Hello everyone! I am Xiaoyu Lin from China. I am now a student of the Study Abroad 3+1+1 Programme. The first day when I arrived at UL, to be honest, the most I was worried about was food. Since at my home university, we do not need to cook, we can get food directly from our student canteens at a cheap price. However, after six-months of living here, there is no need to worry about food at all!!!

If you are interested in cooking, then your nearest choice is SPAR. There is one in the center of UL, near the Students’ Union. Another one is near Plassey Village, only two minutes by foot. If you require high quality but low prices, then ALDI is a good place. Walking from Plassey Village, takes about 15 minutes. Also along the road, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery J If you live in Kilmurry Village, don’t worry, LIDL is an option for you.

Of course, there are several good restaurants on campus. In the library, there is a cafe providing hot and cheap food. If you would like to taste a traditional full Irish breakfast, then I strongly recommend the Paddocks Restaurant, which is near the bank. Close to the Paddocks, is the famous Stables Bar! Although it is often full of fantastic dancers at night, it provides food during the day.

In a hurry? Don’t worry, there are cafes in almost every building, which gives you a chance to eat properly which is so important!