By Ava Kristy, UC Santa Cruz student studying at Trinity College Dublin
I think one of the things people most readily associate with Irish culture are its pubs. When I told family and friends that I had decided to study at Trinity, I got a lot of pub recommendations and a couple warnings about not drinking too much. While I would say that drinking is a big part of college culture in any country, Ireland does it in a really unique way. The live music in almost every bar I’ve been to has been one of my favorite things about going out in Dublin.
By Ava Kristy, UC Santa Cruz student studying at Trinity College Dublin
When I left for Trinity in the Fall, I wasn’t really sure what I would occupy my time with. Obviously there were classes, but these took up even less of my time than they did at my home university in California. I knew I should also spend time studying for classes, but honestly how much of that could I be expected to do on exchange in a continent I had seen so little of. Like many other exchange students, I decided the best way to spend my time abroad would be to travel. I decided I would see as much as I could and soak in the culture wherever I went, which is to say I booked plenty of trips with very little in the way of a plan as to what I would do when I got there. No one has ever accused me of being the most organized person. Despite this lack of planning, I knew generally, what I wanted to see: art.
By Daryl Egan, Hilary Term Business School Exchange to the Chinese University of Hong Kong
My name is Daryl Egan and I am a 3rd year Trinity College Dublin Student studying BESS. I am a little over a month into my Hilary Term Business School Exchange to the Chinese University of Hong Kong and it’s safe to say that the time has absolutely flown by! Hong Kong is a truly incredible place and is nowhere like I’ve ever been before. There is the unconventional cocktail of steel skyscrapers, consumerism and an urban feel only comparable to great cities of the world such as New York mixed with the stunning natural beauty of the forests and beaches. The chaos of the neon lit streets and vibrancy of the markets in Mon Kok is a complete juxtaposition to the tranquillity and calm one experiences hiking through the forests or camping on a secluded beach. It is this variety that Hong Kong offers which appeals to me most.
By Jordan Hall, Michaelmas 2018 Study Abroad Student from the University of California, Santa Barbara
Between studying for classes and exploring the sights, it can be difficult to find the time to root yourself. You may convince yourself you don’t need to make connections, especially if you are only staying for a short time, like a semester. But, a lack of connections can make us feel isolated and lonely while in an unfamiliar place. I can assure you that your experience will be much more enjoyable if you make an effort to meet people. It doesn’t have to be a deep connection and you shouldn’t try to force any friendships, but finding your niche can give you an enormous sense of well-being, even if you only connect with your group once a week. It goes beyond answering the small-talk questions like, “What are you involved in?” Joining a group or society allows you to immerse yourself in the local culture and make your mark. It allows you to place yourself among the constant backdrop of life in a foreign place that you are only a temporary part of. Continue reading How to find your niche or “home-away-from-home” while studying abroad in Ireland?→
By Fiona Corcoran, Michaelmas 2018 Study Abroad Student from American University
Most of my friends thought I was silly to arrive in Dublin for study abroad almost a full month before classes actually started. To them, the later semester schedule that many European schools keep seemed like an opportunity for a longer, stress-free summer. But for me, it was a chance to get a head start on adjusting to life in a new country. The Semester Start-Up Programme (SSP), a three-week pre-semester course at Trinity designed for international and visiting students, was hugely helpful in this area. By the time most visiting students were just arriving for Freshers’ Week, I had made new friends, gained a stronger understanding of Irish history, and knocked a few must-see locations off my list.
The World of Trinity 