In March 2023, I set off on a new adventure. First by car to Berlin, then on to the plane. Next stop and destination: Dublin.

When I arrived, I took a bus from the airport to my accommodation for the next 12 weeks. I lived with a host family and another guest like me. This made it easier to settle into the new environment, because I was not alone at all. The view of the Wicklow Mountains from my window was of course a great asset to my living conditions.

As a future teacher, I wanted to gain practical experience abroad after graduating from

from university. It was very convenient for me to do my internship at an NGO for sustainable education in Dublin. Here, of course, everything revolves around sustainability - including education. As part of the education team, I had various tasks. The Centre's education team gives workshops for students, as well as teachers for all grade levels around the topic of sustainability throughout Ireland. My responsibilities included packing for the workshops, preparing materials, occasionally testing experiments, and of course taking parts in the workshops themselves and helping to make them run. The atmosphere in the team was awesome. The Irish mentality and hospitality were reflected here very well.  I was very well received by everyone in the team and was directly involved. I was able to express my opinions directly and everyone interacted at the same level.

Through the internship I had the chance to get to know many schools around and in Dublin, to meet many different students and to also try adult education.

But I especially miss the lunch breaks together. With colleagues we also organized vegan potlucks.

In general, I was totally impressed by the relaxed working atmosphere and how, even in stressful situations, there was always time for a quick laugh and a cup of tea.

There is a lot to discover in and around Dublin. I went hiking in the Wicklow Mountains, which were also easy to reach with public transportation. If you like more water you can also visit various coastal towns, but especially great is the peninsula of Howth. Here you can walk along the coastal path and enjoy the view.

If you prefer swimming, you could visit Bray and Dún Laoghaire. I myself was also several times at the Forty Foot in Dún Laoghaire (it was still very cold in April and May) and can only recommend this ice cold experience to everyone.

I did not miss a rugby match at the Aviva Stadium. Understanding the rules was not too difficult and the atmosphere was just unbelievably good.

There are really many bars and pubs in Dublin and if you can, you should rely on the tips of colleagues. If you then go together with them, a good evening is guaranteed.

Besides the internship, I also had time to explore the west of the country with visitors from

Germany. We were especially impressed by the famous Cliffs of Moher and the Atlantic Way. These are really natural phenomena that are worth seeing. When you have weather like we did, it's hard to compare.

The internship in Ireland was not only enriching for my professional experience, but also for me personally. A different kind of work climate and environment and the balance between work and life are something I took back home with me.

Written By Wiebke from Germany (Intern with StudentsGoAbroad)