Meet Clara Angelica, our Student Ambassador, diving into Irish culture as an international student. 🌍
Hello! My name is Clara Angelica. I come from Indonesia, a country in Southeast Asia. I am currently a first-year student studying Creative Design at ATU Sligo, Ireland. Studying abroad has always been my dream since I want to broaden my horizon and experience new things in life. After some thinking, I decided to continue my education in Ireland.
Study Experience
I was anxious when I first arrived here since I wasn’t used to living far from home and my main language is not English. But the people are so friendly and understanding. When I have problems in class, they are always willing to help me. The teachers are very patient and passionate about teaching students and are experts in their own field. They always give insights for us to improve our work and give us motivation. The school provides a computer lab including the software needed for our classes, which is convenient for the students. The tasks in my course are mostly projects to improve our creative skills as designers, and that is exactly what I need to prepare myself to jump into the industry. When I went to the church in Sligo for the first time, I was also anxious because it was my first time coming to a church in a different country. But the people are very welcoming, and I get to know some people at the church.
The View in Sligo
The view here is so beautiful. In the town, you can see the river flowing and many colourful buildings. Even though I go to the town so often, I am still in awe every time I look at the view and I always have the urge to take photos. You can also visit The Model, which is a contemporary arts centre and gallery space in Sligo. There are so many beautiful art collections inside the building. It is usually open on weekdays until 5 PM.
Shopping in Sligo
I usually go to Lidl or ALDI to buy groceries because those stores are the closest to my accommodation. Tesco is also an option if I’m in town. For clothes, beauty products and other daily necessities (blanket, hot water bottle, food container etc.), Penneys, Dunnes Store, Dealz and TK Maxx are the best stores to go. You can buy stationery at Mr. Price, Easons, and SG Education & Artshop. You can travel by bus here, and it is better to apply for a Leap Card first to pay lower cost for transportation. Coming to Ireland to study is a wonderful opportunity for me to learn other cultures, to be independent, to improve my confidence and make some new friends. This is my experience as a first-year student so far, and I’m glad I have the chance to enjoy this experience.
Clara Angelica is studying Creative Design at ATU via Education in Ireland.