Two Months, One Destination, and an Experience to Remember

Dia Duit (Hello)! Thank you for stopping by. My name is Gianhu Nguyen, and for the summer of 2019, I participated in the UCEAP Summer Physics Abroad Program at the University College Dublin. Through this opportunity, I was able to complete the entire Physics 002 series in the span of eight weeks and had the chance to explore the different treasures of the beautiful country of Ireland. This unforgettable experience definitely would not have been possible without the assistance I received from the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship and the UCR-UCEAP Study Abroad Program Scholarship, and I am forever grateful for the support. If you are interested, read on for the written details of my experience and a few memories captured through my phone camera lens.

Life Abroad at the University College Dublin

                 

Located south of Dublin city center, University College Dublin (UCD) is Ireland's largest university. During my time at this institution, I had an on-campus residential accommodation, with a meal plan included. Each student had his or her own room on a floor shared with three other people, and each floor has a common living space with a kitchen, refrigerators, and two bathrooms.

The campus is surrounded by different forms of life and everywhere you look are trees and greenery. The staff is very accommodating to your needs and any concerns or problems you may have are addressed and resolved very promptly. With two lakes and multiple walking trails connecting different parts of campus, taking a stroll along any one of them was something I enjoyed doing during my first few days to familiarize myself with the campus.

Throughout my time at UCD, various outings and different events were hosted by the program assistants and the SummeratUCD team as opportunities for students to enrich their experience abroad. Though I was not able to make it to all of the events promoted, I definitely had a wonderful time at the ones I was able to participate in, and I am thankful and appreciative of the effort they dedicate in helping students to make the most out of their stay in Ireland.

Academic Program: Physics

     

Coming into this accelerated program without any prior exposure to general physics definitely challenged my learning style and study habits. The schedule of a typical weekday during my participation in this program consists of lecture in the morning, which is generally two hours long, followed by one informal hour during which students have the chance to ask the professor questions on the material (this is equivalent to the professor's office hour).

Following each informal hour is a tutorial session, which is about one and a half-hour (this is equivalent to discussion sessions). During this time, students are given practice problems on the covered topics to complete as groups of twos or threes, and the work for every third tutorial session is graded. Physics labs are twice a week after the tutorial session for three hours, and all of the work pertaining to the lab, including pre-lab and post-lab, is completed within the session.

Outside of these scheduled instructional hours, much of my time was spent reviewing materials, watching videos for clarification of concepts, as well as working (and struggling) through practice problems.

Exploration and Adventures             

Ireland is an absolute gem! While my brain was occupied with physics contents throughout the weekdays, my soul was filled with so much joy on the weekends from immersing myself in the Irish culture through the program day trips and exploring different corners of this island. From strolling along the streets in the city center of Galway and soaking in the panoramic view of Dublin on top of the infamous Guinness Storehouse, I also got to see the skyline of County Cork on top of Shandon Bell Tower and took on the cliff walks in Howth and Bray. Each region and each county of this country has its own personality, attractions, stories to be told, and I am beyond grateful to have seen a glimpse of it.

As someone who enjoys hiking and loves nature, visiting Killarney National Park and the Torc Waterfall in County Kerry were definitely highlights of my exploration, along with the Wicklow mountains. I was blown away, both figuratively and literally, by the living art created by mother nature. With tourism being one of the most important economic industries in Ireland, there is definitely something for everyone when you want to escape from physics for a bit.

Friendships 

I walked into this program not knowing anyone but I left with a group of people who I now cherish as dear friends across the different campuses in the UC system. From the late nights of studying to the tears after exams, I am grateful to have found a support system that helped me stay sane throughout this program. Reflecting back to my time in Ireland, all of the memorable moments I had were shared with this group of hard-working, kind, and genuine human beings who all came from different walks of life. I am very thankful for the people I encountered throughout this program and the relationships I built during this short time. It was such an eye-opening experience to be able to share stories of our hardships and successes in life that bridged our differences together.

Thank you so much for sticking around and reading if you made it this far! As challenging as physics was, studying abroad this past summer was one of the best decisions I have made in my undergraduate journey. I was pushed beyond my comfort zone, challenged to explore what was foreign with an open heart and mind. Through this, not only did I gain a better understanding of the Irish culture and values, but I also developed a greater sense of independence. Thank you, Ireland, for making my life grander through the personal growth you have given me, the people you introduced into my life, and a new perspective of viewing the world that I now will carry with me everywhere I go. Sláinte (Cheers)!