My First Month at MIC: The Bucket List I Didn’t Expect
Turns out, my first month was less about adventures and more about getting things done
In the blink of an eye, my first month at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick has flown by. It's funny how you lose all sense of time when you're busy figuring out this new version of yourself.
Even though I'd already been living in Limerick, Ireland for two years as of today (yes, I moved here on October 1st, 2024), I still went in with a bucket list for this first month - full of fun stuff, exploring the city through this new "university student" lens, going out with classmates, making memories that had nothing to do with paperwork or bureaucracy. After all, I was already settled here. Right? Very naive of me.
Settling into student life (the not-so-glamorous part)
This month turned out to be much more about getting organised and making sure everything was in place for this new chapter, kind of like cleaning a house before moving in. There was the not-so-exciting part of sorting out my immigration renewal, adjusting to a new routine, figuring out my timetable, and balancing all of that with finding a part-time job in Limerick. So: lots of paperwork, financial admin, and interviews (spoiler: it's all sorted now).
And after those 30 days, all I can think is: how on earth did I get this responsible and grown-up? (I'm just a 26-year-old teenager, honestly.) A huge thank you to the staff and lecturers for all their help, and I'm sorry for the thousand emails and questions. There are probably more coming.
Still, I did manage to squeeze in some fun too: the first trip, new friends, photos, events. So, what's next?
What's next: fun things to do this semester
Now it's time to start ticking off the fun stuff, which also means a little sneak peek at what the international society has planned:
- Game night - board games, some friendly competition, and (I'm told) snacks included
- Irish horror movie night - getting in the Halloween mood
- Costume party - not something the society is hosting, but I want it to happen
- Explore somewhere new nearby - turns out 2 years wasn't enough to run out of new spots
- Find a good matcha near the university - this is a genuine cry for help
And there's much more to come. I'm always open to suggestions!
By Nicole Costa, Brazil
