An Irish Summer: learning about and celebrating Irish culture Past Review

By A student (History, Trinity University) - abroad from 06/07/2017 to 07/22/2017 with

IES Abroad: Dublin - History, Politics & Social Change

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

I learned a lot of life skills, such as how to travel responsibly and how to learn to live in a new and foreign place. It got me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow as a person. I also learned a ton about Irish culture.

Review Photos

IES Abroad: Dublin - Irish Studies Photo

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.	I appreciated that the academic rigor was not as intense as that at Trinity during the school year- it gave us time to explore Ireland/Europe and enjoy the summer without feeling extremely overwhelmed
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	Pavilion View Apartments were updated and in a great location. Only problem was it was very far away from all other students.
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	The Irish were very welcoming and I didn't feel completely separate from their culture.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	One of our program's directors, Jackie Knowles, set up a doctors appointment for me right down the street from my apartment.
* Safety:	I felt extremely safe in Dublin. As a woman, however, I did experience some uncomfortable situations at night clubs, but in today's world I feel that that is relatively common in most places.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes I loved this program. Wish I could've done it for a semester!

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?	About $100 during the week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	I spent the most money traveling, try to find cheaper hostels or Air BnB's and explore as much of Ireland as you can instead of flying away each weekend.

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

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	Host city Classes Food
* What could be improved?	Proximity of living arrangement
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Don't be afraid to take chances while abroad, and enjoy every minute of being in a new and incredibly fascinating place.

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 Avid Adventurer The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	The Irish Communal Identity
Course Department:	Sociology/anthropology
Instructor:	Darren Kelly
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This was an incredible course. It challenged my way of thinking about social identities and gave me an opportunity to explore Dublin from multiple points of view. The walking tours were fun and fantastic. Forms of assessment were creative and enjoyable as well as graded fairly. Darren was an energetic, enthusiastic, and extremely intelligent. I loved this class.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Celtic Myth and Legend
Course Department:
Instructor:	Michelle Piazza
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This class was very enjoyable. I learned a lot of interesting information and it enhanced my knowledge about Irish culture and history. I really loved learning about something that is rarely taught in America. The course was graded fairly and Mich was a fantastic instructor.
Credit Transfer Issues: