It has been approximately five months since I first landed in Ireland and began life as a researcher in Galway. I remember feeling a lot of mixed emotions as I stepped off of the plane. I was very nervous about adjusting to life in a new country and worried that I would struggle with loneliness and homesickness. At the same time, I was very excited to experience a new culture, see new places and become a part of the research community in Galway. While I did miss my home in New York and student life in Boston, embarking on a co-op in Ireland has been one of the best decisions that I have ever made.
Little did I know on that first day in Galway that I would make so many life lasting memories and connections, or that I would learn so much about the world around me, both in and out of the lab! From discovering the interactions between cancer and immune cells in the lab to journeys visiting the beautiful mountains and quaint towns around the country, this has truly been an experience that I will cherish forever!
Besides my interest in the work at Cúram, one of the reasons that I chose to complete my co-op in Ireland was that I hoped to connect more with my Irish ancestry. My maternal grandfather is 100% Irish, which makes me around one quarter Irish.
