Fireworks and Christmas Swimming: Exchange students celebrate Christmas in Ireland

Lohmar, December 20, 23 - A Christmas tree (made of plastic) has been gracing living rooms across Ireland for two weeks, and exchange students from Germany have inaugurated the festive lights in their Irish villages with a beautiful display of fireworks. Since August, these youths have been attending high school in Ireland, absorbing new customs through daily life with their host families. Experiencing the Yuletide season in Ireland will surely offer them a unique perspective. For the first time, these German teenagers will be celebrating Christmas not with their own families, but instead with their newly adopted ones.

In Ireland, they exchange "Nollaig shona dhuit" (Happy Christmas) wishes and favor the Christmas Cake, slathered with marzipan and adorned with reindeer, Santa Claus, or golden ornaments. This is something the exchange students may already know from their preparatory seminar.

From their host families, the new family members are likely to receive presents on the 25th of December, delivered by Santa, for whom a letter of wishes is traditionally penned. Typical Irish gifts might be a woolen scarf or warm socks woven in time-honored patterns, or perhaps a Celtic-themed piece of jewelry. Of course, the guest students will have prepared their own thoughtful gift for their hosts as well � perhaps a curated compilation of cherished moments, beautifully presented in a decorative glass jar?

On Christmas morning, the sports-minded Irish around Dublin take a brisk dip in the chilly sea. The host family will probably feast on a traditional turkey and probably have Christmas crackers gracing the dining table. Most families attend Midnight Mass. On December 26th, or St. Stephen's Day, the exchange students might have the chance to participate in one of the many charitable parades that take place across Ireland. The winter break from high school will provide a welcome respite for these students, who'll take the opportunity, if fortunate, to explore this enchanting land in more depth. On New Year's Eve, the Irish tradition is to open all doors and windows to usher out the old year and welcome in the new.

Young people interested in honing their language skills abroad can obtain personalized advice from international EXPERIENCE e. V. This organization can help determine when the optimum time for an exchange program might be. For the upcoming summer, there are still openings available in Ireland as well as other countries. Online meetings hosted by experts and former exchange students can provide valuable insights into the opportunities available to potential exchange students. The next session, scheduled for January 9, '24, will focus on attending a private high school in the USA. Additional country-focused sessions will follow. Information on these sessions can be found at:

News and Appointments - international-experience.net

international EXPERIENCE e. V.
Amselweg 20
53797 Lohmar
Germany

https://germany.international-experience.net/

+491726208618

v.wolters@international-experience.net

International EXPERIENCE e. V. Profile
International EXPERIENCE e. V. provides consultation and support to students and families looking to engage in a year-long overseas experience in 14 countries. iE e. V.'s team possesses in-depth expertise. With local colleagues or longstanding partner organizations, comprehensive preparation, constant availability, and a tailored online tool, they ensure all elements needed for a memorable year abroad are in place. Surpluses from iE e. V. are passed on to selected students in need.

� Approximately 700 exchange students venture abroad with iE e. V. each year, heading to destinations including the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, France, Spain, Italy, UK, Ireland, Chile, Argentina, and Finland.
� Students thoroughly prepare for their journey during a two-day seminar in Germany, which is followed by a session for parents.
� A dedicated team in the USA and iE�s accreditation as an advisor by the CSIET Council on Standards for Educational Travel ensures excellent guidance in the most popular destination country.
� Since 2017, iE e. V. has been certified by the German Institute for Service Quality and is a specialist for Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
� Founded in 2000, iE's global operations are managed by 260 employees in six representations worldwide.

This release was published on openPR.