IES Abroad Dublin

This program was filled with great staff and amazing programs. I had to arrive a day late and Jackie, the coordinator, was super understanding and helpful! She made sure I got to orientation on time and even had one of the teachers call me at the airport to make sure I was okay! This was the first year that they had the acting students and the general Irish studies students room together and it was a great choice! I made amazing friends from both programs and we still stay in contact to this day. The field trips to Northern Ireland and Causey Farm were great and worth the extra expense. Everything was beautiful and the local people really are some of the nicest I have ever met. Ireland is perfect if you want a city and country side experience. Dublin is not too overwhelming like New York or Chicago. It is the perfect blend of night life and tourist activities. Plus, IES will provide you with a bucket list of everything there is to do in the city. The country side; however, is even more amazing, filled with rolling green hills and centuries old landmarks. I would go back in a heartbeat.

I loved everything about my study abroad experience in Dublin. Having the opportunity to live, work, and experience life in the country my family comes from was truly an unparalleled experience for me. The classes I took through IES were interesting and culturally relevant allowing me to obtain a great understanding of the country I was living in as well as fostering a global mindset to learning. In addition to the coursework, I truly benefitted from being able to intern and experience the work culture of a foreign country first hand. The outside of the classroom trips and excursions that IES planned were really wonderful ways to experience different historical sites around Ireland without having to plan my own tours. The way IES schedules their classes I was able to travel throughout Europe on the weekends with ease. Through the IES Abroad Dublin program and specifically their Entrepreneurship and Technology track I was able to forge strong life-long friendships, learn more about Irish culture and experience it through my internship, and most importantly discover a new version of myself that is more confident and self-assured.

My experience studying abroad in Dublin is probably going to be the biggest adventure I ever had in my life. I was really excited about the Irish Studies program because I have always wanted to learn more about the Irish culture so it was a perfect fit. The classes were very interesting and the teachers were so knowledgeable. I am so thankful for the great teachers that I had in the program because they taught me a lot and they were very nice people. In one of my classes, we would take walks around the city of Dublin and the teacher would stop and tell us about Dublin’s history and it’s present day. Being in this program allowed me to be independent but I also had teachers and faculty close by if I ever needed assistance. I loved the way the classes were scheduled because it gave me great opportunities to explore Dublin and to travel to other countries on the weekend. The IES program had many field trips that we could attend which they planned out really well. One of my favorite moments from my abroad experience was cycling through Killarney National Park. It was such a beautiful day and the park was very pretty. The IES program helped me feel more connected to my classmates and to the culture in Dublin. I can’t wait for the day when I can go back to Dublin and relive the great times that I had.

I can honestly say I was so happy to choose Dublin. Not only was I surrounded by great people, but an amazing culture as well. It is the perfect size of a city to live and take classes in. It was also very accessible to the airport so I was able to travel a ton too! Abroad is definitely what you make of it but I am so happy I chose Dublin as my city. I experience amazing food, music, conversations and friendships.

The Writer's Program was a fantastic experience for me. I learned a lot from everyone at the IES Center (special shout-out to Stephen, the writer's program coordinator) and felt I had a lot of opportunities to explore Ireland. Dublin is a great city if you study writing or English; lots of literature has come from Dublin, and there are lots of good resources to learn more about Irish literature (the Writer's Museum, the Yeats Exhibition at the Library, etc.). We read a lot of Irish writers for homework. IES planned a lot of great cultural events and field trips. As a spur of the moment trip we attend a Moth Story Telling Slam twice as well as a Martin McDonagh play at the Gaitey Theatre. Our professor also took us to see Moonlight, which was awarded the Oscar while I was abroad. There's lots to do and explore in Dublin (more than the Guinness Storehouse, I assure you), and while eating out is expensive, Dublin is fairly student-friendly. Ireland is also an amazing country; I loved the hikes and the coast line. If you plan on flying out to Europe every weekend, which many students do, the Dublin Airport is easy to access and Ryanair and Aer Lingus will be your friends. I would definitely recommend this program.

