Experience your world > Ireland

Leprechauns at the bottom of the garden or the Celtic Tiger making Ireland the most prosperous nation in the European Community, possibly the world - both are there for the right exchange student to confirm the popular historical image of this ancient culture renown for huge 19th C emigration and to understand the rationale of the on-going unprecedented economic growth of the late 20th C. resulting in present-day huge immigration. Ireland has succeeded in capturing the top 21st C. prosperity without discarding the traditions that sustain society.

Ugly old factories with beautiful stone and ancient timbers converted into 5-star hotels in fishing villages with the former labourers’ one-room cottages painted bright colours for the tourists. Continental chefs attempting to change local tastes, yet, serving a side dish of potatoes - just in case. Served by a Polish waitress struggling with English (150,000 Polish immigrants in past two years). Everywhere - if the traveller becomes lost due to an enduring-sometimes-endearing shortage of road signs, the stranger is a friend with helpful suggestions and a genuine interest. The narrow country roads with tall grass on each side still persist; no billboards scar the landscape, but around the corner, wham! a huge recent energy windmill (and the entrance to the new freeway). A pleasant lack of shopping malls and skyscrapers; then, the departure airport with a field for a parking lot has 3 or 4 international hotel skyscrapers being built.

Australian exchange students will have the 24/7 care of the world’s oldest exchange organisation, the one other organisations try to emulate. The host families will put emphasis upon “family and your belonging to them” and will have been chosen due to their interest in educational exchange. Gratitude and a sense of humour will be welcome in the host community, likely to be villages in Cork, Kerry, and Galway. Schools are similar to those in Australia regarding hours, age, uniforms, often single-sex; the curriculum is possibly more conservative. “Aussie Rules” football resembles Gaelic football. Ireland is the fifth-oldest democracy in Europe.

As for the Celtic Tiger, “It’s not the ‘luck of the Irish’, but Ireland has ridden to riches on the basis of sound economic policy and a top-shelf workforce”. (TIME October 2006). That workforce comes from Irish schools, and is a huge factor in the world’s largest I.T. companies choosing Ireland for the location of their world or European headquarters. Its gross national product grew 400 per cent from 1986 to 2004. Ireland continues to earn the prize as the world’s best place to live.

Program	Duration	Applications Close	Final Payment	Fee
Ireland
Sep Semester	Sep 2009 - Jan 2010	Apr 30	Jun 15	11500
Sep Year	Sep 2009 - Jun 2010	Apr 30	Jun 15	16050
Nov Semester	Nov 2009 - Jan 2010	Apr 30	Aug 15	9150
Jan 6 Months	Jan 2010 - Jun 2010	Sep 15	Oct 15	11500

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