CAPA WORLD

Emma Aulenback studied abroad in Dublin, Ireland in the spring of 2019, and today she’s back to share a reflection on her time abroad. She discusses what it was like adjusting from having a jam-packed academic, extracurricular, and social calendar as a college student in the US to having large blocks of unstructured free time in Dublin.

Emma shares a chance encounter on a bus ride that helped her realize how the last four months have taught her more than she anticipated about life, culture, meaningful interactions, and being bold with kindness. She talks about letting go of the rush and routine she was accustomed to back in the US, getting to know people with different opinions, and how she formed an open-minded view to living like a European.

In this week’s post, a group CAPA Dublin students each reflect on their favorite memories and transformative moments during their Spring 2019 semester abroad in Dublin.

In this week's post, Emma chats with the co-owner of Bibi's, a beloved cafe in Dublin, and finds out the story behind this family business and what drives their craft. She also describes the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of this local spot and tells us why this is her favorite spot (and why it feels like "home").

In this week’s blog, Emma interviews her friend Erika, a sophomore from Arizona State University studying abroad with CAPA in Dublin this spring! In her interview she touches on the realities of being a first-generation college student and how her cultural identity has impacted college life both at her home institution and on her study abroad program.

No visit to any global city would be complete without getting a taste of the local food scene! In this week's post, Emma focuses on recreating signature dishes from some of Dublin's restaurants without burning a hole in your pocket. She also tells us how affordable fresh produce is in Dublin and where to find them!

You probably already know this: there's more to the study abroad life than what's posted on Instagram. After being in Dublin for a few months now, Emma talks about the experiences that make up the entire scope of studying, living, and traveling abroad. She also shares three important tips on how to go with the flow of each global city and embrace the good, the bad, and...the ordinary!

Lying in the soft grass in a garden in Paris, basking in the scent of a fresh, gooey cheese picnic; the sight of a million shooting stars pinballing within the incredible structure that is the Eiffel Tower; and the sound of a crowd silenced by wonder (accompanied by the crackling crunch of crusty baguettes) defined the euphoria of my spring break travels.

In this week's post, Emma paints the image of what home in Dublin is like. With friends from all over the world, she forges a bond with them as they take on what this charming city offers and settle into weekly routines. She also shares what her go-to spots are and how welcoming Dublin and its lovely people have been so far!

In this week's post, Emma discovers the sounds of Uilleann Pipes, a traditional Irish musical instrument, as part of her Irish Language and Culture course in Dublin. She also shares what makes this extraordinary instrument so special and even gives it a go at playing it!

“What did you say the address was again, girls? The GPS can’t seem to find this place.”

You know you are in for a real adventure when that persnickety little blue dot on the Taxi’s Google Maps starts having a meltdown. Desperately computing and recalculating...searching for the unsearchable. Gems are meant to be hard to find, right? Or wouldn’t we all be rich?

It just so happens that the meeting place for our CAPA course, Irish Language and Culture, was a cultural goldmine—full of good craic (the Irish term for FUN!)!

In this week's post, Emma visits Dublin sporting landmark, Croke Park, and learns about the wonderful world of Gaelic Football. As part of her efforts to find her place in the local culture and get situated in the city, she takes in the sense of community displayed in this beloved sport. Without also staying too far removed from American sports, she shares how she kept up with the Super Bowl!

My geographic coordinates have changed. Who knew this newly adopted latitude and longitude would inspire a new habitude and attitude about life? While I am loving the opportunity to meet a diverse array of people from around the world, and discovering the enchanting nooks and crannies of every alleyway, I am still trying to find my footing and adjust to my life abroad (literally and figuratively—the cobblestones are quite slippery here!). Like many things, a sense of belonging is something we never fully appreciate until it is lost.