Dublin is actually very different from what I thought it was going to be like. For no particular reason I was under the impression that Ireland was going to be very conservative and old fashioned. It is incredible just how wrong I could be! Being in Dublin is like being on another planet sometimes! Just going out at night you will see such a diverse crowd of people wearing so many different fashions. Dublin is also much like a melting pot where you will meet people from all around the world from Dubai to Egypt to California to Australia and anywhere in between. If you are lucky you will be around for the LGBTQ festival held in the streets. Dublin is very accepting of the LGBTQ culture, and I was amazed at the large show of support that there was at the last festival because I assumed that, like in America, there would be a lot more negative feelings towards something so controversial. It was a pleasant surprise as well as refreshing that Ireland was so accepting and even embraced the diversity and individuality apparent in its population. Through all of my experiences so far I have quickly realized that, though Dublin may appear to be old fashioned or medieval in its appearance and physical structure, it is actually home to one of the most progressive and modern populations that I have ever had the pleasure of mingling with. It just goes to show that you can't judge a book by its cover!

Of course everyone will want to do a little shopping when they arrive. The best places for this are O'Connell street and Grafton Street. But primarily students typically want to procure a phone so that they can stay connected. Keep in mind there won't be a cheaper option for calling home. Calling international comes with an expense no matter what, so getting familiar with Skype or other videochat methods is your best bet if you want to have a two hour long chat with your mother about your antics the night before. To buy a cell, your best bet would be the Cellphone Warehouse or O2. Students commonly all buy O2 phones because the 20 euro plan gives them free text/calls between them. This will come in handy when you're ready to leave the pub and can't find your group. The phone and the plan cost a total of around 50euro, that being said if your can take a SIM card, an Irish SIM card will only cost you around 10euro.
Shopping! You will find shopping on the South Side on Grafton street to be a bit more pricey, but there are also more boutiques over there. On O'Connell street you will find some familiar places such as Urban Outfitters, H&M and Forever 21 along with some new places like Dunnes, and Mark & Spencers. Shopping here can be expensive to what you may be used to in the States, but you will also find some things here that you have not seen at home. The streets here are closed to cars so you will find yourself in the middle of a street filled with people. Tuesday is a big shopping day in Dublin, but hours are typically until 6pm on a normal day. If you find yourself without some bare necessities such as a sweater, blanket or underwear, be sure to check out Penneys first. Penneys has a lot of inexpensive clothing and is much like an American Kohls with a variety of products for reasonable prices. Hopefully these tips will help you to get established in your apartment with minimal difficulty so that you can focus on more important things, like enjoying all the Dublin has to offer!

