It’s crazy to think that we are nearly halfway through the semester when it felt like I just arrived in Aotearoa just last week. The two-week break is heading into the final week, and I thought writing about classes and homework would be a good idea as I had not touched on that subject in depth in other entries. Amongst the many cultural shocks I have experienced while studying abroad, a few fall into the category of courses and terminology that I thought were important to know about when conversing with other students and understanding some of the lingo around campus.   For starters ..read more

As the semester has started to wind down, I’ve found myself in search of the perfect study spot in Dublin where I can finish my last essay of the year. Here are the recent results of my research, ranked.  Costa Coffee: While great for a snack before class, Costa Coffee––and especially their basement––can get very loud. There’s nothing quite like frantically wrapping up hour three of footnoting an essay while people are planning a weekend getaway to your left. That being said, it is very convenient and I appreciate the easy access to coffee. Rating: 6.3/10 for studying; 8/10 for a snack ..read more

A Day in the Countryside - Free and Mandatory Event!   The staff will meet the Arcadia Italy Students in Perugia or Florence in the early morning and take them to our very special, much-loved Italian venue: the Orsini Family Farm, on the Trasimeno Lake, just about 30 minutes from Perugia and 2 hours from Florence. Upon arrival, we will savor a traditional homemade country breakfast   before we split into groups. Each group will have the opportunity to partake in typical peasant activities such as planting, planting seeds, harvesting, and feeding animals. It is a d ..read more

Are you ready for an exciting summer in Granada?  We are looking forward to it! We are planning a lot of co-curricular activities for our summer programs, ensuring a diverse set of options for everyone to enjoy.  Do you like the beach?  Cooking, hiking, historical tours, flamenco, art?  We have it all! All the activities offered below are included in your program fee, with no extra cost. Please register in Portal to confirm your attendance; you will be asked to confirm your registration once in Spain. Please remember that all activities are subject to change.  Keep che ..read more

Last Saturday marked the commencement of an eagerly anticipated day trip and  final co-curricular event of the semester! Students from UCC, UCD and TCD along with myself were promised a blend of history, exploration, and shared experiences. I'll be honest, I had never been to Cobh and last I'd heard of Spike Island was when it closed back in 2004. I was curious and interested to learn more.  Our rendezvous point was Cork Kent train station, where we assembled with anticipation. It was cold but it was dry, bright and sunny. We left for the short train journey to Cobh and from there, o ..read more

Will you be joining us in Ireland for Summer 2024? The staff here at Arcadia Ireland are excited to meet you! We have a series of co-curricular events on offer this summer to help you explore the country and get to know your fellow students. Sign ups for events will be going live in your Arcadia portal very soon, but you can get a preview of what’s coming up below! A few reminders: If an event is full, sign up to the waitlist to be notified if a place comes available If your plans change please cancel your place through the portal as soon as possible Please be sure to check the dates of your ..read more

One month in and a week left until the mid-semester break. Time has flown by since I first arrived in Aotearoa with my family for a brief family vacation before Arcadia orientation began. After a few weeks of walking around campus and getting lost a few times, it has become a far more familiar place than it once was. Like any study abroad semester, studying comes first. That being said, during orientation and these first few weeks of the semester, it was easy to forget that studying was a part of this journey. The more weeks go by, the more assignments, papers, and examinations pile up. I see ..read more

Moving abroad to study can be an exhilarating yet challenging experience, especially when transitioning from a place like America to a country like Ireland. Amidst the excitement of embarking on a new academic journey, students often encounter various mental health challenges that stem from adjusting to a new environment. One significant aspect of this adjustment is coping with the weather, particularly in Ireland, where the climate can differ significantly from what students are accustomed to. The shift from the sunny skies of America to Ireland's temperamental weather can impact one's mood a ..read more

Running with WoRMs WoRM aka The Wellington Running Club Meetup Group is a running club based around trail running and exploration of Wellington. I ended up going to the “Tuesday Spectacular regular” run. This was located at the Naked Man near the waterfront (On their website, it was helpfully pointed out this was a sculpture and not a real man). The people I met there were incredibly kind. Many of them were from all over the world. I met a man from Ireland who was training for a 50K trail run, a woman from Portland Oregon who was working as an ecologist and multiple badass trail runners. One K ..read more

We hope you are getting excited about your time in Scotland this Summer! We have put together a range of events for you that will get you properly immersed into Scottish culture and maybe trying some new experiences! There is something for everyone and we encourage you to take full advantage of this opportunity. Below is a first look at what you've got in store!  Event registration opens SOON in your Arcadia Passport. Don’t forget, if an event is full you can add yourself to the waitlist to be notified automatically if more space becomes available. Remember, check that your program dates ..read more