In the summer of 2016, I took a major step in the journey of adulthood: flying in an airplane alone (for the first time!) to visit another country (for the first time!) where I knew absolutely no one.

The idea of studying abroad was one that I had toyed with for several years; the idea of leaving home and traveling seemed exotic and fun, and travel was a common theme in my family. When I decided to pursue a six-week trip to Ireland to study, no one was terribly surprised. The day I received my acceptance letter, I felt excited. No nerves for me – that is, until the clock dwindled down, and I realized I had one month left until I left my family, boyfriend, and home for six weeks.

The day I left for the airport, I remember feeling nauseated and anxious. What had I decided to do? I’d never flown in an airplane alone! I had certainly never been abroad. What if I didn’t like my roommates? What if I had to share my room? Why hadn’t I considered all of this before applying? Six weeks was going to drag by.

They didn’t. Six weeks have never gone faster, and I have never loved a place more. After a year, the memories are just as vivid as they were after I returned home. Ireland will always have a place in my heart, and my memories will always remind me why Ireland is the best home away from home a girl can have.

1. The coffee, pastries, and food are amazing.

When I told my parents I decided to visit Ireland, the first thing my dad said was, “Well, as a foodie, you’re going to be disappointed.” As the weeks rolled closer to my departure date, I prepared myself for six weeks of bland food. Lamb and potatoes, here I come!

What I experienced was far from the truth. During my six weeks, I tried meals I had never considered trying (my favorite being pork belly with apple chutney and black pudding). I had the best ethnic food (the Indian food I was introduced to while abroad was amazing). And the pastries, the coffee…oh, a whole book could be written about that deliciousness. Many afternoons were broken up by quick trips to a nearby coffee shop, where brownies and espresso were too enticing to resist.

Bland food? Hardly.

2. The scenery is unreal.

This doesn’t need to be said, but it should be said.

Sure, Google can pull up images of Ireland, and you’ll get a taste for the tourist-y locations: Cliffs of Mohr, castles, green hills dotted with sheep. Pictures, however, do not do justice to the scenery of Ireland. Glendalough, Newgrange, and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge were among the best destinations, and Northern Ireland could take your breath away.

No place has ever made me stop to take in the scenery like Ireland.

3. Dublin is great city to walk in.

I come from a hometown where public transportation and walking to your destination isn’t really an option. Its absence in my life was not something I noticed, but after six weeks in Ireland, I came to appreciate walking everywhere. Sure, it was great exercise but more importantly, I experienced Dublin in ways I never would have if I had viewed it from a vehicle. My favorite pastime was strapping on my running shoes, running through the streets and along the canal – all while watching the people and the ever-changing weather. Being in an environment that was so walkable was a refreshing experience, and it immersed me in the culture in a way I hadn’t expected.

4. The bars are totally different – in a good way.

Coming from a college town, I definitely have expectations of what bars are like: loud, dark, smells faintly of vomit, and typically pretty crowded. While I can’t (and won’t) speak for every bar in Dublin, I can honestly say I enjoyed the bar scene abroad more than the bar scene back home. The Irish, despite their drunken stereotype, are very aware of their alcohol consumption; in my six weeks abroad, I witnessed more belligerent Americans than Irish. Bars offered live music, Irish coffee, and all the Guinness a girl could drink.

It was even during my time abroad that I came to appreciate soccer – well, as much as a girl who doesn’t like sports can. The Irish enthusiasm and friendliness was infectious, and the alcohol didn’t hurt, either.

5. The Irish really are some of the friendliest people on earth.

Lost? Wanting to chat it up? Going to enter any sort of large social gathering? It’s true; the Irish really are some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. It was disarming how chatty and friendly everyone was. Even taxi drivers wanted to talk and get to know you!

6. It makes you question what you believed to be normal.

Most people are aware that Europeans are more environmentally friendly than Americans. However, it wasn’t until I was abroad that I really began to question Americans' relationship with the environment.

Drying racks were more utilized than washers; in fact, the Irish found it to be wasteful to use a dryer. Electric sockets had a switch to turn them on or off; when electronics weren’t plugged in, you were expected to turn them off. Our hot water had a limit, and once the limit was hit, it was cold or (if you were lucky) lukewarm. Public transportation, biking, and walking were the most popular form of transportation; in the morning, floods of people made their way through the streets on foot to work. In the grocery stores, you were expected to bring your own reusable bag. Otherwise, you could anticipate carrying everything home or, in desperate times, pay for a bag.

7. You feel safe being in the city, even if you are alone at night.

This was a big one for me as a young female – especially one that wanted to explore. During orientation, we were informed that major crimes weren't frequent; it was petty crimes, like theft, that we needed to be careful of. While we took the necessary precautions, there was never a time I felt uncomfortable in the city. I would go running alone. One weekend, I visited Cork by bus – entirely alone. There was a sense of safety and awareness I felt in Ireland that I didn’t feel back home.