Student Bloggers

WHY SHOULD YOU STUDY ABROAD?

Studying abroad lets you learn about a country in a more mundane way than you can through a vacation. You end up with favorite coffee shops, favorite supermarkets, favorite buses (Bus 27). Settling into that kind of routine has been one of my favorite parts of the semester, as it’s allowed me to feel that I’m carving out a place for myself in Dublin. A semester abroad can also teach you new things about yourself. To use a fairly silly example, I joined the knitting society last month. This is noteworthy because I am unspeakably terrible at knitting and crocheting. Over the course of two meetings, I’ve completed exactly twenty-seven stitches. That is not a lot. But it’s fun regardless, and I appreciate how it lets me (try to) learn a new skill. I know that, back home, I’d never join a club if I knew I’d be the worst one there. Pushing myself out of my comfort zone with things as small as Knitting Society or something as large as going abroad in the first place—making the choice to be so far away from my family and friends—has helped me set new goals for myself. I want to be more willing to try and fail and to be even more involved in student life here. I would encourage anyone who is just arriving or considering a semester abroad to join an array of clubs and societies, as they can be a great way to create a routine and “carve out a place” for yourself in the country you’re visiting. 

Of course, meeting new people might not always go so smoothly as joining a new society and saying hi. I first met a third of my housemates when I accidentally set off the fire alarm at midnight while trying and failing to make meatballs (they were actually very nice about the whole situation). But I haven’t woken any housemates up again via fire alarm—or set the fire alarm off at all, since then—which I’m taking as a win. 

I know that this makes it seem like I’ve been doing kind of poorly this semester. I can’t crochet perfectly; I can’t cook perfectly. This has definitely been a semester of trial and error for me, but I can wholeheartedly say that it’s been for the best. Being in Dublin has allowed me to meet new people, see amazing pieces of history, and experience another country to an extent I likely will never be able to again. 

I almost didn’t study abroad in Dublin. I briefly considered Scotland, then Copenhagen then applied to and accepted a place in a program in Sweden. Had my Swedish visa application process been less frustrating (i.e., had anyone ever approved said visa), I would likely be in Stockholm as I write this. What I mean to say by this is that, as cliché as it sounds, everything happens for a reason. Having spent over two months here, I truly believe this is the place I was supposed to be this semester. For anyone who is questioning their study abroad decisions––don’t worry. You’ll end up where you’re meant to be.