Dublin Internship Program - An Unforgettable Experience January 09, 2022

By (Public Health, Brandeis University) - abroad from 09/08/2021 to 12/18/2021 with

Boston University: Dublin - Internship Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I cemented the idea that a study abroad experience or some general form of close cross-cultural experience abroad is really necessary to developing ideas about my future and about what is important to me. Just staying in Ireland would have been worthwhile enough and the opportunity to travel further and experience a wide variety of European cultures was icing on the cake.

Review Photos

Boston University: Dublin - Internship Program Photo Boston University: Dublin - Internship Program Photo Boston University: Dublin - Internship Program Photo Boston University: Dublin - Internship Program Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Classes were enjoyable, but would have liked to take DCU classes instead of classes just with other BU students. Course material was also enjoyable and moderately challenging.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Host country program administration was extremely helpful and I am extremely grateful for their guidance during the program.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Weekly tests and isolation spaces were generously provided, as well as the antigen tests required to travel back to the US.

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Coming into the program, I was getting worked up by the usual worries: finances, making new friends, adapting to a completely new culture/environment, the courses, and the internship. But after finishing the program, I can honestly say that I did not have a single significant complaint about this program. Not only did I end up making very good friends from BU, I also learned a lot from my classes and my internship, which I am grateful for the opportunity. Moreover, a large part of why I would choose the same program is the cooperative and interactive program administration that helped up integrate and guided us through our study abroad in Ireland, both in country and from Brandeis. Without this specific program administration helping me out, I would not choose to attend the same program.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 30 euros
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Buy groceries in bulk and avoid eating out too much. Control "luxury" spending.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The freedom it gave us to connect with the culture of my host country.
  • Its smaller program size and housing situation
  • The internship aspect
* What could be improved?
  • More classes with local students
  • (For post-COVID) More opportunities to visit local cultural sites
  • Devoting more time to our internships
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how important it would be to be proactive and interactive with my local teachers, my friends/students in the program, and with locals in the area in order to have a positive experience in the program. Most importantly, I wish I knew that all my worries would be vastly overthought about and everything works itself out during the course of the program.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.