Week two, and things are in full swing! During my internship, I have worked on several projects and tasks covering finance and marketing. This week, I drafted a value proposition for a program the company I am working at is launching. I was also introduced to an accounting software called Xero. Using this software, my supervisor showed me how to complete a corporation tax return (CT1 Return). The CT1 return requires companies to file their revenue within nine months of the year’s end. Additionally, I attended a networking event last Friday where I met dozens of Dubliners who owned their own businesses. Here, I spoke with people from around the world, including Ukraine and Spain.
On Monday, we went to the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology in Dublin, where we learned about Irish antiquity from the Stone Age to the Late Middle Ages. The Viking Exhibition was fascinating; we saw a 1,100-year-old Viking woman’s skeleton, considered to be Dublin’s oldest woman. The last exhibit we walked through was the “Bog Bodies,” which were humans from BCE found in bogs. Bogs are swamplands, and the low oxygen content has preserved the bodies for centuries. One body had fingernails that were still intact and polished, indicating they were someone of wealth and status.
I’ve been getting better and better at coming up with different creative meals to eat for dinner. I was sticking to garlic chicken during week one, but now I’ve upgraded to tangy chicken, fried rice with chicken, and chicken kebabs. Besides, I have yet to eat out much due to time and expenses. However, after work, I tried a New York-style pizza joint where I ordered a pizza with vodka sauce, which got the approval of Margaret, a native Northeasterner. After pizza, we hit St. Stephen’s Green (again), where we sat and chatted. This park is a great place to meet up with friends because it is central and convenient.
I have also become more familiar with the UCD campus, where I discovered the gym and beautiful trails around the campus. Yesterday, I ran on the trail, where I was met with dozens of other runners ranging from children to students to adults. When far from home, creating a sense of home in your new surroundings is important. Going on runs does just that for me, as I feel more connected to the community. However, I’m unsure if people follow the run on the opposite side of the trail, similar to how cars drive on the left side instead of the right, because I did crash into a few people.
The bog people sound fascinating! Thank you for sharing and keep enjoying beautiful Ireland!
XO