IES Abroad Dublin Summer – Irish Studies

I studied abroad for a summer in Dublin with IES Abroad and couldn't have loved it any more than I did. I've wanted to do it all again since the second I got home. The IES staff, from the U.S. offices in Chicago to the Dublin site, was helpful from the second I was interested in the program. IES got me over to the Emerald Isle despite my fears and any other obstacles that came up and then made sure I had the time of my life. I learned so much in a short period of time through my classes(Irish Literature and History really enriched my experience), trips and events planned by IES (Gaelic Games, Northern Ireland weekend, and Irish music and dance nights), and exploring with the friends I made in my program. Dublin is a fantastic place to live and study and IES made sure we had all the support needed to accomplish everything we wanted to while abroad. I knew I could count on the staff while I was abroad and even to this day. I highly recommend exploring the wide variety of IES programs, specifically the Dublin programs. I can't wait to go back to Ireland and I hope to reconnect with some of the awesome IES staff members when I do!

Never having been to Europe before, I was nervous about what I would encounter. I had no idea what to expect and worried about everything from the flight, the classes, the living situation, and even where I would buy my groceries. From the minute I stepped off the plane, the IES abroad staff made everything really easy. They toured us around the city and were always there to provide support and answer any of our questions. I took two classes while in Dublin. One was called Irish Communal Identity where we studied the history of Dublin through human interaction and relations with surrounding countries. My other class was Celtic Mythology where we learned the history of celtic legends and did in depth research about these stories. With regards to the living situation, I lived with four girls who I grew extremely close with. We were all from different schools and still keep in touch; one is even coming to my school to visit me in a few months. Spending six weeks in Ireland was truly an eye opening experience. It was easy to make friends and I found people who shared my same love for exploration and adventure. The memories and friendships I created in Dublin are ones that I will always cherish and never forget. I would tell future students to embrace every moment of being abroad. It went by so quickly and I would love to go back even to just hangout with those same people again. I feel a lot more confident after this experience. I talked to people of different culture and even made friends with some people who I found very different than myself.

This program was filled with great staff and amazing programs. I had to arrive a day late and Jackie, the coordinator, was super understanding and helpful! She made sure I got to orientation on time and even had one of the teachers call me at the airport to make sure I was okay! This was the first year that they had the acting students and the general Irish studies students room together and it was a great choice! I made amazing friends from both programs and we still stay in contact to this day. The field trips to Northern Ireland and Causey Farm were great and worth the extra expense. Everything was beautiful and the local people really are some of the nicest I have ever met. Ireland is perfect if you want a city and country side experience. Dublin is not too overwhelming like New York or Chicago. It is the perfect blend of night life and tourist activities. Plus, IES will provide you with a bucket list of everything there is to do in the city. The country side; however, is even more amazing, filled with rolling green hills and centuries old landmarks. I would go back in a heartbeat.

Studying abroad in Dublin was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I made so many good friends and I learned a lot about Ireland and the people. I learned to be more outgoing and I became more independent. Before going on this trip, I had never been on my own before. It was hard at first, but after a while there was a sense of freedom. I was no longer waiting for others to join me on my adventures, because I was okay just doing it on my own. I was not restricted to someone else's schedule and I did not have to compromise about the destination of my next adventure. I also did some traveling with the friends that i made, because sometimes it's just nice to share these moments with other people. Now that I'm home, I miss the people and I also miss Ireland. I cannot wait to go back and visit the lovely staff at the center.

