Category: Ireland: Maynooth Univ

The most important lesson I learned abroad was to be open to change. Not only was I living in a new place with new faces adapting to cold weather and shopping isles without mac and cheese and ranch dressing, but I had to be open to the possibility of returning home due to COVID-19. It…

Reflecting on my time in Ireland, it feels like a whirlwind of leaning about culture and privilege. My time abroad has proven to me that my identity does indeed impact how I see the world. I had a very specific image in my mind of what Ireland would look like- rolling green hills, breathtaking greenery,…

Having just gotten home from my semester in Ireland, I can’t help but be immediately reminded of how different life was there. So why not get super reflective? Looking back to my first, pre-departure blog post, I think that my mind has changed a bit, but I was pretty close to predicting some general trends….

I sit, once more, in my room, having been home for nearly two weeks and just now catching a breather from the whirlwind of the holidays. After three months in Ireland, I don’t feel tremendously different – I am still the nervous yet desperate for adventure person I was before. However, I did partially fulfill…

Coming up on my last weeks in Maynooth and Ireland, I am so sad for it all to come to an end. As much as I miss my family and friends (and food!) being abroad has been an amazing, eye-opening experience that I will savour until its gone. Since I last posted, I have finally…

I started this journey arrogant of my identity. I thought I was as sure as I would ever be about who I am. I didn’t expect to change, or grow, or discover anything new about myself. I thought it cliche. But oh how the mighty fall. I don’t think I “changed” per se, I think…

No one has ever mistaken me for brave. I was never sorted into Griffindor, I’ve always been a Slytherin. I’ve spent my life running from new experiences, avoiding new people and keeping the very thought of adventure at arm’s length. and I got tired of it. I wanted to be a different person, one who…

Hello! The past few weeks have been crazy. The biggest difference between Rollins and Maynooth is the course load. All of my class grades are based on my final exam or final essay, so I have only had to worry about readings for class so far. The past week however, has been a completely different…

For reference, my mother lives near this strip of woods and a little creek bed. From the ages of 11 to 14, I would spend everyday amongst those trees. My friends and I would chart every inch of the woods, making pathways between all the interesting deposits of litter and creating stories surrounding their origins….

Its Halloween and it is so strange not being in the states. I’m on a study week break from classes which have been going on about a month and I’ve only had one assignment due! It is so odd not having constant homework but I am enjoying the free time. Since I wrote last, I…