5 Things I Wish I Would Have Packed for my Summer in Ireland

No matter how hard you try, there’s going to be something you wished you packed when you arrive in your study abroad destination. Even with starting my packing list three weeks before  my summer internship, I got to Dublin and very quickly realized what my suitcase was missing. Now, I’ve been in Ireland for a month, but there are still things I wish I would have brought from home that would have made this past month easier. Here are some of the things I forgot or didn’t think to pack that you should bring if you’re spending a summer or semester in Ireland.

1. Memory items from home

I didn’t realize how homesick I would be when I arrived in Dublin. My first night here, I was horrified when I realized I brought nothing with me to remind me of home. All I brought were clothes, toiletries, and a few books—I hadn’t thought about bringing photos of my family and friends, stuffed animals, or anything else purely sentimental that would comfort me when I was missing my home country. While my homesickness has since subsided, I think having a physical item or two from home to comfort me would have helped lessen the feeling faster.

2. Layers

Even in the summer, Ireland is notorious for its unpredictable weather. I’ve faced torrential downpour, giant gusts of wind, and blinding sunshine all within a 40-minute commute. Not only that, but the summer temperatures in Ireland aren’t as steady as they are in the United States—one week might be sunny and 70, while the next could be rainy and frigid with temperatures barely scraping 55 or 60. I wish I would have packed more shirts and jackets that are easy to layer with each other for this reason. You never know when the weather might change.

3. An insulated lunchbox

To be fair, this is something I wanted to pack but forgot. However, I didn’t realize how badly I would need a lunchbox until I was here and couldn’t find one in stores (I had to order one from Amazon). Eating out in Dublin is expensive. A meal that would cost $12-15 in the United States costs about €18-20 here, sometimes more. Plus, with the euro-to-dollar exchange rate, it’s not budget-friendly at all to eat out every day in Dublin. It’s more affordable by far to pack a lunch and eat it between your internship or classes. I’d recommend an insulated lunch box specifically because at my internship, the office doesn’t have a refrigerator. I’m not sure if this is standard across Ireland or if it’s just because my office is small, but it’s always better to play it safe than have your food spoil.

4. A big sturdy purse

Even though I don’t use purses regularly in the United States, I brought one with me to use for my internship. However, I found out shortly that it wasn’t big enough to fit everything I needed, forcing me to carry my lunch box and water bottle separately for my entire commute. Plus, the purse wasn’t very well-made and broke after about two weeks. Especially if you’re doing an internship abroad, but even if you don’t want to walk around with a backpack, I’d recommend bringing a large purse that can withstand the elements and fit everything you need in a day easily. In Ireland, you can also find affordable but well-made purses once you get here at Penney’s. After my purse broke, I found the perfect replacement at this store: it was huge, had a zipper, was waterproof, and cost only €12!

5. Another pair of waterproof shoes

I don’t know why I thought only one pair of waterproof shoes would be enough. There’s a chance of rain almost every day in Dublin, and you don’t want to gamble wearing anything that’s not water resistant when the rain can come on so suddenly. If you’re able, invest in two or three pairs of water-resistant shoes before you come here, or at least spray the ones you own with waterproofing shoe spray. I would have saved so much time and money if I had known to pack more water-resistant shoes before coming to Ireland.