After a long two days of travel and getting settled in, our first day in Dublin has already exceeded my expectations! We began with an amazing breakfast at the cutest cafe and then set off for our two tours. My biggest takeaway from today is that the rumor of Irish people being incredibly friendly is very true! I thoroughly enjoyed walking through Dublin, taking in its beauty, while learning the ins and outs of what makes it the beautiful city we see today. Having the knowledge of the hardships Irish citizens have faced allows me to appreciate the city even more. I’m glad to know that my assumption of the weather being similar to Pittsburgh’s is fairly true. My favorite part of the day had to be when I took advantage of the bathroom break from the bus. What was supposed to be a quick bathroom break turned into a 30-minute exploration through a park in Howth! This was my first opportunity to see the nature side of Dublin, which made me extremely excited to see more. 

Before consulting business in a different country, it’s certainly important to learn about the history and culture first. With the historical information we learned today, we have a better sense of topics that may be sensitive in conversation. However, we also have so much knowledge on Dublin’s culture that allows us to conversate well. Hearing locals speak of Dublin in any way, even side comments, helps us have a better experience and ultimately optimize our time here. The most interesting story I learned today involves the brave Irish rebel women. 

I’m excited to begin business bright and early tomorrow with our Microsoft Headquarters site visit!