by Erin Cobb | 9 Jul, 2021 | USA
Deciding to move to a new country to study on your own is a big decision. Constantly doubting your choice, worrying that you’ll find it hard to make friends or just the daunting move itself – all swirling through your mind. But, it’s sometimes best to let what happens happen.
In her second piece, Erin Cobb from the USA tells us how she got through bursts of intermittent homesickness, the task of making new friends and all the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic. (more…)
by Yohan Irani | 2 Jul, 2021 | India
Yohan Irani from India knows what a busy schedule looks like… In his most recent blog, he shares how he spends his day! Time management, organisation and self-care are just a few of the components that make up Yohan’s daily routine. (more…)
by Tran Diem | 30 Jun, 2021 | Vietnam
Tran Nhat Huyen Diem is back with another vlog!
This time, our Vietnamese Student Ambassador takes us on a journey from 2020 to now! Having survived college throughout a pandemic and all that came with it, she shows us what her year looked like. (more…)
by Blaise Ben-Chika | 29 Jun, 2021 | Nigeria
Coming from Nigeria, Blaise Ben-Chika, or Beno to friends, has had to adjust to Ireland as well as adjusting to the situation the pandemic put students all around the world in. In his first blog post, he opens up about his experience in Ireland, as well as giving us a few helpful tips! (more…)
by Bindhu Purushothaman | 29 Jun, 2021 | India
Bindhu Purushothaman, a Masters student originally from India, writes about the stunning natural landscape in Ireland and her experiences travelling the country to visit the numerous mountains, hills, cliffs and beaches.
Pandemic Travel Restrictions
My name is Bindhu Purushothaman, and I was born and raised in India. To me, travel is a unique way to relax. However, for many people like me who love to explore and tick places off of their travel bucket list – everything was put on halt in 2020 in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Luckily, Ireland is full of natural beauty and places to visit. I’m generally an introverted individual who transforms into an extrovert when I have the opportunity to talk about my travelling experiences. When I was choosing what country to study in, I chose Ireland because of its travel links and access to surrounding countries. Did you know that you can reach Iceland by a two hour flight from Ireland? I haven’t made it to Iceland yet, but I have been exploring Ireland.
The Irish Landscape
In my opinion, Ireland would delight people who enjoy hiking and beaches. It’s a country that appeases independent souls, social butterflies, extroverts and introverts. Ireland is a land of variety which welcomes all. It has something for everyone, from small parks to luscious vast green lands. There’s a diversity of wildlife, from morning walks alongside swans in rivers to harmless foxes crossing the road at night.
Ireland has beautiful waterfalls. There are numerous waterfalls in Ireland, perhaps due to the substantial amounts of rain. During the summer months, the trees and plants are a lively green. Autumn presents us with orange and brown shades, creating a cosy environment. The waterfalls all differ in size and shape, but to me they offer soothing music which could almost put me to sleep!
The Sea
Ireland is an Island, and has a plentiful choice of beaches for swims, dives, and picnics. On most sunny days in Ireland, I’ve made it to the beach! To the west, there’s the Atlantic Ocean and to the east, there’s the Irish Sea. The wild Atlantic waves are a surfer’s paradise!
Ireland being an island surrounded by water bodies provides us with more choices of beaches to swim, dive and to picnic. A sunny day in Ireland can be considered to be the beach day. To the east, there’s the Irish Sea and to the west, the Atlantic Ocean. The wild Atlantic waves are a surfer’s paradise. Taking a freezing dip in one of the beaches is on my to-do list!
The sea also provides amazing views and cliff walks. When I’m on the cliffs, I see a mixture of green meadows, tides and waves crashing into huge rocks, and lighthouses. The wind wrestles with us, showing nature’s energy. These cliffs provide a glimpse of natural beauty in all directions. On these cliff walks, I realise how tiny we are in comparison to the sea.
Hiking
Last but not least, we must talk about the hills and mountains hikes in Ireland. It would be difficult to cover the numerous amounts of trekking and hiking spots within a year. There are a range of walks, some are easy and moderate, others are difficult. If you’d like to trek in a group, there are numerous trek and hiking organisations that meet at weekends. These organisations are a great way of making new friends to share these new experiences with!
Personally, I love the mountains. When I reach the top, I find peace because I’m so close to nature.
Bindhu, originally from India, studies a Masters in Cloud Computing at the National College of Ireland
by Joey Yi | 25 Jun, 2021 | Malaysia
Lockdown living is something no one wants to go through again! But, with the year flying by, our minds tend to reflect on what a year it’s been. Our Malaysian Student Ambassador Joey Lim Loo Yi, looks back on her time in lockdown and shows us what her average day looked like.
Check out her new vlog here!!
Joey is studying Food Science and Nutrition at Letterkenny Institute of Technology.
