If you're interested, I also have another website devoted to the rest of my life and adventures.
Failte! (Welcome!) You've found my site dedicated to all things Irish. I am a college student in western Massachusetts, and studied for a semester abroad in the lovely land of Eire. It was an amazing experience all around, and something I would like to share with others. I am only one person, and I may sometimes be wrong or too narrow in my scope of vision, but I hope that this site proves interesting and helpful. In between all the self-aggrandizement and nostalgic interludes, I intend to share a bit of my knowledge on living, studying, touring, and traveling abroad in Ireland. Thus, the page serves three major purposes: to educate potential study abroad students on the ins & outs of the educational system, to inform readers of all that there is to do & see, and to preserve my mental and emotional reactions to and interactions with such an interesting place and culture.
Do you like chocolate? Well, the chocolate of choice in Ireland is made by Cadbury, yes, the clucking bunny company, but there are dozens and dozens of types to fit every taste. My personal favorite is the Moro bar. Just thinking about it makes me miss Ireland....
Palm trees do not necessarily equate with warmth. There are palm trees everywhere in Dublin, which kinda makes sense when you realize they're evergreens, and like lots of water.
Also, as we're on the track of deception, grass does not = grass. Grass = mud, hidden by grass.
Face it, it's a new place, and you're going to get sick. I brought cold meds with me, and was very thankful when I found out that they don't have the same kinds of stuff there. There's no FDA, people, and you probably won't find too many brand names you recognize. On top of that, most places you'd expect to have meds don't, as only Chemists' are allowed legally to sell anything with certain substances in it, including cold medicine.
Ireland is obsessed with the States. Every bar, pub, and club plays at least a modicum of American music, always at least 2-3 months behind the charts. Movies work the same way: several months off the release dates in the States.
Ireland is a small country, and an especially interconnected one. Public transportation is unparalleled by anything I've experienced in the States, while it seems everyone and their grandmother has a cell phone. If you want to survive anywhere in Ireland, you may not necessarily need one yourself, but a cell phone makes life infinitely easier and is a very powerful social force. Want friends? They're going to text you.
Oh, and dude, send people at home postcards. They love that.
If you're interested, I also have another website devoted to the rest of my life and adventures.