My last week in Dublin went by much faster than I expected. After spending the summer getting used to a new city, meeting new people, working at my internship, and traveling around Ireland, it felt strange knowing that I only had a few days left. I wanted to make the most of my time, so I tried to fit in as much as I possibly could before packing up and leaving.
One of the things I focused on during my last week was going to restaurants and places that I had not gotten the chance to try yet. Since I had been in Dublin for several weeks, I already had a few favorite spots, but I wanted to make sure I did not leave feeling like there were things I never got around to doing. I spent a lot of my free time exploring different parts of the city, trying new food, and enjoying some of the everyday experiences that had become part of my routine. It was interesting realizing how familiar Dublin had started to feel. At the beginning of the summer, I had to think about where I was going and how to get around, but by my last week, I could walk around the city much more confidently and knew many areas without having to look them up.
Another highlight of my last week was having a farewell dinner with all of the friends I made while abroad. One of the best parts of studying abroad was meeting people from so many different places and forming friendships in such a short amount of time. We all knew from the beginning that the program would eventually end, but that did not make saying goodbye any easier. It was bittersweet because I was excited to go home, but I also knew I would miss the people and experiences I had become so used to having around me.
My last weekend in Dublin was especially exciting because my boyfriend came to visit me. It was his first time in Ireland, so I got to show him around the city and share some of the places that had become meaningful to me during my time abroad. It was fun being able to see Dublin through his perspective while also getting to act like a local and show someone else around. I took him cliff jumping, which was one of the experiences I had wanted to share with him, and we spent time exploring the city together. It made the end of my study abroad experience feel even more special because I was able to share a place that had become such a big part of my summer with someone important to me.
After spending the weekend together, it was finally time to start packing. Packing up my room and moving out made the end of the experience feel very real. I had accumulated so many souveniers, and somehow I had to fit my entire summer into my suitcases. Leaving was definitely bittersweet. I was excited for the next part of my summer and our upcoming trip to Italy, but I also realized how much had changed since I first arrived in Dublin. What had originally felt like a completely unfamiliar place had become somewhere I felt comfortable navigating and calling home, even if only temporarily.
Looking back on my internship, one of the biggest cultural differences I noticed was how professional success is viewed in Ireland compared to the United States. In the U.S., I think success is often associated with being highly ambitious, constantly looking for opportunities to advance, and showing that you are willing to go above and beyond. There can be a strong emphasis on productivity, competition, promotions, and building a career as quickly as possible. In my experience in Dublin, professional success seemed to have more of a balance between doing your job well and maintaining a good quality of life. Being successful did not necessarily mean working as much as possible or constantly trying to move to the next position.
At my internship, an effective employee was someone who could work independently, communicate when they needed help, and take responsibility for completing their work. I also noticed that the workplace culture was relatively relaxed compared to what I have experienced in the U.S. Employees were trusted to manage their responsibilities without constantly being given detailed instructions or closely supervised. This made being proactive and comfortable asking questions especially important.
Overall, my experience in Dublin taught me that there is not one definition of professional success. While American workplaces may place more emphasis on ambition, advancement, and productivity, my experience in Ireland showed me the value of independence, trust, balance, and enjoying life outside of work. My last week in Dublin was a good reflection of that balance. I was finishing my internship and wrapping up my responsibilities, but I was also spending time with friends, exploring the city, and making memories. As I packed my bags and prepared to leave, I realized that those experiences outside of work were just as important to my overall success abroad as anything I accomplished during my internship.
