This is harder than I thought it would be
Today marks the beginning of my third week in Ireland. Things are getting better. If I had written this a week and a half ago, this would have been a much different entry. Suffice it to say, I think I am still definitely going through culture shock. I feel like I never got to experience the 'honeymoon period'.
The fact that I left behind a significant other in the US is definitely contributing to my culture shock, I think. I do worry a lot about our relationship, and I miss him a lot. But I also miss my family; they live close to Salem, and I am used to seeing them at least once a month. And I miss the US, because everything is different, and solving problems is twice as hard here.
Here's an example of a situation that spiraled out of control: all North American students must register with the Irish government, and because there are so many of us, they made us all appointments, so we don't have to wait in line. But on Sunday night, I found out that on Wednesday of this week we are leaving for Connemara, and we won't be back until Saturday. That means I miss my immigration appointment, so I was told to go on Monday or Tuesday instead. So I tried to go today, only to find out that because other students had appointments today, I couldn't register. So I have to go back tomorrow morning at 7:30, so that I can register before class.
Mostly, I'm worried that it will take me a long time to adjust to being here. I hated Willamette for over half of my first semester there, and my greatest fear is that it will take a whole semester for me to get used to being here, and by that time, it will be time to go home.
So, to summarize, right now I am counting down the weeks until I can go home. I am still deep into culture shock. I am still homesick, and heartsick. But I am hoping it will get better. I am hoping the time will go fast, and I won't even want to count down the weeks anymore.