Rock of Cashel
Cashel Skies
Town of Cashel
Blarney’s Castle
Guinness Storehouse
This past week in Ireland was full of incredible experiences, both within and out of the classroom. Perhaps most interesting that we learned through doing our internship is the process of launching brand identity globally. I had not realized that so much goes into every detail, from packaging to messaging, even for a brand as iconic as Guinness. This past week, a tour of The Guinness Storehouse made these things that much more real. Walking through the history of the brand and its growth through all seven floors of the experience gave me a new sense of appreciation for the dynamic between marketing and culture.
This was an amazing weekend. We visited a couple of castles, such as Blarney Castle and the Rock of Cashel. It was quite cool to take a look at the Blarney Stone close-up, even though I didn’t kiss it (the line was too long and the idea of being hung upside down wasn’t all that exciting). The views from the castle were fantastic, and seeing the history of it made it seem like we were traveling back in time.
One difference from back home is that Irish pub culture isn’t so much so community- and sociability-oriented. Here, individuals don’t so much go out to drink, in a sense, but to socialize, chat, and listen to live music. It was simply so much more low-key and welcoming than occasionally more rowdy, high-octane American bars.
If I have one tip to give to another traveler, it’s to go to the Guinness Storehouse. Even if you’re not a beer drinker, it’s well worth it for the tour, for the city view from the Gravity Bar, and for the building’s architecture.
One thing I did not anticipate learning was how much I would learn even from just conversing with other American students overseas. I spoke with some exchange students in a pub, and listening to them talk about their programs and experiences exposed me to new things and even gave me some ideas of what I could possibly do in the future.
Something that I’ve really grown to appreciate here is how pedestrian-friendly everything is. It’s so convenient to get around Dublin and discover new things without having to have a car. I wish that there were more U.S. cities like that.
One of the points of misunderstanding was determining how to tip, or more correctly, not tip. It’s so much more context-dependent here. I’ve started to just ask if I’m unsure.
Overall, I’m very grateful for everyone that I’ve encountered, all that I’ve learned, and all that I’m experiencing. This trip is definitely impacting the perspectives that I have of things such as culture, work, and life.