Well everyone I am officially back home after living in Ireland for 9 months. I waited a week after my flight back to even begin writing this final blog post to give me time to settle in. I can’t really explain this feeling. Its bizarre. I knew there would be a culture shock, I knew…
Category: Ireland: Maynooth Univ
Checklist for Ireland (all bullet points)
Things to prepare for as a Floridian coming to Ireland: When you tell people where you’re from the most common reactions will be: “Ohh! No way!” “How’re you enjoying this weather then?” “Disney!” “Why would you ever pick Ireland?!” Seriously.. The weather is INSANE, not very constant so it keeps you on your toes. Wind,…
A Little Homesick
Warning: this blog will be all over the place! Addressing some logistics, and some feels. I haven’t been adventuring nearly as much as last semester (so far) so this blog won’t be as interesting in that respect. Sometimes its a bit rough getting back into the rhythm of things, especially when going through multiple changes. Last…
Ireland Round Two
Hello everyone! I tried to vlog this time around but I found thats actually much more difficult to do on the letters to america website so I decided to stick with my familiar friend: the keyboard. I have been back in Ireland since the 30th of December, to take my finals for the first semester…
Goodbye first semester!
Hello everyone! This will be my final blog for the first semester. A semester in which I met amazing people from across the globe, traveled both in and outside of Ireland, and saw sites I only thought existed on postcards. Before traveling abroad I thought my identity could be defined within certain parameters like “sister”…
Returning Home & Identity
Returning from a semester abroad, and in my case eight months of traveling, has culminated an identity crisis for me. I do believe identity influences the lens which we view the world through, but identity is also malleable. With every day that I spent in a new place, my identity shifted slightly. Now that I…
Cheers! Also known as the most popular saying you’ll hear in Ireland. I have moved in, chosen my courses, and adjusted to the lifestyle over here at Maynooth University. While this is the smallest university in Ireland, it is four times the size of Rollins College. As I meet people on campus, I have developed…
A Home Away from the States
Maynooth is a very small town (or in Ireland’s case a very large town). And if you don’t believe me, it was awarded the “Best Kept Award for Large Towns.” It has about two streets that are lined with small shops and eateries. There are three bus stops and I could walk the way from…
Northern vs. ‘Southern’ Ireland
Last weekend, I was able to travel to Northern Ireland, a different country on the same island. I simply boarded a train in Dublin and arrived in Belfast two hours later. No one checked my passport or even a photo ID. Yet, when I stepped off the platform I was in another country (Northern Ireland…
Traveling, Healthcare, and Academics refresher!
Hello again! In this blog I am going to touch on a few subjects that I think are crucial when preparing for your studies abroad. I highly recommend reading the healthcare aspect the most out of all my topics, but once again feel free to read to what applies best to you! ACADEMICS So firstly…