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Lea McGuigan (she/her) is a member of the class of 2027, and will be graduating a semester early this fall! She is an English Literary Studies major with a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies. The Voices team is so excited to share with you the details of Lea’s recent study abroad in Dublin, Ireland. Please read the following Q&A to see the ins and outs of studying abroad:

Q: What was your favorite part about living in Dublin?

A: I think my favorite part about living in Dublin was just being able to explore on my own. I love walking, so I did a lot of that, but I also got used to riding the bus. The bus system was kind of a disaster for the first week, as this was my first time in Ireland, and I didn’t know anyone, so ultimately, I had to figure everything out on my own.

Once I got the hang of it and could actually leave campus, that became my favorite part. University College Dublin is a little more rural compared to somewhere like Trinity College, which is right in the city center. I actually loved that balance—I wasn’t in the middle of everything, but I still had really easy access to the city. The bus came right to campus, and I could get to the center in about half an hour. I also just loved walking around and figuring things out as I went.

Q: Did you experience any culture shock?

A: I was expecting to, but I really didn’t. I think part of that is because Boston and Dublin feel somewhat similar, and I am quite familiar with Boston as a city. Also, everyone speaks English, so that made things a lot easier.

There were some small adjustments, like people driving on the left side of the road, but nothing major. It wasn’t really culture shock; it just felt like little moments where I noticed differences in how things are done compared to the U.S.

Q: Did you have any favorite places in Dublin, like parks, cafés, or neighborhoods?

A: I loved St. Stephen’s, Green Park. A friend and I walked through it, and it was just beautiful. There was water, a white gazebo, and it felt really picturesque, especially since the sun was actually out that day.

I also did a bookstore crawl by myself in November, which I loved. One of my favorites was Hodges Figgis. And for museums, I really liked the Museum of Literature. It’s actually on UCD’s former campus, so students could get in for free. There’s a tree there tied to James Joyce, supposedly, if you hug it, you’ll either do well on exams or publish your first novel.

Q: What classes did you take while abroad?

A: I took Reading World Literature and Contemporary Irish Writing, along with Sociology of Gender, Media Industries, and History of Ireland.

In my world literature class, we read texts from all over. We read some Puerto Rican literature, American literature, works by Palestinian and Middle Eastern authors, and more. It really covered a really wide range.

Q: Did you have a favorite reading from your classes?

A: Yes—Miss Florence’s Trunk by Ana Lydia Vega. It’s a Puerto Rican novella with a kind of plantation Gothic feel. It’s not very long, but I thought it was really interesting and memorable.

Q: Did studying abroad change your perspective on anything academically?

A: One thing I found really interesting was seeing how language and perspectives evolve. We started my world literature class with King Solomon’s Mines, which hasn’t aged well in terms of how it portrays people.

Comparing that to more modern texts we read later in the semester, you could really see how language has changed to reflect more inclusive perspectives. That stood out to me.

Q: What was your academic experience like compared to your home university?

A: My English classes were huge. They were like 400-person lectures, which was very different from what I was used to. Then we’d break into smaller groups afterward.

One thing that surprised me was that a lot of students didn’t do the readings. At one point, I was the only one raising my hand, having done the assignment. That would never happen in a small class back home, where it’s obvious if you’re unprepared.

Q: How did you plan academically for studying abroad?

A: I knew early on that I wanted to study abroad, so I planned my schedule around it. I held off on certain classes—like a British literature requirement and a gender studies course—so I could take equivalents abroad.

I also took an honors class early and made sure to get general education requirements out of the way. Since I’m graduating early, I had to be really strategic about everything.

The process itself involved a lot of waiting; things like housing and course registration happened on different timelines, so it felt like you were constantly checking your email to make sure you weren’t missing anything.

Q: What did you learn about yourself while living abroad?

A: I learned that I kind of thrive in situations where I have no choice but to figure things out. When I first arrived, I was overwhelmed—I hadn’t slept, I didn’t know anyone, my phone wasn’t working, and I was completely lost.

But at the same time, I had no option but to keep going. I had a place to live and classes to attend. By the end, I realized I had handled everything on my own, and that was a really empowering experience.

Q: What were your favorite landmarks in and around Ireland?

A: In Dublin, I really liked the EPIC Immigration Museum, especially because of my own Irish ancestry.

Outside of Dublin, I loved Blarney Castle—especially the gardens—and Glendalough National Park. Both were incredibly beautiful.

Q: Why did you choose Ireland for your study abroad experience?

A: I didn’t want a language barrier, so I was deciding between the UK and Ireland. I had always kind of assumed I’d go to England, but when I looked at the programs, Dublin stood out. I’d never been to Ireland before, so it felt like a good opportunity to try somewhere new.

Q: What advice would you give to students considering studying abroad?

A: You learn just as much—if not more—outside the classroom as you do inside it. My classes were actually a bit less demanding than what I was used to, but I learned so much just from navigating daily life.

Figuring out transportation was a huge turning point. Once I understood how to get around, everything became easier, and my confidence grew a lot.

Q: Did you travel outside of Dublin?

A: Yes! I did a lot of 12-hour bus tours, which I highly recommend. They made it really easy to see different parts of the country without worrying about transportation or overnight stays.

I visited places like the Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle, the Rock of Cashel, Glendalough, and the Wicklow Mountains. I also went to Northern Ireland to see the Titanic Museum and the Giant’s Causeway.

Outside of Ireland, I traveled to Denmark, Scotland, England, and Portugal.

Q: What was your favorite part of the entire experience?

A: Definitely the confidence I gained. At the beginning, I felt completely overwhelmed and questioned whether I had made the right decision. But by the end, I could look back and say, “I did that on my own.”

That growth—from feeling lost to feeling confident—was the most meaningful part of the experience.

Q: What was the most challenging part of going to study abroad?

A: The first week or two were really tough. I didn’t know how to get around, I didn’t have basic things like kitchen supplies, and even simple tasks felt overwhelming. It was definitely a rough start, but it ended up being very character-building.

Q: Did you bring back any cool souvenirs?

A: I got a Claddagh ring in Galway, which was really special. I also collect baseball caps, so I made sure to get one in every country I visited, like Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Scotland, and England.

Kudos to Lea for her Dublin study abroad! We hope you enjoyed this Q&A and feel inspired by Lea and her experiences!