Introduction
We would like to welcome you to the online journal of the Bluffton overseas program of 2004. The object of this virtual record is to give students and parents an opportunity to become involved with the activities of the overseas group. The students on this program have committed themselves to keeping you regularly updated on their progress.
The program, which lasts 15 weeks, aims to provide students with a variety of situations to help them integrate into their new environment. In their academic studies they learn to appreciate, and understand the divisions within Northern Irish society, the host families provide them with ample opportunities to interact with local people on a day-to-day basis, and through the cultural component of the program they learn to play the tin whistle, and dance to Irish traditional music.
Week 1 - arrival
Week 2 - acclaimation
Week 3 - bus tour
Week 4 - Dublin
Week 5
Week 6 - Classes end
Week 7- Placements begin
Nov. 22, 2004 - Thinking of home
I have, as I am sure most of my fellow students also have, mixed feelings about coming back to the states and leaving Northern Ireland. I have had a great time here. This is something that I will remember forever. But as the date for my return draws closer, I find myself excited at the thought of being home again; a place where I can wear my pj's all day or have my mum cook me dinner, a place where my friends are a short drive away, instead of an email away, and a place where I can cuddle up next to my dog. As sad as this sounds, it is these little things that I find myself missing. But then I realize that I am also leaving a country where I feel that I have made some sort of a connection. And there is the fear, especially due to the fact that I never experienced culture shock or home-sickness coming over here, that I will experience something akin to these at my journey back to the little towns of Bluffton and Archbold. But in the end, home is home. And home is where the heart is, or however those cheesey sayings go. Of course, to quote a popular Christmas carol, 'there's no place like home for the holidays. Cause no matter how far away you roam, when you pine for the sunshine of a friendly gaze, for the holidays you can't beat home, sweet home.' I quite agree.
Debra Armstrong
It's hard to believe that in less than 2 weeks I'll be leaving Derry and heading home to Ohio. About a week ago I was starting to get excited about the idea of going home. I miss my family more and more as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches and I'm really going to enjoy seeing them again and giving all the great souveneirs I bought! However, the closer we get to December the 3rd, the more my excitement is turing into apprehension. I've been focusing the past few weeks on all of the things I'm missing and looking forward to at home: my family and friends, driving my car, Mom's cooking, Jif Peanut Butter....but now I've started to think of all the things I'm going to miss from here like the city walls, the River Foyle, New Look (my favorite new store), Cadbury chocolate, and digestive biscuits (a yummy type of cookie that goes great with tea). Also, from people who've been on this program in years past I've heard that the culture shock of going home is often far worse than of living here. I'm a bit worried that this is going to be especially hard for me as life at Bluffton is much different that when I left it. For one thing BC is now Bluffton University and that's brought all sorts of changes that everyone else will have already adapted to but that will be brand new to us when we get home. On top of that, several of my closest friends either graduated or transfered at the end of last year. My remaining friends have all had a semester to get to know new students and make new friends and now I'll be entering back into their lives having to play catch up. It seems almost surreal to me, like I somehow expected that life at home would just freeze while I was gone and then pick up again when I got back. But, of course, life at home has gone on as normal and now I'm left wondering if I'll be able to work my way back in. I'm sure that in time I'll readjust and I know that my friends and family will be very supportive and understanding as they always are. So despite my apprehension and my regret at leaving behind Cadbury and the Foyle, I am looking forward to going home.
Mandy Wolke
My experience in Northern Ireland has been wonderful. The country is absolutely beautiful and all of the people have been so friendly. While I'm looking forward to seeing friends and family back home, I will still miss Northern Ireland. It has been a great life experience, one which I will never forget.
Melanie Murray
Has it really been three months? Some days I feel like we just stepped off the plane and others it seems like we have been here for years. You know you have been here too long when other people start asking you for directions and you can actual give them the right ones. I came here to learn about this country and I did that but I also learned a lot about myself in the process. They told us when we got here that we would go home a changed person; I kind of blew it off like it was nothing, thinking how much can I really change just studying in another country for three months? I was very wrong I have really changed, I can’t pin point yet what it is that has changed so much, but it is there. It is going to be sad to say good bye to the place and people that have become home and family for these last months. I don’t know what it is going to be like try to go home and find my place again but in a short while I will have to.
Michelle Bailey
As I am preparing to leave Derry, I am of course excited to be seeing my family & friends again, but the emotion overpowering my excitement is deep sadness at having to leave my new home. It's amazing to me at how quickly we become accustomed to a new way of life, and it's also amazing to me how much this experience has allowed me to change in the past 3 months. This was really my first time away from home, and it was quite the eye-opener for me. This is the first time I've really been on my own as an independent person, and to say that the last 3 months has been a life-changing experience for me is really an understatement. I have made lasting friendships while in this country, and I am extremely sad to be leaving them all, although we have all made promises to meet back up again, in Ireland and in Ohio. I am assuming I will miss this new family of mine nearly as much as I have missed my blood family while being away. I have learned so much about myself and life in general, and just how the photos of this country do little to capture the true beauty of the landscape, my words cannot begin to capture the utter beauty of my experience here in Ireland.
Amanda Benton
