On January 14th, 2023, I embarked on the most exciting experience of my undergraduate experience thus far. I got on a plane and 5 and half hours later I landed in Dublin Ireland, my home for the next 5 months. Now, approximately 4 months after my plane landed in Canada again, I can confidently say that this experience taught me so many new things about myself and the world around me. Studying at University College Dublin was an immense privilege, and I am so excited for all of you who are applying.
I lived in student accommodation on campus at UCD in a 4-bedroom apartment-style dorm. The campus was huge and beautiful. It was relatively modern compared to most schools in Europe, but it was full of greenery and had some beautiful trails that ran around the campus. UCD asked us to arrive a week before class started. During that week they ran daily orientation events, including meet and greets, campus tours, sessions with various clubs and organizations, and city walking tours. They also ran other helpful seminars on financial management as an exchange student and navigating the immigration process, which happens after arrival instead of before.
One of the reasons I chose UCD was for the courses. Kinesiology is a relatively new specialization at a lot of schools and with Queen’s specific course requirements, it was difficult to find schools with courses that would contribute to it. UCD had a wide array of courses within this discipline which allowed me to stay on track with my academic plan. In addition to Kinesiology courses, I took several other electives in other disciplines which was exciting for me coming from a program with many required courses. I took a course in Irish History, and I loved learning more about the history of the place I was living.
UCD also has many clubs and societies that are open for all students to join and get involved in the school. My friends and I joined the surfing club. Through the club, we went with some Irish students for a weekend trip to Lahinch, a small town on the west coast of Ireland. We wore full wetsuits, boots, gloves, and hats and went surfing in the middle of winter in the Atlantic Ocean.
Ireland has some of the most beautiful nature I’ve had the pleasure of seeing. I did many trips to hike near Dublin in Howth and Glendalough and ventured out west to climb Diamond Hill in Connemara.
Studying abroad through the Bilateral exchange program was an amazing experience filled with fun memories and personal growth. Dublin will forever have a special place in my heart, and I wish I could do it all over again.
