One thing that impressed me from the very beginning of my stay in Ireland is how kind, open, and humorous the people are. I noticed this already on my travel day. At Memmingen airport, I had to wait several hours for my delayed flight to Dublin. Some Irish people at the gate were sitting near me and immediately started a conversation. They were very friendly, made a lot of jokes, and even gave me good tips for my exchange. This first meeting already gave me a warm feeling about the country, and I started to wonder if this friendliness will continue when I arrived in Ireland.

Later, when I went with a colleague from architecture to a traditional Irish pub where mostly locals go, I had a similar experience. After only ten minutes, a group of Irish people sitting next to us wanted to chat with us. They were very open and welcoming, and they shared many recommendations about what to do and see in Ireland. In the end, they even invited us for a pint. It was a really nice moment, as it showed me how much Irish people value kindness and hospitality. In my home culture, I feel that people are often a little more reserved, especially when meeting strangers.

Another thing I noticed quite quickly is the role of humor. Many Irish people I have met use humor as a way of starting conversations and building connections. They sometimes made jokes about my home country, or even about personal things like my red hair, even though they didn’t know me yet. In Austria and Liechtenstein, people are often more serious when they meet someone new. But I found myself laughing along with them, and I realized how powerful humor can be in making people feel relaxed and welcome. This probably also has something to do with the pub culture, as it is a very social meeting place.

Something else I quickly noticed is the way people greet each other. In Ireland, it is very common to say, “how are you?” or “how are you doing?” instead of just “hello” or “hi.” It happens everywhere: in the supermarket, on the bus, or at college. At first, I found this unusual, because in Austria and Liechtenstein you usually ask this question after the greeting, and it often leads to a longer conversation. Here in Ireland, it is more like a simple hello. Some people might say it’s superficial, because you don’t expect a detailed answer. But for me, it feels warm and positive, as if people really care about each other, even if the answer is just “I’m good, and you?” Interestingly, when I started using this greeting myself, I noticed how easy it became to make people feel welcome.

Thinking about this, I realized how much I value friendliness and openness in daily life. I had not thought about this so much before, but now I see how important it is. In my home culture, I sometimes experienced everyday interactions as more distant. Here in Ireland, a small gesture, like a friendly greeting or a short conversation, can make you feel welcome and create a nice connection with others. It also makes daily life more joyful.

Reflecting on these experiences, I see how cultural practices, even very simple ones like greeting or joking, can shape the atmosphere of a whole society. For me, Ireland has shown how valuable it is to approach others with openness and kindness. At first, I thought it might be superficial, but now I believe it is a beautiful way of showing care. It also made me realize that I want to bring some of this attitude back home with me. This exchange experience has already taught me a lot – especially to be more social and how small things like greetings can have a big impact on the well-being of people.