Hi Guys! My name is Brie and I am currently studying abroad in Maynooth Ireland. I have decided to start a blog about my experiences and adventures while I am here. First off, I have always wanted to travel to Ireland and learn about my heritage. My grandmother grew up here and always offered so much praise about this country. She would tell stories about all of the beautiful sights and culture. Studying abroad is not common at my school as many students do not have the desire to travel. For myself, I knew that I had a strong passion to travel and see the world through my own eyes. I wanted to do something different and gain insight about what the world has to offer. I have been here for about three weeks now and it has been incredible. Maynooth is a small town located about forty minutes outside of Dublin. The town is basically one street with many pubs and shops, including small coffee shops and restaurants. My university almost makes up the entire town of Maynooth as the population doubles when school is in session. All of the residents of Maynooth are so sweet and willing to help when they see a confused American student. There is also a bus stop and train station located about five minutes from my school, where you can travel into Dublin and access many of the major trains that will take you all over the country. Maynooth is a wonderful, small, Irish town that offers so much culture and fun for everyone; I was even able to find a nail salon!
When I first moved into Maynooth, stressed is an understatement. I was moving to a university that was 4,000 miles across the atlantic where I did not know a single person. I would fly by myself for the first time (with my two extremely heavy bags of luggage) and hope that someone would meet me on the other end. However, I knew that this experience would be life changing, whether it be a positive or negative experience. I can say that I have met and made such wonderful friends since being here. All of the students are in the same position and looking to branch out and meet new people. It can be a daunting task at first but was super easy to meet students just like myself! I live in an apartment with 4 other students, two who are American and two who are German. I am able to take classes in my major and learn different aspects of business from the perspective of Irish professors. I can actually say, for once, that I am excited to attend class lectures and learn about my major. The professors here are full of knowledge (and sarcasm) but make the class enjoyable for all. I also do not have any class on Thursdays or Fridays, making it easy to explore the town and the many pubs around here. I spend this past weekend in Galway with 8 girls from the U.S. It was quite the haul but we made it to Galway with around 5 hours of travel time. I can safely say that I have NEVER seen as many sheep and cows before. The train ride was quite enjoyable and I met some locals on the train that were very curious to talk to me about education in the U.S (people in Ireland cannot fathom the idea of paying $25,000 a year for college education). Once we arrived, we ventured to our hostel which was quite interesting. Hostel life is not one for me and I would much prefer to stay in a nice and warm hotel. However, we dealt with the uncomfortable bunk beds for one night and made the best of the situation. We ended up going out and exploring Galway's nightlife and the quaint little town. The next morning, we woke and had a traditional Irish breakfast. I am not sure what those "black pudding" things are but they do not look appetizing. We shopped around Galway for a few hours and visited a farmers market. After that, we grabbed some fish and chips and headed home for our long travel ahead. It was great to see the other side of the country and more of a countryside feel; as opposed to Dublin which is a hustling city. So far, my experience in Maynooth has been great. I could not imagine myself studying in any other place and genuinely enjoy being around all of the Irish culture. I am grateful to experience the small town of Maynooth while having direct access to Dublin and all it has to offer. I have met so many Irish students who love talking to me about American culture and what it's like to be a college student in America (and under Trump's power). I will be traveling to Belfast, Northern Ireland this weekend and seeing some of the major sights there. After that, a group of 8 of us are heading to Glasgow, Scotland for a long weekend. I will FINALLY be able to see where my mom grew up and spent so many years of her life. I am hoping to spend some time with my family and meet some for the (first) time. Well, I am exhausted and it is a rainy cold day here. Time to watch Netflix and take a nap. xoxox Brie
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