Last Monday my school started. Well, it started for me, the other students had school since Friday. I imagined how my day could be and had a very fixed picture of that in my mind. This was the reason why I was so frustrated and disappointed after school. This day was so horrible for me. Luckily, the next days were better. I started to make friends and talk to other students. The subjects are very interesting. We have many in lessons in computer skills, accounting or psychology. I think that our school system in Germany is much better than in Ireland, but we need some of the subjects, which are here in our time table in Germany, too.

We are driving every morning in a singing school bus to school, because our bus driver has is radio on and it is a very small bus, so everyone is singing when a weel-known song is played.

The school is very exhausting. It starts every day at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 4:00 p.m.. On Friday school is only to 1:20 p.pm.. Sometimes I go to our small gym after school or take a walk along the beach.

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I live in a very lovely host family, I can always rely on. Everyone is so friendly and relaxed. The three kids, Emma, Jason and Ethan are very lifely, so it never gets boring. We are often doing activities like going on walks to Clifden Castle.

On Saturday all exchange students went to Cong, an old village, where parts of the movie “The quiet man ” were filmed. We also visited Ashford Castle, which was built in the 13th century. It is a hotel now with a very beautiful garden and a perfect view on the biggest lake in Ireland.

After my departure in Frankfurt on Wednesday, I arrived in Dublin. During my flight I met three lovely girls (greetings to Alina, Nala and Rosalie, I hope you are fine at your host families). At Dublin airport, we had to wait for nearly four hours because one the flights had delay. But there were so many lovely people there, so it was really funny. At our hotel (it was a college, but it has bedrooms) we had dinner and in the evening was a karaoke night.

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Next day were some workshops, in which we got told how the school in Ireland works, how the daily life in our families could be and much more. After the workshops we went to Dublin (a very beautiful city with many pubs and nice people) and made a selfie tour. We also visited the Temple Bar. It is very famous because this is the Bar were the Guiness was created.

On Friday we got transported to our host families by bus. We drove to Galway and Jill (my hostmother) and her son Ethan picked my hostsister Lea from Belgium and me up. We bought a school uniform in Clifden (yes, they’ve got one in my size) and moved on to Ballyconneely, where we will spend the next seven months. Later the kids Emma and Jason arrived. Bartley (my hostfather) came home, we talked a lot and he showed me the home gym. I love it here and feel like I always lived here.

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Shortly before my departure, my grandma and two of my neighbours, gave me some gifts for my journey. It’s a good feeling to know that people care about you. Many, many thanks to them. We will see us again when I’m back ❤

Most of the people think that there are only celebrities coming from big countries like the US, Germany, Canada or Great Britain. They often forget smaller countries although many famous people were born there. Ireland is a good example for a small country with a lot celebrities. Or maybe not? Let’s take a closer look:

For example musicians like Ed Sheeran (“Galway Girl”), The Corrs (“Radio”) or Chris de Burgh (“Spanish train”), but also actress Evanna Lynch, who is famous for her role as Luna Lovegood in the “Harry Potter” movies.

Many celebrities like Mick Jagger, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Harrison Ford or Kevin Costner have one their houses in Ireland. The awe for famous persons is not very big, so the stars can live a regular life there.

For me personally the most interesting part are the irish books and their authors. Of course friends and family know this and I got many books for my journey. If you like reading, too I can recommend you some very interesting books: One of the most funny books is “Round Ireland with a frigde” from Tony Hawks. It is about a guy, who bet in a drunken condition that he can round Ireland in one month as a hitch hajker with a fridge. Thanks to my neighbours, who gave me this book as a birthday present. “Instructions for Ireland” is an very informative book, which is about the typical stereotypes round Ireland, its culture and people. Many regards and thanks to my friends Fabian and Justin. I will miss you during my time at the green island. Heinrich Böll wrote in 1957 his “Irish diary”. It is one of his most famous novels. Many thanks to my friend Adrian.

Ireland is also known for his authors, like Oscar Wilde, James Joyce or Jonathan Swift. They already imprinted the literature of Ireland many, many years ago.

As you can see we can really thank the green island for its celebrities. What would we do without their music, books or movies? If you know more actors, bands, musicians, etc. write them down in the comments.

Music is always a big and interesting part of every culture. So is my first tip to learn more about the irish to get to know their music. Irish music is famous for its fast melodies and its varieties. One of my favourite bands is called “Boxing Banjo”, which consist of four young men. An accordionist, a Banjo-player, a guitarist and a violinist. They played on the “Irish Spring Festival”, one of the most famous and greatest Irish festivals in Germany.

Check the links below to get a first impression of them

I hope you enjoy it

Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.

— Oscar Wilde.

My name is Marco Krüger, I’m 16 years old and I’m going to take you with me on my year abroad in Ireland.

While my time there, I am living on a farm in Ballyconneely, Clifden, a small town near Galway. It is in a part of Ireland, which is famous for its beautiful landscapes – the north-west! My host family lives there with four dogs, some sheeps, cows and horses and of course their three children. But I am not the only exchange student in the family – there is also a girl from Belgium, who lives with them.

I’m looking forward to share my experiences with you!

I will do my very best to post pictures and postings as often as I can do.

Best wishes

Marco