Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Living in Dublin like a Local September 11, 2022

By (health, University of Iowa) - abroad from 01/10/2022 to 04/22/2022 with

IES Abroad: Dublin - Study Abroad With IES Abroad

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Being abroad opened my eyes to how big the world is in many ways, but it also made the world seem small too. While traveling I found myself able to connect with people from all over from Ireland to Italy to the Netherlands. Being abroad really boosted my self-confidence because while moving to a new place and making new friends was intimidating, I did it all and more.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

IES provided me with constant support and was there for every question and emergency. My classes introduced me to Irish history and culture that I had never learned of before. The teachers were all great and each had a unique style that kept classes interesting and exciting. We did not have classes on Fridays, which allowed us to explore Ireland and even take weekend trips to other countries.

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? 100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Shop regularly to prevent food from going bad

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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The instructors
  • The classroom spaces
  • The accomodations
* What could be improved?
  • More program wide events
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known that my classes were going to be a bit father away from my living space then I expected. The walk was about an hour so I took the tram most days. The tram ended up being a wonderful way to experience the city so I am happy I had an excuse to ride it so often.

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 Urbanite
A 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.