Study Abroad and Domestic Study Away

During my time abroad, I learned so many new things, not only about Cork but also about myself. I arrived on January 4th, exhausted after a long day of travel. When I finally made it to my apartment, which was going to be my home for the next 5 months, it felt surreal. When classes started, I noticed that UCC was much larger than Lake Forest. It was honestly very difficult to navigate the campus without Google Maps at first. I had to learn how to use the public transportation, since one of my classes was a 30-minute walk away from my apartment, which was manageable, but not ideal. I am honestly grateful I applied for a bus card and started using the bus. It allowed me to explore Cork more. I had used public transportation in the United States, but never had I thought it could be so easy after using it in Ireland. My mom had visited me in Cork in mid-March. We explored the city together and had so much fun doing so. We even got matching tattoos. When she had to go home, my heart did hurt, but we would soon be reunited in May. Along with my mom visiting, I got to visit my best friend and roommate, Hannah, in London, where she was studying abroad. I spent the weekend there and had such a wonderful time exploring with her. We rode the London Eye, a Ferris wheel in Central London, along with seeing beautiful architecture and iconic places and buildings, such as Big Ben. Soon enough, along with Hannah, I got to visit Florence, where my best friend Armani was studying abroad. We traveled through Italy, first flying into Milan, then meeting Armani in Florence, then traveling to Venice, and exploring Milan when Hannah and I had to fly back home. These travel experiences with my family and friends were incredible. I had never seen such beautiful places. The Duomo in Milan is still on my mind.

While I had a ton of fun traveling, my time in Cork was difficult. I had no problem adjusting to the culture in Ireland, though things were different. I spent most of my days alone. I had made a few friends, but with school work and being away from family, loneliness was inevitable. I had missed being with my roommate all the time. Or being at home with my family. Living alone was extremely difficult for me. However, it taught me a lot about myself and my routines. I had fun being independent at times, though I kept in touch with anyone I could, despite the timezone difference. All the time I spent alone made me realize how much I cherish my loved ones, and I could not wait to reunite with them. As I’m writing this, I am still in Cork, but soon I will reunite with my dad when he comes to visit me towards the end of my trip, where we will explore Cork to Dublin together.
Lake Forest College students Rory, Armani and Hannah together in Venice