Student Bloggers

I attend the National University of Ireland: Galway. The large school of about 17,000 students total is home to approximately 400 American students this semester, several hundred Erasmus students (study abroad students from other European countries), and native Irish students. For the semester, I am taking a collaboration of history and an Irish Studies course in addition to a Women’s Studies course and a Global Marketing course.

Since each week varies depending on extra-curricular activities or events, my class schedule, and weekend travel or activities in Galway, I do not have a typical week in Galway. That is what I appreciate about studying abroad. Each day is entirely different and full of possibility and adventure. But while my weekends are spent either enjoying life in Galway or gallivanting across Ireland or another country for a few days, my weekdays are spent in classes.

Monday

My mornings are spent usually in a coffee shop, like Costa coffee, or in my apartment doing reading for my class tutorials or catching up on my journal writing or editing photos. 

1:00 p.m. — 2:00 p.m. Ireland in a Global Context

Afternoons are spent catching up on any work I need to complete, grocery shopping for the week, or relaxing with friends.

Tuesday

Since I have just one class today as well, I normally spend the morning doing any work once again at Costa coffee or getting breakfast at Cupan Tae, the local tea shop, with a friend.

2:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m. Thinking Differently: European Women’s Studies

Afternoons are spent catching up on any work I need to complete, grocery shopping for the week, or relaxing with friends.

Wednesday

11:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. Imagining Modern Ireland

2:00 p.m. — 3:00 p.m. Medieval Europe c. 1050-1250

4:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m. Ireland in a Global Context

Because Wednesdays are one of my longest days of the week, my nights are spent cooking dinner and hanging out with friends after a long day, with a movie or night out to the pub.

Thursday

9:00 a.m. — 11:00 a.m. Indigenous Arts Exploration

2:00 p.m. — 3:00 p.m. Arts in Action (concert series of indigenous Irish music from across the nation; required attendance through the Indigenous Arts Exploration course) 

3:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m. Global Marketing

4:00 p.m. — 5 p.m. Medieval Europe c. 1050-1250

Thursdays are my longest days of the week and nearly the entire day is spent on campus in classes. During the evenings, I will usually be packing for a weekend trip or spending time with friends or watching a movie after a long day.

Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Three-day weekend that is used to travel internationally, throughout Ireland, or spent in Galway.