AIFS Abroad in Maynooth, Republic of Ireland: Semester

From beginning to end, my time with AIFS in Maynooth was literally AMAZING. I met some people that I’m still friends with, had food I’ve never had before, and got to experience a new way of life. It was so, so, SO relaxing. There were it’s tough moments for sure, but God blessed me even (or especially) in those moments in that I learned how to grow and be an adult and make my own decisions in those moments. It was so gorgeous and I loved shopping in downtown Dublin, trying foods in Maynooth, and learning to catch their (beautiful and clean and safe) buses! It’s been 6 months now and I miss it so much!!!

Loved every second of it! Traveled to numerous countries, academics weren’t the hardest so I was able to have freedom when it came to exploring! Maynooth was a beautiful town, loved the shopping center. Everything was walkable and Ireland has excellent transportation.

The excursion planned by the school to the Cliffs of Mother was just like any other day in Ireland— WET. My newfound friends and I embraced this, dancing in the rain and taking wonderful photos of the beauty that was the Cliffs. I felt like a little kid again, jumping in puddles and laughing with these people I never would have met otherwise. We pretended we were Kings and Queens of the world, scaling some of the rocks off of the paths of the cliffs and exclaiming that the rain hitting our faces was the best feeling ever. I’ve never liked the rain, hated it even. But in that moment, I embraced the feeling of my hair sticking to my face and my cheeks hurting from smiling too hard. I still think about this moment, months later, when I’m asked about my fondest memory studying abroad. I would have never expected missing the rain of Ireland, but here I am, missing it regardless. Missing my friends, who I still keep in contact with today.