Life in Ireland

Hi Marvin

Malango here just wanted to say thank you so much for this opportunity. I’ve been in Ireland for 3 months now. As you know I went to London first on holiday and spent a little while with my family.

Coming through immigration was as simple as you mentioned. You did a great job of preparing my initial travel pack / documents.

Immigration was a breeze after OVC prepared my docs.  I was collected by the college pickup service and taken to my host family accommodation.

The accommodation was comfortable, clean and convenient in terms of proximity to the college. The college staff is very helpful and assisted me with the relevant information needed to apply for my student visa.

My visa was processed within a month. I was able to begin my course straight away though but could not work until my extension came through.

The course has been going really well. There is a nice group of South Africans that is starting to click. There are lots of other nationalities here, Brazilians and other South Americans especially. Everyone is really friendly and we have a great social life, but it’s really good that the South Africans kinda stick together. It helps as we kinda look out for each other.

The recession hit Ireland pretty hard, as you said, but there are jobs in Dublin as it’s a big city, kinda like London. So if you are willing to take any odd jobs you will be placed. Id suggest telling future clients to start sending their CV’s ahead of them to help speed up the job hunt. It’s truly what you make of it. No one is beating your door down to give you a job but it’s like that anywhere in the world. You have to come here with the right attitude and put your head down and go full force.

The nightlife is great in Dublin, everyone is really friendly here. The college also hosts lots of parties from time to time. I missed the Halloween party as I hadn’t arrived yet but I made the St. Patrick’s Day one J. That was awesome.

All our lectures are during the day, which leaves night jobs available. We attend college 2/3 days per week and work the rest. Im looking forward to the holidays, as I will be able to work full time. The holidays are pretty long so that’s a bonus.

Im hoping to land a job more in line with the profession I left in SA. That way I can work my way up and hopefully get sponsored by them and stay as long as im needed.

Anyway, thanks again for all your hard work and for making this opportunity available, keep in touch.