Study Ireland – Stories & Guides from International Students

Yes, Time Travel too but not just. 

A relief of being complete on my own. Whole. No more waiting to belong, to go back, to feel at home – just being. 

The cottages helped.  

The mist between leaves before they figuratively fell on the ground helped. 

The costumes, outfits and the autumn leaves all were showing me the way. 

I didn’t have to wait to go back anymore. 

I was having my debut to the first day of autumn right here. In Ireland, in Bunratty Castle. 

And that’s when I knew. 

Ireland was a decision made on whim. I was not prepared. I was hospitalized, had emergency surgeries and completed my Garda Vetting forms on Hydromorphone at a hospital when I could barely see my phone screen.  

I missed my orientation week because I was receiving iron transfusion. 

I missed all the free water bottles, tote bags, lanyards and other goodies. 

Nonetheless, I made it here. I confess, soon after arriving I had an overwhelming realization that I had deeply missed studying. Nevertheless, one feeling wasn’t there. I was not ecstatic. 

“I was skeptical” is too cliche. I could feel it in bones that my heart wasn’t in it. It had nothing to do with the country but the fact that I had not physically, nor mentally, recovered from all the trauma embedded in the 8 weeks of summer before the programme.  

However, this place had a way of turning this around. Against my protects, resistance and stubbornness, Ireland had a way of showing what I could have. 

As I walked the small pathways among the trees and enjoyed the slowly emerging autumn foliage in my favorite month of the year, I thought, at 31, I got a new start. 

Thinking about UL, and how my life was steered in a way where I have been – once again – surrounded by people at least 4-9 years younger than me. This has been more effective than any sunscreen and retinol. And whenever I needed to recognize my age, I could go to the post-grad union and have a conversation about 30-something topics and life with someone whose backpain frequency is more similar to mine. 

Thinking about Ireland, Bunratty, and right this moment in the historical village where I was walking where a lord once set foot, a clerk had tea at the teashop, and a mother bought cake for her children. I was counting my blessings, one by one, and the happiness filled and poured in and out of my heart. 31 was looking fine. I do not mind the wrinkles around my eyes.  

It was September and after a very long time, 13 months to be exact, I felt whole. Now that my soul was recovering, I was beginning to see a future clearer and brighter than before. 

How did I get so lucky?  

Life had given me many of the things I wanted but in a different way than I had imagined. 

Was it easy? No. 

Was I missing certain stables? Yes. 

Was I eager for certain events to take place in this new country? Yes.  

Was I finally happy? Yes… 

And that last one took a minute to sink in. 

In my 30s, I had gotten a new beginning. 

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