gain so much confidence to try new things and explore new places.

The Culture

Having experienced both American and Irish countries and cultures, I can confidently say that they are quite different from each other. I find that Irish people can be quite reserved at times, while our American counterparts are a bit louder. Another one of my first shocks was the Floridian weather; it was the complete opposite of what I was used to. It was usually hot (25 degrees plus), and there would be the occasional lightning storm, which was beautiful to watch.

Additionally, the classes were different from back home and involved more homework and new subjects such as anthropology, sociology and even political science. As the Florida transport system has a less-than-stellar reputation, I felt uneasy about the situation. When it was time to gather a few items from Walmart, I was not prepared for Floridian driving or the roads. I have never seen such large roads just to get to a shop, and when I first went to Walmart, I was stunned.

Overcoming Challenges

When I first arrived in the USA, I was not sure what to expect. During my first two months, I had roommate issues, had to adapt to a different culture and, of course, hide from the Florida midday heat. To overcome these issues, I sought help from the housing office and my international advisor (who was such a lovely person), who helped me move rooms and become more comfortable on campus. As for the weather, I could only put on loads of sunscreen and hope for the best that it would not burn my Irish skin.

I would say my last major issue also occurred in Semester One, and it involved one particular class. During my time at Ulster University, we did not have much laboratory experience, whereas there was plenty of laboratory work in my Marine Invertebrate Biology class. While I enjoyed the laboratory aspect, I did not feel fully prepared for it, and the tests in that class were extremely difficult. I was very worried about not meeting the GPA requirements, but luckily, my strong coursework compensated for my weaker test scores.

While it was a bumpy road at the beginning, through adequate support and building my resilience, I overcame the difficulties I faced and made it into Semester Two, ready for all the adventures I was about to embark on.

Making friends

In the beginning, it was a rocky road to finding a group of friends to spend time with in America. However, once I started getting involved in different clubs, I knew I had found my friends. One friend I met was from the swim club. She had an adorable pug on campus, and as a fellow pug enthusiast, we became fast friends.

Through my Marine Invertebrate Biology class, I made other friends, one of whom is coming over to visit me during Halloween, and we are going to the Derry/Londonderry Halloween Festival! Lastly, there was another girl from Bulgaria in my second semester. As we were the two Europeans in a completely new country, we became fast friends and went out to St. Pete for the parties.

At first, it can be scary, but I promise it gets easier as time goes on, and the memories I made will last a lifetime.

Exploring America

Having met so many lovely people, I found that my opportunities to travel around the USA really opened up. Within Florida, I had the opportunity to visit Tarpon Springs, which has a strong Greek influence, and Homosassa Springs, where I got to see a manatee. I also visited the Florida Everglades for a camping trip to experience the Night Sky Festival. I had never seen such a beautiful night sky before, or so many tiny spider eyes glowing in the dark! Furthermore, a friend and I went to Universal Studios, where we enjoyed so many amazing rides and attractions. My personal favourite was the Harry Potter section.

One of the highlights of my time in America was seeing one of my best friends. I got to spend a week with her and her family in New York. The first thing I noticed when travelling from Florida to New York was the temperature, but I had never been happier to see snow in my life! Soon after, we visited Manhattan and saw Times Square, St Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Centre, the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, the New York Public Library and Bryant Park.

During my winter term (after Christmas), I travelled to meet my friend from Eckerd College, who was from Chicago. I stayed with her and her family (and their many pugs) for a few days, which was a wonderful experience. We had deep-dish pizza, saw iconic landmarks such as the Bean sculpture and braved the freezing winds. I now understand why it is called the Windy City!

Unforgettable Highlights

Camping in the Everglades was truly a magical experience and a bucket-list item for me! Visiting New York and Chicago to see my friends was also one of the highlights of my time in America. Going to the beach every day and swimming after classes was always a great way to end the day. Whenever the First Friday buses were available, my friends and I always had fun in St. Pete!

Tips for You

My advice before leaving Ireland for America is to have a bucket list of things you want to achieve, so you have something to motivate you throughout the year and something to look forward to. I would also say, don't be afraid to meet new people, and if there is an opportunity to travel, go for it! Many of my best memories were made on the road, seeing new sights with my friends.