Cinema Studies in Ireland 2019: An Unforgettable Summer

Ireland was my first time visiting Europe, and it did not disappoint! The small coastal town of Dun Laoghaire where we lived, a suburb of Dublin, is super charming and beautiful. Irish people are so friendly and welcoming and I absolutely adored my host family. The program offers a perfect balance between academic work and giving you the chance to explore the country and its culture. We had classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and Wednesdays were for excursions. You really get to know the faculty and staff on a deeper level than in a traditional setting and by the end of the 5 weeks, you become pretty close with the rest of the students. Dublin has a great night life scene and tons of pubs where you can relax, meet people, and listen to live music. On one of the weekends, the class takes a trip to Galway for the Galway Film Festival, which is definitely a highlight of the program. You have the chance to talk with the people who acted in and made the films you're watching and check out another part of Ireland. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone who is remotely interested in cinema and looking to immerse themselves in a different culture that feels familiar and doesn't involve learning another language, but is different enough where you still get a new, transformative experience by the end of it.