Studying abroad was one of the greatest experiences I have had so far in my life. Studying abroad and travelling by myself to a new country really taught me about responsibility and independence, much more so than moving to another state for college did. I also solo traveled to other countries during my study abroad experience for the first time and I learned a lot about myself, became more comfortable with myself, and gained a lot more confidence. The classes I took as a part of the IES Dublin Writer's Program were also incredible. I loved getting more insight into Irish history and culture through classes, whether it be through literature or discussions about the Irish professional culture. Many of my classmates and friends, as well, during my stay in Ireland are still some of my closest friends to this day and we continue to stay in touch despite attending different colleges around the US. I also made many Irish friends outside of the program through travel, my internship, and religious services, many of whom I am still in contact with and am still close with today.

My favorite day in Ireland was a little windy, a little sunny and day that will stay with me forever. It was a day during my program's creative writing retreat, which was at the Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa in County Cork. The Lodge was a seaside oasis just steps from soft, pale sands and calm, sparkling waters. And mornings there began with an Irish breakfast of eggs, sausage, black and white pudding, potatoes, and a cup of tea, before it was time for class.

We had our creative writing classes in a conference-like room that was perpetually filled with natural light and a salty sea breeze that slipped through the open windows. We wrote freely, creating stories and memories alike as we spent time pondering the idea of "renewal."

This retreat, which was planned by my creative writing instructor, was a weekend of creativity, intellectual and literary discussion and exploring. The environment was like a photographer or painter's dream -- I was mesmerized by the harmonious scenery of soft acrylic blues and greens that appeared more like a fairytale setting than a visitable place in Ireland.

It was this moment in time that caused me to become overwhelmingly grateful for choosing IES as my study abroad program. And since that day, after taking photos, writing stories, meeting other people staying at the lodge, and sitting on the beach talking to my classmates, who I could happily call friends at that point, I came to realize how important travel is to me and just how much I enjoy meeting new people.

The IES staff in Dublin truly cared about creating a safe, comfortable environment for us students to bond and assimilate into our host community. They planned frequent events for us at the IES Center, with the first taking place during week one. They welcomed us with tea, little sandwiches, pastries, and an opportunity for us to introduce ourselves. And the IES staff also took us on well-planned excursions around Ireland that left me feeling connected and a little whimsical -- I still vividly remember the time I made my own soda bread and milked a cow.

It was a beautiful and unforgettable adventure that I guarantee you would love too. And IES Abroad won't let you down.

Thanks for reading, and good luck on your future journey abroad.

A fellow traveler and dreamer,
Christena

Howdy!

I greatly enjoyed my time abroad Fall 2016 as part of the IES Dublin Writer’s Program.

Staff really do take what you say into account. I randomly mentioned liking to swim to Myriam and come the next morning, I’d received an email from Jackie with a list of pools in the city. That level of dedication, genuine care, toward students’ needs is deeply rooted. Everyone in the Centre always took time to ask how my weekend was and check in on how I was doing as I made my way up the stairs to class. Even professors whose classes I wasn’t taking gave off that feeling of a warm welcome.

There was a lot of intersecting subject matter in my classes, which were of the Writer’s Program and Irish Studies variety. I enjoyed interacting with other American students from varying parts of the States. Everyone brought their own expertise and interests to discussions inside and outside the Centre. I’m grateful for having been in the care of my professors. I have a more focused vision of my career path and what I see myself doing in upcoming years. I can say, without a doubt, this is a direct result of my time spent with IES last semester.

If you’re thinking about taking that step and going somewhere unknown, vaguely familiar, or basically your backyard, please do. The world is here. It’s been here quite a while, and all talk of “well y’know the sun’s gonna explode eventually” aside, I think it’ll be here for a good time longer. So, go forth and live your dreams; go back and do what you’d wanted to. There is time. You just gotta take time to make time for your future, whatever that looks like. Your future, your journey, is unique to you.