Things I Wish I Had Considered Before Going Abroad

Now that I’ve been in Ireland for a couple of months, I have done some reflection on what my life looks like here. I’ve thought about what might be different if I had considered the small stuff before I jumped right in. There are things I have access to in the U.S. that I didn’t realize had a big impact on my day-to-day life. 

First thing I wish I had thought of, and I believe this is the most impactful, is learning how to cook. I honestly thought I knew how to cook, at least the basics. I was aware before coming here that I would be cooking my own meals, but I was unaware of how absolutely useless I am in the kitchen. Pasta and frozen chicken nuggets are the extent of my cooking skills. Which, in theory, should have gotten me by, but you can only have pasta so many times a week, and I definitely reached my limit. I eventually switched to baked chicken, and then I exhausted that option as well. I have probably ruined the taste of pasta and chicken, and chicken pasta. I would also like to point out that the problem is ninety percent my lack of cooking experience and ten percent unfamiliarity with the grocery store items here. The majority of the brands are different, and some of the stuff I was used to using back home isn’t sold here. Not that it’s Ireland's fault. I should have researched recipes and brand comparisons. So if you’re like me and can only make one dish, do your research now and practice. It’s never too late, except for me, it is. I happen to have an absurdly large collection of noodles that I have to eat. 

A second thing I wish I had thought of before coming here is what hair products they sell. I have frizzy curly hair, and if I don’t use the right shampoo, conditioner, and product, my hair will resemble that of a rat's nest. Yet, even with that knowledge, I didn’t think to bring any of my stuff with me. I am very upset with myself for assuming that every country would sell the same products. It’s unfair to Ireland that I was disappointed because of unrealistic expectations I had before coming here. That being said, I managed to find stuff that worked for me through trial and error. This is the same for hygiene products, soaps, moisturizers, and perfumes. I was able to find a lot of the same stuff. However, if you have a product you use at home that you absolutely need, I would suggest checking to see if you can get it in your host city before you go. 

Lastly, I wish I had thought more about Ireland’s weather before coming here. Not because I would’ve packed an extra umbrella, but because I packed way too many warm-weather clothes. It’s April, and I’m still wearing a jacket. I don’t know what I was thinking. I’ve been rotating between the same five sweaters. Everyone warned me about overpacking, and I proceeded to do it anyway. I am not kidding when I say that about half of the clothes I brought have not left my closet. I get unreasonably angry every time I look through my shirts and realize how many serve no purpose here. Now I have to find a way to shove everything back into my suitcase with all of the new stuff I bought as well. Please listen to the warnings of overpacking; it could save you space and humiliation. My friends still laugh at me for bringing seven pairs of shoes to only end up wearing two of them, and I can’t blame them.