4 Metro Éireann 15–31 March 2018

Globetrotting Glaswegian
Pauline McKerrall doesn’t
put boundaries on herself
By Kathryn Wooldridge
Having fond memories
growing up in glasgow,
Scotland, Pauline McKerrall
still felt like there was more
to life beyond her comfortable
surroundings, and she was per-
sistent to see what the world
had to offer.
“As I was finishing high
school, i didn’t think i was
ready for university,” she
says. “instead, i went for
another year of high school in
Yorktown, virginia and stayed
with a host family.”
The pre-conceived knowl-
edge Pauline had about
america through movies and
television shows was pleas-
ingly false, she remembers.
She also loved being known as
the ‘Scottish girl’ and taking
the time to explain to her
american peers about the UK
and her culture.
after graduating high
school, Pauline returned to
Scotland and started university
in aberdeen, but the urge to
seek new experiences abroad
never left her. “I saw flyers for
study abroad [around campus]
and i knew i wanted to do it
again. and off to Clemson
University i went.”

Culture shock
Pauline lived and studied
in South Carolina for nine
months, a time that was more
of a culture shock than her
high school year in virginia. “i
struggled with the conservative
nature of politics and culture
on Clemson’s campus,” she
‘I think the
thing new to excite me,” she
says. What she found suited
her globe-trotting curiosity
perfectly: a job with the
foundation of international
she says. “My mum often says “finding my own accom-
my dad would be over the
moon and proud as punch at
me living here [in dublin]. My
sister is very jealous, friends
modation, having to make
my own friends, building a
life here has been so much
different than what i’ve done

world could
recalls. “i was a political sci-
ence major and listening to
certain views being said was
difficult. I can remember walk-
ing across campus and seeing
Education (fiE) in London, a
programme working with US
study-abroad students who
embark on courses and intern-
ships in the UK.
are in awe, extended family
overjoyed, and my mum very
proud.”
Being an immigrant herself,
helping temporary migrants
before,” she says, adding that
while her ideal place to live
changes from time to time,
right now it’s dublin. “i’m
living a great life [though] i do

use more
an anti-abortion stand outside
the cafeteria talking to students
as they were passing – i was
gob-smacked.”
adjust to life in dublin is dream of what’s next.”
Something different something that comes naturally Perhaps nashville, due to
after seven years, Pauline to Pauline. her love of country music?
again felt the itch to move “i would like to think that or ghana, to help even more

laughter, and
despite these alarming
differences in the sense of
discussing private and personal
issues, Pauline found the
famous southern charm is like
on “in search for something
different, trying out temping
in different areas,” she says.
“i am still friends with a lot
of the staff at fiE London and
my students are grateful for
my assistance during their time
here, i try to have them under-
stand that despite their limited
time, they have an opportunity
students have the opportu-
nity to experience a different
culture? or france, enjoying
the countryside with bread
and wine? “i make my own

the Irish are

no other. “for Thanksgiving,
i had 13 invitations from
different people and their
families to join them; it was
a beautiful shock of openness
and southern friendliness.”
after Clemson, Pauline
moved on once more, for a
new life in London. “i was
crying out for change, some-
the best’
one got in contact to say there
was a job in the Dublin office.”
dublin felt almost like home
as soon as she settled, since
the similarity to glasgow was
immediately obvious. “i think
for a lot of glaswegians, espe-
cially the Catholic ones, there’s
always an idea in their head of
‘returning to the homeland’,”
to see something different, to
live differently. it’s an opportu-
nity for exploration of the land
and themselves.”
after living in dublin for
almost two years, she feels that
self-development has been her
biggest success, allowing her
to feel more in charge of her
future than ever before.
dreams,” she says. “i don’t
put physical boundaries on
myself.”
no matter where she makes
her next home, Pauline wants
the irish ‘craic’ to follow:
“i think the world could use
more smirking, chuckles and
laughter, and the irish are the
best.”