IES Abroad Dublin Summer – History, Politics & Social Change

Studying abroad with IES in Dublin gave me the opportunity to live in the heart of the city. The accommodations came with a private bedroom and bathroom which really helped my roommates and I quickly adjust to living together. Through my accommodations, I was able to make friends in my program and met people studying at other places in the city. The prime location allowed us to easily walk to Croke Park for a Gaelic football match, or to discover new pubs with traditional Irish music. My classes were just a short tram ride away. I loved my quite morning routine of taking the tram and then walking to class along the canal. In my Irish Communal Identity class, we spent most classes outside exploring Dublin. Our instructor brought us to new areas each week explaining their history and their identity in modern Dublin. On weekends, my friends and I often explored the areas surrounding Dublin, frequently taking day trips to go hiking. IES also brought us on an excursion to Glendalough, one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. IES was very supportive and encouraged us not to just visit Dublin but to live in it and experience it.

My time abroad (as cliche as it sounds) was one of the greatest experiences of my life. To be completely honest, I was pretty wishy-washy about the whole idea of going abroad for a semester. I figured I would apply for a program, and if I got in and received financial aid then I would go, and if I didn't then I would stay at my University for the semester. I did not feel strongly either way, and looking back now it's a little bit funny to think how ambivalent I was given that my time in Dublin was absolutely life-changing in the best way. I got to study under some of the coolest and most intelligent professors I've ever had. They all care so much about what they teach, and they all have real-life experience with the course content. One of my favorite classes I took was the Service Learning course that IES offers. Once a week I got to volunteer at an after school program for elementary school students and help them do their homework. The program we did it through does so much for the community in that area of the city, and it was amazing to see the impact they have on the kids. It was fun to hang out with the students, and I was able to learn so much from them about the city of Dublin and about the lives of its inhabitants. This class is also where I got to meet some really amazing peers who I consider lifelong friends. The friendships you can develop abroad are so powerful, and they enrich your abroad experience greatly. You can make incredibly deep connections with people in a short span of time abroad due to the nature of your situation. People go abroad to experience new things, so everyone is very open to making friends and everyone wants to support each other during this time. I would say my favorite thing about being abroad was the people, both in my program and those outside of my program. Dublin has some of the kindest, most helpful, and most humble people that this world has to offer. I met so many people who were complete strangers to me, but wanted me to enjoy my time in Dublin and wanted me to experience the best of the city. My abroad experience gave me a certain confidence and independence that I will carry with me into my senior year of college.

Summer abroad on Dublin through IES was one of the most amazing experiences I had in my life! The awesome staff and school got me immersed in the history, culture, and economy of the Emerald Isle, which is very, very green by the way. The people that I met while abroad, both friends on the program and beyond, will stick with me for the rest of my days. A month and half was the perfect amount of time to get familiarized with Dublin, get to know several of the other major cities, and still not feel rushed to do anything. The school work was informative and useful, and I still keep up to date on the subjects I studied, both Irish literature and the economy/ politics. 10/10 would do it over and over again!