3AK in Dublin - October 2023

We, the 3AK and our teacher Mr. Luger, started our exciting journey to Ireland on Saturday, September 30th. We took a flight from Graz to Frankfurt in the early morning. From Frankfurt, our next destination was Dublin, where our adventure truly began. As we arrived at the airport, a bus awaited us, ready to transport us to the meeting point, where our host families had already been waiting for our arrival. The remainder of the day was dedicated to settling into our new accommodations and acquainting ourselves with the surrounding areas. The following Sunday morning, our entire group met in Dublin, and a bus transported us to the charming city of Kilkenny. There, we enjoyed a bit of shopping and got some local snacks, before starting with the exploration of Kilkenny Castle. The afternoon was, once again, ours to relax and have some time to get to know the host families better. Monday was marked by a guided tour of Dublin, which included visits to St. Audeon's Church, the Temple Bar Quarter, and the O'Connell Monument. In the afternoon, we engaged in classes at Babel Academy of English, and we got to know our lovely teacher, whose focus was on improving our speaking skills. Our discussions spanned a variety of topics, on Monday in particular on different nationalities and, of course, Ireland itself. Tuesday started with us taking the challenge of engaging in a street quiz. We divided into groups and eagerly tackled the challenging questions that led us through the entire city. In the afternoon, our classes resumed, allowing us to draw comparisons between Ireland and our home country, Austria, across a range of subjects. Midweek, on Wednesday, our morning was dedicated to classes, and we worked out small presentations on the geography of Ireland. The afternoon brought a fun pub sing-along, during which we learned some quintessentially Irish songs, including "Dirty Old Town" and "Molly Malone." Thursday started off with morning lessons and continued in an enlightening tour of the Jeannie Johnston, a replica of a 19th-century Irish emigrant ship. It is significant for its role during the Great Famine when it transported emigrants to North America with remarkably low mortality rates due to improved conditions onboard, adding another historical perspective to our Irish experience. As Friday arrived, we knew it was our final day in Dublin. We began with morning classes and then ventured to explore the enchanting port of Howth and walked to the impressive cliffs. It was a fitting conclusion to our unforgettable journey. Saturday morning saw us departing for home, retracing our path with a layover in Frankfurt. Our hearts were heavy, but the anticipation of reuniting with our families filled us with joy and gratitude for the remarkable experiences we had shared.

Sophie List