It may seem unusual that I covered Dublin nightlife before addressing your school here in Dublin. This is because you don't start classes right away when you arrive, so it is not immediately relevant. However, you do have classes so it is best to cover them as well. Make sure that the night before your first day you double check the maps to be sure you know where you are going. The start times for classes seem to be reasonable, but you have to allow around 45 minutes to enjoy a comfortable walk to classes. Also take into account that oftentimes you will be walking in the rain which may add some extra travel time. There are not a lot of outlets in class, so it is better to ditch the laptop. It's heavy to carry all that way and will most likely die before the end of your class day. Classes are typically two hours long which will seem extremely brutal, especially if you go out on Tuesdays to Dicey Riley's for 2euro drink specials (this is another happening place to check out!). Classes are heavily centered around participation, so it is in your best interests to be aware of current U.S. affairs and keep up with your reading so that you will understand the material being covered in class. Dublin classes do not require textbooks which is awesome for students, and the library is very easy to use and event rents out DVDs if you miss watching Seinfeld reruns or just need a movie to get you through a rainy day. Other than that, class work is appropriately spaced apart so with a little diligence it shouldn't be difficult to do your best. The Irish grading system is a bit more harsh than that in the U.S., but your Irish grades will be converted to U.S. grades so you will be doing better than you think.
I think now is a good time to cover some miscellaneous tips that you might need initially starting your journey in Dublin. For the sake of clarity I will list them.
1. You need rain gear, however Irish people do not use umbrellas or raincoats often or at all, so this will also make you stick out as a tourist. It is not necessary to have rain boots, but an umbrella or rain jacket will keep you from catching a cold.
2. Summer in Dublin is pretty chilly. Be sure to pack jeans and sweaters. The best days hover between 60 and 70, but it is more common that it will be around 50 degrees with a breeze or rain. The first couple days this might seem slightly depressing, but for me that quickly went away as I realized how minor something like rain was in comparison to my experience.
3. Don't bother bringing a blow dryer. Even those that convert their voltage with a slide switch, just leave it at home. It is a good idea to bring converters for outlets, but it is best to buy a cheap blow dryer (I got mine for 6euro) here.
4. I'm sure a large concern for everyone is money. It is possible to come to Dublin with only $800. That will give you roughly 600euro (depending on the exchange rate) which is perfectly fine if you don't eat out for every single meal or shop extensively at Topshop everyday. It is expensive to be in Ireland, however it is not difficult to eat well, drink well and still shop around with only $800-1000 to your name here. The best thing you can do is look up the prices of meals at restaurants, tours you want to take as well as everyday items such as milk or bread. This will give you an idea about the worth of each euro. For example, a large loaf of bread is roughly 1.50euro and you can get eight pieces of chicken (for cooking) for around 1.56euro at Tescos. Eating at a burger place at Temple Bar you can enjoy a 1/4lb with cheese for 4.50euro and commonly meals out are upwards of 5euro. Using these prices it is possible to estimate how much you personally will need. The average student spends around 20euro grocery shopping for supplies that will last them around 1-2 weeks.

Dublin nightlife seems to be heavily integrated into Irish culture. Of course, it is not anything like the stereotypical image of Irish people, but it definitely is a large part of the relaxed, carefree mentality prevalent among most Irish people. Coming to Dublin most students will find themselves at Temple Bar, confused, lost and a bit unsure of just exactly how everything works. Well, for starters the drinking age in Dublin is 18. This will be a large difference for most American students. In light of this, remember to drink responsibly. The Irish people are impressed by those that can handle their alcohol, so if you plan on getting belligerent, don't plan to meet any natives. A good tip is also to go out in smaller groups. This will definitely make it easier for you to meet people without overwhelming a bar or pub.
In the interest of organization, let's start with clothing. Going out, it is common that men wear jeans or khakis and a shirt. Try to avoid sneakers and hats that are not often welcome in clubs. For girls, going out in Dublin will remind you a lot of party culture on campus at home. From observation, it seems as though the Irish are very comfortable with themselves and oftentimes the young girls will be clad in four inch heels and barely-there skirts and dresses. Between the cobble stone streets and the commonly new experience of drinking for most students, I would highly recommend against trying to dress like the Irish girls.
As I said, many students will find themselves at Temple Bar, which is a strip across the Liffey on the South Side with many pubs and clubs. Keep in mind that not many Irish people come here due to high prices and you will mostly be meeting French, Norwegian and Italian people. Once there, some places I recommend for dancing and club-like atmospheres include Fitzsimons and Buskers as well as The Pretty Little Kitchen. Fitzsimons features three floors; one with live music, one with a dj as well as a rooftop bar. Buskers has a large bar, live music before 11pm as well as a great dance floor. The Pretty Little Kitchen is always crowded with young people, and the music changes between a dj and live music so it's a toss up what will be happening on any given night. The drinks at all of these places will be relatively expensive, but the entertainment will be worth it!
If you are more into the pub scene, be sure to check out The Quays and Temple Bar Pub. Both of these pubs feature spectacular live music and are always crowded to the doors with diverse groups mostly made up of middle aged folk. Of course, prices will be cheaper if you visit the pubs along the North Side of the Liffey before crossing over. Another pub to check out just across the Liffey on the South Side would be O'Sheas. Here you can commonly join in on line dancing events where the Irish people are more than happy to help you out with the steps. The live music is also very good and the band changes so that you will get a little taste of everything!
Now for some general tips about nightlife in Dublin. Most everything that you will be visiting in Dublin will be a 10+ minute walk away from Blackhall place. For this reason, make sure you always wear shoes that you can walk long distances in. This is especially important since it is common for pints to shatter in the streets and in pubs and clubs every night. It is also wise to keep ten emergency euro in your pocket in case you need to take a cab home. Although it is relatively safe in Dublin, it is always better to walk home with a group or buddy when traveling at odd hours like 3am. Also, it is standard for every establishment to have a sign warning visitors against theft. I have never been witness to this or seen it as a problem, but the less you take out at night the less you have to lose. If you plan on dancing, it is best to leave behind your purse and opt instead for a clutch. Of course you'll settle into your own nightly haunts, but this is a good place to start!

