CAPA WORLD

Brandon is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing his story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Political Science major at Clark University, he is studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In his last post, Brandon reflects on his semester abroad and shares 3 major ways he has changed, as well as vital advice for future study abroad students.

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Hello, I hope your week is going well! This is my last post as an official CAPA blogger, and it is bittersweet. On one hand, this means that my time studying abroad is over and I get to return home to see friends and family, but on the other, I have had the most amazing experiences of my life while in Dublin and Ireland now feels like my home-away-from-home. I should add that I will not be returning home immediately, however. I am currently on a family vacation around Europe, and I will be spending some part of the summer working on a vineyard in Spain.

This is me outside Temple Bar.

I would like to spend my final post reflecting on my study abroad experience. Looking back on who I was before going abroad and who I am now, I can see several significant, positive changes. First, I am far more confident in myself. Being abroad separates you from your traditional support networks, be they friend or family-based, and it forces you to find strength within yourself. Second, I am more comfortable being friendly with strangers.

Brandon is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing his story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Political Science major at Clark University, he is studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In this week's post, Brandon counts 10 practical ways to fit in better as you study and intern abroad in Dublin.

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As this is my last blog in Ireland, I have decided to make this post about how to better fit in as an American in Dublin. Although letting you in on some trade secrets of a 4-month study abroad student may seem like cheating, I would have liked to have known some of these things before I arrived. Also, it just seemed like a fun way to close out my time here. However, don’t worry, I have one last post after this, but it will be written as a reflection on my time here.

The stereotypical Irish weather.

1. What to Pack

Do not put any stock in online articles telling you how to dress in Ireland. I know that I read a few that told me that only American tourists wear jeans. This is nonsense. Everyone wears jeans everywhere. In addition, some articles are going to tell you to pack tons of heavy sweaters. Once again, this is nonsense and will only take up space in your luggage. Pack a good jacket and some sweaters if you’re a sweater person and you’ll be fine.

Brandon is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing his story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Political Science major at Clark University, he is studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In this week's post, Brandon talks about his internship experience at Dublin nonprofit FoodCloud and how he adapted to the Irish work style and culture.

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For one of my last posts here in Ireland, I thought that I would write about my internship experience. I briefly went over it in my first pre-departure post but having worked at FoodCloud now for almost four months, I have much more to say about the experience and the organization itself. I would also like to lead with my opinion that everyone who comes to CAPA Dublin should take advantage of the internship program because it added a facet to my study abroad experience that I would not have found doing anything else.

These are the FoodCloud vans that pick up and deliver food.

FoodCloud is a non-profit organization based in Ireland that connects food retailers with surplus food that is not technically bad or spoiled with charitable causes. Many supermarkets and other food retailers will toss perfectly good food away simply because it's past its “best by” date (which are typically arbitrary and don’t actually relate to whether the product is safe to consume) or will no longer live up to exceedingly high consumer expectations. The founders of FoodCloud, Iseult Ward and Aoibheann O’Brien, saw a need to both eliminate the environmental impact and charitable potential of the issue of food waste, and created the company. FoodCloud created an app that food retailers can download and use.

Brandon is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing his story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Political Science major at Clark University, he is studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In this week's post, Brandon lists the 10 best things about Dublin that will make you fall in love with the city.

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This week in Dublin was particularly beautiful in terms of weather, and it put me in the mood to write on what I would consider to be the best parts of the city. I hope you enjoy this Top 10 List and that it makes you fall in love just a little bit with what I have made my home for the past few months.

1. Sunny Days

On a sunny, warm day in Dublin, the entire city seems to emerge from the woodwork. The sun draws everyone outside, and it is magical. To see the sides of the canals crowded with groups of people having a picnic lunch and St. Stephen’s Green being packed with Dubliners playing soccer and chatting brings a smile to my face every time.

Brandon is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing his story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Political Science major at Clark University, he is studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In this week's post, Brandon chats with Hayley Ni Bhriain from CAPA Dublin on his semester and internship abroad in Dublin, as well as his impressions of Ireland and its friendly people.

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This week's post is an opportunity for the tables to be turned and have a local ask me about my time so far in this charming city of Dublin. Hayley Ni Bhriain, Senior Program Coordinator at CAPA Dublin, has kindly agreed to interview and chat with me about my thoughts and impressions of the city, country, and my study abroad program.

HAYLEY NI BHRIAIN: Why did you choose to study abroad in Ireland? Why did you choose CAPA specifically?
BRANDON MOONEY: I chose to study abroad in Ireland because I had some family from here, so I was really interested in that part of my family history. I had also spoken to some students at my home university who had been to Ireland on this program and they spoke about how friendly and welcoming the people and environment was. They also said that Ireland was a European country but was also distinct and by itself. I chose the CAPA program because it was the only one available for Ireland, but I spoke to a lot of CAPA representatives before I chose the program and they were very on top of things and receptive to my needs, so I felt secure in my choice.

