Study Abroad Diaries: Symrn’s Travels

Traveling to Europe from the United States has been incredibly exhilarating, each day presents itself with new highs and lows. I arrived in the beautiful and culture-packed city of Galway on September 2nd, and have been studying here and living on campus since then. I will be studying here for one semester, so only until December, which is now feeling incredibly short! My home university is University of Maryland, Baltimore County, located in Baltimore Maryland. The difference between there and here is vast, from campus size to social culture, to class structure. I’ve had so many adventures and amazing experiences since I have been here so far. Here’s a recap of the past couple of weeks.

 

First off, Dublin! I’ve made a couple of trips to Ireland’s bustling capital, and each time feels like peeling back a new layer of the city. We did the full tourist experience—wandering through the historic pubs (yes, we hit up the Brazen Head, the oldest pub in Ireland dating back to 1754!) and, of course, a visit to the famous Guinness Factory. Between the lively atmosphere and the centuries-old history, it’s like the city has a pulse of its own. And don’t even get me started on the narrow alleyways and hidden nooks. Every turn felt like stepping into a time capsule as if I was walking through a movie.

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Then came Scotland! Our northern neighbour shares a natural beauty and weather changes with Ireland, but culturally, it's got a whole different vibe. We based ourselves in Glasgow, which had its own edgy charm, before venturing up to Edinburgh and St. Andrews. Each city had its magic, from Edinburgh’s medieval streets to the peaceful beauty of St. Andrews. Visiting the museums in Edinburgh was eye-opening, as well as beautiful, from the structure of the buildings themselves to the artwork and history within. Plus, I’m still blown away by how reliable and easy it is to get around—trains, buses, you name it. It’s honestly made exploring feel like a breeze.

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Back in Galway, things have been a whirlwind of classes, sports clubs, and, of course, coffee shops. I’ve been on a mission to find the perfect spot to hunker down with my books and a hot drink. Galway has so many cosy little cafés, each perfect for rainy-day study sessions (which are most days here!). It’s become my personal mission to rank them all—who knew studying, or rather, finding a study nook could be so much fun?

Outside of studying, I’ve thrown myself into all the extracurriculars! I’ve joined the sailing, pickleball, volleyball, mountaineering, and cheerleading clubs. I’m having an absolute blast with each one – especially cheerleading. As someone who has never thought of joining this sport before, and figured I was past the age now, I have had the perfect opportunity to try something new in a low-stress environment here. Sailing has also been incredible and on a whole different level than what I am used to from being on the UMBC team. But as always, there’s something about being out on the water that just feels so freeing! Most of my evenings I spend at the climbing wall, or at a social for one of the clubs.

I also celebrated my 21st birthday while abroad! I was a little nervous about having such a milestone birthday away from home, but thanks to the amazing friends I’ve made here, it ended up being one of the most memorable birthdays yet. I felt so much love, and it was a reminder of how lucky I am to be surrounded by incredible people, even halfway across the world.

With every day that passes, I’m falling more in love with Ireland, and the adventures just keep coming. Whether I’m exploring new cities, pubs, diving into club activities, or sipping on coffee while dodging raindrops, there’s never a dull moment.

Words and images thanks to Symrn Chowdhury.