The Moment It Hit Me: Arriving in Belfast

Boarding the flight from London to Belfast, Northern Ireland, marked my first “aha” moment. Up until that point, everything had felt relatively familiar. Traveling from the United States to London, I experienced a sense of comfort and accessibility similar to what I was used to back home, along with the usual hustle and bustle of…

Developing a Sense of Community Abroad in Northern Ireland

While more than halfway through my study abroad experience at Queen’s University in Belfast, I have begun to reflect on the academic and social communities I have gained here. Academically, I have been able to connect with my professors in a meaningful way in the Psychology department as well as my Archaeology professor. For psychology,…

Slán, Ireland!

Hi everyone, it’s Rachael with my last check-in from Queen’s University Belfast, where I’ve been studying abroad this semester. I can’t believe the semester has already come to an end and that I fly back to Philly this week! It’s been a jam-packed semester, and I think it’ll take a while for me to fully…

An October in Europe

Hi everyone, I’m Rachael, and I’m checking in again from my study abroad experience at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). I’m taking a minute to reflect on October and all I’ve experienced this month.  School-wise, I definitely feel like I’ve found my rhythm. Getting used to a new place will always take a little while, but…

Life in Dublin

This week marks about a month and a half into my study abroad semester in Ireland! I have really loved getting to know Dublin and Ireland in general. This past weekend, I visited Cork—another city in Ireland known for its food and its proximity to Blarney Castle and Gardens. I spent about two days exploring…

First Few Weeks at Trinity College Dublin!

This is my third week of classes at Trinity College Dublin!  While in Ireland, I am taking 3 classes and working in a part-time hybrid internship at the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland (RSAI). The three classes I am taking are Introduction to Fixed Income Securities and Alternative Investments, International Finance, and Business in…

Hello from Dublin!

Hi everyone! My name is Maddie McCann-Colvard, and I am currently studying at Trinity College Dublin this semester. Back at Pitt, I am majoring in Finance, minoring in Studio Arts, and earning certificates in Leadership & Ethics and Nonprofit Management. I chose this combination of academic interests to reflect my long-term career goal of working…

The End of my Year Abroad

This semester, I had no final exams, just essays, which allowed me to travel during Reading Week and Exam Week. I spent a week with my grandparents in Eastern Europe, the first time I had been back since COVID. I planned long layovers in Amsterdam and Vienna and got to check out local food markets,…

Reading Week

Last semester’s reading week, I came back home to the U.S. to see my mom before she had heart surgery. Over the holidays,  I decided I wanted to travel for Reading Week (the equivalent of spring break). I landed on eastern France and Basel, Switzerland. Since I had family coming for “proper” reading week, I…