Lonely December 08, 2023

By (English Language and Literature, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/15/2023 to 05/01/2023 with

Arcadia: Dublin - Trinity College Dublin

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Independence

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Academics were engaging, but hard to connect with faculty. Additionally, my literature courses were significantly stronger than my creative writing course.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Fine. Nice people, but not a very limited orient station process and limited events throughout the year.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I enjoyed my single and shared kitchen space, but was housed in an unsafe neighborhood.

* Food:

The Irish are not known for their food…

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Study abroad kids really stick to study abroad kids. I loved the pubs though.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

N/A

* Safety:

I was mugged while abroad so that definitely colored my impression of the city. As someone from a city in the U.S that is far more violent than Dublin, I think I was unprepared for the local tensions in the landscape. They are experiencing a big housing crisis and lots of discontent over immigration. Be more in your guard than you might think and you’ll be fine. Don’t go to any ATMs at night.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I would go to Oxford or Amsterdam.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Idk
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? But plane tickets for trips as far in advance as possible.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Staff is nice
  • Campus is pretty
* What could be improved?
  • Location of housing
  • Orientation
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how difficult it would be to connect with the other people in the program.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Creative Writing: How the Weather Was

Course Department: English
Instructor: Eoin McName p
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Not challenging evening enough.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales

Course Department: English
Instructor: Brandon
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Challenging and interesting.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Irish Writing

Course Department: English
Instructor: Rotation
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Massive lecture so the ability of the lecturers varied, but otherwise a very interesting way to get to know a culture.
Credit Transfer Issues: No