Symrn Chowdhury
UMBC Exchange: University of Galway
Major: Information Systems
Predeparture
Getting ready to leave for Galway has been thrilling, nerve racking, and stressful all in one! I am most looking forward to experiencing a different culture and being immersed in it. University of Galway is a bilingual campus, so I would like to learn a bit of Irish/Gaelic while I am abroad. Galway is known for its vibrant culture, beautiful landscapes, and interesting history, and I am looking forward to experiencing and learning about all of this and more in this upcoming semester. I am so excited to be abroad, but it’s important to have everything in order before leaving.
I have been making sure to double check that I have all required documents like accommodation details, passport, acceptance letters, etc. I have also been doing research on Galway’s customs and climate to make sure I am packed accordingly and prepared. While in Ireland, I am definitely planning to travel around, places like the Cliffs of Moher are high on my priority list right now. I am eager to join student clubs and societies to immerse myself in community and make new friends! Joining clubs and societies will also give me new experiences as a student abroad. Academically, I am excited to experience a different teaching culture and style and evaluate how I learn best. The variety of courses at University of Galway is also broad and exciting to choose from. Finally, I’m making personal goals to embrace new experiences, push myself, and grow in ways that only studying abroad can provide. I can’t wait to share my experiences with you all! Stay tuned for updates from Galway!
Weeks One and Two
Dia duit (or hello) from Ireland! Greetings from the Emerald Isle where the adventures have already begun! My time in Ireland has been nothing short of amazing, and I’m excited to share a little slice of what’s been happening so far. The past week has been jam-packed with events, activities, and plenty of nights out where I’ve met some incredible people and kicked off new friendships. Honestly, one of my biggest worries before arriving was how I’d fit in socially and adjust to life here in Ireland. But so far? No worries at all! The international student crowd is full of great opportunities to connect, and I feel like we’ve all bonded over the shared “wow, we’re really doing this” moment of being in a brand-new country. I already have friends from France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and beyond. It’s so cool learning about their cultures and how they’re navigating the Irish way of life alongside me. Fun fact: While most street signs are in Irish first, very few people actually speak it fluently. But I’ve managed to pick up a few words here and there—slán (bye) and craic (fun) have come in handy!
The nightlife in Galway is incredibly lively, from the student bar on campus, to Eyre Square and the Latin Quarter, there is always something going on and the streets are always filled. People of all ages are out and about, singing, dancing, and soaking up the good vibes. Galway is a city where music spills out of every corner, and I am absolutely loving it.
After the first few days of orientation and meeting others, I got the opportunity to visit the Cliffs of Moher, which is a tourist attraction located about 2 hours from Galway. The ride there was beautiful, getting to see the beautiful rolling hills and green pastures of the Irish countryside was a bonus that I did not expect. The cliffs were stunning, but also incredibly windy, to the point where whenever a gust came in I would stumble! Although the experience was definitely worth the cold mist and wind.
The following days brought sunshine and warmth (a rare and welcome treat in Ireland!), so naturally, a group of friends and I headed to Blackrock beach and its iconic diving towers. I wasn’t sure about diving off the towers, since the height was impressive and the water seemed far from warm and inviting, but after seeing a couple other friends take the risk, I couldn’t resist. So yes, I did jump off a tower because all my friends did—and I’m so glad I did! The jump was exhilarating, the experience was unforgettable and the water was beautiful, as well as freezing cold, but well worth it! And by the way, the rumor about Ireland having four seasons in a day? 100% true!
I’ve also spent some time wandering around Galway’s beautiful cathedrals and even managed a trip to Dublin. Galway has that cozy, small-town charm, while Dublin feels more like a bustling city—reminding me a bit of Baltimore or New York from back home. Both are amazing in their own ways, but I’m definitely enjoying Galway’s small town feel and charm for now. With all these excursions and new people and experiences, I am honestly excited for my classes to start as well as take some time to rest! So that is all for now, I’ll update you on my classes and activities in my next post! Slán for now!
Weeks Three and Four: Planes, Trains, and Buses—Oh My!
That pretty much sums up my life lately! I’ve been so lucky to hop around a bit these past few weeks, and let me tell you, the adventures have been non-stop.
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.
Then came Scotland! Our northern neighbor 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 own 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.
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 cozy 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 to join 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 evening 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.
