National University of Ireland, Galway

From Galway you can take day trips or weekend trips all over for really cheap, so it is a good hub to stay in.

Galway was a great place to start my international experiences. This university setting helped me develop independence in my studies and personal motivation. It may be a different experience for those who are more urbane and better travelled than I was, but for a first international travel experience, I cannot recommend a better place!

I didn't realize I would be grocery shopping once a week, usually costing me about 30 euro per week. The refrigerators are very small (like dorm fridges) so I couldn't buy a lot at once. Using the computers on campus are free, but I had to pay 10 cents to print each page. You have to pay for everything on campus with cash, whereas at my home university, I use a swipe card and pay at the end of each month. I couldn't find any secondhand books. There are a decent amount of ATMs, I didn't find it necessary to open an account in Ireland. Be prepared to spend a lot of money on nightlife!

I got to not only learn about another country, but I got to learn about myself. It helped me to gain a love for international aspects and made me want a career on an international level.

Try as hard as possible to find Irish roommates upon arrival -- otherwise it is very easy to stick with only Americans.

Book the accomodation as closest as possible to the university