End of January

After my first full week of classes and weekend away I am exhausted.

Classes are interesting, very large. The majority of my lectures are around 200 students so it is a bit different than my small classes at CUA. I am enjoying them so far and have a pretty good schedule.

I started practice with the UCD soccer team as well. The girls are really nice and practice has been so far. We have two games next week and I can't wait to play. I miss my team at home though!

I went to Galway for the weekend and had a blast. It is such a pretty town with lots to do. I arrived Friday night and we hung out and went out. Saturday we spent doing a tour of the Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs were by far the coolest thing I have done so far. They were absolutely breathtaking. The bus tour up to the Cliffs was very interesting and we stopped at some cute little towns along the coast. The actual Cliffs seem to go on forever and really blew my mind. After some shopping of claddagh rings and great food on Sunday we took the bus back to UCD. The travel was very easy and fun.

Everyone I have talked to has been very helpful, making travel just around the city and the country of Ireland very easy. I am really loving my time here in Ireland it seems there is always something new and exciting to do.

Can't wait for more adventures!

First Impressions

I arrived in Dublin five days ago.
To say it has been off to a great start would most definitely be an understatement.

I started at a hotel in the Temple Bar district for orientation. From the second my cab driver introduced himself I knew there was something special about this incredible country. Everyone has been so kind and genuine it is mind blowing. I have yet to have any sort of negative interaction with anyone, it's truly amazing.

I arrived at University College Dublin two days ago. Going from a small private school to here is a bit different. To walk from my dorm to the far end of campus takes at least 15 minutes. Only international students are on campus so far, but the number of students is already overwhelming. It seems so long ago that I left my friends and family in the states, but I feel very at home. After moving in and going to countless welcome meetings, i'm ready to get into more of a routine.

The social scene here is very exciting and different. It is very common for Irish students to go home for the weekend so most people go out during the week. Like many other things, it is the opposite of back home.

Classes begin on Monday and with lecture halls for several hundred, it should be interesting.


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