Category: Ireland

Introducing Angelina Pacosa

Published on by DU AbroadLeave a comment

What is/are your major(s)?

Psychology

What is/are your minor(s)?

Sociology & Communications

What is the name of your study abroad program?

University College Cork

In what city & country is your study abroad program located?

Cork, Ireland

What is something you would like the blog readers to know about you that they wouldn’t know by just looking at you?

I play the piano and the guitar, and I own four guitars (two acoustics, one electric, and a 12-string)! I have a collection of 150+ books, and I have read almost all of them. I’ve also been told that I do a pretty decent Jennifer Coolidge impression.

What is one thing that you are most anticipating about your study abroad experience?

I am so excited to meet people from not just Ireland, but from all over the world. I have always wanted to travel, but have never really had the means or opportunities to do so, which is why I am extremely anxious to get started in my program. I feel like I have a lot to learn from my soon-to-be Irish and international peers, as well as all of the other people I might encounter while abroad. I also think that studying abroad will ultimately help me learn more about myself by interacting with people from different cultures. I am looking at this opportunity as a way to connect more with the people around me, and to meet people I might never encounter in the U.S. But I am also looking forward to seeing how this experience might help me get to know myself better.

Why did you decide to study abroad? or What inspired you to study abroad?

I have always wanted to travel, for as long as I can remember. I grew up watching travel channels, and always hoped that I could visit those places one day because seeing them on a TV screen just wasn’t enough. I have always had an intense interest in history and art, which has inspired me to want to see the world. Unfortunately, it was not possible for my family and I to do, so I have never been outside of the United States. When I became aware of study abroad opportunities here at DU, I was so excited because I realized that I might finally have the chance to experience what I’ve dreamed about since I was little. Ireland has always been special to me because I have some family members and extended family with Irish ancestry. I know it will make them proud to see me connecting with a part of my heritage, and I have always wanted to see the places where my family hailed from.

Angelina’s Blog Posts

A few of my friends and I from back home. It’s at Lake Wawayanda in New Jersey!

Maynooth: the Good, the Bad, and the Public Transportation

Published on by LshotkoskiLeave a comment

While my time at Maynooth University is close to being over, my opinions here are not. Before I list my favorite and least favorite things, I want people to keep in mind everyone has different opinions. I really do have so much appreciation and love for this country, and I would not change a thing about my abroad experience. However, abroad is not all sunshine and rainbows as it’s made out to be.

The Good:

  • The proximity to Dublin
  • The nature and greenery the town has to offer
  • Walking trails on campus (including the farm along one of them)
  • The Innercity rail
  • Ely’s coffee
  • Dunne’s stores- a micro scale target alternative
  • The friendliness of the inhabitants
  • South Campus (pictured below)
  • It’s very safe, even at night
  • Having an actual college campus and library
  • The sheer amount of dogs
  • Fitzgerald’s roost bar and tavern
  • Brady’s bar and tavern
  • All the cute little coffee and brunch spots
  • Most of the time it is peaceful and quiet, no city noise

The Bad:

  • The lack of vitamin D
  • lack of engagement and participants in classes
  • It feels like a ghost town Thursday-Sunday
  • the wi-fi
  • The one street of stores and shops being the entire city
  • The Innercity rail
  • the spiders
  • the weather
  • The food (unless it’s fish and chips)

A Special Section for Public Transportation:

  • My biggest frustration with Maynooth stems from the lack of a reliable public transportation system. The best form is hands down the train (Innercity rail) because it actually comes on time. However, it does not go into the section of Dublin where most things are located. The train can get you close to the city, but not where the hotspots and attractions of Dublin are. The 115 bus would be the quickest and cheapest way to get to Dublin, however, it only comes when it feels like it. There is no way of knowing if it is actually coming on time, or if at all. I find it astonishing because so many people in Dublin rely on public transportation to get home or to work, what happens when it just simply doesn’t come? The alternative is the C4 bus, but it takes triple the amount of time. It’s faster to wait 40 minutes for the 115. Maynooth is lovely but there is not much to see or experience here besides campus. Dublin seems so close, yet getting there is a nightmare. On top of that, Dublin is where you have to travel in order to get to anywhere else inside the country or get to the airport. Taxis are crazy expensive to Maynooth so unless you split it with friends you’re spending $75-$80 each way. Maynooth is great, but it sometimes feels like you’re stuck because of how difficult getting around Ireland is.