It feels like it was just yesterday that I was leaving home to go on my Erasmus. Running around trying to make sure I had all the necessary documents, repacking my suitcase over and over, savouring my final cup of Barry’s tea – at the time it felt like packing for any other holiday. It wasn’t until I was at the gate waiting to board my flight that it hit me. I was really doing … [Read more...] about Erasmus Diary
Erasmus Diary
Two Erasmus diaries in and I’ve realised that I’ve been a bit ‘woe is me’ as of late. As much as I love to remind people that it’s okay not to be okay as we deal with homesickness and stress and all the other hard parts of Erasmus, this week I’m back to highlight all the positives. People always talk about Erasmus as one of the best experiences a student can have – and I’m here … [Read more...] about Erasmus Diary
Three ways to cope with current affairs
I’m sitting at a table with a group of friends. We’re all having a good time, laughing, and chatting. Someone brings up a current news story– war, climate change, political acrimony – whatever terrifying event that’s making headlines. And every time without fail, I freeze. I can feel the anxiety pulsing through me as I try to nod along. Eventually, after everyone has had … [Read more...] about Three ways to cope with current affairs
Erasmus Diary: Don’t cry over split milk. Cry over empty milk cartons.
Everyone says you should be open to new experiences during your Erasmus year, but finding myself crying because I’d run out of milk wasn’t the sort of new experience I saw coming. Let’s rewind; I had been making tea in the kitchen of my impossibly small apartment with the teabags I had brought over from home. The night before I left, I had filled a zip lock bag with Barry’s tea … [Read more...] about Erasmus Diary: Don’t cry over split milk. Cry over empty milk cartons.
The future of the Irish Language
When I was a child, my dad would read to me every night before I went to bed. I was, and always have been, an avid reader. I would clamour to be read three to four stories a night. I adored picture books - Charlie and Lola was my favourite by far. Every night my dad would read to me and every story he read would be in Irish. Recently my dad admitted that he translated the … [Read more...] about The future of the Irish Language