Even though it is only day four in Ireland, I can already tell that this is an experience of a lifetime. I have truly enjoyed every second of it so far and have learned an immense amount of information from only one day at my internship, Financefair. In all honesty, I have never traveled to Europe before, let alone without my family, but in such a short time, I have felt as if I gained a community like no other. Whether it be with a new group of Bucknellians, the Financefair employees, or even with Irish citizens when I am out and about. All have welcomed me with open arms.
As I walked into my dorm, I was surprised to see the modern look of the room. I loved the layout and was excited to unpack and create my new “home”. But knowing me, I would not be able to start unpacking until I bought hangers, so I knocked on both Anthony and Colin’s doors, and we tried our best to head toward the Dundrum Town Center. While trying to navigate the bus system and pick-up locations, we stumbled into the center of the UCD’s 2025 Festival. Seeing sheep, performers, food trucks, and ecstatic/welcoming people gave me a great first impression of the school. (Shoutout to the UCD worker who gave us amazing directions to the bus stop!)
With some time, I was able to become familiar with the public transportation system with the BIG help of Google Maps and became best friends with the S6. With the countless trips on the bus already in pair with the countless taps of my LEAP card, I have learned to love the second floor of the double-decker bus. Back in the United States, I rarely used public transportation, but here in Dublin, it seems as if it has become muscle memory. On the bus, I have noticed a few things that I would consider interesting. Not only are there USB charging ports, but also a “stop” button to indicate to the driver to stop at the next stop.
Seeing the Dundrum Town Center for the first time was jaw-dropping at the least. It reminded me of the American Dream Mall back in the States due to its size, but what surprised me most was the different type of escalators they had. My highlight at the Town Center was at the store TESCO, where I had to ask the employees endless questions to the point that when I appeared the following day to food shop, they had said hello, and we were able to have a chat like we knew each other for months. One tip they told me was to ask another to use their TESCO card (only available for those with Irish numbers), they gain the points while I am able to gain the discount, so it’s a win-win!
To end it off, one of my favorite experiences so far was my first day at Financefair. In a quick time, the other interns and I had become friends. Even though we were from different backgrounds and universities, we were able to connect off the bat, and even grabbed lunch together, when another employee who had recently graduated from a University here in Ireland sat down with us. He gave us his insider scoop on Dublin’s treasures and go-to spots, but on the other hand, also gave advice from a coworker standpoint and offered his endless support whenever and wherever. Being able to immerse myself in the office from day 1, where my supervisor encouraged questions and critical thinking, I felt as if I was able to learn so much more from him, knowing I felt comfortable asking. We were able to bounce ideas off of each other, and nonetheless, he gave me amazing Excel tips!
These were only a few of the amazing highlights of my time in Dublin, and I cannot wait to share what else I have to experience!
