I have officially finished my last week of my internship. This last week I spent as much time with all my new friends and I spent as much time as I could walking around the city center. This past week I went to so many restaurants and was soaking up every last experience that was available to me. On Thursday night, all of the girls from Pitt wore “I Heart Dubin” shirts. We went out to dinner, saw live music, and got the cutest pictures. Definitely one of the nights where I felt the most like a tourist. It was funny having all the locals stare at us but I loved it. It was a great way to have “the last horah” with all the girls we have become friends with throughout this program. I will never forget screaming “Linger” by the Cranberries. A golden memory for sure.  On Friday night, my two roommates and I went to an Italian restaurant in the center city and it was amazing. The pasta was so fresh and it was one of the best meals that I had while being in Ireland. After dinner, we got gelato to finish off our Italian meal. As we were walking down Grafton street, I was looking around the illuminated buildings and I could not believe it was my last night. These two months went by so so fast and I am so grateful for everything that I have gotten to do and everyone I have met. This truly has been an experience of a lifetime. 

In Ireland, “success” is defined by a couple different factors. As I have talked about before, the Irish are very vague when it comes to communication. Although the Irish work very well together, they value personal independence. When you are able to complete a task given to you, and figure out a solution, it shows hard work and problem solving skills, which show that you are successful in a professional environment in Irish culture. At my internship specifically I was successful when I applied creativity into the content I would produce. In any industry that has to deal with media, it is imperative that you apply creative skills into your work. 

I have also noticed in Ireland that work behavior is a lot more positive compared to the United States. I think this positive behavior is related to the positive work environment and a good work/life balance within Irish culture. I have come to appreciate the differences in the professional environments because I want to take a lot of the professional skills/behaviors that I have learned at The Buff Day Spa, back into my work back at school and in future professional internships/jobs. This is not me criticizing the way the U.S functions professionally, I just find it very interesting how different it is from not only Irish culture but also European culture in general. Deadlines were much less stressful here in Ireland and I was completing the same high quality work. 

Overall and most importantly, I have felt the most successful while working in Dublin, Ireland. I felt the quality of my work was better because I learned how to do the tasks given with little clear direction. I used my own gut and previous skills to produce a product that I was proud of. Producing content that I am proud of is what represents success to me. 

Ireland has been amazing to  me. The Buff Day Spa has been amazing to me. I learned so much. Whether is was improving skills like filming, editing, collaborating with coworkers. These are skills that I have always felt you needed to have in order to be sucuessful in a professonal enviornment. Before Dublin, I don’t think I was too well expierenced in thoese skills but I feel confident in them after the two months I have spent working abroad. 

I have never been more greatful for this oppertunity. Dublin is a place I coule talk about for hours. There is so much to do, and so many people to meet. This last week defineitley changed me, but I think it changed me in a really possitive way. I like the person I have become while wokring abroad and I want to bring that back to my life in the United States.