My Summer in Dublin Was the Best Summer of my Life Past Review
By Lexi R (Political Science, University of Minnesota - Duluth) for
CIEE: Dublin - Summer Irish Studies
This was the most amazing experience of my life. I learned so much about myself, I became more independent and confident and I frequently over came my fears (like touching the finger of an 800 year old mummy and walking accross a rope bridge!). It was a great experience to LIVE in another country and see their perspectives on family, religion, politics and Americans.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The workload was extremely manageable, unfortunately I cannot comment on the grading system since I have not received a grade for this course yet (it's been two months since I returned home). |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were extremely accessible, helpful, welcoming and had a lot of knowledge about American higher education and how to help us adjust to Ireland. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The program arranged housing which was very helpful. It was dorm style living, there were 5 bedrooms in each apartment then we shared a kitchen and dining area. The rooms were small but perfect for us, bedding, towels, cookware and internet cables were provided by the university. It was on campus so it was a very safe area, there was a pub on campus, a convenience store, post office, and a few small places to grab sandwiches and coffee. The only downside was that we had to take the bus to get anywhere and transportation costs were a lot higher than we expected. Dublin City University is about a 20 minute bus ride from the city centre which was a lot farther than we anticipated. |
| * Food: |
We had to provide virtually all of our own meals, the ones that were covered by the program were not very good. The grocery store was quite far away and buying groceries was a hastle. If you have to go grocery shopping bring a rolling suitcase. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I enjoyed all of the cultural events that we attended. We went to a Gaelic football match, visited many historical sites, galleries, and the trip to Northern Ireland was absolutely amazing. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
I did not have any health issues so I am not sure how well health issues were addressed.I did not need any vaccines, but the city was very safe and we were told which areas to not visit at night. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
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) |
|
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Dublin is expensive, there's no getting around it. Learn the bus system quickly. GO TO GALWAY! Live every day like it's your last, because before you know it you'll be on your way home. Experience everything, talk to everyone, make friends with locals. Avoid the Temple Bar area, it's fun for a night or two, but you'll never meet any locals. Make friends with your roommates as soon as you get there, they will be your best friends and your friendship will last well beyond your trip. Bring your camera everywhere, don't be afraid to look like a tourist because they already know you're a tourist. Look both ways before crossing the street, they drive on the opposite side of the road and it's hard to adjust to. There is no such thing as personal space in Ireland. This program can be anything you want it to be, it's structured enough to keep you safe and educate you about local culture but there's plenty of free time to experience everything. |
