Paula Carlisle - Summer in Philadelphia

Summer in Philadelphia 2025

I enjoyed every single moment. I did not want to go home!

The City, The Culture & Memorable Moments

The best moments were the bonding moments between myself and the other Ulster students e.g the 'late night' chats we had, the trips we took to the shops and the evening walks/sunbathing that we did!

The culture is quite similar to home. Obviously, there was a lot of political slogans across the city due to the current state of the political office in America. The divide was evident. The hustle and bustle of the city is quite different to home - no one will stop to have a chat, everyone is focused on their destination! I realised this after saying "Hello" to multiple people and not receiving an answer!

I did not encounter any major challenges. I know some of my peers felt quite homesick but I honestly enjoyed every single moment. I did not want to go home! The classes we attended were very informative and very eye-opening. The tourist attractions we saw were amazing and the weekend trips to New York and Washington D.C made the experience unforgettable!

I found it very easy to make conversation with other people and I found that everyone was the same! We were all in the same boat so realistically, we had no other choice but to make friends! Everyone was so welcoming and comforting that if anyone did feel homesick, we were all there for eachother. I am still in contact with the friends I made while away and we plan to meet up when we are back at university!

While we were away we travelled to New York and Washington D.C. These trips were surreal but, Philadelphia was definitely my favourite city.

Advice for others

Go for it! Do not doubt your ability to go away by yourself or leave home. Do not second-guess yourself! There are people there to guide you through the application process and advice you on what's best to do. Remember that the students you are travelling with are also in the same boat as you!

Put yourself out there, make new friends and enjoy this opportunity!