Week 1 in Dublin

My first week in Ireland has certainly kept me on my toes as I continue to get the feel for this lively country! From exploring the streets of Dublin, to finding special excursions, to to finding the best local pubs, I have had some quite interesting experiences already.

After sitting on a plane for six and a half hours from Newark to Dublin, which was not as bad as I thought it would be, I finally arrived at my destination. The plane was not crowded in the slightest and I had plenty of room to stretch out, especially considering that the seat beside me was not taken (I was very thankful for more room to spread out after about the fourth hour of the trip). We touched down about 7:00 am, and from there I was able to hop on the Aircoach bus which took me to the lovely University College Dublin. I was able to pre-book my ticket for about 9 Euros which took a lot of stress out of trying to figure out initial transportation.

My first experience with the bus proved to be easy enough, so I assumed that the rest of the bus system would be a piece of cake. However, I quickly learned that my Aircoach experience had given me some false confidence becuase I found the regular Dublin buses to be a bit more difficult to figure out! Not to mention it is already quite an adjustment trying to figure out Dublin transportation since they drive on the opposite side of the road from the United States.

The campus at UCD is beautiful too – there is green everywhere, and the weather has been sunny and around 50 degrees for the past week. It almost reminds me of springtime back home.

Aside from being on UCD’s campus, I have also had the chance to venture into the Dublin City Centre. The streets are beautifully illuminated at night and walking down the cobblestone streets with the towering buildings overhead makes you feel as if you are in a movie. In the middle of a bustling city, you can escape the noise if you make your way into St. Stephens Green, a park commemorated to the historical Irish event called the Easter Rising. Keep walking north and you will run into St. Patricks Cathedral. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to hear the chiming church bells from farther away. From there, turn east and you will soon find the Dublin Castle which has a rich history dating all the way back to the days of the vikings. Next up on my list of things to do: visit the Guiness Brewery!

This past weekend, I also had the opportunity to take a day trip to Dunguaire Castle, the “Baby Cliffs of Moher,” the Cliffs of Moher, a Celtic Ringfort, and an ancient burial site. Stay tuned for my next post for stories about that trip! As for today, I officially begin my classes at UCD. Wish me luck!

 

Ireland it is! Is it time to go yet?

As my flight date of January 16th is quickly approaching, I can’t help but constantly think of all the things I need to do in a short 10 days! Finalize my packing list, make sure things are secured for my summer internship, print my travel itineraries, say my goodbyes.. the list goes on! Regardless of everything else, as long as I have my passport I will be just fine. But I sure will miss Indiana and all of the special people in my life at home while I’m gone!

Last fall, after much deliberation, I finally settled in on studying abroad in Ireland at University College Dublin. Prior to last fall, I never had given much thought to studying abroad for a whole semester. However, now I can clearly see how blessed I am to have this opportunity. As far as I am concerned, the Emerald Isle is the perfect place for me to spend 4 adventure-filled months! Making the most of my time abroad, I want to see everything I possibly can: the beautiful Giant’s Causeway, the mysterious castles with all of their history, the cobblestone streets of Galway, etc. And my trip might not be complete without venturing to the top of Skellig Michael (if you haven’t seen a picture of this island just off of Ireland’s coast, check it out!).

Not only will I be spending time soaking up Irish culture, but I will also be spending time exploring other places in Europe. One place in Europe that I have always dreamed of going is Tuscany, Italy. In fact, it’s been on my bucket list ever since I can remember! It’s my goal to see for myself if Tuscany is anywhere near as beautiful as the pictures suggest. Aside from Italy, I hope to have the chance to explore many other destinations.

Stay tuned for updates on a once-in-a-lifetime trip as I continue to check things off my bucket list!