Irish in SF

Documentation of my 12 month adventure in San Francisco

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Education in Ireland

New blog post up remembering what it was like to sit the leaving cert a whole 7 years ago.

A family friend is about to sit her leaving certificate this June, in fact she just sat her Irish oral last week. It got me thinking about ‘back in the day’ when I was the one preparing to sit the dreaded exams (7 years ago to be exact). Ireland is known to have a wonderful education system. Something I am very grateful for. Every year more and more people enter the workforce equipped with 3rd…

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Onwards & Upwards

Ever get stuck in a rut? You can’t tell which way is up and you begin to feel like you’re in a continuous circle. Well that is exactly how I feel at the moment. Since coming home it has been go..go…go..! At first a huge amount of my energy went into finding a job, now I am nearly two months into my new job and I have a chance to breathe again. I have spent a lot of time thinking about A Little…

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Settling Back Home

New blog post up about what it has been like 'Settling Back Home' #Ireland #Blog

It’s hard to believe I am home nearly 3 months and it’s almost 4 months since I left San Francisco. Time has flown by, when thinking back about San Francisco it feels like it was all a dream. As expected when coming home I received a lot of ‘Are you delighted to be back?’ questions, this of course only adding to the upset of coming home. I am beyond jealous of those only starting out on their…

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Looking Forward to 2016

First blog post of 2016 - A glimpse into what I hope for in the year to come #NewYearWishes

This year has flown by, it is hard to believe I kicked off 2015 living in California. Although I have been home less than 2 months it already feels like it was all a dream. Since coming home I have been catching up with friends and spending time with my family. It is funny how it is the little things you miss while living away from home and how quick you fall back in place as if nothing has…

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I'm Coming Home!

As I board my final flight home to Ireland after a long 14 months, take a look at my new blog post: I'm coming home!

The past year has been quite an amazing adventure. It has always been a dream of mine to live in the United States and this year I got to fulfill that dream. A friend recently asked me was I glad I did the graduate visa, without hesitation I responded ‘I’d do it again in a heartbeat’. It is the pity the graduate visa is only 12 months (14 months if you include the 2 months you’re not eligible to…

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#BeMyYes

The Irish community in San Francisco gathered together this weekend to encourage people back home to use their vote #BeMyYes

On Saturday the 9th of May, members of the Irish community in San Francisco gathered together to encourage those back home to use their vote in the upcoming referendum. It is estimated that there are over 1 million Irish citizens living abroad. That is 1 million Irish people that can not vote in the upcoming marriage referendum. The #BeMyYes campaign was launched at the start of May encouraging…

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From the dance studio to the GAA pitch

From the dance studio to the GAA pitch. New blog post is up:.

I remember the day I walked into my very first ballet class, exciting and hopeful that this was the same class my neighbor and childhood best friend also attended. Our teacher Marie Cole use to walk around the room with her remote gently tapping our knees if our first position was over turned. I remember drawing an imaginary line on the floor, pretending it was a tightrope when I walked on it…

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The Age of Adaline

New blog post up on The Age of Adaline that has just been released #AgeofAdaline #Review #Blogger

Last Thursday I went to see ‘The Age of Adaline’ a story of a women born in 1908, who was in a car accident in 1935, and as a result cannot age. Adaline played by the beautiful Blake Lively is a movie a would highly recommend going to see.

Having only previously seen Blake star in popular the television series ‘Gossip Girl’ this was a much welcomed change of scenery. The one and only similarity…

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My Enactus Experience: What's it all about?!?

Looking back on my Enactus experience. What is Enactus all about? #WeAllWin #EnactusIreland

Students of Ireland’s top universities are busy preparing for this years National competition, competing to represent Enactus Ireland in this years World Cup in South Africa. In 2013, myself and five other students from Dublin City University (DCU) represented Enactus Ireland in Mexico for the 2013 World Cup.

Following the competition I was asked to write a guest blog for Enactus Ireland on my…

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Hopwater Distribution

Looking for some California beef and a decent burger in San Francisco? Check out Hopwater Distribution

For the past 7 months I have been in search of ‘proper’ fries. Up until yesterday all fries fell short of meeting my criteria of chunky, real potatoes cooked to perfection. You’d think a city with so many Irish bars they’d at least be serving some proper fries with a good dose of malt vinegar. Anyone looking for a new business venture? I’m telling you there is a market here for some decent…

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1 Year USA Graduate Programme - April Participant Spotlight

1 Year USA Graduate Programme – April Participant Spotlight

ciaraennis:

I recently wrote a short article for USIT on my 12 month graduate visa to date.

Originally posted on USIT Work and Travel Hub:

This month we caught up with Ciara Ennis, a Business/Marketing graduate from DCU who is currently in San Francisco on the 1 Year USA Graduate Programme.  Like a lot of participants, Ciara stayed in Ireland right after she graduated college and gained some…

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The 6 month mark

Last Sunday marked 6 months since I arrived State side. Here are my 6 highlights!

Last Sunday marked the 6 month anniversary since I moved State side and I have loved every minute of it so far. I’m not going to lie, I do occasionally get quite homesick. In fact if my parents hadn’t paid a visit this month, there is a very good chance I would have booked a ticket home.

To mark the occasion here are 6 of my biggest highlights/accomplishments over the past 6 months…

1. Moving…

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A short drive from San Francisco

Looking for a break away from the city check out my blog post on a North Cali Road-trip

Photo taken at Point Reyes National Seashore, California

Work was closed for Presidents Day (16th February) so a road trip was a must. It was all very last minute and to be honest there wasn’t really much of a plan, other than to get a car and drive.

Sorting Transport 

As I am under 25 years and without a credit card I did not have many options when it came to hiring a car. I ended up going with

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Just do it!

Needing some motivation to take on a new challenge... New blog post just up, 'Just do it!'

Photo taken at Treasure Island, San Francisco, California

So only about four people know what it was like for me moving away and as I sit on my bed this evening reading my cards and letters that everyone was so kind to give me before I left, I find it only fitting that I write this. Side note – YAY no more writers block!!

I was never scared about moving away and when everyone told me I was very…

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Health & Fitness & all that Jazz...

Health & Fitness & all that Jazz…

Photo taken at Fort Mason, San Francisco, California

Culture in Ireland is slowly but surely changing. People are becoming more conscious about what they eat and making a conscious choice to exercise.  When I was in secondary school I would come home and make pasta with cheese. Don’t get me wrong it wasn’t cause I wasn’t able to cook something fancy, but it was the mentality of what was the…

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Keeping In Touch

Photo taken at Lands End, San Francisco, California

As a child we go to school and during the summer we spend it with our families, abroad, at summer camps or in various other ways. The point is after the summer we all go back to the classroom, trade war stories and start all over again. The process is quite similar as we go through secondary school and even through university. Although during…

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Thinking of Home

I am officially living in here 2 months, although it still feels like I’m only here a wet week! In that time I have celebrated Halloween, gone to Lake Tahoe, experienced a real Thanksgiving, partied when the Giants won The World Series and so much more..! With only two weeks till Christmas I find myself missing home, with this in mind I thought I would jot down things I miss from home and others…

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