My first week in Dublin has been packed with adventure and excitement! After a sleepless red-eye flight, stepping outside into the Ireland air had never felt better. I was in awe of how lush and green everything was. Our living accommodation is located at University College Dublin, which is about 30-40 minutes from the city centre by bus, so we’ve been familiarizing ourselves with the Dublin bus system, as it is the primary form of public transportation here. Located south of the city centre, the UCD campus is surrounded by nature, with walking trails, lakes, and an abundance of green space. It’s the perfect place to relax after a busy day in the city.

When I’m not on campus, I’ve had a blast exploring Dublin and other parts of Ireland with new friends I’ve met on the program. Notably, on Friday we visited Glendalough in the Wicklow Mountains, and also stopped by the small city of Kilkenney where we toured the city castle. On Saturday, me and some friends spontaneously took a half-day trip to the coastal town of Bray, located about an hour south of Dublin. We relished the coastal breeze on a beautiful sunny day and made sure to stop and get some fish and chips of course! In Dublin, I have been enjoying the music scene, which is filled with talented musicians playing in local pubs. There is so much more to explore both in the city and across Ireland, and I hope to see as much as possible!

Tomorrow, I will be starting my internship at Cocoa Brown, an Ireland-based company in the beauty and cosmetics industry, and will be primarily working in marketing and more general business operations. To be successful in this company, it is essential that I am well versed in the products being sold, such as their ingredients and effects. I also need to be familiar with trends in the beauty and cosmetics industry. Cocoa Brown is a relatively small but very busy company, so the ability to collaborate and work with a team is key to smooth operation. With this, comes the need for me to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills in working with both my coworkers and various clients. As for technical knowledge, familiarity with platforms and software such as Excel, Adobe, and Teams will come in handy. I hope to also develop my proficiency with these platforms. On the marketing side, creativity is an important strength to have when creating marketing campaigns, and I’m excited to use my more creative side during this internship.

At my internship, there may also be necessary competencies I will have to use or learn that are different in my host company of Ireland, compared to the U.S. For one, I’m not very familiar with the rules and regulations of the beauty industry, and these regulations may differ in Ireland or the EU. I also will need to strengthen my knowledge of the Irish market, its demographics, and possible regional differences, such as rural vs. urban trends and preferences. I am also curious if the Irish language will appear in some form, possibly on brand packaging or in communication with certain clients. I have never learned Irish, but it might be helpful to teach myself a few key words or phrases that come up frequently. During my time so far in Dublin, I’ve been trying to familiarize myself with what the largest retailers are in Ireland because it differs from the U.S, where stores like Walmart and Target are some of the biggest names. In Dublin, and possibly the rest of Ireland, some of the biggest retailers include Tesco, Boots, and Dunnes. On my first day in-country, I went to Tesco to pick up some groceries and was excited when I saw Cocoa Brown products on the shelves in the beauty section.

As I wrap up my first week in Dublin, I have been reflecting on all of my adventures and new experiences thus far, feeling excited for what is to come in the next seven weeks. I’m looking forward to getting into a routine, having more opportunities to immerse myself in the culture, and building connections with my coworkers at Cocoa Brown. Although I have never worked in beauty or cosmetics, it has always been something of interest to me so this internship is the perfect starting place to build my foundations on. I’m eager to develop the competencies I have mentioned above, and I’m sure many more as well. On to week two!