I have had such an amazing experience studying, working, and living in Dublin, Ireland the past few months. It has truly been a life-altering experience and one I wouldn’t trade for anything. I have been able to explore Ireland and other countries in Europe during my time here while also getting to know more about myself and making great friends. 

Some of my favorite memories are the short weekend trips I took with my flat mates and getting to experience new cultures and places. I traveled to Portugal, Spain, the UK, and Sweden over the past 3 months along with counties Dublin, Galway, Cork, and Kerry within Ireland. This past weekend I was also able to visit some of my extended family in county mayo which was amazing. This was a great opportunity to reconnect with some of my cousins and experience what life is like in the Irish countryside. Here is a picture of my cousin’s Connemara pony!

Overall, I have grown personally, academically, and professionally during my time here. My classes at Trinity have really challenged me and I have learned so much about international finance, fixed income and alternative investments, and business in society. It was even more informative to have gotten these lessons via a European lens, challenging some American ideas and assumptions. I am excited to bring these perspectives back to the PittBusiness classroom for my last semester of college and see how different subjects might be taught based on certain cultural norms. Additionally, through my internship with the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland (RSAI), I have been able to learn more about program creation and made some great contacts in the non-profit art space. This experience has given me the opportunity to discover what a job in an organization like RSAI may be like and I will be able to bring the skills I have honed back to the states.

What I have found most surprising is how quickly I was able to adapt to life in Dublin. While lots of things are different, finding a good coffee shop and grocery store goes a long way. I have grown the most personally navigating time zone differences, life in a European city, and cultural differences. While I have gotten to see so many new and amazing things, it was the people I have met along the way have made this experience memorable and truly special.

Best,

Maddie McCann-Colvard