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I ALWAYS SAW myself a good traveller; trips across Europe and America during my college days helped back that up. The key: organisation and simple research. This time, however, was different. This time I was going for longer than a week, a fortnight or a month. I was ending one chapter and beginning a new one. What’s more, I was beginning the chapter by myself.
They say it often takes at least a month to begin to fully settle in any new setting. I’d be lying if I said that the first fortnight was a breeze. I thought before leaving that by hitting the ground running by starting work almost immediately that I’d settle quicker. In hindsight, being thrown into work no more than two days after arriving was an experience I’d rather not repeat.
Beginning work so soon after arriving was a challenge. Between daily lesson plans and teaching the classes themselves I found myself working up to full time hours in the first fortnight. Add to that a new surroundings, climate and language barrier, homesickness did its best to jump on my back. ‘Will I even make it to Christmas?’, I thought as I lay on my bed following my second week. As I type this, I can now confidently dismiss it.
A month later, I feel more settled than ever. I attribute to this to A) getting on top of work and being organised and B) winning over my students. My students are happy to see me each class, and that’s more than half the battle. Despite only being here a few weeks, some are even inviting me for drinks and asking me what am I doing at the weekend…and they say we Irish are often lauded for our friendliness!
Let’s just hope the following months can be just as productive.
Uploaded by Oisin Gregorian
Oisin Gregorian is an Irish multimedia journalist currently working as a teacher in Seville, Andalusia. He worked previously a sports writer and production assistant. Follow him on Twitter @Oisgreg.
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Try leaving your wife and four children at home, all under 12, taking a night flight to the Middle East and starting work one hour after you land, knowing your not going to touch or hug your kids for at least a year. I hate our present government for forcing me to have to go through this. I had a job at home but with all the taxes charges and levies had to leave just to keep a roof over their heads.
Been there Michael, it’s truly heartbreaking…I sincerely hope you get back home very soon to be with your family…
My brother is doing the same although he wasn’t forced to leave. He went so he could earn a lot more money for his family.
Imagine how soldiers going to Afghanistan and Iraq feel.
I spent 10 years away and I have to say I avoided other Irish people like the plague. Too many drunken idiots abroad giving the rest of us a bad name. Worked out for the better as I had no choice but to learn the local language. That’s not to say that all the Irish abroad are the same, just my experience.
I have emigrated several times but always found it exciting . As a bloke it’s maybe easier as Irish pubs etc can be helpful to meet people and watching sport in a bar is easy way of meeting new friends.
In London it can be overwhelming here at times but it’s essential you be active and get out and meet people. Gyms online groups etc are great. If you go online you will find groups for everything especially in big cities in London. The net has changed the way we live in a positive way .
Travel as light as possible, it makes things a lot less stressful, especially if you don’t have permanent accommodation sorted before you arrive. Don’t say no to any invitations for the first couple of months and join some sort of sports team. Good luck anyone going to take the plunge.
my son left for states 4 yrs ago if we didnt have skype would be lost, he was so home sick this time last yr would have come home except we couldnt afford the ticket.
I always get home sick at christmas and new year which is also my birthday but likewise i cant afford the ticket to go home. 40th this year but i wont be celebrating.
Having emigrated 3 years ago by necessity, this article does nothing for me. He has moved to a European country less than 4 hours from home and accessible by Ryanair. The cultural differences are miniscule by comparison to moving to the Middle East. I was lucky enough to tavel with my girlfriend, to know people already there and was equally lucky to land a job that I would have had no chance of getting at home. That has set me on a great career path and I have no intention of returning to Ireland. It seems that many teachers emigrate, my partner is a third level tutor and loves her work. Unfortunately for us, due to me being offered a better opportunity in Oman, we now live in two different countries. That is hard. My parents are elderly and are unlikely to ever see where I live. That’s hard. My girlfriend and I might not get to live together for years. That’s hard…but nit as hard as leaving your family behind because it’s the only way to support them.
Im in my fourth year teaching abroad and i still love it. Ive taught all age groups from 5 to 18. The kids make it really worth while. Its definity a shock to the system when you first start but i was always advised never to take work home, and i never do regardless of how busy i am in school. I was also lucky that i didnt start work just after arriving. It does take time to settle in and get familiar with your surroundings.
I have been through the same experience several times in my life leaving a family at home for months on end,, but to be honest these days with skype and email it is not so bad as in the old days with snail mail. Having said that depression really sets in when you don’t hear from anyone from one week to the next particularly at kids birthdays and at Christmas.
Vlog ?
Emigrating to Russia
Did we slip back through a time Vortex to the 1980′s or the 1840′s by any chance?
The Emigrant’s handbook for safe passage eh?
Shame on successive Irish governments.
The Gibbering Village Idiot Yokel Sleeveens of Europe.
I’m wager that there are 3rd world governments who make greater efforts to create employment for their offspring.
Hey man. I know the feeling. I finished college last year and now I am teaching English here in France. I think Hifflehoff is being a little harsh about people who move to European destinations. It is not any easier. Of course, I can fly home if I can afford it (which is possible). But being a foreign in a new country (particularly France where bureaucracy is an absolute nightmare) is hard. While it is western culture, we do have a lot of differences. People don’t socialise the same way. Joining sport clubs (here, anyway) needs doctors certs and can be pricey. Of course, I am very happy to be here and it helps that I speak French but it is valid to be homesick even if you’re less than 3 hours away by plane, away from families and friends.
My daughter an only child emigrated to Canada why because after 4 Years in college which we paid for in full what a country letting there best going to a country which appreciates what there parents done for them she joined the GA A in Toronto where there are over 200 Irish well educated Irish emigrants who have no intention to return to Ireland unless Sinn Finn get in to government Enda has lost the plot and yes I am from Mayo go bye Enda and all your cronies
By the way yes she emigrated alone with no help from ant body she would have loved to stay in Eire and join An Garda but it was not to be We miss here every day I mean every every day of our short life SadSad Sad
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