Be in the moment! You are going to see so many amazing things, meet so many new people, be drawn into the history of your surroundings, and create lots of unforgettable memories. It’s going to be a whirlwind of a time - make sure to experience it all!
Prioritize your schoolwork, but make sure to also prioritize exploring the incredible places you’ll visit. Make sure to take lots of pictures, but also put the phone down and see things with your own eyes. It will be one life-changing experience!
Every day is a new experience, with its own unique agenda, which makes this trip so exciting.
A typical week involves class-time from Monday to Friday, with a break on weekends; however, this schedule often gets adjusted due to excursions, travel days, etc.
A typical day involves meeting for breakfast as a group, discussing the schedule for the day, then going to a “classroom” (this can be anything, from a university lecture hall to sitting in front of a monument in a park) with your class and teacher. After a few hours, a break is taken for lunch, where you are given some free time to grab a bite to eat. You must walk around in a group of at least four people; this is a good chance to try some traditional food that is common to the cities you are visiting!
After lunch, you meet up with the group again. From there, the program manager outlines the plans for the rest of the day. Typically, you will either return to class for a few more hours or go on an excursion (such as visiting a museum, etc.). After this, the group meets back up and walks to dinner together (typically a local restaurant). This is a nice time to catch up with your friends and chat about what each person did.
After dinner, you are allowed to “sign out”; this is where you let your program manager know where you are going, and with who (in a group of at least four people). You have this time until curfew to go out and explore the city, such as going back to a place you had visited earlier or had been meaning to visit, getting some gelato (a favourite!), etc.
Once you return to the residences, you must check in with a staff member, and typically they will let you know what the loose plans are for the next day (such as what time breakfast is at, etc.).
At curfew, the staff conducts room checks to make sure everyone is accounted for; and then it is time to get some much-needed rest to make sure you are ready for the adventure that is sure to come the following day!
Initially, I would have to say that my biggest fear was traveling halfway across the world without knowing anyone. This fear was quickly overcome, within the first few minutes of meeting the group at the airport. By pushing myself just a bit to put myself out there, and start up a conversation with those around me, I was able to make a few friends within minutes of leaving my parents. These friends ended up being the ones I was closest to throughout the entire trip.
This experience allowed me to gain an increased sense of confidence in myself and my ability to go into new situations without necessarily knowing anyone. These are critical life skills, especially as university approaches. Being able to go into the world, confident of your own ability to care for yourself, form new connections, and learn throughout it all are invaluable qualities to possess.
It’s tough choosing just one favourite memory - there are so many amazing ones to choose from! I’ll share one from the beginning of the trip:
We went on a walking tour of Dublin with our awesome tour guide, Padraig, who was super knowledgeable and fun (and sure had some good jokes up his sleeve!). I loved being able to learn about the city of Dublin; it’s a city that is steeped in history, you can just feel it as you walk through the roads.
As we were walking down one of the streets, Padraig was explaining the history of one of the buildings (the Powerscourt Townhouse, in case you want to find it!), set in the Georgian style dating back to the 1700s. Nowadays, it has been converted to a sort of “shopping centre”, but still has kept a lot of the original charm. It is one of those buildings that you could admire from the outside but then pass on if you were not given a hint to go inside. However, since Padraig had told us about it, my friends and I decided to go back during lunch the next day.
The inside of this building opened up beautifully, spanning three stories and filled with natural light. We were all in awe at the beauty of the place! A cafe took up the bottom level, and we all sat there and chatted and had lunch. It was a great opportunity to get to know each other, as it was just our second day together!
This memory stands out very much in my mind, as it was an experience that we were able to enjoy due to the knowledge of a local. It proves just how much one can learn about the places that they are at, if they are willing to be open to the suggestions of others. And it certainly shows the inescapable charm of the city of Dublin :)
