Beautiful scenery, the people, a top-class education system, the list goes on… Student Ambassador Haowen Jiang from China absolutely loves Ireland and has put into words why, as well as telling us what made her chose to study on the Emerald Isle!
I have been studying in Ireland for around three years now and I can say that I really made a good decision coming to this beautiful country. Even though I felt panic at first, I still think there are lots of things that really attracted me to Ireland. Here are some reasons that I love about Ireland and why I chose to study here.
Beautiful Scenery
Of course, studying abroad is not always just about studying. It is also important to experience the country and see the beautiful scenery. Ireland is an island located in the West of Europe. Its unique geographical position and natural environment give birth to its ancient history and culture. Moreover, Ireland pays great attention to the protection of natural scenery so that the beautiful landscape is cared for, such as the Cliffs of Moher. What’s more? Whether it is Dublin, Cork, Galway or Kilkenny, you will find unique scenery that you have never seen before.
Incredible Ireland (photo: Haowen)
People
The Irish are famous for their enthusiasm and friendliness. To be honest, one of the reasons that I chose Ireland is that it is an inclusive country without racial discrimination. It does not matter if you are Chinese, Spanish or American. The Irish treat everyone equally and are willing to help others. You can easily feel their warmth, friendliness and kindness. For example, I was working part-time in a hotel and all the staff members were really nice and gave me plenty of help. At first, my spoken English was not good and they were trying to talk to me and encouraged me to open my mouth and speak – they really helped me feel comfortable.
New friends (photo: Haowen)
Education Situation
Ireland is renowned for its high-quality education system and prosperous economy. At the same time, its developed professional education, low cost and good social environment provide a very cost-effective development space for international students. Meanwhile, Ireland’s higher education system includes national and public-sector universities, polytechnics, and private colleges. Ireland’s national education authorities strictly control the quality of education in all institutions, which offer all courses from skills to masters and above – some universities offer postdoctoral and research courses. Therefore, it is obvious that, if you want to study abroad, Ireland is a good choice.
Working hard (photo: Haowen)
English-speaking
Ireland is the only English-speaking country in Europe except for the United Kingdom, and it has famous Irish universities comparable to the UK’s Oxford and Cambridge. Most international students learn English, so the language barrier usually isn’t a problem.
Irish Food & Drinks
Ireland is known for being a very inclusive country, so when you walk down the street, you will find many restaurants from different countries. However, the local Irish cuisine is also well worth tasting, especially the Irish traditional breakfast. A traditional breakfast in Ireland is really rich and includes Irish sausages, bacon, black and white pudding, eggs, cooked potatoes, baked beans and so on. This breakfast will stimulate your appetite, and even though it may take longer than a regular breakfast, it is definitely worth getting up earlier than usual. Meanwhile, the rich pastoral lands of Ireland produce high-quality cheese which makes Irish cheese a famous local speciality.
Delicious dishes (photo: Haowen)
Drinks…
Guinness is the most popular beer in Ireland. It is one of the best drinks with Irish food which is deeply loved by the Irish people. It is a unique taste that many travel far and wide to try in Ireland. Ireland is also famous for other drinks, such as Irish whiskey, Murphy’s Irish Stout and Kilkenny beer.
Drinks! (photo: Haowen)
So that’s it, that’s why I chose to study in Ireland and why I love this country. If you get the chance to study abroad, Ireland is a really good choice. Once you come to Ireland, you will be definitely drawn to this fascinating and mysterious country.
Haowen is studying Hotel Management at Shannon College of Hotel Management, NUI Galway.