Well, that’s all for now! 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. Hopefully I’ll be able to get outside in nature more, and write about that next time! I can’t wait to see what the next few weeks have in store, and I’ll be sure to share all the highs (and occasional lows) with you soon. Until next time, slán go fóill!
Weeks Five and Six
I’ve finally managed to set into a comfortable routine here in Galway! These last couple weeks have been pretty routine. I have been just going to classes, studying for classes, or meeting up with friends. Autumn has started to really settle in, and every day it’s like the trees are showing off with shades of red, orange, and yellow against this permanently cloudy Irish sky. Paired with the endless stone walls around here, it’s honestly the most “Irish” vibe I could’ve imagined. It has this cozy feel that makes Galway feel even more like home.
But as much as I’m loving this place, a sprinkle of homesickness has started creeping in, too. Catching up with friends and family back home and seeing all the familiar activities they’re doing has me missing those little comforts of home. Life here is amazing, but I know there are pieces of home I’m looking forward to getting back to.
On a brighter note, I finally got to check out the farmers market in Eyre Square over the weekend! I’m a huge fan of farmers markets at home, so I was beyond excited to see what Galway’s market had in store. Local businesses line up to sell their unique handcrafted products. From handmade crafts to fresh produce, each
table had something to draw you in. I’m a sucker for farmers markets back home, so seeing Galway’s own market right in the heart of the city made it even better. I treated myself to two beautiful rings from a local jeweler, a little keepsake of this place that’s already starting to feel like a second home.
Otherwise, I’ve been savoring every moment—catching dinner with friends at quaint local restaurants, taking evening walks about the city, or setting up a study spot downtown or somewhere quiet on Galway’s beautiful campus. There’s something unique about studying here, surrounded by a mix of old architecture and green spaces, and I’m frequently sidetracked by the small elements I want to notice, from the ivy-covered walls to the fresh, cool air. Whether I’m downtown in a noisy cafe or on campus on a secluded bench, it’s been lovely to have so many gorgeous places to sit in and get lost in my studies or simply absorb the spirit of this area.
Until next time, I’m off to enjoy more of Galway’s cozy autumn days, and hopefully discover a few new favorite spots along the way. Thanks for following along on this journey, can’t wait to share more soon!
Weeks Seven and Eight
These past few weeks have been a mix of study sessions, classes, and making the most of Galway’s food scene with friends. My roommates and I have even started a “must-try” restaurant list, and we’re slowly working our way through it. With the weather cooling down, dressing up and heading downtown has become a cozy ritual, and it’s the perfect way to catch up and share stories from our own little adventures.
Speaking of adventures, my highlight this week has definitely been my trip to Amsterdam, in The Netherlands. This city is absolutely stunning and has risen to the top of my favorites list when it comes to cities in Europe that I’ve traveled to. The charm of this city is impossible to miss from the moment you step into the Schipol airport. All the different portions of the city 
have different activities and scenery to offer. From the majestic views of the historical buildings in the downtown district to the winding canals that section through the entire city, to the more modern outskirts and lively bars, cafes, and restaurants of Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein. And I haven’t even mentioned the food scene there yet! Amsterdam is a sweet lover’s dream. The dutch snacks, waffles, poffertjes, pancakes, stroopwafels, and everything else were incredible and indescribably delicious. I could spend an entire weekend just simply doing a food tour of Amsterdam by itself. Additionally, we made time to visit the infamous VondelPark.
Another portion of Amsterdam I loved was the many green spaces and parks throughout. I could keep raving about this amazing city, as I completely and thoroughly enjoyed my time there, but to save you the novel I’ll move on to discussing my courses at University of Galway.
The course structure here is slightly different than in the States, and I’ve definitely needed to adjust. Most of my courses are heavily weighted on exams, meaning there are less to no assignments throughout the semester. This heavily shifts study responsibility onto students, since we are not being held accountable by our professors throughout the semester. It is definitely a bit difficult to stay on top of everything, coming from a different education background, but very doable and once you figure out what works for you it gets a lot easier.
With exams coming up and the semester flying by and quickly coming to an end, I’ll be spending more time hiding from the cold and completing my assignments and readings. I have a couple more trips planned before the end of the semester, but that’s for next time! Bye for now!
