During summer of 2011, I decided to do something only a few people dare to do: I wanted to leave the Swiss environment that I was used to since long time and improve my English. After a short time of thinking I decided not to do that in America where most people go nor in Australia. I wanted to go to a country that is visited rarely for this purpose of language exchange: Ireland. In fact, I am the first student of the LGR to go to Ireland.

I went there in september of 2011 and came back in february of 2012. Half a year for that my school career doesn't have to suffer from a lost year.

Reasons why I wanted to go to Ireland were quite different: Firstly, I had heard about the Irish attitude towards music and arts. Secondly, Ireland is famous for its never ending green areas. And finally, I knew about Irish politics. They have a very strong socialist party as well as a left winged nationalist party there and I wanted to see how this rare and interesting mix would affect the Irish daily life.

Of course the first differences I noticed after my arrival were more basic. I had a nice and warm hearted host family that lived in a roomy House. In fact, I had a very big room with attached bathroom for my own. In the same house there was still living an Italian student.

The school in Ireland was very different to the LGR. First of all, the school there is not regarded as a simple institution, it is more a like a clan that you belong to. School and religious symbols everywhere, a school uniform that is unique in entire Ireland and of course: teachers had a big authority. This authority was more an authority that was set by the school, I didn't think of the teachers as neither knowledgeable nor caring teachers. To sum it up, the school life was a very relaxed life. I was even able to help maths students from 6th year who were doing their school diploma.
It is strange for me, because I had heard that the Irish school system is a prestigious one but my impression was the very opposite.

Of course there was much more to Ireland than school. During these five months, I was able to see Dublin as well as Norhtern Ireland. Dublin first: Dublin is an astonishing town. During the day, it is an artistic and more or less historical city but as soon as it gets late and all the pubs open and concerts start, Dublin is a city of music and enjoyment of life. This may sound rather confusing but anyone who has seen Dublin by night knows what I am talking about. The Irish people's attitude towards music was exactly how I had expected it.

The Northern part is not very different from the Republic, but it has a seemingly stronger economy than the Republic. I was able to see Armagh and Belfast. Belfast is a big city that is rich full of modern art and business centers. Ireland's New York, if you will so.

The Irish mentality is a very vivid one. My time of course helped me to improve my English a lot but first of all, I encountered so many new types of people and situations that I've become a new person. More mature is what I want to say. My exchange in Ireland wasn't a time of academic studying, but a time of growth and maturing for me. For sure I have learned more than anyone who went to America or Australia. Ireland is something that is hard to describe but it isn't like any other place I have seen before.

To sum it up: It wasn't easy, yet it was adventurous; I don't regret it.

April 12
Carlos Hartmann, 4e