<p>My daughter has been accepted to the study abroad program of her univ for next semester, & will be going to UC Cork. She can take care of the academic & paperwork things, but does anyone have any tips as to whether we should send linens or should she buy them there (costs of new vs those of shipping), life in Cork, or anything else we should know? Thank you! We know it rains a lot in Ireland, and the winters in Cork are milder than in NJ.</p>
<p>UCC houses internatioonal students in an apt complex they have a deal with; they are furnished but students provide their own bed linens & towels. They cook their own meals, too, which my daughter is doing now. </p>
<p>My suggestion would be for your D to buy inexpensive linens when she gets there, and plan to either sell them or just leave them behind when she departs. (She might even be able to buy linens and basic kitchen stuff from some departing student.) Weight restrictions on baggage make it virtually impossible to carry them, and chances are she will never use that size bed again. Shipping both ways is not only a PITA, but expensive. S is currently in France for a year, in what sounds like a similar living situation, and that’s what we did. He and I picked out linens on the French IKEA website, I deposited money to cover the cost we calculated in his account, and he went and bought the stuff. I think that the total cost was less than the cost of shipping both ways. If you have some old stuff that would fit her bed that you are willing to have her abandon there, then you could consider shipping it.</p>
<p>As for the climate, the last time I was in Ireland it was around Easter. We experienced snow flurries and fairly warm weather in the same day! Essential items are a raincoat and layers. The rain in Ireland is usually soft, but it happens frequently. :)</p>
<p>What fun JRZMom! My son is planning a study abroad in Dublin. My older two kids did study abroads in England and Peru. </p>
<p>My understanding is that everything is more expensive in Ireland. If you can find room in the suitcase for the linens, I would have her take them. However, I’m guessing you are also talking about blankets and/or a duvet? Those things can be heavy even using space bags to remove their bulk. I’ll be watching for a more experienced answer. My son (the one that went to England) did take his stuff from home, but he’s a guy so didn’t have so many clothes.</p>
<p>Just as an FYI, if S had been even a few pounds or inches over on baggage weight/size, the airline fee was $300. Don’t even think about putting linens in her suitcase, unless she is a VERY light packer. If she buys linens, consider what she really needs. S doesn’t care to use a top sheet, so we eliminated that. He has two pillows, a cheap comforter w/attractive cover and matching pillow sham, a bottom sheet, a pillow case, and two towels. It turned out that he also had to buy a shower curtain and hooks. Your D will probably have to provide her own pillows. And she may have to provide some kitchen stuff. S has French apartment-mates who brought stuff that they are happy to share, but he bought a couple of plates/mugs/utensils.</p>
<p>I have young cousins who are students in Ireland. I will ask them where they would recommend acquiring such things and get back to you. :)</p>
<p>Thank you! She is planning to bring her clothes, but pack very carefully. I know everything is expensive in Ireland; her Irish dance teacher’s relatives used to come here & park at her house for a week of shopping in NYC. They would stuff bags with clothes & said everything cost less, even with the extra weight charge on the plane & the air tickets for the shoppers, than buying it there with the VAT. That’s what got me wondering.</p>
<p>Bring half the clothes and twice the money. :)</p>
<p>D2 brought one sheet and purchased other inexpensive linens when she studied in the UK. That way she could crash on the bed on the first night without having to go shopping right away.</p>
<p>I just got an email this morning from S who is 3 weeks into his term in Denmark. He is planning to go to what he called the Danish equivalent of Walmart to buy a towel. His program provides bedding but only one towel. He also wanted to look at sheets because he was told that some of the hostels don’t provide them.</p>
<p>Your son has probably already figured this out, but consumer goods in Denmark are incredibly expensive. There really is no Danish equivalent of Walmart. Don’t be shocked if your son has to shell out a lot for linens.</p>
<p>There is the Irish version of Bed Bath & Beyond in Cork & I bet this is where the program lady takes the new arrivals. However, I was hoping not to have her buy new sheets, towels, etc & then just leave them there in Dec., especially as we went through all that 2 years ago here. Seems a bit on the wasteful side. And since she will be leaving the school in midyear, she won’t have a market of incoming students to sell them to—the new Americans will not get there till after Christmas break, and whatever Irish students live on campus will already have gotten their things. </p>
<p>I hear you on the “half the clothes” thing! Don’t worry; she knows how to pack light!</p>
<p>My Irish student informant says Penneys --not sure if it is the same thing as the US version–and something called Dunnes, which is supposedly the Irish version of Target. I would consider Craigslist, too, as well as Amazon. I wonder what most of the foreign students do with their stuff when they leave?</p>
<p>I would love to know what the other students do with their stuff when they leave! Though I fear it will not help mine, as she is going there for the fall semsester. She’ll give away stuff to incoming students I guess. If I know her. </p>
<p>Thank you for the tips on Penneys & Dunnes!</p>
<p>Incidentally I learned from Amazon that I can indeed buy things directly from Amazon.uk using my account, they do Super Saver Shipping (free) too, they ship to Ireland with this free shipping, and they do the exchange charge automatically—which we will be paying anyway no matter where we change the currencies. They add the VAT, too, but maybe we can get that cleared up.</p>
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