Brandon is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing his story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Political Science major at Clark University, he is studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In this week's post, Brandon gives us a look at his experience with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS). If you have any questions, please consult your CAPA Admissions Advisor or Program Manager.

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Although it may seem boring and unnecessary, I would like to devote this blog to the task of registering with the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service (INIS).

The INIS homepage for appointments.

As a non-EU student, you need to get a visa in order to stay in Ireland legally. When you first arrive at Dublin Airport, you will walk up to the INIS immigration officer behind his window and explain that you’re not a tourist but a student looking to study in Ireland for the course of the semester. The officer might ask to see your documentation proving that you are indeed studying at Griffith College, but will most certainly stamp your passport. This stamp has a date on it that shows what is officially known as your “permission to remain.”

Gabriella is a CAPA Dublin student for spring 2018, sharing her story this week on CAPA World. A Journalism major at Auburn University, she is studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In this week's post, Gabriella takes us along on the path of Howth Cliff Walk and gives us a look at some beautiful sea views around Dublin.

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Thanks Gabriella!

Brandon is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing his story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Political Science major at Clark University, he is studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In this week's post, Brandon shares why he recommends attending this My Global City event to Belfast and how rich the history in Northern Ireland is.

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Today I thought that I would spend some time talking about another My Global City event. Last Friday, we went on a CAPA-sponsored trip to Belfast, which was mandatory for those in Irish History (which is a Griffith-offered course) and optional (but highly suggested) for all others on the program. I’m not in Irish History, but I do know that before the trip began, the professor emailed them some videos about Belfast’s history during the Troubles and various other materials to better illustrate the stops during the trip. He explained it to all of us, however, so reviewing this material beforehand was not necessary.

Graffiti of a wall outside a Catholic neighborhood.

We started out for Belfast bright and early at 7:15am; taking a coach bus north from Dublin on the M1. The bus was filled with a lot of other international students who were quite hyper for how early it was. I tried to nap and get some rest, but they had apparently filled up on coffee before getting on the bus, so I ended up just putting in my headphones and watching the scenery fly by. We stopped briefly at a truck rest-stop having crossed the border into Northern Ireland to have a bathroom break and for people to get a quick breakfast if they were hungry. It was so odd that there was no border wall or any kind of checkpoint between Northern Ireland and Ireland. There was the slightest line in the road to mark where the border was and that was it. With the implications of Brexit, however, this free flow between the two countries is much contested, and it is not known if there will be actual checkpoints in the future.

Brandon is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing his story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Political Science major at Clark University, he is studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In this week's post, Brandon visits Amsterdam and analyzes how a course in Dublin changed the way he views cities and traveling.

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I would like to use this blog post to talk about my weekend trip to Amsterdam and how taking the Analyzing and Exploring the Global City course has changed my view of travel. I went to Amsterdam last Friday (a day earlier than the rest of my friends because I don’t have class on Fridays) and stayed through Sunday night.

I didn’t really have a set plan for Amsterdam. I didn’t do any real research about attractions or things to see. I just figured that I would get there and walk around and stumble upon something interesting. Friday was spent wandering the winding streets and canals. I really got a feel for the city as a whole. I happened to chance upon an enormous park and spent an hour sitting on a bench basking in the sun and people watching. I came across several open-air markets with stalls selling everything from thrift clothes to waffles to antiques. I walked along the canals and saw the house boats.

Brandon is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing his story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Political Science major at Clark University, he is studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In this week's post, Brandon brings us along on a CAPA Dublin day trip to the Cliffs of Moher and Galway and shares what happened along the way.

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In this blog post, I will describe an event that happened last week, which was a day trip to Galway and the Cliffs of Moher. There are two such day trips included in the CAPA study abroad program, one being to Belfast and the other being to the Cliffs of Moher and western Ireland. Everything is provided including transportation to and from and scenic tours, but you have to either buy or provide your own lunch. In my opinion, this allows for a greater opportunity to walk about and explore, so I didn’t mind having to go get my own lunch.

At the Cliffs of Moher on a day warm enough to wear a t-shirt.

We started off the trip bright and early at 7:15 in the morning. We all met up at the front gates of Griffith College and were whisked away by an unusually chipper Irish bus driver considering the early hour. He gave us a quick run-down of Irish history and various local landmarks on the drive to the Shannon River, like how the Shannon was used for transcontinental flights by sea planes and pointing out various tower houses and castles lining the highway. A lot of us spent the ride to the Cliffs of Moher napping or eating snacks.