Well. It has already been a good deal of time that I have been in Dublin, but I will try to recap everything that has happened so far! It's going to be a little difficult, and I may have to break this up into more manageable pieces so bear with me!
So, first of all I flew here all on my own, which I have never done before! That was quite the experience for me. On my way here I had the pleasure of being seated next to an Irish couple, so I took advantage of their knowledge and picked their brain about various lingering questions about Dublin such as the weather and the city in general. They were very helpful and that is the first lesson I learned about the Irish people; they are really very friendly and helpful! In Philadelphia it often seems as though we are a mass population living very independently from one another, but in Ireland even though it is a city it is a very close knit community and everyone is always willing to lend a hand if you ask for one.
Arriving in Dublin it was initially much as I imagined it; picturesque and green. The architecture is old and established in the landscape so much that it seems as though it grew in that way. The accents add to the seemingly rich culture that one encounters at every bend and side street and the fashion here is eclectic and understated in a way that seems far too easy.
Moving into our accommodations, Blackhall Place, we are situated across the River Liffey in the "working class" section of town. Some Irish people will make a big deal out of this, but we really are only a few blocks away from the river and the area is nothing compared to some of the questionable places you could find yourself in Philadelphia. The apartments are perfect for this experience. They promote a green lifestyle through the use of electricity cards which limit the amount of energy each apartment can use, and it is much like a dorm situation having roommates again that the Irish would call "flatmates."
The location of our new home couldn't be better. We are merely blocks from what can only be compared to an American 7-11 that is called "Centra." Here you can buy sandwiches much like at "Subway" as well as a variety of alcoholic beverages and small groceries and toiletries. Only a couple blocks further one will find a "Tescos" which is a large grocery store. Of course the deals on food are better here, and it will benefit any student to purchase the groceries required to eat lunch or cook dinner with to save Euro during the trip. Some groceries to look for especially are:
Tuc crackers - much like our Ritz crackers, but better!
Mozzarella balls - They are only .59euro for a whole ball!
Nutella - get used to it now because the Europeans love it
Any produce - their produce is 10x better than what we have in the states, plus it will keep you healthy!

We are also merely blocks away from a few local pubs. Of course, it has been said that you cannot cross Dublin without coming across a pub; that is very true. My personal favorite is H.Matthews. This pub is mostly filled with locals and some nights they have karaoke which is very fun! It is definitely an older crowd, but they are very friendly and love to answer any questions that you have about Ireland or Dublin more specifically. Pints are also cheaper here coming in at 3.90euro for a pint of Guinness and around 4euro for a pint of Bulmers (alcoholic cider very popular in Ireland). Walking around the River Liffey towards Temple Bar one can also find a nice pub called Sine. The crowd here is a bit more eclectic and younger with a pool table and more contemporary rock music. This is also a great option if you're looking to meet some new faces and have a cheaper pint before crossing the river into Temple Bar area.
The next area I will try to cover is Temple Bar and some nightlife tips in general, though it is a wide category and preferences of night activities will vary between all students.