selena sprout

If you would like to learn how I integrated my life in Ireland during my 1-year master’s program or if you are seeking new ideas to soak up your life in Ireland on a deeper level, I hope you enjoy my post. And I promise I won’t mention anything about the weather! (but maybe in the other post, it is never enough words to describe the Ireland weather!) 

The main reason I’m writing this post is that I want to pay it forward and help people who may feel lost in connecting to the local community due to any barriers as we embark on a new life chapter in Ireland.

Thanks to five years in the tourism and hospitality industry, supporting overseas travellers has helped me to understand and overcome both the challenges and difficulties of immersing myself in a new country. Thanks to spiritual practice, I always believe that the world is rich in resources I am lucky to access, use and create. 

Let’s get started now!

1 – School/University

My very first step in this journey was attending my university, TU Dublin. Studying at TU Dublin was a great choice I made. I met many new friends from many places in the world. The classes were delivered by professional lecturers. One of my favourite modules (and the hardest one) was Effective Management. I thoroughly enjoyed this learning journey with 100% commitment. The practical knowledge and hands-on projects also helped me gain new knowledge and master my critical thinking. 

TU Dublin offers a wide range of student support and activities. Among a numerous number of clubs and societies, you will definitely find one that suits you. 

I am grateful to have some great classmates here even though the course lasts only one year. 

2 – Traveling (of course)

I have been travelling to many places across Ireland and Northern Ireland mostly using public transportation. On weekends, if I want a short break, I go for a walk to explore trails in some great spots in Dublin. Travelling also helps my friends and myself strengthen our bonds.  

I subscribed to and received marketing emails to learn more about Dublin and Ireland (Visit Dublin, Love Ireland, Tourism Ireland,….). It’s not just about learning Irish culture and heritage, but I also observe how Ireland does creative tourism marketing, operates its tourism and hospitality businesses, and delivers exceptional customer service.

My always favorite activity is visiting museums. I’ve visited many museums in Ireland, and my favorite one is the EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum. I burst my tears while staying put and watching the documentary about the Irish emigration journey. 

I’ve had the chance to be a “tour guide” for my friends who visited me in Dublin. My Canadian friends explored Dublin with a bespoke 2-week itinerary I designed. Or as a big fan of James Joyce; or my Vietnamese friend, who comes from London, visited me and explored Dublin in a few days. He fell in love immediately with the city of literature. Being an amateur tour guide for my friends, I saw more of Dublin’s aspects which I might have missed.

3 – Volunteering

As I wrote about a post on my LinkedIn, here are some memorable volunteer activities I participated in:

• Participated as an environmental volunteer with StudentVolunteer.ie.
• Volunteered as a WWOOFer on two organic farms through WWOOF – Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, located in Co. Limerick and Co. Meath, for 4 weeks during two school breaks. I had many memorable experiences while living with Irish families. There are many organic farms across Ireland with different types of farming activities that will fit anyone’s profile.
• Contributed as a respondent in scientific research studies and became a Community Volunteer on the Volunteer Ireland platform. Since I returned to Vietnam to visit my mom, I haven’t engaged in any community volunteer activities since finishing the first training workshop, but I look forward to exploring more when I back. Volunteer Ireland has a wide range of voluntary activities, so everyone can find something that suits them.

The fact is, there are many volunteer opportunities for everyone in Ireland. This is one of the things I love about the country. We all have something to give. 

4 – Improving Your English Speaking Skills

Even though I’ve been studying English for years, used English in my job in Vietnam, and met people from many parts of the world, I still found it hard to start an English conversation in Ireland during my first few months. It’s not just about language but also about how I face socially awkward situations or strike up a conversation which I don’t know the best way to approach due to cultural barriers. I also feel my pronunciation and my accent cause people to find it hard to understand my words. I notice subtle differences in my personality when I speak English, but I’ve accepted this as part of being a bilingual speaker.

When I was about to finish my Master’s program, I discovered Failte Isteach – Free English Classes in Ireland where they arrange weekly free-charge English speaking classes for everyone at all levels of English across Ireland. It wasn’t just about language; it was also a great way to connect with the local community, meet new friends, and kick back after a long week of studying or working.

5 – Local Library (Can’t skip this because I’m a book lover!)

Local libraries in Ireland are free and welcome everyone. My favourite library is Ballyroan Library, located in South Dublin. I spent this summer there studying and completing my thesis (which have just received a first). I love the intellectual atmosphere in the library so much.

