IES Abroad Dublin

When I signed up for my program I didn't know how much literary influence the city of Dublin has had on the rest of the world. Big-name writers from Oscar Wilde to James Joyce wrote about the life they lived in Dublin and being able to have that same experience was special. I left for Dublin with a strong interest in non-fiction writing but left with a new perspective and interest in short stories. There is something so special about the professors at IES Dublin, the way they believe in your abilities and support your learning. I felt so inspired after each class I had and encouraged to write about everything I experienced during my time abroad. I encourage anyone who wants to continue to expand on their creative endeavors to apply for this program, you won't regret it.

With IES, I lived in the heart of Dublin, which allowed me to not only visit Ireland, but to live in it. The accommodations came with a private bedroom and bathroom which was amazing. I made friends in my program and met people studying at other places in the city. The prime location allowed us to easily walk to Croke Park for a Gaelic football match, or to discover new pubs with traditional Irish music. My classes were just a short tram ride away. Many classes involved exploring Dublin, whether that was visiting the Dail (Ireland's parliment) or Croke Park. On weekends, my friends and I explored Dublin's surroundings. IES really helped me make the most of my time aboard by fully immersing me in Irish culture, introducing us to traditional music as well as Irish literature and history.

I studied abroad in Dublin with IES in the Spring of 2022 and had an incredible experience! Ireland itself is a great place to study as it is full of rich history and beautiful sights with plenty of things to do. With this, going abroad with IES really enriched my experience. All of the staff was incredibly supportive and willing to help at all points. The professors were all extremely knowledgable and I thoroughly enjoyed all of my courses and came away with great knowledge from each one. At no point did I feel unsafe or unsupported; in fact, everyone in the program was more than willing to help in any way, whether that was an academic issue I was having or if I needed recommendations on where to take a day trip to. I truly cannot recommend this program highly enough as I had the most incredible experience through them.

I had the best time studying at the IES Abroad Writers Program in Dublin, Ireland. Given the status of Covid-19, my program size was not very big, but I met so many people in and outside of my program. From the relationships I built with my professors, to the amazing people I met, these were just two of the best reasons why my abroad experience was amazing! I was able to travel in and outside of Ireland with friends which was so much fun. I loved being a part of the culture of Ireland which really made my experience so much better! Even though I was homesick a few times, Ireland became my second home very fast which really helped me in that sense. I always felt safe wherever I went and was given multiple contacts in case of an emergency. My living situation was more than what I could have asked for, and the staff was so supportive and friendly to all the residents in the building. Overall, this was one of the best decisions I have ever made as a college student. I will always remember this experience and cannot wait to share it with more students in the future!

My time abroad (as cliche as it sounds) was one of the greatest experiences of my life. To be completely honest, I was pretty wishy-washy about the whole idea of going abroad for a semester. I figured I would apply for a program, and if I got in and received financial aid then I would go, and if I didn't then I would stay at my University for the semester. I did not feel strongly either way, and looking back now it's a little bit funny to think how ambivalent I was given that my time in Dublin was absolutely life-changing in the best way. I got to study under some of the coolest and most intelligent professors I've ever had. They all care so much about what they teach, and they all have real-life experience with the course content. One of my favorite classes I took was the Service Learning course that IES offers. Once a week I got to volunteer at an after school program for elementary school students and help them do their homework. The program we did it through does so much for the community in that area of the city, and it was amazing to see the impact they have on the kids. It was fun to hang out with the students, and I was able to learn so much from them about the city of Dublin and about the lives of its inhabitants. This class is also where I got to meet some really amazing peers who I consider lifelong friends. The friendships you can develop abroad are so powerful, and they enrich your abroad experience greatly. You can make incredibly deep connections with people in a short span of time abroad due to the nature of your situation. People go abroad to experience new things, so everyone is very open to making friends and everyone wants to support each other during this time. One of the coolest things about being abroad is that you have the opportunity to travel to so many other places than your host country. I loved Ireland so much, and it will always have a special place I my heart, but some of my best memories are of spontaneous weekend trips that I took with my friends. There is such a big world out there, and being abroad made me realize I want to see as much of it as I possibly can.

I studied abroad through the IES Abroad Dublin Irish Studies program. I loved this program because it allowed me to have a flexible schedule both within and outside of academics. This program also chooses to take much of the academic process outside of the classroom. Many classes provided opportunities to learn about Irish culture through first hand interaction with the community as well as providing chances to go on educational journeys on the weekends. The program really places a focus on learning through experience rather than standardized tests and quizzes. The Dublin staff is absolutely fantastic. Staff members go the extra mile to help students adjust to their new surroundings and also to feel at home both in the IES Center and the city as a whole. The IES Staff were such an amazing tool while abroad. Staff were happy to help with anything from advice, to recommendations, to academic questions. The staff truly made a huge impact on my time abroad. IES Abroad Dublin also makes a special effort to provide opportunities to get involved with the community. Housing in Binary Hub gives students quick access to the city center as well as nice, private rooms. If I had to do my study abroad ove, I would definitely choose IES Abroad Dublin again.

The staff at IES are so welcoming and supportive. I loved chatting with all of them about my day. My apartment was clean, modern, and a quick walk to everything (though most of Dublin is). I loved getting to know other students and found that the classes were supportive of my time spent outside of the classroom. The best class was Irish Communal Identity because our instructor took us all around Dublin to teach us the history and culture of the city and how it's changing. I highly recommend doing either an internship or a service learning placement. My time at the Rialto Homework Club was the most beneficial part of my semester. I even had a great time exploring around Ireland. Most day trips are accessible by train or a bus service. The only thing I wish I knew was estimated costs for daily things. Be sure to cook at home whenever you can. Going back home was harder than getting on the plane there!

My program with IES Dublin was everything I hoped for out of a study abroad experience. The housing that was provided, Binary Hub, was awesome and a short walk to nightlife. I really enjoyed my classes. The teaching team recognized that study abroad is more than just academics and made sure to involve field trips. For example, my professors brought us to looking museums and we did a lot of walking tours throughout Dublin. Within the first couple of weeks I knew how to get around almost all of Dublin. Additionally, the IES staff provided many great suggestions for day or weekend trips. Therefore, if we wanted to save money one weekend there were still things to do around the area. Additionally, a bucket list book was provided for us from previous IES students. Overall I loved my time in Ireland and would highly recommend studying abroad with IES!