I can’t believe it has already been two weeks in Dublin! After enjoying Monday off for a national holiday, I started my internship on Tuesday this week. My schedule is a mix of in-office and remote work: I’m at the office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and work from home on Monday and Friday. My first day was in person which helped me get acquainted with the company and allowed me to meet several of my colleagues. Everyone was incredibly friendly and helped me feel welcome at the company. Cocoa Brown is a large brand but a relatively small team in terms of the number of employees, so everyone stays very busy at the office. There are frequently multiple large tasks and projects to manage, which is where time management, delegation, and communication are essential.

So far, I’ve had both quick tasks and longer projects to work on. These are usually assigned to me via email by my supervisor. The most challenging part of managing time when I’m working on these assignments is that I’m not given deadlines, and rather, am trusted to finish projects promptly. This may be a difference from U.S. workplace culture where, in my experience, having strict deadlines is often the norm. For the larger projects, I find it is helpful to break them down into smaller tasks for myself. This method helps me stay on track and also see my progress.

While working on projects, I try to work at a pace that I am comfortable with, as I don’t want my work to look rushed but I also want to get assignments to my supervisor in a timely manner. Finding this balance is not always easy, especially on days when I am working from home. While my job back in Pittsburgh is primarily remote which gives me some experience, I have only experienced part time remote work, not full time. Remote work requires being highly self-motivated, organized, and accountable. I find that changing locations is key to staying focused. I have been exploring various spots around the UCD campus for me to set up work during remote days. I enjoy the flexibility of work from home days, however, I do miss the social aspect and ease of communication of in-person days at the office.

Transitioning to a full-time job has definitely been an adjustment in terms of managing my time during the week, however, it has been nice feeling that I’m settling into more of a routine. With The sun not setting until nearly 10 pm here, days feel extra long and allow for time to explore or do activities after work while it’s still daylight. After our first day of work on Tuesday, me and several fellow students from the program attended a friendly soccer (football) match between Ireland and Hungary. It ended up being the perfect way for us to unwind and socialize after a busy first day, while also getting in the Irish spirit. Ireland scored the game winning goal in stoppage time! I hope to continue to do activities similar to this after work days.

The weekends offer time for longer adventures and explorations. This past weekend, five fellow Pitt students and I spontaneously booked a trip to Galway, located on the west coast of Ireland. Having heard from Dublin locals that Galway was a must-visit destination in Ireland, so I was thrilled that we were able to make the journey happen. Unknowingly, we went during Galway’s folk festival and greatly enjoyed all of the talented street performers. We were all immediately charmed by the small city, with its cobblestone streets and quaint shops. For lunch, we enjoyed one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had from a local shop called Meltd, and for dinner, we dined on some delicious freshly caught seafood. After enjoying the Galway nightlife, we spent the night in the city, and the following day made our way to the famous Cliffs of Moher. This was an absolutely breathtaking and unforgettable experience. While battling the winds and incoming storms, we walked along the trails of the tops of the cliffs, taking in the geological phenomena. We made sure to get in all of our Harry Potter and The Princess Bride references while we were there too.

After a long journey back from Galway, which involved a bus, a train, and then another bus, we made it back to campus. On Monday it was back to work. I can’t wait to see what adventures this week will bring. Till next time!