Weeks Nine and Ten
Ireland’s natural beauty has completely won me over. Now I understand why people are so captivated by this island’s charm. Between the lush green landscapes and the seemingly endless rainbows, again, I feel like I’m living in a postcard. Honestly, I’ve seen more rainbows here than I ever have in my entire life. As the days grow cooler, the sunsets seem to outdo themselves with every passing evening—it’s absolutely magical and I have a great view of the sunset over the lush forest of brush right from my living room window. In my free time I’ve been exploring more of Galway’s study spaces, book shops, and even just relaxing by the waterside.
This Halloween snuck up on me faster than I expected. One of my classes assigned us to analyze a large-scale event from a project manager’s perspective, and my group decided to dive into the Galway International Arts Festival and the Macnas Parade. As someone who didn’t grow up here, I had to catch up quickly on what the Macnas Parade was all about. When I asked my Irish classmates, they chuckled at my lack of Galway knowledge and told me it’s a staple of Galway life. Macnas is an organization known for its spectacular parades featuring giant puppets, elaborate floats, dazzling makeup, and all sorts of wonderfully bizarre creations. They encouraged me to check out the Halloween Macnas Parade and I’m so glad I did.
While researching the parade and Halloween traditions in Galway, I stumbled upon an incredible fact: Halloween originated in Ireland! It was originally an ancient Irish pagan festival called Samhain. Knowing this made celebrating Halloween here feel even more special. The energy in Galway during Halloween is on another level—vibrant, unique, and steeped in history. Experiencing Halloween in its country of origin, surrounded by Ireland’s enchanting landscapes and rich traditions, was unforgettable. My friends and I dressed up as Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, and Captain Hook from Peter Pan and headed into the celebrations!
Outside of halloween festivities, I managed one more trip to Dublin and took the Irish rail for the first time, which is a great method of transportation. It is a train that connects Dublin to other areas around the city and some areas throughout the country. It was extremely more efficient than taking the bus everywhere as I have been doing so far.
From the vivid rainbows to the lively parades, this chapter of my time in Ireland has been such a blast!
Weeks Eleven and Twelve
Exam season is now in full swing and only picking up speed, and with assignment deadlines piling up I’ve definitely been feeling the pressure lately. Since my classes at University of Galway don’t offer study guides, I am expected to review everything we’ve covered throughout the semester. This approach has been a bit of an academic culture shock to me since at home professors usually point out which chapters to focus on or provide a guided list of topics. This made me reflect on how different academic priorities are here. I think back home there is a very strong emphasis on efficiency and productivity whereas here students are expected to develop a full and thorough understanding of all the material covered in a course. While I appreciate the intention, it’s definitely overwhelming when you’re not used to it! To add to the struggle, there aren’t many (or sometimes any) assignments throughout the semester. Which at first I thought, great fewer deadlines, more free time. But now, I realize how much I relied on assignments to check how my understanding of the coursework is going and to prepare for exams. Without them, there’s no clear measure of how well I’ve been keeping up and it all comes down to exams.
On a calmer note, I got to experience a unique student tradition here: Christmas Day! Now, although the holiday of Christmas hasn’t hit yet, there is a massive celebration among Irish students before the semester ends. The day kicks off bright and early under the bridge near campus where everyone shows up in their most festive Christmas sweaters. It’s a full on party atmosphere with lots of holiday cheer in the crisp morning air! From there, people split off at different points throughout the day and night to head into town and keep the celebration going. It was such a fun way to connect with new and old friends and embrace the holiday spirit while pushing stress to the side for a day.
Amid the cold rainy Irish weather and exam preparation stress, I decided I needed a little break to go chase some warmer weather and sunshine. What better way to satisfy this calling than to take a quick weekend trip to Italy? This quick trip quickly turned into a highlight of my semester. A friend I met in Galway has a friend studying inSorrento, so we planned a visit to her school and surrounding area. Sorrento blew me away from the moment we landed. It looked like a mountain rising right out of the water with houses and buildings built right into the cliffs.
Every walk, even just to the grocery store or pharmacy was scenic, and it made me wonder how anyone gets anything done in such a beautiful place like this. We also took the train to Naples to explore a bit of the city. Naples was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. The streets were packed. So extremely full of people that just walking around required navigating (and sometimes pushing your way) through a sea of bodies. It was chaotic, but definitely had a New York type charm of its own.
Today and yesterday we even got a bit of snowfall! So now it’s time to bundle up! These weeks I’ve really seen the importance of giving yourself breaks in stressful times and embracing little joys as they come. For now it’s back to the books, wish me luck on exams!