Ireland: Caitlin Quade (Daily Life in Dublin)

Program: FIE Dublin Internships, Summer

Living in Dublin has been quite an adventure so far, even if it has only been a month. I have already experienced many cultural shocks, mostly good ones, but of course there are those pesky annoying encounters too. Regardless, the more I integrate here in Ireland, the more I become accustomed to everything this country has to offer, including newfound pet peeves. However, I can say for certain that Ireland does feel like a home away from home, as I found different parts of myself up in the mountains of Howth, or inside the old, historic hallways of Kilkenny Castle. With that, I can begin my daily life in Ireland, and in what ways it feels like home to me.

To start, one of my favorite experiences so far is venturing around the massive city that is Dublin. During my lunch breaks, I make it a mission to explore new cafes and small stores. I find this habit adds a bit of color to my day, as working from 9 am to 5 pm can be quite exhausting. But by going on these small adventures, I found that when I return to work, I feel energized once again to start my work. A little pep in your step, I would say. Nonetheless, I feel that one spot specifically I will miss is a café called Bittersweet. It was one of the first cafes I went to, and I cannot help but keep going back to it. It is a very small café, and not a chain by any means, which is one of the things I like about it. Regardless, my all-time favorite drink to get is their frozen vanilla Frappuccino. It is not too sweet, but not too bland either. The frozen bits do not overtake the flavor and add a nice texture to the experience. Overall, Bittersweet will be dearly missed when I leave for America.

To move on from specifics, we can start to talk about my actual daily life here in Dublin. For context, my program revolves around an internship, hence the aforementioned 9am-5pm schedule. I work in a small immigration law firm called Martin & Grove Solicitors as a legal assistant. With that in mind, my mornings typically start around 7:30am to get up and ready for the day. I do basic things like washing up and putting my face on, and then around 8:30am I am out the door. It is only about a 15-minute walk from my apartment to the office, and during my commute I can walk along the Liffey River, which is always a nice way to start my day. Once at the office, I have a bit of downtime where I can settle in and prepare myself for the day. Once feeling prepared, I am given a variety of tasks like filing/organizing client files, writing dictations, crafting schedules of materials, taking consultation notes, filling out applications on behalf of clients, etc. My work does not just confine me to an office space, as I do have mini “field trips” to places like the post office and stamping office in the Four Courts. Nonetheless, there is never a “set” task for me, because in the world of law, when something comes up, you usually must do it right then and there. Even though I am a routine person, I found that I quite like the sporadic nature of given tasks, as this keeps me on my feet.

Regardless, lunchtime rolls around quicker than you would think, which is when I wonder about finding a new café. After our hour lunch, I came back ready to work on the small ballpark of tasks mentioned before. Usually, before I know it, it is 5pm and the day is done, and I am free to head home and relax. During the week, my days are not as interesting as I am focusing on gaining experience and learning from mistakes made that day. But, at the end of the day, I feel greatly fulfilled and ready to start the process all over again.