IES Abroad: Dublin, Irish Studies Past Review
By Margaret M (University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign) - abroad from 09/01/2014 to 12/13/2014 with
IES Abroad: Dublin - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
I gained an understanding of Irish culture, economy, and politics I did not have before. It was my first time being exposed to a different pace and views of the world that I now get to incorporate with my perspective. My time in Dublin was completely worthwhile and has inspired me to continue to travel and to see things from multiple angles.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
. The classes I took focused on Irish literature, history, culture, language, and politics. They gave me the background to have meaningful conversations with people living in Dublin and around Ireland about topics that were important to them. What further helped me gain a better sense of Irish life was my Service Learning placement. I volunteered once a week at the amazing Solas Project, working with children from disadvantaged backgrounds. I worked with permanent volunteers and other students to help the children with homework, and engage in activities with them such as Gaelic football! In addition to my time at Solas there was a seminar where I was able to talk about the experience I was having with the other students in the Service Learning course, and we reviewed topics and issues that affected the children I was working with. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
. Dublin alone is a great city, but the staff at the IES center fostered the transition from tourist to student. They were extremely supportive and generous with their time. Whether they were discussing in greater detail a topic brought up in class, or giving advice on the events and festivals happening that weekend, they were excited to help me gain a better understanding of my host country through my experiences. They created an incredible support system that encouraged us to visit and take advantage of the many places and experiences Dublin, Ireland, and Europe had to offer. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My apartment, shared with other IES students, was centrally located and close to the IES center. I was able to walk to Temple Bar, Grafton St., O'Connell St., and really anywhere I wanted to be in the Dublin City Center. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Between the encouragement to go to cultural events from the IES staff, and the opportunity to engage with the Irish children I worked with I left Dublin feeling like I had truly gotten to know the city. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
While in Dublin my lung slightly collapsed. I had to spend a night in the hospital under observation, and my Wellness Officer was there to help me through the entire process. She made sure that I knew how to navigate the Irish health system and spoke with hospital administration to work out insurance so I wouldn't have to worry about the cost while I was healing. |
| * Safety: |
Keeping in mind that it is still a city and one should always be aware of their surroundings, I felt safer in Dublin than I did in my wonderful home, University of Illinois. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
If you are willing to budget and eat in for most meals, like you would at home, experiencing everything you want to is very affordable. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100/week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Plan your priorities. If you want to be able to travel around, limit the number of times you eat out and opt for cheaper meals at home with the roommates. It will save you money and be great bonding time! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | How important it is to plan ahead all the trips and outings so I have time for everything that everything I wanted to see and do! |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
