A Weekend Trip to London

I never knew that international travel can be done so casually. Not even two weeks ago, my flatmates and I spontaneously decided to fly to England (thanks Ryanair for being so affordable). After an hour-long flight, I was in a whole different country. Two years ago, the summer before the beginning of the pandemic, I …

Paranormal Experience: Exploring a Prison in Belfast, Northern Ireland

If you know me personally, perhaps you would describe me as a serious person. Definitely not rebellious. Maybe a little bit of a party pooper?  Those of you who know me, you might have to update your impression of me. On Friday, I did something incredibly wild (in my opinion)! With three of my flatmates, …

True or False: Does it rain in Ireland everyday?

A little over 10 days have passed since I came to Ireland and here are three things I need to admit :  1. I have NOT been caught in the rain 2. I have spent SO MUCH money already 3. My steps have been trending higher everyday ever since I got here 1. I have …

An Unforgettable Birthday Dinner

I don’t know about you But I’m feeling 22 -Taylor Swift, 22 On January 23, 2022, I turned 22. Turning 18 and 20 was nerve wracking because these numbers signified the beginning of adulthood in the US and Japan, respectively; and turning 21 was thrilling because it meant that I had finally reached the legal …

The Irish Pub

On the second night in Dublin, Ireland, I went to an authentic Irish pub for the first time. My only exposure to an Irish pub was the Curragh (if you’re a Hope student, you know what I’m talking about), and I was thrilled to experience the true Irish pub. The name of the pub that …

Why Ireland?

So Yuki, why did you decide to go to Ireland? Undoubtedly, this was the most commonly asked question during the winter break after I told people my plan to study abroad. To be completely honest, even now, as I’m sitting on the airplane to Dublin, I don’t quite know how to answer the question.  I …

Halfway Point thoughts

I’m sitting on the train, eating one of Joanne’s Bagged 24-hour Baked Scones (4 for 2 euro, how could I have resisted that?) and staring at my screen. It’s 16:25 and the sun has already disappeared, dark purple flowing over the sky to fill the empty space. Past the reflection of myself and the Irish …

Where’s the Spera in Deo? A look into religion of Modern Ireland

The place demands attention. Controls it, in a sense, the way a preacher must have controlled the attention of his flock in years past, spitting in their faces warnings of hell and brimstone. That was then, but in 2020 the scene plays out a little differently. Both the preachers at Christchurch Cathedral and the Dublin …

Ireland: Myth and Magic

“Do you see that over there, up on the wall next to the driver?” I ask my friend as we slide into our seats on the bus. A line of IES students file their way in behind us. I point to a wooden design the driver must have put up on the wall. “Remember when …

Day Trip: Howth, Co. Dublin

During their taxi rides in, several members of our writers group had been told of a quaint fishing village nearby, that had the best cliffside views one could hope for. After a bit of research, we discovered that this village was called Howth- from Old Norse Hofuth, meaning a promontory- and was only a half …