Hello everyone! Sorry it’s been a while since my last update. I’m getting settled here in a Dublin, so I figured that it would be a good time to fill everyone in on my semester so far!
After moving in, I had a few days to explore Dublin before Orientation started. I spent some time unpacking, buying groceries, and generally trying to figure out where I was going. Luckily, Michael was here to point me in the right direction.
We stopped by Dublin Castle, which has been around for more than 800 years! It was really cool to see how the Viking and Medieval remains of the original castle have been assimilated into the later construction. We also got to see the throne room used by Queen Victoria and the room where the Irish president is sworn into office! There was even a set of armor you could pose next to.
I also stopped by Dublinia, which is a museum about Viking and Medieval Ireland. It was definitely intended for a younger audience, but I still thought that writing “Hi there!” in the Viking alphabet was pretty cool!
Of course, I had to stop by Kilmainham Gaol, which was my favorite spot in Dublin the last time I visited. Even though the weather wasn’t great, I still had a great time and would recommend it to any visitors to Dublin.
While visiting the sites was fun, I also had to start classes. I live about 25 minutes away from campus, and so having a bike has saved me a lot of time in transit! The campus is beautiful, and I had to stop in at the Book of Kells, which I actually get free admission to as a Trinity student!
My classes this semester seem pretty exciting so far. A couple of my particular favorites are Intro to Classical Greek and The Book of Kells: A Theological Reading. The classes are a lot bigger than what I’m used to at Fordham, but I’m excited to have more independence over my own education! I like having the freedom to pursue my own particular interests, rather than spending a lot of time doing mandatory work. Trinity offers a free Gaelic language that I am going to take, which I’m very excited about!
In addition to the tourist sites, I’ve also been exploring some local spots. Last night, Michael and I went to the Lighthouse Cinema, which is an independent movie theater with a really cool ambience. We’ll definitely be back soon!
I’ve also been exploring some local bookstores. There are lots of independent bookstores around Dublin, and I’ve had a lot of fun at Books Upstairs, The Winding Stair, and Hodges Figgis. Unfortunately, I can’t buy too many books unless I want to pay overweight luggage fees, so I haven’t gone too crazy yet!
Thanks for coming along on this adventure with me! My next post will be about my trip to Galway and the Cliffs of Moher, so stay tuned!
Study Abroad and Other Stories 