Dispatch from Galway, Ireland

By Rebecca Heffernan

Greetings from Ireland! Here I am, in Galway studying for the semester.  This is my third week here, and I am already having the time of my life!  I live in a very nice apartment with two other girls from UW.  (We are getting along great!)

School is in full swing as of this week.  I am taking five classes, four political science, which is my major. (I am also a zoology major.)  My professors all seem very nice and the classes all interesting.  Five of the seven Madison students, including myself, are taking an Irish Studies course about modern Ireland, so that should be very interesting.

Last weekend we took a day trip to the Cliffs of Moher which was absolutely beautiful.  The rain and clouds even held up enough to get some good pictures, which I have included.  We also went hiking through the Burren Mountains, which are all limestone.  We were able to slide on a rock down a little slope of it, which is what I am doing in the second picture.  We were told that was how children entertained themselves back in the day.  It was a little scary, but definitely something I would get a kick out of as a kid!

Last night we went on a pub crawl with the International Students Society, five pubs in five hours.  I met a lot of people from a lot of countries!  It was a good time – it’s nice being legal here as a 20 year old!

Next Thursday I am traveling to Munich for Oktoberfest.  I am staying with a former UW International Student who is from Munich.  I met him last spring; he lived across the hall from me.  Now he lives very close to where the fest takes place so it is very convenient!  I am excited about my trip; I have never been to Germany, nonetheless Oktoberfest!

I want to thank the WAA: Chicago Chapter and the Rothschild Study Abroad Scholarship for making this semester possible.  Everyday I still cannot believe I am here, it’s just surreal!

Well that’s all for now!

Cheers