A Week in My Camera Roll: What My Study Abroad Experience Really Looks Like

Claire (Master of Education, Digital Leadership in Education)

If my camera roll could tell the story of my study abroad experience, it would probably look something like this: lots of studying, new friends, unexpected adventures, and a few moments that make Ireland already feel a little more like home.

Week 1, and somehow already so busy. Between classes, assignments, society activities and trying to figure out life in a new country, there has been surprisingly little time to just sit still. The library has quickly become one of my favourite places on campus, a quiet space to catch up on coursework, get organised, and occasionally remind myself that I actually came here to study.

Pizza, new faces, and a lot of “where are you from?” conversations. Pizza night was such a simple way to meet people I probably would not have met otherwise. One thing I really appreciate about studying abroad is how many events are organised for international students. From casual dinners to social activities, there are always opportunities to meet someone new, which makes settling into a new country feel a little less overwhelming and a lot more fun.

A weekend away from the books. One of those days that makes you stop and think, “I’m actually here.” Standing at the Cliffs of Moher, surrounded by the sea, wind and incredible views, was definitely one of the highlights of my first weeks in Ireland. It was a much-needed break from busy days and, more importantly, a chance to make the kind of memories I know I’ll look back on for a long time.

Bringing a little bit of Vietnam to Limerick. Wearing the “áo dài” in Limerick felt like carrying a small piece of home with me. Being far from Vietnam has made me appreciate these little connections to home even more - my language, my culture. 

By Ngoc Anh Nguyen (Claire), Vietnam

Nicole (Master of Media Studies)

Okay, so my first-week photos are basically just corridors, classrooms and random corners of MIC. Because, honestly, that’s what my camera roll looks like when I’m so involved in classes, meeting people, getting to know the campus and trying to understand how everything works. Don’t get me wrong, the lack of photos probably says more than enough about how great, and busy, this first week has been.

Finding my rhythm

I’m doing my Master’s in Media Studies, so getting to know the Faculty of Arts, meeting my lecturers and understanding how the semester would work were definitely a big part of my first few days. I’m taking four modules, and one of the things I’ve really enjoyed so far is the balance between theoretical knowledge and practical work. There is a strong focus on developing professional skills, while still giving us the theoretical background and critical knowledge that comes with a Master’s degree. For someone with a background in communication who is looking to keep developing both academically and professionally, that balance has been exciting.

Getting back into student life

I’ll be honest: I didn’t know how I would feel about being a student again, specially in my second language. But so far, I’m really enjoying it. There’s something quite nice about having a place where your main job for the day is to learn, think, question things and have conversations with people who are interested in completely different areas. I’ve also been working part-time alongside my studies, so finding a routine that works for both has been important. So far, the timetable feels very manageable, which is definitely a plus because, let’s be honest, we all have bills to pay, right?

A little taste of what’s to come

And then there’s the part that makes me particularly happy: I’ve already had classes in an AV studio and had a little taste of the facilities MIC has to offer, as well as the hands-on activities I’ll be getting involved in throughout the course. So, yes. This communicator is exactly where she wants to be. And I’m definitely living it.

By Nicole Costa de Almeida, Brazil