Travelling & Visitors

Dear all,

Finally I have some time to write an update about my life in Dublin! Last weekend Dublin turned into a Winterwonderland. There is a lot of snow and it’s freezing cold outside. Nothing strange during the winter season, as you might think, but for Ireland it is. Ireland is an island, which means that the summers are relatively cold and the winters relatively warm, so all Irish people are excited and Dublin is totally in an uproar. Busses are not driving anymore, lectures are cancelled, people stay inside. Actually, I like it, because Dublin is beautiful in the snow especially since everything is decorated with Christmas lights and other Christmas decoration! I love this atmosphere! The only negative thing due to the snow was that the flight of the MAKwomen was cancelled, which meant that they couldn’t come to Dublin anymore. Very very sad, but fortunately my other friend arrived already on Thursday and we still had a great weekend together!

Study is currently an important part of my life in Dublin. The first two months, I didn’t have to do anything related to my courses, but a couple of weeks ago we got all the assignments and most of them were due on a very short-notice. Which resulted in: studying in the library for days! But I am almost finished with most of the presentations and group essays (they LOVE group work.. I don’t anymore..! ;)) and I only have to finish some individual essays.

Besides all the university work, I also had enough time to travel around Ireland! (Exchange life is not that hard! ;)) I went to the Mourne Mountains and visited and volunteered Mourne Grange; a camphill community where a friend of mine had worked with mentally disabled adults for 8 months. I find it hard to explain what is exactly happening at Mourne Grange, but you can visit their website for more information (http://www.mournegrange.org/). It was very special to be there for about 30 hours and see how they live their life there- so peaceful! And besides that, the landscape is amazing! After my visit to the camphill community, I took the bus to Belfast, because I wanted to meet my friends from Tilburg there for a weekend in Belfast. Together, we did a lot of sightseeing and had some nice drinks and dinners during the weekend and on Saturday evening we went back to Dublin.

Last few weeks, many visitors came as well! On my birthday, my parents were in Dublin and together we enjoyed the beautiful weather and the city. On my birthday itself my boyfriend came for the second time! :) Together we made a lovely trip to the west coast of Ireland and visited Galway (including the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren!) and Sligo. Last weekend Leonie was here and next weekend my sister will come to Dublin to spend a weekend here! So great to show all my dears around!

And of course, I am still enjoying the dinners, movie nights, pub nights et cetera with my international friends! But I think I don’t have to explain that! ;)

As you might read in my blogs, exchange life in Dublin is great, but I have to mention that you really have to organize everything yourself to enjoy your stay here. There is an international society, but they only organize two trips and almost nothing during the weeks and there are no big ERASMUS parties like the parties in the LG in Tilburg for instance. I like it, because you can really do the things you like, but you have to get in touch with your friends and organize parties, trips, dinner and so one yourself. But until now, I managed to organize many things, so it is possible! If I had to choose an exchange destination again, I would definitely choose Dublin again! :)

See you in less than three weeks!

Love, Charlotte

PS: For pictures: visit http://picasaweb.google.nl/110111446223550966554/