Irish teens experience American culture

By Sarah Monsegur ’24, Managing Editor
April 10, 2024

Twenty-five guests from Sacred Heart School in Tullamore, Ireland began a week full of adventure March 14, indulging in American fast food, “having the craic” (an Irish phrase meaning “having a good time”) and all that Arizona has to offer.

Seton’s Irish Exchange Program, run by Mrs. Leah Kochis, Freshman Counselor, and Mrs. Jennifer Kohl, ARC Director, aims to promote friendship and broaden the perspectives of Seton students as they interact with peers from across the world.

Every March, the program hosts a group of students and teachers from Sacred Heart for a week to show them life in America. This year, Seton and Sacred Heart students went to a pool party, visited Sedona and marched in the Phoenix St. Patrick’s Day parade. Four days of school followed these fun events, and the Irish girls tagged along with their hosts for a glimpse into the typical American high school experience.

By living in the United States, Americans can become accustomed to eating American fast food, hearing their own accents and watching American sports on TV. However, even the seemingly simple things like driving on the right side of the road are not typical for the Irish guests.

“I like getting to meet new people and seeing America through their eyes,” said Junior Jamie Gryskiewicz. “Since they’re from Ireland, I think it’s cool to have them experience something completely new and be amazed at all of these things that we see everyday.”

One very unexpected difference between the United States and Ireland is the way each country celebrates St. Patrick’s Day.

“There is so much more done here than in Tullamore. In Tullamore, as you get older you don’t really celebrate it as much,” said Nicole Merriman, a fifth year student (Irish equivalent of a Junior) at Sacred Heart. “It’s more of a ‘Oh bring the little kids to the parade’ thing but here it’s everyone celebrating it for weeks after it’s happened and before it’s happened.”

After the school year ends this May, Seton members of the program will visit Tullamore and live with the students they met during the first half of the exchange. From there, talk of the next exchange will begin.

“When I bring the students in May, we’ll look at the next year and pick dates for the next year,” said Mrs. Kochis. “We firm up when they’re coming, and for us it’s pretty easy about when we’re coming because we leave the last day of finals and stay for a week.”

DISCLAIMER: Sarah Monsegur is a member of the Irish Exchange Club.