Lukas M.: How I accidentally moved to Stuttgart…?

I have now been living in Dublin for a week, and I am really enjoying my Erasmus+ experience so far.

One funny thing about my accommodation is that everyone in my shared flat is from the same vocational school in Stuttgart. Because of that, it sometimes doesn’t even feel like I’m living in Ireland! We always have someone to talk to, and the atmosphere is really friendly.

One thing I noticed straight away is that Dublin is very expensive. Food, shopping, and going out all cost a lot more than in Austria, which I had expected. However, there is one exception for me: public transport. Throughout almost all of Ireland, you use a single transport card (the Leap Card). Because I ordered a Child Leap Card (for 16 - 18-year-olds) to my accommodation before I arrived, I only pay €0.65 for a 90-minute fare, with a maximum of €7.80 per week, which is a really good deal compared to everything else.

I am also really enjoying my work placement. I work at Reads Dublin, a print shop, and the job is a lot of fun. All of my colleagues are from Germany, and some of them are even from Stuttgart. We often have nice conversations while we work. My tasks range from printing T-shirts and tote bags to printing documents.

Overall, I am having a great time in Dublin. I have met new people (especially lots of Germans), gained valuable work experience, and I am looking forward to my next three weeks in Dublin!