Ireland gave me the greatest outlet towards creative heaven. Before classes began, we took a short trip to Ireland. Ireland is known for Saint Patrick, Guiness, rugby, racing, and music. We were able to appreciate all of this country's gems, plus a little more. We spent a day exploring Dublin and Howth Village, and spent another full day in Galway. DUBLIN Dublin was definitely a walk-able city. We visited the famous Temple Bar, gazed in awe at the interior of St. Patrick's Cathedral, visited Trinity College, and strolled through the Dublin National Botanical Garden. HOWTH VILLAGE Our trip took a spontaneous turn to a visit at Howth Village. It's a small fishing village east of central Dublin. They had a great view of the east coast, and amazing seafood. GALWAY
Galway was a nice getaway from the city. This harbour city was filled with so many farms, pastures, animals, and mountains. We took a tour to the breathtaking views of Cliffs of Moher. These cliffs have been formed about 300 million years ago, through the build up of washed sand and mud washed in by the sea. The sediments have been compacted to solid rock over time, and has become a top visitor destination and a site for films such as Princess Bride and Harry Potter.
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DORMING My dorm room was in Froebel College - Willow House. It's a bit far from the entrance of campus (a 15 minute walk) but it's a quiet and cozy block. The room comes with a large desk surrounded by cabinets, two shelves above the desk, a closet, a private bathroom and a queen-sized bed. The house is divided by flats, and each flat has a shared kitchen. I thought it was very thoughtful for the school to provide a kitchen set with pans, pots, utensils, and other cooking items. This is my first time dorming and living on my own, so I'm excited for what's to come. CLASSES GETTING INVOLVED
The following week after our arrival was Fresher's Week - one week where all the first-year university students arrive and before classes officially start. The student union planned a week of activities and events such as Silent Disco, Trivia Night, and Fresher's Fair. Fresher's Fair was an event held for students to learn about and join the different clubs and societies. The one thing that stood out to me in Roehampton is the school culture and tight-knit community. I figured the best way to get involved in this was to join a club - even if it was only for a semester. I decided to join two (for the purpose of the club and honestly, their witty play on words): SocieTea, an organization based on the idea of meeting new people while drinking tea and Growhampton, a sustainability program with classes and volunteer opportunities on the growing sites located right on campus. MY TAKEAWAYS 1. Be open-minded and get involved with the university. You never know who you'll meet and what you'll learn about yourself. 2. Be adaptable and optimistic - I'm in a completely different environment and as a creature of habit, it makes me uncomfortable. But change isn't always bad once you view it differently and maintain a positive outlook. 3. Explore the city! And you don't always have to get on the bus or the tube. Walking can sometimes be the best option. 4. Bring hangers and a couple of toilet paper rolls with you (they don't provide these in the rooms). 5. Bring a large reusable grocery bag with you when you go shopping. There's a Walmart-equivalent store about a 20-minute bus ride from the university with a variety of inexpensive groceries. 6. City Mapper is the most practical app for getting around London. I am so excited to be going to school in London and travel Europe - and with one of my closest friends! :) I'll definitely miss Hawaii, but I'm so excited for this journey. APPLICATION
I applied to the University of Roehampton through the Study Abroad Center in the beginning of the Spring semester. It required an application form and three references. After my application was processed, I proceeded to continue the application process on the University of Roehampton student portal, where I also registered for classes. Throughout the semester, our Roehampton cohort had training sessions and meetings facilitated by the study abroad center to prepare us for our semester abroad. FLIGHTS I've booked my flight a while ago, and I'm set to arrive to London, United Kingdom on September 11! My friend and I have been tracking the flight prices through Sky Scanner and Google Flights. I highly recommend tracking the prices once you've applied and received your offer letter. In most cases, the earlier you buy your tickets, the cheaper they will be. Most students also use Student Universe to book affordable flights. There is no need for a visa for the United Kingdom, but I need to bring my acceptance letters to prove that the purpose of my visit is for study abroad. MONEY I exchanged for Pounds - and Euros before I left just in case I would travel to other countries during the first few weeks. You can either exchange money from a bank, DFS Hawaii, or at the International Market Place. A good tip would be to get a credit card with no foreign transaction fees so that you don't incur any extra costs for your purchases. PACKING Some of my packing essentials include: packing cubes, a travel adapter, a voltage adapter (for straighteners and blow dryers), travel-sized containers and toiletries, reusable bags, a reusable bottle, and warm clothes. London becomes increasingly cold in transition from Fall to Winter, so I made sure to pack sweaters, coats, and jeans. One of the best clothing investments I've made is Uniqlo's Heattech which you wear under your clothes to keep you extra warm. |
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