I thought I was definitely prepared. Same language, and similar enough culture, how different could it be? The first thing that caught me off guard was the accents and unique vocabulary. Technically everyone was speaking English, but they had their own vocabulary and rhythm entirely. Words like “wee” and “youse”, were woven into every sentence, warmly, making me feel like I was catching in on an inside joke that the whole city already knew. The food was another surprise, I expected for there to mainly be only a narrow Irish cuisine but, or some sort of it, but Belfast was filled with numerous cuisines, and flavors, the whole dining experience felt very different from home. The roads also caught me off guard immediately. Looking at cars whizzing by, it almost looked as if no one was driving because they were driving on the opposite side of the car. Every time we walked on the sidewalk, or up the stairs I was without a doubt surprised seeing someone walking on the left side of the side walk rather than the right.
And then there was the moment when someone heard me or my friends speak, and converse loudly. It didn’t matter what was said, the second a few words came out heads turned and people could already tell we were American. Not really a question, more of a stated fact. Being so instantly recognizable here was humbling in a funny way.
The people of Belfast are so genuinely welcoming and warm. Conversations start easily. My classmates and I have grown closer together spending so much time navigating this city together. The wrong-side-of the road panic, the new food, moments with speakers and at site visits where something said by a guest speaker stops us and makes us laugh.
Culture shock doesn’t have to be disorienting, simply getting your bearings culturally, and throughout the city, gently reminds us to pay attention and live in the present. Belfast helped me do exactly that.
