“When I was still in Mexico I never imagined how much my life was about to change…” Following in his brother’s footsteps, Student Ambassador Italo Fabrizio Villagómez Delgado from México came to Ireland full of hope and excitement. Now, he has settled in nicely and believes that coming to Ireland was one of the best decisions he has ever made!
On the banks of the River Shannon (photo: Italo)
Hi everyone!
I’m Italo. I arrived in Ireland three months ago and let me tell you that it has been a real experience! My brother came to Ireland one year before to study and following in his footsteps, I applied to what is now our college – the Technological University of the Shannon in Limerick.
I remember the first day I arrived in the city. I was so amazed. Everything was just so different from what I had ever seen before. The buildings, the weather, the shops, the river – a whole new world to explore.
As soon as my brother and I arrived at our accommodation, we started to make friends. It was so easy to start talking and creating friendships with others. You can understand that every one of them is in the same position as you. In the first days, we met more than 30 people from different countries! There were Germans, French, Canadians, Nigerians… the list goes on! It’s amazing that despite having different backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences, we became friends.
Fun with new friends (photo: Italo)
When school started, I was terrified. My mind was full of questions: what I’m going to do if I don’t understand the lecturer? What if I don’t make any friends? What if the assignments are too hard for me?
Well, let me tell you that everything went just right! The English is difficult at first, but you get used to it. The lecturers know that you are not a native speaker, therefore, they are always trying to help you; they are very patient and kind.
Street art (photo: Italo)
The people here? They are great! I have made a lot of friends and they have helped me a lot with adapting to
everything. They are always showing me places in Ireland that I should visit, and it is so funny when they try to teach me the Irish slang!
The school is actually not that hard. Obviously, it is necessary to go to all your lectures and tutorials, however, you still have plenty of time to hang out with your friends or go for some snacks in the city centre. And, just if you are curious, in Ireland the passing grade is 40/100.
I had the opportunity to start working a part-time job and it has been perfect. There are so many opportunities for young people and the wages are really good. So, I started to get some work experience in a job that I like, and at the same time, I’m gaining some extra money.
St. John’s Cathedral in Limerick City (photo: Italo)
I’m not going to lie, sometimes it might get hard – you can get homesick, miss everyone and everything, feeling that you are in the middle of two different worlds. However, I can honestly that coming to Ireland is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have grown as a person, as a student, and as a brother. Ireland has taught me that the world is an enormous place and there are still plenty of people to meet, places to visit, and experiences to live.
Italo is studying Business at TUS Limerick.