We have touched down in Ireland! My first week in Dublin has been quite the learning experience, from mastering public transportation to diving into my first professional internship. This week has already flown by so fast!
Moving in was quite an adventure! I was the first one in my apartment to arrive, as my plane landed at 6 am. The early morning arrival gave me a chance to settle in and eagerly await my roommates. Once everyone arrived, the fun immediately kicked off. We spent the first couple of days orienting ourselves and exploring what would be our home for the next eight weeks. Navigating the public transportation networks involved some trial and error, but we seemed to have figured it out, fingers crossed!
Monday marked our first class and day trip as an entire program. Although I was a bit nervous for the ANOP class (since I am not in the Management College), I left feeling optimistic. Meeting the people I will be spending a lot of time with was exciting. Our visit to the EPIC Emigration Museum was particularly enjoyable; the immersive experiences they offered were fantastic. Afterward, we took the rest of the day to explore the city. Our first stop was the Portal exhibit, which connected us back to the United States with a live view of New York City. We wandered the city and ended the evening with a delicious dinner at Milano’s.
Tuesday was my birthday! Spending my first birthday away from home, I was curious how it would be celebrating in an unfamiliar place with people I had just met. While it was everyone else’s first day of work, my internship didn’t start until Wednesday, so I took the day to relax and explore the city.
My first stop was St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which was absolutely stunning. I learned a lot about Ireland’s religious history. Then, I roamed the city as a classic tourist, popping in and out of shops and enjoying little treats along the way.
For dinner, my apartment roommates and I met at Sophie’s, a restaurant boasting an amazing view of the city. We debriefed our first days and celebrated my birthday. The night concluded with a visit to Murphy’s Ice Cream shop, which has quickly become an apartment favorite. The consensus seems to be that their sea salt flavor is the best, and I totally agree!
This first week has been a whirlwind of activity and new experiences. From academic excursions to personal celebrations, Dublin is already starting to feel like a home away from home. I can’t wait to see what the next seven weeks hold!