CEA CAPA WORLD

Cole Taylor is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2016, sharing their story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A journalism and media writing major at Lasell College, they are studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In this week's post, Cole shares their favorite free apps that will come in handy if you're studying abroad in Dublin.

- - -

When you think about study abroad, typically you are thinking about the paperwork, what to pack, what it will be like when you get there, etc. One thing you do not usually think about, or at least I did not, is smartphone apps. Which apps can help make your Dublin study abroad experience even better and more effective?

Check out the 10 apps that I find to be both entertaining and handy while abroad.

1. GOOGLE MAPS. Google Maps has saved my bacon several times since being in Dublin. Some people use the pre-installed GPS on their smartphone, but I found that Google Maps is more effective and user-friendly. When you open the app, it immediately prompts you to type in a destination and upon doing so, it will show you possible options of transportation in the lower right hand corner; bus, walk, car, or train. It also shows you in minutes how far the destination is from your current location. For Dublin travelers, this app is highly recommended because typically you will travel by bus quite often. When you select the bus option, a drop down list will appear with different bus numbers and routes that will get you there and how long it will take. In my opinion, I have yet to find anything negative about using this app. As long as you have data on your phone, it is the saving grace of all navigation apps.

Continue Reading

• Tweet

Ashley Welch is an official CAPA blogger for summer 2015, sharing her story in weekly posts on CAPA World. An economics major at Clemson University, she is studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In the post below, Ashley shares her top 5 apps for study abroad. 

- - -

Having a smartphone abroad can actually be really useful if you have the right apps on it. I use my phone all the time in Ireland to document my time here, navigate the streets, and much more. While there's a multitude of apps out there, I have narrowed down all of my apps to these five essential ones: 

1. GOOGLE MAPS. This is by far the most essential app I use while studying here in Dublin. Unfortunately, I was not gifted with a great sense of direction, and am often getting lost in my hometown or at school. Finding my way around foreign cities has always been a difficulty. Google Maps solves all of those problems for me and makes finding my way around a lot less stressful than using a standard map or going by memory. Although there is already a Maps app installed on most phones (or at least iPhones), Google Maps is better because it also includes the bus, train, and rail schedules. The only real downside of this app is that it does use data, so only someone with a smartphone and preferably an Irish sim card can realistically use it. To me, this is well worth the data and I have yet to get lost in Dublin or any other city I have visited during my summer abroad.

Continue Reading

• Tweet