Profile: Nadine Tan
LINC Dublin Blog
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| Nadine Tan, Business Administration |
Blog 4
March 28, 2009
Only about a week has elapsed since we returned from Dublin, yet the trip feels like a world away, as essays, group projects, and midterms have since occupied my time. It was a really fantastic trip filled with fun and new friends. I’m so glad the LINC program exists to not only introduce freshmen to what business might be like on the global stage but also to challenge us to be independent and smart in an unfamiliar environment.
Dublin ’09!
It’s been great seeing my LINC friends on campus - discovering they’ve been living down the hall from me or in my classes all along, for example. The friends, visits, photos (upwards of 400!), 11-hour flight, and the lovely accent encountered on our trip are unforgettable. But as much as I’d love to return to the cobblestone streets, wintry air, and smiling eyes of Dublin, I realize that USC is my home, at least for now. It’s nice to be back to the fast-paced, un-routine routine that is college life. My spring breaks usually go unnoticed, so the LINC trip was indeed a spring break very well spent and I’ll never forget it! LINC
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Blog 3
March 21,2009
I can’t believe it’s our last night in Dublin! It’s my roommate Danielle’s birthday today, which is conveniently a free day, so a few of us have spent the day souvenir-shopping, walking the cobblestone streets, and visiting a traditional local Irish pub. The trio of musicians sang her a very warm Happy Birthday, and I think she had a wonderful day! I mean, come on, we’re in Ireland—who wouldn’t be having an incredible time?
Since St. Patrick’s Day, we’ve visited eBay, Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Google and the Guinness Storehouse, which were educational trips. It was cool catching a glimpse of the workspaces for a few of the companies. I also found it amusing that we were “overdressed” in our suits, compared to some of the people at companies with casual dress codes.
On Wednesday, we visited St. Stephen’s Green, an expansive public park. More accurately, it’s a sanctuary in the heart of bustling Dublin, with perfectly manicured flowerbeds, a vast lake, swans, and courting couples lounging on the grass. My friends and I really enjoyed having that pocket of serenity in a week of hectic activities. That night, I attended my very first greyhound race. The jargon and statistics were confusing, but I decided to give it a go, hoping the luck of the Irish was with me. Sadly, it wasn’t, and I lost 10 euro in three races. But it was such a fun night; those dogs run a lot faster than I expected!
Yesterday, we made a two-and-a-half hour drive west to Kilkenny, a small town with a very rich history. We had a walking tour of the 12th century Kilkenny Castle, which, though impressive with its stolid stone gray exterior, was a bit disappointing on the inside. Very much refurbished, the interior was an amalgamation of furniture and styles from the 1600s, 1800s, and modern-day. It was still enjoyable, but I was hoping to be engulfed by medieval grandeur and the musty smell of olden times. Nonetheless, the town of Kilkenny was very charming. That night, we had our farewell dinner at a restaurant owned by U2.
What a week it has been - great company visits, adventures with public transportation, myriad photo opportunities - I feel so lucky to be here and am dreading returning to L.A.! Dublin is a wonderful city and I hope to return to beautiful Ireland one day. I’d love to visit the parts we missed - the Wicklow Mountains, the rolling green fields, the rich Celtic culture. Still, Dublin is a very fun and charming city and I’m going to miss it greatly.
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Blog 2
March 17,2009
For our first day in Dublin, all 58 of us dressed in full business attire looking like “little adults,” as my friend commented. We made our way to Covidien, a pharmaceutical and medical device supply company, who openly welcomed us to their new calling center. Later that day, we were given a literary tour—complete with visits to Trinity College and the pubs famous for their affiliations with Irish literary greats like Samuel Beckett and James Joyce.
As I’ve never really celebrated St. Patrick’s Day before, spending the holiday in Dublin was remarkable. The streets were lined with locals and tourists who, like us, were adorned with gaudy green hats, beards and painted clovers for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. However, the parade’s significance was lost on me, as I couldn’t understand why a dancing washing machine, peacocks, and people dressed as monkeys in spacesuits would be included! I found it all to be a bit strange; then again, foreigners probably perceive a lot of our American traditions as weird. Nevertheless, it was a fun event, filled with great photo ops!
We then walked through the very lively Temple Bar district, which is one of my favorite parts of the trip so far. People were laughing, singing, posing in strangers’ pictures, and just having a great time. The slightly crazy and brazen individuals certainly provided the entertainment for our night.
I now understand why people gush about the Irish: each of our taxi drivers and waiters have been so friendly, with a chirpy and slightly cheeky sense of humor. The overall disposition is so cheerful that it makes Dublin feel like a haven from everyday stresses. It’s only been two days, yet I feel like we’ve been here for a week. It’s a lively and beautiful city, and I can’t wait to see what else is in store for us in Dublin!
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Blog 1
March 5, 2009, Los Angeles
We’re a week and two days away from departing for Dublin. Nine days! I’ve been preparing for this trip - or some LINC trip, at least - since I first read about the program during my senior year. And now that it’s literally around the corner, it feels so surreal! Caught in the midst of midterms and essays and group projects, I’m very much looking forward to spending my spring break in the beautiful, green country of Eíre. And as this will be my very first trip to Europe, I’m doubly (or “Dublin,” no pun intended) excited.
Our eighth and final LINC class will be held tomorrow and in these past few weeks, we have been gaining an understanding of the political, economic, historical, and social climate of the country. Perhaps one of the most intriguing things I’ve learned about Ireland - through a lecture given by guest speaker Professor Tok Thompson - is the country’s commitment to complementing a vibrant economy with a rich culture in music, folklore, and dance, among other arts. Not only are the Irish resolute in maintaining centuries of culture, they continue to foster creativity in this realm. Accordingly, we might witness young children being taught the violin in the country’s many pubs, as has been custom for centuries. Also, as the Irish pride themselves on their conversational ability and highly value generosity, I’m extremely curious to interact with the locals.
And what may very well be a highlight of the trip will be our slew of company visits. We’ll be touring Google, Guinness, Waterford Crystal, eBay, Microsoft, and Tyco - all household names in their respective industries. I can’t believe how fortunate we are to be given this opportunity to witness the nuances of business being conducted on a global scale.
My friends and I are anxiously counting down the days until we step foot in Dublin, take in the sights, meet the company executives, and see firsthand the famed smiling Irish eyes. Nine days! Here’s to an unforgettable trip to Ireland—Cheers!
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