Things I miss from home.

As I don't only want to share my experiences in Dublin but also the experiences of other exchange students; I took an interview mic and walked around campus to find out what they miss from home.
Is it the food? Family? Friends? Or nothing?

Click here to find out:

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If you think there's something missing, tell me what you miss from home!

Howth

My roommate and I went to Howth for a day; it was a wonderful trip. We saw seals like this one in the Howth Harbour; they were fed with fish and had to be very quick to get them before the seagulls did. We did the 10km long trip; it took a couple of hours but we stopped very often to catch the beautiful cliffs in photographs.

Dublin, a rough place at night.

I can only recommend: Hold your belongings at all times, especially in Temple Bar. Last Thursday I learned it the hard way.. While we were all standing in a group, but still in the way (there was no other way to stand, though, the pub was packed!) another group of people passed by, like really close to us. It is not unusual that people squish their way through a pub but this time it was different. When the group was gone I looked down to my purse which was open. I reached inside and all I could find was my camera, good luck. But my wallet and phone were gone. All of us looked on the floor but couldn’t find anything. I was standing in the Temple Bar and cried. It was also bad because of the money, but you know, it was MY phone, MY wallet, MY credit card and I don’t want anyone to use it! Someone came up with the idea to ask the bartender but I thought it was useless. But I tried my luck and asked, still sobbing, if there was my pink Blackberry and my little brown and golden wallet, which I got from a friend from Stockholm. The wallet itself is a bit torn; there doesn’t fit in much, but these are the reasons I love it. So the idea of someone else using it is terrible! But I was lucky this time and got it back. I will be even more careful in the future.

Another night, I had to walk home on my own. Nobody wanted to leave the club yet so I had to go alone; which is not a safe way to do, not even in lovely Dublin. When I arrived at Griffith, the gates were closed. The turnstile didn’t work properly and I couldn’t get in. I was standing on the street; left alone from my colleagues and cried. I just wanted to go to sleep; that was the reason why I left the club that early. Another student from Griffith arrived and tried to get in through the turnstile but didn’t succeed either. We both tried to call the security again, which I had tried before as well but no success. Fortunately, some of his friends arrived and they lifted him up over the gates so he could open them from the inside. I don’t really know how he could manage it; I was just happy to go to bed then.

My first experiences in Dublin.

Welcome to my blog about studying abroad!

I have spent my first 4 weeks in Griffith College Dublin now, where I'm studying for one semester. In this blog, I want to share my experiences being abroad and what happens when a little German girl discovers the Irish culture...

The Liffey in Dublin.

 The start of my semester abroad was a lot of trouble... Still having a tear in my eye, but with a fever of excitement, I got off the airplane in Dublin. It's not that I haven't been in Ireland before, but still, I tried to get into the taxi on the wrong side. "Wanna drive?" the driver asked me in a deep Irish accent. No t(h)anks. On our way into town, the driver tried to call my landlord, but all attempts were in vain. His phone was turned off. I was lost in Dublin with no bed for the night, but my entire luggage for 5 months. The driver didn't want to leave me alone on the streets so he got me to Griffith College, where I felt welcome from the first moment. I decided to stay in the campus accomodation, which was a very good decision! I live with 3 very nice girls, all exchange students as well and so in the same situation as me. I'm also really close to my classes which makes mornings way easier and I'm always on time. Well, that doesn't count for everybody here though... But I guess that's part of the Irish way of life; it's just much more relaxed. In Germany, we're usually on time.  Another very obvious difference is the driving on the left side. It's still weird for me, but I start to get used to it. And there are signs on the streets that help you not to die. Traffic is very special in Ireland. Speed limits and traffic lights are arranged randomly and more seen as an advice. Who waits for green is wether a mum or a tourist. I'm neither one nor the other. I'm a student. We live dangerously. We have to wear high visibility jackets and helmets on a bike trip through Kilkenny; we set off the fire alarm by lighting birthday candles; we jump on bouncing castles while being drunk; we try to drive a tandem; we go out without a jacket and all we can cook is pasta.

Griffith College.