I survived Week 1!

Now, before school started, I of course spent time in Northern Ireland. Went to the coast, hiked the Mournes, and visited the Marble Arch Caves. Oh, and went clubbing once or twice. I like to imagine it meant I got some holiday days in before the work started. I even ran into an old IFSA-Butler friend, which definitely meant things were off to a great start!

Then, I began school, nervous and unsure of what I was doing. But...

I survived my first week of Graduate School!
I got to Dublin just over a week ago, and although I went back to Belfast for the weekend, I have officially spent more time in Dublin than I have in the rest of my life.I met people, started classes, and began to feel more comfortable. The UCD campus is amazingly big and I am slightly overwhelmed every time I step out there, but I am getting more comfortable each time.
Culture Shock: Of course it happens. However, this time it had nothing to do with Ireland. It was actually the culture shock of becoming an adult. I have spent my entire life in school. Whether it be public school, university, or my coming straight to graduate school. I have always been taught to use Mr./Mrs./Dr./etc. when speaking with adults and people of authority. So, imagine my surprise when I walk into my first seminar and am greeted with my lecturer's first name. Being an adult means calling other adults by their first names, which is something I definitely am not used to!
But now, as I sit in my living room, writing this and reading articles on Cultural and Social Geography, eating noodles that my Indian roommate cooked, I am getting more and more excited for this journey. I know I made the right choice in coming here and cannot wait for week 2!

-A

Port Stewart, August 2016