As new international students, we are constantly invited to introduction and integration events, where we can meet people from all over the world and start friendships that you will enjoy and probably never forget. Unfortunately, there are not many occasions in which we can hang around a lot with Irish people, besides the classroom during the initial couple of months.

I have seen Erasmus students plan their days with other Erasmus students only, which may be due to the following factors:

1. On weekends or holidays, we want to travel and get to know the country, while Irish students usually have their agenda filled with family events or get-to-gethers with old friends, which is normal to hang out in the place where you grew up. There is less tendancy to go sightseeing arohnd the country.

2. The language barrier. In a meeting where students from different countries gather together, groups of people who speak the same language will commonly be formed simply because they feel more comfortable  speaking their native tongue.

3. At parties and in bars music is not often what you are used to and what makes you have fun within your country. As a Mexican, I prefer to go to a place where I can dance bachata, salsa or reggaeton rather than a place where electronic music is played all the time. Irish people are unlikely to go to those places with me, since they do not understand the lyrics and are not familiar with most of the songs.The experience of meeting people from all over the world is extremely enriching. However, we cannot miss the opportunity to approach the locals in this wonderful country. Friendly and fun Irish people will always come to you, so take advantage of the opportunity and talk with them as much as you can. Dare to use your English and improve it with them and their interesting accent and invite them to your trips and parties!

The experience of meeting people from all over the world is extremely enriching. However, we cannot miss the opportunity to approach the locals in this wonderful country. Friendly and fun Irish people will always come to you, so take advantage of the opportunity and talk with them as much as you can. Dare to use your English and improve it with them and their interesting accent and invite them to your trips and parties!

I have been fortunate to make good Irish friends which helped me to enjoy my stay here much more. Among other things, they have taught me local slang and some Irish, which sometimes they themselves don’t know how to write! I have been recommended hundreds of sites to visit that I could not find on the internet or in the brochures of tourism agencies, like the interesting spot in Leixlip shown in the picture. There are less touristy pubs with more Irish flavor than The Temple Bar.

On countless occasions I have been approached by Irish people either at Mc Donald’s or Supermac’s after a party at the Roost or Brady’s, or on the 66 or 67 bus back to Maynooth from Dublin. Irish people are outgoing and fun, if you are lucky and a new Irish person sparks up a conversation with you, you probably have just found a new friend!