My Dearest,
This is not an avenue to famz you. You are indeed dear to me, and after spending a good six months here in Ireland, I’ve come up with these basic rules for you.
First, braid your hair! I know it sounds like a myth, but trust me, you will miss the cheap, quality braids that Nigerian hairstylists do for you. It will also make the first few months after your arrival easier.
Second, please wait for the school-recommended accommodation. Do not, I repeat, ever take up weird accommodation where there are no students, no matter how less expensive you think it is. I will tell you why: you would be isolated from your fellow students and might end up dealing with so many JJC issues alone.
Baby girl, do not pack your fancy high heels. I know you are probably a fashionista, and you want to show the new folks that you are an African Gen Z Baddie. However, you will be walking most of the time. What do you need them for? Even if you plan to get a car when you arrive, there are numerous processes to go through, and by the time you mix all that with schoolwork, would it have been worth it? I doubt it.
Make sure to leave your short party dresses and chiffon tops at home. You cannot wear them to school. Heck, you cannot even wear them to the pubs because 16 º here is not the same as the 16 º from your car or home air conditioning. It’s a teeth-chattering, leg-wobbling, finger-freezing kind of 16 º. For the first few weeks, it will feel like you’re living in a freezer. At some point, I even wondered if the weather was meant for humans or fishes hahahha. Please, do not leave any good wig, sweater, or sneakers behind. Make sure you get at least three sneakers that flow adequately with your wardrobe and fashion sense.
Now for the Do’s:
Ensure you utilize the Goin app to connect with numerous students, especially your course mates. Do not be afraid of texting—what’s the worst that could happen?
Pack all your flight friendly “Nigerian” foodstuff. Matter of fact, dedicate one box entirely to your Nigerian food items because they are not cheap here. If you love native food, I would not want you arriving and spending a lot of money unnecessarily.
Finally, I can only give so much information here, so do not hesitate to email the Global office to provide further guidance. After all this information, do you now understand why you are so “dear” to me?
Good luck with your academic pursuit, my Dearest. I’m rooting for you!
Osoruchi Stephanie Aribodor – Masters of Science in BioPharmaceutical Technology at TUS!