Erasmus Experience in Dublin, Ireland by Adriana

Why did you choose to go to Dublin, Ireland?

It seemed to me like a friendly place as far as the people. Everyone helps you, they're supportive.

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

I didn't have a scholarship, I paid for a course and practically everything else.

What is the student lifestyle like in Dublin?

Intense, there are students everywhere, Trinity College is the local university, it's full of youth and fresh ideas there.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Dublin to other students?

Of course, an unmissable experience.

What is the food like?

It's delicious, but it has a certain thickness, and it doesn't have much flavourings, for people like me, from Mexico, it's lacking flavour.

Was it difficult to find accommodation?

It was really difficult.

I recommend having a homestay at least for the first month and during this time join all the groups on Facebook on the subject to start searching, The Ideal Flatmate Dublin or even (your nationality) in Dublin are my recommendations. Make many appointments because staying in a place depends on many things, from whether you like it to whether your roomies like you among other things.

How much does it cost to live in Dublin?

More or less you spend between 40 and 60 euros a week if you eat at home, I did it.

I don't recommend eating out as a frequent acitivity, but to give you an idea, mmm, a meal can cost you between 10 and 50 euros (considering students meals, there will obviously be places much more expensive).

To go out, between 5 and 100 euros a week, suuuure it depends on how lavish you are, but to have a reference, one pint (glass of beer) costs between 3 and 5 euros, take it into account...

The launderettes are expensive, for that make sure when you choose a place to live that the house has all the services (washing machine, heating, TV, if you pay gas or electricity, etc., etc. )

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there courses available in the University?

The Irish are really tolerant with your pronunciation, they understand quickly what you want to say and more if you are friendly, this could be good for you but may be a challenge at the monet of really improving your English.

On the other hand be cautious, Dublin has turned into a tower of Babel where you hear Portuguese, Mandarin, Spanish, Polish, the list is long, so go with open sense but heightened enough to understand what you are really interested in, English.

My really personal advice, try to ignore the slang of the city, in other words, use more of what you learn in the school than on the other side, and use the street to practise.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Dublin from your city?

Well, I live in Mexico City, I don't know if thus would be the most economical way, the round trip costs a little less than 30 thousand pesos, in other words almost 2, 000 euros; but I have read in groups on Facebook that if you travel from Cancun in Quintana Roo (in the south of my country) and from there fly to Ireland the trip is a little more economical. Urban legends that I don't really know for a fact, it'd be a matter of verifying with airlines from the area.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Dublin?

I love rock, so I would recommend The Mezz, Lounge Bar and Sweenys Bar; but there definitely exists an infinity of possibilities for all lovers of music and entertainment.

Temple Bar, unmissable.

It might not interest you but my favourite band is called The 68's, it's a group of four that plays R&B from 1968, the only thing I can say is that they're great, I love them, if you go to The Mezz you can see them playing on Sundays.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Dublin?

My recommendations are:

• Acapulco, Mexican food restaurant (the chef, Carlos, is Mexican, is the best).
• 777, Mexican food restaurant.
• 10Thousand Restaurant, Chinese buffet.
• Mars, Chinese restaurant, amazing duck with wheatgerm.
• Foam, Cafe with delicious tarts.
• Havana, Spanish food, delicious and cheap paella.

My advice: experiment, search, try.

And as a cultural visit?

Unmissable!

There are and infinity of magical places, some expensive others not so much, depends on how you venture to see them.

My advice is to use the train that goes from north to south of Dublin by the coast, it's really cheap, a round trip will cost you between 3 and 6 euros, and the train is beautiful.

Another advice is: walk, it will help you in many senses: reflect, lose yourself and find yourself, breathe, to know and of course save money.

It's impossible not to visit: Bray, Malahide, Howth, The Botanic Gardens, St. Annes Park, Phoenix Park, Newgrange, Powerscourt, The High Gallery, Kilmainham Gaol prison, The Modern Art Museum, The Natural History Museum, The History Museum (many of these places are free) and the typical Guinness Storehouse, Jameson Distillery, Trinity College.... the list is endless, there is even a zoo.

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Dublin in the future?

No matter how difficult the weather is or will be: go out, walk, observe, breathe, play, dare, look for people, interact, to walk by the coast is really fortifying.

Enjoy it and live!