Katt vs the City: First Time Using Transportation By Herself

Anyone who knows me knows I have a horrible sense of direction, and that I am most certainly NOT equipped to ride public transportation by myself. That being said, I am an adult - it's about time I learn and Dublin is most certainly the place to do it. I have taken a train maybe 3 times in the past 6 years, and had never taken a city bus until I arrived in Dublin.

I had an interview for an internship today! Here's how my journey went:
-I Took the Dublin bus past the spire and to the College Green Stop.
-Walked from College Green to Grafton Street
-Walked up Grafton Street to the luas (Dublin train)
-Took the luas through several stops
-Got off at the second to last stop and took a taxi to my interview.

The morning journey took around an hour and fifteen minutes. I got off at the second to last stop on the luas and was told to walk to my internship from there (it's only a 10 to 15 minute walk). However, I had no idea where I was going and felt insecure and unsafe, so I ran back and took a taxi.

Good news: The interview was quick. I really liked the company, and they ended up offering me the internship!

Bad news: Getting back to campus was an absolute struggle. I took the luas back to Dublin city center, and from there, I had NO idea what bus to take back. I had anticipated this and called my professor while on the Luas, but despite his instructions to take bus 11 back, I still struggled. I ran to a bus stop, missed bus 11 by a couple minutes, and it didn't say when they next one would be, so I kept walking onward, looking for bus 4, 9, or 13. After stopping three different buses to ask them if they traveled to DCU, I finally realized I was on the wrong side of the road, and crossed the road to get a different bus. I did not really know where my stop was (it's always difficult to tell), so I had to sit by the driver and basically interrogate him after every couple stops, asking if my stop was coming up soon.

So all in all, it was a very frustrating day, yet thrilling day. Here's a picture of the luas! It's very hi-tech and you have to swipe a card before you get on the luas and after you get off.