The first four days we have spent in Dublin have been unlike any endeavor I have ever taken on. This trip is my first ever time in Europe; while it has been increasingly fast paced and nerve wracking thus far, I am incredibly grateful that I have the opportunity not only to visit Dublin, but to live, go to school, work, and experience life in the city. I woke up from a lovely nap on the plane to see our descent over the East coast of Ireland, a beautiful scene. Upon arrival in UCD, I was greeted by five lovely roommates who made me feel incredibly welcome here. This experience is my first abroad experience and it has been exceedingly nerve racking embarking on this trip without my family. My roommates, some who I knew before the trip and some I didn’t, have made my acclimation to the city seamless. We spent Saturday walking around the city, familiarizing ourselves with the bus system, and preparing for the next two months. Whether we are cooking, riding to work, or hitting the city, we have the best of times.
My favorite part of this excursion so far has been starting my internship. I was nervous before starting that I was not cut out for a nine-to-five position, especially one in a foreign location. On my first day, I was incredibly overwhelmed–I arrived early and was immediately put in various trainings and presentations. The office is a fast paced environment with many moving parts, unlike any other environment I have worked in. However, after settling in on my second day and becoming well acquainted with my supervisor and the other intern I am working with, I know this position will be very beneficial to my learning and experience. My fellow intern is a kind girl from Slovakia, and though we come from different worlds, Over the next two months, I will learn more about marketing analytics, many different platforms used to make public relations content, brand identity, and more.
I’m excited to learn more in Professor Aikey’s Business Law course. I have taken a class about Supreme Court decisions with her in the past, and I enjoyed the class even more than ones I was taking for my major. I can’t wait to learn more about the differences between Irish and American politics and explore a subject that I do not come across in my typical work or school environments.
Before embarking on this eight-week journey, I had a discussion with my family about what I want to gain from this experience. As the only member of my family who has never traveled outside of the country, they had only positive words of encouragement for me. I must shyly admit, however, that they were more excited for me than myself. I was nervous about leaving them and my friends behind, as well as the traditional east coast summers I value so deeply. However, after this past week, I am confident that this experience will leave me with memories and friends unlike any I’ve ever had. I already feel like the experiences I’ve had in just a few days have changed my perspective about new experiences and confronting ambiguity. I feel that this experience will unlock knowledge about the world and myself that is unattainable in any experience I’ve previously had.
