Friendship and life in Ireland

    When I decided to move to Ireland I was sure that it would be a great experience, for me challenges and new things it’s very exciting.

    I would never have thought how difficult it could be, if you don’t have friends, so to explain my point of view I want to tell you about how my friends have become so important to me since I arrived here. Moreover, I want to discuss how important it is to have my cousin living here as well.

    I always dreamt about doing an exchange program, but for so many reasons I couldn't until last year. I made the decision to move to Ireland at the end of 2023 and I moved to Ireland in February 2024. It's almost 1 year already.

    My cousin has been really important to me. I think if it hadn't been for her, I don’t know if I would have made the final decision to come to Ireland. She gave me all the support I needed to come here, including a place to stay until I found a new one. Every time I face difficulties, she’s there for me. I have two extra benefits: her husband really enjoys having me around, and he’s always kind to me. He said to my parents, “She is part of the family, and we take care of her.” They also have a child, his name is Luke and we always have fun together, he loves waking up early and waking me up in the process.

    When I moved to Ireland I had my cousin to help me through my first month, she introduced me to the brother of her best friend Henrique and he introduced me to his friend Rute. At the time she was working at SuperValu - Talbot Street, and she helped me get a job interview, the same month that I had moved. I did the interview and I was approved, but because I didn’t have my GNIB I had to wait until March to start there. I have been working there since then.

    When I started school at ISI, Nádia was also starting, it was her first week at ISI, but she was in the second course, so she knew a lot about everything that students have to do when they arrive, such as the Leap Card and opening a bank account. So even without knowing me she was there, available to help a stranger. This was the beginning of a really good friendship. 

We hit it off right from the start!

    With her I went to loads of places, we decided to make a list of what places we could go in Dublin or around, without spending much money, so every Friday or another day during the week we visited these places, it was really nice to have someone to explore a new city with. Later, we decided to check what places we want to go in Europe, places that we have a common interest in visiting. Since then we have done a lot of traveling together, until she decided to go back to Brazil last year. With Nádia I went to eighteen cities and six countries. I miss her so much. She was and still is a really great friend. She is caring, loyal, a good listener and funny. Even though we're different, we get along!

    Now I’m getting to know Henrique and Rute. Just like with Gabriel, we traveled together in December 2024. We went on a cruise together, and it was really nice. They are younger than me, but we share almost the same experiences, and this kind of thing bonds people together. We have been going out, doing different things like lunch and dinner, and, of course, planning new trips as well. It’s really good to have them around, through thick and thin.