Community libraries also offer many activities for visitors. It’s a resourceful opportunity to join, connect with local people, or meet new individuals like us.

6 – Social Media and Event Apps

Like many people, I have been following various pages on Instagram, from news to companies, from local government offices to community activities. I explore and learn many things about Ireland by using Instagram. I use Instagram to read daily news and stay updated on what’s happening in Dublin. 

The fact, I am a big fan of Taoiseach (Head of Government or Prime Minister of Ireland), Simon Harris, I never miss any of his posts on IG. 

There are also some popular and well-known social apps such as Fever, Meetup or Eventbrite where you can easily find events and activities you’d love to join or groups of people where you feel you may belong, engage and can commit for the long term. I have a good friendship circle, so I use Eventbrite to buy tickets for the public cultural events.

7 – Shopping Locally

Living in Dublin 8—a rich heritage in the heart of Dublin—there are pretty local shops, boutiques and cafes. Sometimes, instead of shopping at supermarkets, I visit local vegetable and fruit shops near my student apartment. I often receive free fruits from the Irish shop owner, Norton’s Fruit & Vegetable Market (since 1946), and have good chats with him. When I moved to Dublin 14, I missed his shop so much and felt sad that I had not said goodbye properly to him when I was busy moving. 

There are many ways to shop locally, whether for groceries, second-hand clothing in charity shops, or delicious cakes in lovely coffee & bakery shops. Talking to the locals has tremendously helped me understand the Irish accent better, and I’ve enjoyed these conversations. 100% true, Irish is very warm welcoming and friendly. 

8 – Reading Newspapers! Yes, reading local newspapers.

If you find it hard to read the entire The Irish Times or Irish Independent with their high-level English proficiency, you can start with free local newspapers in the supermarket. My first time to The Irish Times took me three days to finish, it contains many long-written articles and pages covering variety of topics. 

I usually pick up free South Dublin newspapers or magazines when I shop at Tesco. These papers are written in a simpler English language, suitable for upper-intermediate learners or you just want to read faster as they contain short articles and essays. I’ve learned a lot about the Irish economy, investments, etc, just from reading these newspapers. Choosing newspapers you want to be dialled in as it is beneficial to keep up with what is happening in the community or country we are living in.

Don’t forget to spend a half-day at the National Print Museum in Dublin where you learn about the printing industry and how it changed the Irish society. The cafe shop inside the museum is top-notch for me.

9 – Watching films

My favourite film series, where I explore the beauty of Irish folklore and Irish language, is the well-known and academic-award Irish Folklore Trilogy cartoons: Song of the Sea, Wolfwaker and The Secret of Kells. In addition, recently, I love watching the Bodkin on Netflix.

Other my favourite movies about Irish and Ireland are Brooklyn, The Quiet Girl, The Banshees of Inisherin, and Leap Year.

10 – Living with an Irish family

Sending 10 emails to ask for a place to live, F is the only and the first person who responds to me. F is the greatest Irish Host I have ever met. I am so grateful to live with her. Thanks, F for such a warm welcome. She makes me feel absolutely comfortable while living with her family. And, of course, I learn so much about Irish family.

11 – Lastly, Job Seeking and More

I completed the Job Ready Programme by Pathways to Progress. I attended useful online workshops to gain job market knowledge and boost my confidence. I was also connected with a great mentor who guided me on my job-seeking journey (very challenging). In addition, I also learned about the Cultúr Migrants Centre and received a scholarship to study an Intensive Cambridge English course. 

“Pathways to Progress is a program by The Open Doors Initiative, offering many activities and programs to support people starting a new life in Ireland”. I feel deeply grateful for receiving the open-resource support from them. 

It is all about human connection. All of my activities are ways to connect with people, build new relationships, feel belong and be a part of a bigger community; it is a way to find the place to nurture and show myself as well. The fact that sometimes I feel disconnected, but by learning and practising non-violent communication for years, I learned how to see the needs behind individuals, groups and communities and find ways to connect with them.

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I love Ireland so much for its rich Celtic culture, open and free community resources, humanity activities, etc. Uprooting and integrating myself into a new country, in some ways, I learn more about myself. 

The first time I knew Irish Aid was the Sustainability Field School programme (Đại học Không Giảng Đường) in 2016; and in 2023, I received a full-scholarship Master programme funded by Irish Aid. Ireland is a special country in my heart.

Last words, I am truly grateful for this journey so far. And, thank you, readers, so much for reading my words. I appreciate!