I am in love. I will admit I use that phrase pretty loosely (I’ve recently told my roommate that I’m in love with dozens of boys, outfits, teachers, and classes,) but I really mean it this time. Ireland has captured my heart, and fortunately, will not release it.
Choosing to study abroad in Dublin, Ireland, is something that has always been in the back of my mind. I come from a fairly large extended Irish family that is still very much emotionally connected to the “Motherland, ” (disclaimer: while my Irish grandparents only acknowledge the Irish blood in me, I am actually only half Irish.) Still, I never dreamt that I would come to this picturesque land of green and start living my life so wholly.
Dublin is a charming city with possibly the most charming people in the world. As we rely on texting and tweeting to communicate, Dubliners want to talk. Young and old alike, the Irish are genuinely interested in learning about others, and they are delightful storytellers. Connecting with these enchanting people is the best part of living in Dublin.
As I wandered through an old graveyard in the Wicklow Mountains recently, admiring rows of ancient, stoic Celtic crosses, each one silently bearing its history, I realized why study abroad is a magical experience. We choose destinations, sometimes planned, sometimes impulsively, and regardless of our heritage, we form bonds with that country as we begin to see the qualities we most admire in its people and its history. Studying abroad is a process of self-discovery. As we discover new territory, we detect ourselves when we see our own image reflected in the mirror of a foreign land.
I want to write this blog for Her Campus while I am in Dublin so that all of you back on the Hilltop can envision yourselves studying abroad, living your own adventure. Picture my stories as a model home. The materials are there, but the frames are yours to fill. I hope you laugh and smile, but more than anything, I hope you dream about your future study abroad travels, or fondly reminisce about your own study abroad experiences. Cheers for now, or as we say in Ireland, Sláinte!