WEEK 4 IN IRELAND

I am now halfway through my study abroad experience. I feel like there’s still so much that I haven’t done. For instance, I haven’t even been inside the Trinity College library yet (but we’re going back soon, so I’ll check that off the list before I leave). Another thing I want to make sure I do before I leave Ireland is go to some of the places in Belfast where Game of Thrones was filmed so I can show my dad pictures (we’re going to Belfast tomorrow, so I’ll also check that off soon!).

My internship has been great so far! I’ve written a blog and service descriptions for the company’s website, and my work is already being published. I’ve also made quite a few content calendars for some of our different clients. This has required me to use critical thinking skills, as I’ve had to analyze previous work in order to figure out what my work should look like for each client. From doing this, I’ve realized that the creativity that digital marketing allows for is very fun! Making content calendars, writing blogs, and doing keyword research are all skills I could use in future positions.

My bosses have all loved the work that I’ve created, so I would say I’ve been pretty successful here. The only “fail” I can really think of is that I accidentally dropped and broke a glass during the Paddy’s Irish Whiskey photoshoot on Wednesday. Thankfully we had another branded glass, so it wasn’t a huge deal, but I did feel bad about it. What did we learn from this? That I’m clumsy! LOL

When it comes to diversity in the workplace, Escalate isn’t extremely diverse. There are only eight employees, and they are all Irish except for one Indian. All of the employees are also pretty young, with the oldest being only about 30. However, we share a building with multiple other companies, so there is quite a bit of diversity in the workplace altogether.

Outside of my internship, this week has been pretty busy. On Sunday night, my friends and I made beef and Guinness stew with Irish soda bread. I got my nails done on Tuesday at a salon right around the corner from my student accommodations (and it was only 40 euro!!). Last night, a group of us went to some pubs. Today, my friend Olivia and I finally went to Dublinia (a museum to learn about the history of Ireland) and Trinity College (however the tickets for the library were sold out, so we’re going back another day to see it). Below are some pictures of the Trinity College campus. Tomorrow, a few of us are going to Belfast to see Giants Causeway, Dunluce Castle, the Titanic museum, and more!

I’m proud of myself for reaching the halfway point. There have definitely been bumps in the road, as this is my first time in a new country. I’ve had homesickness and experienced a little bit of culture shock. However, all in all, I’ve been having a really good time here, and I’m excited to continue the adventure!