A year ago I never would have dreamed that I'd be moving to Ireland in a week. As much as I love to travel, and have had my fair share of experiences abroad, moving to another country to pursue my Masters degree is still a huge step for me. I am excited and thrilled for the opportunity, but I am also nervous and unsure completely what to expect my next year to be like. I have never lived outside of Washington State, and part of the reason I think this will be such a great opportunity for me is the fact that it will challenge me to be outside my comfort zone.
I've known for a number of years that I wished to return to school at some point and pursue my Masters degree, and this last winter I finally received the push I needed to make the leap. I spent a good portion of the winter of 2012 travelling and volunteering in India, Nepal, and the U.K, and during this time I met a friend who was herself pursuing a masters degree in London. She loved her experience there, and for the first time I realized pursuing a degree internationally was a possibility for me too. Ireland in particular interested me, as I had traveled there in 2009 with my Mom, had immediately felt right at home and have wanted to return ever since! I began researching, and the more I read, the more I felt that this was the right decision. A few of the things that convinced me were the timeline (a Masters degree in the U.S. would take me 2-3 years, but only 1 year in Ireland), the affordable price, the ability to travel and experience a new culture, and the great reputation of the Universities. I really felt that gaining a international perspective, especially in the science field could be incredibly beneficial to my knowledge base and understanding of conservation and environmental science.
After extensive research on my University and program options, the M.S. in Applied Environmental Science at UCD seemed like one of the best fits for me. Since my interests are so broad, I liked that the module selection still covered a wide range of sciences and didn't just narrow me down to one field. I was offered a place on the program as well as the opportunity to apply for a full tuition scholarship. I was awarded the Government of Ireland Scholarship which not only fully pays for my tuition expenses, but also provides me with an additional 10,000 euro for living expenses. I can't express just how lucky I feel to have received this scholarship. When I got the email informing me of the award, I immediately broke down and cried (happy tears of course), because the financial part of my decision to pursue my Masters degree was the portion I struggled with the most. It was such a weight off my shoulders to know that the huge majority my expenses would be covered. The scholarship also provides me with another great opportunity to serve on the International Board of Student Ambassadors. I think this will be an awesome way for me to get involved and make the most of my time at UCD.
Since accepting a position on the program, life has been a bit of a blur between working full time and preparing for the big move. There are so many details to take care of when returning to school, but even more when that involves moving to another country as well. Some of those things include:
1. Buying a plane ticket
2. Getting international health insurance
3. Applying for a loan to cover additional expenses
4. Signing up for classes
5. Opening a new credit card that will not charge for international transaction fees
6. Putting my car in storage for a year
7. Changing my cell phone plan, and getting an international SIM card for my iPhone
8. Finding a place to live (has proved to be difficult since I can't go see places in person)
9. Getting as ISIC card
10. Shopping for school supplies, travel gear, etc.
11. Opening a bank account in Ireland
12. Registering with the GNIB once I arrive in Ireland
13. Packing
14. And most importantly spending quality time with friends and family before I leave
I am incredibly excited to begin classes. I love learning, and I can't wait to get back into the swing of things. My fist Semester I am enrolled in:
Core Skills for Research
Essay
Freshwater Resources Assessment
Global Change Ecology
Intro to Water Resources Engineering 1
Wildlife Conservation
I know that the class structure will be very different from what I am used to, and hopefully I will adjust quickly to any differences in lecture, testing, or writing styles. Unlike schools in the U.S, classes are not regularly scheduled and each week will be different.
At this point it all still feels like a bit of a dream. I am working at Mount Rainier right up until I leave, and with only one week left until I fly to Dublin it seems like I just don't have quite enough time to fit everything in. The thing that most worries me at this point is finding a place to live. Hopefully, if I still haven't heard back from any of the available rooms I've inquired about, I will be able to quickly find somewhere upon my arrival. I am extremely thankful that my Mom will be flying over with me for the first week to help me get settled in. It's so comforting to know that I won't be on my own navigating a new city and trying to figure out all the odds and ends of moving, starting classes, and getting my new life set up.
I know that this next year will be a fantastic experience and I can't wait to get started. Let the countdown begin! Dublin here I come! :)
I've known for a number of years that I wished to return to school at some point and pursue my Masters degree, and this last winter I finally received the push I needed to make the leap. I spent a good portion of the winter of 2012 travelling and volunteering in India, Nepal, and the U.K, and during this time I met a friend who was herself pursuing a masters degree in London. She loved her experience there, and for the first time I realized pursuing a degree internationally was a possibility for me too. Ireland in particular interested me, as I had traveled there in 2009 with my Mom, had immediately felt right at home and have wanted to return ever since! I began researching, and the more I read, the more I felt that this was the right decision. A few of the things that convinced me were the timeline (a Masters degree in the U.S. would take me 2-3 years, but only 1 year in Ireland), the affordable price, the ability to travel and experience a new culture, and the great reputation of the Universities. I really felt that gaining a international perspective, especially in the science field could be incredibly beneficial to my knowledge base and understanding of conservation and environmental science.
Since accepting a position on the program, life has been a bit of a blur between working full time and preparing for the big move. There are so many details to take care of when returning to school, but even more when that involves moving to another country as well. Some of those things include:
1. Buying a plane ticket
2. Getting international health insurance
3. Applying for a loan to cover additional expenses
4. Signing up for classes
5. Opening a new credit card that will not charge for international transaction fees
6. Putting my car in storage for a year
7. Changing my cell phone plan, and getting an international SIM card for my iPhone
8. Finding a place to live (has proved to be difficult since I can't go see places in person)
9. Getting as ISIC card
10. Shopping for school supplies, travel gear, etc.
11. Opening a bank account in Ireland
12. Registering with the GNIB once I arrive in Ireland
13. Packing
14. And most importantly spending quality time with friends and family before I leave
I am incredibly excited to begin classes. I love learning, and I can't wait to get back into the swing of things. My fist Semester I am enrolled in:
Core Skills for Research
Essay
Freshwater Resources Assessment
Global Change Ecology
Intro to Water Resources Engineering 1
Wildlife Conservation
I know that the class structure will be very different from what I am used to, and hopefully I will adjust quickly to any differences in lecture, testing, or writing styles. Unlike schools in the U.S, classes are not regularly scheduled and each week will be different.
At this point it all still feels like a bit of a dream. I am working at Mount Rainier right up until I leave, and with only one week left until I fly to Dublin it seems like I just don't have quite enough time to fit everything in. The thing that most worries me at this point is finding a place to live. Hopefully, if I still haven't heard back from any of the available rooms I've inquired about, I will be able to quickly find somewhere upon my arrival. I am extremely thankful that my Mom will be flying over with me for the first week to help me get settled in. It's so comforting to know that I won't be on my own navigating a new city and trying to figure out all the odds and ends of moving, starting classes, and getting my new life set up.
I know that this next year will be a fantastic experience and I can't wait to get started. Let the countdown begin! Dublin here I come! :)