I studied abroad in Dublin, Ireland this past summer. My program was very well organized all the way through the application process, pre-depature information, housing assignments, class scheduling and all the numerous informational sessions and adjustment activities upon arrival. Being both my first time out of the country as well as my first time traveling alone, I was immediately welcomed in the airport after my long, anxiety-filled flight with a friendly hello and warm smiles, regardless of it being nearly 6 am in the morning. The staff was very friendly and eager to help us have the best abroad experience possible. They were always willing to offer advice whether it be which restaurant to have a delicious brunch or places to stay on weekend excursions. My housing accommodations were lovely, clean, and quite modern, placing me and my roommates right in the heart of the city. I will admit I was quite nervous about sharing an apartment with strangers while also being miles and miles away from home, but I could not have asked for a better outcome. Our personalities meshed so well immediately and I now have three amazing girls as well as many other peers on my program from around the US that I can genuinely call friends and basically family. We shared so much together and will always have shared memories from our time there. Classes were very interesting and helped immerse us by providing a background on the culture. Our professors were so kind and had a genuine interest in not only teaching us about their culture but also getting to know a lot about us students as well. My program also included optional field trips to beautiful places in the country for a very reasonable price which I would highly recommend. Overall, I wouldn't change a thing about my summer abroad with IES. All of this in addition to the gorgeous green setting of Ireland was a surreal experience. The memories, friendships, and experiences I gained will last a life time.

I was extremely nervous about studying abroad, since this was my first time out of the country. Many of my friends and family told me that adjusting to a different country may take weeks. Fortunately, that was not my case. When I arrived in Dublin, I was greeted by two IES Abroad staff at the airport. They were able to answer all of my questions and sorted me into my apartment with ease. I quickly bonded with my 4 other roommates in Dublin and with other students in the Irish Studies program and Acting program. The first couple of days in Dublin was a lot to take in. IES gave the students many informative presentations on Dublin and adjusting abroad, which were extremely helpful. IES also hosted a couple events at restaurants and pubs, which helped the students interact with each other. I took Irish History and Celtic Mythology, which were both interesting and fun classes. Both of my instructors were very informative and helpful throughout the program. Over the course of the summer I had the opportunity to travel around the majority of Ireland. One of those trips were provided through IES, which was the Northern Ireland trip. I was hesitant to go on this trip since it was optional and cost a little extra money, but I did not regret it as this trip was one of the highlights of my time abroad. If you're deciding on whether or not to go on the Northern Ireland trip, GO! You will not regret it. The staff at the center in Dublin were very easy to talk to and were able to help me out whenever it was needed.

I was the person going into college who said I would never study abroad. My junior year of college I decided I really wanted to travel and I decided the best outlet of doing so would be to study abroad. However, studying in Ireland with IES Abroad shattered all of my expectations. Studying abroad was no longer purely an outlet to travel, it was an experience all of its own. It included academic, social, and personal growth that I never could have achieved without studying abroad. I lived in Rathmines, Dublin and absolutely loved it. It was a close walk to the city center and it had the Irish charm I was looking for. The classes were amazing and I truly learned not only about Irish history, but also about Irish Culture as a whole. The professors were incredible and all had a genuine interest in their students and would go out of their way to help us with classes and acclimating to being abroad. The entire staff would make sure we were comfortable and safe. They also planned some incredible trips that help me see Ireland more and to get to know my classmates better as well. My classmates also became more of a family than just classmates. My classmates made my trip so amazing and helped make the transition easier. I was afraid that being so far away from friends and family would overwhelm me, but I honestly forgot that I was so far away because of all of the welcoming staff and people in the program. I am now a senior so before studying abroad I was getting very anxious about having to potentially move away in a year for a job. Studying abroad helped me realize that trying something new doesn't have to be a scary experience, and that there are amazing opportunities everywhere, you just have to be brave enough to go find them. I couldn't have asked for a better six weeks with IES, and if I could change anything about my experience it would be to have more time in Dublin!

The summer of 2016 in Dublin was incredible. On this journey, I fell in love with Ireland in every possible way - its people, culture, food, and beautiful landscape. IES Abroad provided me with the opportunity to explore new places, as well as appreciate new cultures and ways of life. I would highly recommend studying abroad through IES Dublin. The staff is incredibly helpful, filled with kind and compassionate people. They were always offering to help – whether that be with academics or weekend travel plans. The classes kept me engaged and the professors were absolutely amazing.

I can honestly say that I have no regrets from this summer! I simply wish I had more time. There is so much to see, explore, and love. The people of Ireland are charming, caring, and diverse. The food is delicious and the views are so stunning that you will be left speechless! If you decide to study through IES in Dublin, it will be one of the best decisions of your life and you will gain so much from the experience. I can certainly say that is the case for me!