Without a doubt study-abroad is a life-changing experience. For me personally, I feel like the biggest difference is my self-confidence. Going into the semester, I was afraid of people of possible misunderstandings in a country where English was the first language. Now in addition to Ireland, I’ve traveled to France, Italy, Denmark and other countries where English is the not the first language and I survived! The trick was to overcome my own self-doubts and not worry about embarrassing myself. I learned that a smile and some hand gestures can get you farther than you think.
Additionally, I did a lot of traveling around Ireland and Europe by myself. While I understand, solo travel isn’t for everyone, I enjoyed independence and self-reliance. The experience I had on my own truly made me feel like a ‘real adult’ rather than just a legal adult. For anyone considering solo travel, I would recommend doing research before you go, and familiarizing yourself with important safety knowledge. The best apart about traveling by yourself is that it creates an opportunity to understand what you like. I now have a better understanding of the types of places I want to live, the kinds of art I like, even the hours of the day I’m more energized.
While I was abroad, I still had several responsibilities from home. Most notably, I had to find a co-op for the Fall cycle. Planning Skype interviews and accounting for the time difference, can be an added challenge. While I did experience a few nerve-racking technical difficulties, ultimately I was able to get my dream job.
In addition to my day-to-day at UCD, a saw plenty of amazing places while I was abroad. Between the gondola ride in Venice, Ireland’s majestic Cliffs of Mohor, the Rosetta Stone in London, and the Mona Lisa in Paris, it’s hard to choose one. However, my favorite experience may have happened just before I left. During my last week in Dublin, I ventured to Belfast in Northern Ireland. There I took a Game of Thrones bus tour which covered many of the show’s filming locations. I saw many of the difference locations present in the show, the Iron Islands, the kingsroad, and the Stormlands among others. As a huge Game of Thrones nerd, I enjoyed visiting the places I thought only existed on TV and in my mind. Even I wasn’t a fan of the show, the landscape of Northern Ireland was beautiful.
To be honest, If I got the chance to study abroad again, I wouldn’t go to Ireland. While Dublin is a lovely place, I don’t think it was the right place to me. I still had a great time, but if given another chance, I would do it differently. In hindsight, I think I would have a fantastic time studying in Paris. Now that I overcome my fear of non-english speaking countries, I think I would appreciate the art and architecture present in Paris. Not to mentions the city’s international feel and cultural diversity. While I spend a long weekend in Paris, it simply wasn’t enough time to see all the museums, explore the massive city, and more importantly eat all the food!
