National University of Ireland, Galway

Studying Abroad in Ireland was always a dream of mine, and since I had never left the county before I wasn't too sure what to expect. Saying that NUIG and Galway as a whole exceeded my expectations is an understatement. The college is filled with knowledgable students and professors and everyone was so willing to help with any questions I could think of. The classes I took abroad were ones I looked into before hand, and were very interested in. For this reason I believe that I found my workload not to be too difficult. Galway is also an incredibly safe city. There was not a point in time where I felt genuinely uncomfortable or unsafe. There are also so many things to do. I was afraid that going to a smaller city wouldn't offer as many opportunities that I would like but boy was I wrong. Galway is a predominately college town, and there are so many things to do from hanging out in Eyre Square, to kayaking on the canal, finding a comedy club or your favorite night club. There was definitely never a dull moment in Galway.

One thing I was also interested in was traveling through Ireland and some of Europe. One of my favorite parts of Europe as a whole is how traveling is accessible. Anyone who has spent some time in Europe knows the love-hate relationship with Ryanair. Traveling throughout Ireland was something that was very easy. Since the country is so small, it is possible to travel north, south or east within a day. There are multiple bus companies that run through out the day, and ever better, ones that offer student discounts. One thing I must say is at the end of every trip, I was so grateful to head back to my home away from home.

The past 4 months I spent abroad have fundamentally changed who I am as a person, for the better. I was faced with many different obstacles while I was in Europe and I learned so much about myself while overcoming them. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity I had to study abroad in Galway and would not have changed it for the world. I have been saying that Galway has taken my heart, and I am currently looking at Post-Graduate programs that NUIG offers, with the aspiration of moving back. If you are currently a student who is looking for a town with a strong sense of community, that is undeniably in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. I urge you to look no further.