Currently, I am studying at the Dublin Business School in Ireland. The school is a fragmented campus with three separate buildings, all within the heart of the city. I share travel to school with well-to-do Dubliners, students, tourists, street performers; as well as countless cafes and pubs.

I was initially attracted to Dublin because I have some Irish roots. Also, the flight to Sydney would have been far too long and London would have been far too expensive… and I can only speak English with any sort of fluency, so that, too, narrowed it down. Plus the live music? The pints of Guinness? All set in what was being called a “friendly, clean New York”? I was there.

(By the way, did you know that Dublin has over 1,000 pubs? That means I could go to a new pub every night I am here… Just throwing that out there…)

As I write this, I have been here for a little over two weeks. And, for the most part, it has been as advertised, if not better. Dublin is probably closer to Boston than to New York City, an older, friendlier, sky-scraper-less Boston…let’s go with that.

I was also told to prepare for rain – that part is pretty much dead on. It is grey for most of the day, here. Days that do not rain are few and far between – and are celebrated. However, the weather has been much milder than I could expect Massachusetts and far less windy than off the banks of Hudson River at college in New York (and no snow to shovel!). And, if this is the only thing I have to complain about, I would say things are going pretty well.

I have already seen several castles, seemingly never-ending coastlines, green rolling hills, weathered statues, and many other ancient and historical things I simply could not see anywhere else (Guinness Brewery, anyone?).

Here’s a quick example:

Wednesday, classes ended at 1, so some friends and I skipped down to the aptly-named coastal town Sandycove. Once there, we walked along the shoreline, felt infinitely small along the rocky beaches, and even saw a few seals. They were happy to swim alongside the rocky walls; but I suspect they just expected a few fish to float there way and not due to the seal impressions we were doing.

(Educational fact: There are about 90 seals in the area and the locals expect those numbers to increase. With no natural predators, the seals are the top of the food chain, and not incidentally, the ire of many local fishermen. Moving on…)

That evening, I met some friends at a smaller, upscale pub outside Dublin. We enjoyed some traditional Irish music and some traditional Irish drink with some real-life Irish people – an experience like no other.

Traditional melodies laced the laughter as a violin flowed over our stamping feet and the thumping Bodhran drum; the euros in our pockets keeping time with the strumming guitars and plucky mandolin.

Everyone enjoyed their fare share of pints, smiling, joking, and laughing. It was simply a good time – “craic”, as it is referred to, here in Ireland.

OK, enough for now – I am getting thirsty.

Thanks again for reading.

Cheers!