I spent the fall 2024 semester in Dublin, Ireland. I was super excited to go to Europe for the first time. I live in Illinois and go to school in Iowa, so this was my first time venturing outside of the Midwest on my own. I was enrolled in the IES Writer’s Program, so I was going to be studying something I love in a brand-new place.

I loved Dublin. The city is full of so much history. Museums are everywhere and each has unique exhibits and topics to learn about. I recommend the archaeology collection, which is a part of the National Museum of Ireland. The museum includes an exhibit on Vikings and many prehistoric pieces. I went there a few times for different classes, and I managed to learn something new every time.

Dublin has a lot of older architecture. Honestly, some streets felt like walking in a fairytale. Being the capital city, Dublin is crowded and has a lot of office spaces and metropolitan buildings. However, the city has gorgeous parks and natural features. Stephen’s Green Shopping is a big shopping mall, but right across the street is St. Stephen’s Green, which is a large park with statues and the greenest grass you’ve ever seen.

I learned a lot about myself during the semester. I learned that I am a lot more capable than I thought. I’m independent enough to live in another country and make friends on my own. I’m also skilled at directional awareness. Within a few days I knew my way around and where things were relative to each other. I surprised myself with how easily I adapted to the city.

If you’re studying abroad in a program for study abroad students (like IES), keep in mind that everyone is in the same boat. That really helped me approach people and get to know them. On my first night, I was struggling with being so far from home. Instead of cooping myself up in my room, I decided to get to know my roommates. That turned out to be a great decision and really reminded me that everything would be okay. We were all in the same situation and knew how to talk to each other about it.

I recommend that you take advantage of studying abroad and go on trips. I went to Northern Ireland, Brussels, Amsterdam, Wales, London, and Edinburgh. Booking flights and hotels is an important skill to learn. Our program also offered many trips to other places in Ireland like Kilkenny.

Overall, if you’re on the fence about studying abroad, I think you should go for it! I had one of the most fun and memorable semesters of my life. I met so many people that I keep in contact with. This opportunity is rare, and I think you should take it while it’s here!

The Global Access Ambassador Scholarship program provides awards to study abroad for a summer, semester, or academic year. The scholarships are intended to support students who study abroad with the intent to serve as Global Access Ambassadors upon return to the UI campus. Upon completion of the study abroad program and return to UI, award recipients are asked to submit a photo and an open letter to prospective students or suggest an alternate means of sharing with prospective students.

Please note that the opinions and views expressed by ambassadors are solely those of the students and do not reflect or represent the views of International Programs or the University of Iowa.

International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement.  IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.