Kissing the Blarney Stone!

Sorry for not posting much lately, I’ve had a busy few weeks! Recently I went on an amazing day tour of Cork and Blarney Castle! We had an early morning start, but thankfully the long drive allowed for some nap time! During the parts of the drive I was awake for, I saw some beautiful Irish countryside and mountains. We drove south to Cork for lunch. Although I didn’t get a lot of time in the city, I did get to check out the famous English market and eat some great food! Then after Cork, it was on to the tour’s main attraction, Blarney!

Discovering History

The last two weeks have been very busy! I’ve been doing well at my internship and I’ve gone on a few excursions through my program. I’m really enjoying working at Special Olympics, right now things are focused on preparing for the big annual fundraiser in April. Although some of the work can be tedious, which I expected as an intern, I do feel I’m learning a lot about the organization as well as all the work that goes on behind the scenes to make fundraising and charities successful. I’m also really liking my class on Irish history, so far we’ve covered up to the 1916 Easter Risings. What’s especially interesting about Irish history is how much of it is so recent. I actually talked to a co-worker whose grandparent was involved in the risings! This class has definitely given me a better political and cultural context in which to understand modern Ireland.

Weekend in Belfast!

Hi everyone, last weekend I had an amazing time visiting Belfast in Northern Ireland for three days! My flatmates and I took the train early Friday morning which wasn’t a long ride and gave us a chance to see a bit of Irish countryside. This was also my first experience staying in a youth hostel, which was a little intimidating but once I got there ended up being a great experience! In some ways Belfast is very similar to Dublin with its Irish roots. But it’s an interesting city because unlike the Republic of Ireland, it’s also been influenced by English culture.

Interning, Class, and Boyne Valley

This week I started my internship at Special Olympics! I’m really enjoying it and everyone at the office is very friendly. Being in a work environment is definitely a change from a classroom environment, but I really like it. I’m helping with their fundraising events, so right now I’m mostly managing data entry and making phone calls. It’s different from a typical internship since I am in a different country, so in addition to learning about the field I’m also learning about cultural differences. It’s also nice to have my coworkers as resources to ask questions about Ireland and get suggestions of where to visit! So overall my first week there went very well, and I’m excited to continue with it!

First Week

I have made it through my first week here in Dublin! Everything has been amazing and I’ve been so busy exploring! I’m living in a student apartment with three other girls from Stonehill which has been a great experience, although learning to cook for myself will be an adjustment after two and a half years on a meal plan! This week I got my student bus pass, so I’ve been spending a lot of time exploring the city. I’ve spent a lot of time on O’Connell Street and Dame Street, which have many historical sights, fun pubs, and shopping areas. Having never lived in a city before it’s a bit of an adjustment, especially since I’m also dealing with a little culture shock, but now that I know my way around a bit I’m feeling confident and can’t wait to see more of the city.