I'm not sure what the future holds, but I certainly wouldn't mind Dublin being a part of my life once again down the line. If I'm planting some more permanent roots over here, the first step is to figure out where I'd be staying. In my previous posts, I've mentioned how perfect my location is – central to campus, shops, and plenty of railway stations. In the future however, equipped with some prior experience in navigating the city, I wouldn't mind setting up camp in south Dublin or even out in the suburbs; everything is essentially just a train ride away, so commuting would be a breeze. It might be a challenge to navigate in early on, but I can't think of a better way to get to know new parts of Dublin than by (as a friend aptly coined) "informed wandering".
Yet another unknown avenue is my professional future. If I decided to develop it in Dublin, however, that certainly helps narrow down my options to a select few favorites. Firstly, I'd most likely pursue a degree from Trinity's tantalizing array of Master's programs. Some top choices include an M.Sc in either Politics and Public Policy or International Politics; either one of these amazing degrees would help prepare me for a career in informed policy-making. Post-grad work might lead me towards consulting on or analyzing policy initiatives at one of Dublin's many firms or even a spot at one of the EU's Ireland offices. With professional roots in Dublin, I'd also enjoy the benefits of working as a resident of an EU27 country; essentially, I'd have the mobility to develop my career or personal life in any other member state if not Ireland.
Finally, in the future I'd really like to dive into the aspects of Irish culture that I couldn't explore this time around. One of my favorite, albeit bittersweet, hobbies in Dublin has been ambling into a pub or café for a bit of live trad music. To me, trad has perfectly captured my impression of Irish culture through warm strums, heartfelt whistles, and crooning voices. Each time I watch a session, however, I can't help but miss my own instruments that I had to leave at home. Every time, I so wish I could grab my guitar and join in for a jam. So, here's what I've resolved to do: if I was ever lucky enough to settle down in Dublin, I'll put an earnest effort into understanding and playing trad. All things considered, I think I could really enjoy a long-term stay in Dublin; it's all hypothetical though – for now!
Sláinte!
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