I have been in Dublin for over two weeks now studying at UCD, and it has been so much fun! When I first got here I was nervous, but my whole IFSA group bonded fast, and we hang out all of the time now! My first impressions of Dublin have been super positive! The locals are kind, helpful, and conversational! You will be waiting at a bus stop and end up having a new friend by the time your bus arrives. Everyone that I have met so far speaks English as their first language, as the Irish language has almost gone extinct, and the accents are fun and easy to understand. The only differences are some local sayings which may not be clear, but in context you can usually put it together.
The weather is amazing—so far at least—and it has been a comfortably warm end of summer with light showers that clear up quickly and beautiful sunsets every night! The traditional Irish food has been delicious, but American food is admittedly not as tasty as the real stuff back home. It definitely has been encouraging me to try things I might not have and I’ve been loving it!
I love all of the nature in and around Dublin! The “green” that people talk about is real and unlike the outdoors in America. Everything has been super accessible with public transport as well. This makes going into town, the inner city, or even places much further in Ireland super easy and affordable. I haven’t been here for long and I’ve already taken a trip to the west coast of Ireland with a new friend. We explored the city of Galway, Connemara National Park, the Aran Islands, and so much more!
My classes have been interesting, as they are more specialized to a specific program and not like a “Gen-Ed” that I am used to. Classes are less hours of lecture per week, but there are more readings and in-depth learning that is meant for you to do independently. I have had to take two freshman courses because they are strict about having certain pre-reqs for upper-level courses, but they are still taught for my major and career plan so they aren’t boring and too basic.
Overall, I have loved my time here so far and I can’t wait to continue to explore Dublin, Ireland, and even parts of Europe throughout my four months here! Roll Tide!
