2025.9.28
PHOENIX PARK
Background
According to its official website, the Phoenix Park is about a mile and a half from O’Connell Street. It’s one of the biggest enclosed parks in any European capital. It was first created as a royal hunting park back in the 1660s and opened to the public in 1747. Today, wild fallow deer still wander around, and the park’s full of old buildings, gardens, and relaxing spots to explore.
Time&Scenery
I arrived at around seven in the evening, just in time for the sunset. The whole lawn was covered in golden light — it was unbelievably beautiful. I sat under the cross, writing my portfolio, and everything felt calm and warm. It was one of the most stunning scenes I’ve seen since coming to Dublin.
On the way
Last week, we were reading an article about whether nature-related words should be removed from children’s dictionaries, and one of the examples was a plant called “hedgehog.” Coincidentally, on my way to the park, I actually saw it on a tree — it looked exactly like the picture from the article. Maybe it was just fate😂a small moment of connection between what I read and what I saw
Deer at Dust
My friend and I decided to wait until eight o’clock, since we heard that’s when the deer start moving together into the forest. And we really saw it — a whole herd walking slowly through the golden light of sunset. It was such a breathtaking sight, calm and beautiful in a quiet, almost magical way！！！！
Ending
It got dark really quickly there, and soon we could barely see the path. On our way back, there wasn’t a single person around, and the atmosphere suddenly felt tense. We started running, hearts pounding, and luckily, after about 200 meters of sprinting, we managed to catch a taxi🥳
CHINESE NEW YEAR IN LRELAND
This year was my first time celebrating Chinese New Year away from my family. In the past, I always spent this holiday at home, surrounded by relatives and familiar traditions. However, this year I celebrated it with a group of friends in Ireland.
On the morning of Chinese New Year, I video called my family and received red envelopes from them, which made me feel both happy and a little emotional. It reminded me of how different this year was compared to previous celebrations.
Later, we decided to cook together. Although we are not extremely close friends, we are all Chinese students studying abroad, and this shared background brought us together. In a foreign country, it feels like we naturally rely on each other during important festivals like this.
While cooking and eating together, I felt a mix of emotions. I missed my family and the usual atmosphere at home, but at the same time, I felt a different kind of warmth. Being with people who share the same culture made the celebration feel less lonely.
This experience made me realise that “home” is not only a place, but also the people you share important moments with. Even though it was different, it was still a meaningful Chinese New Year.
NAIL SALON EXPERIENCES IN LRELAND
During my time in Ireland, I have tried three different nail salons: a local Irish salon, a Vietnamese salon, and a Chinese nail technician working from home. These experiences gave me an interesting perspective on different service styles and cultural differences.
My first experience at a local salon was quite disappointing. The process was not very careful, and the final result did not meet my expectations. In fact, I removed the nails shortly after. However, I also understand that this might have been due to choosing the wrong salon.
The second experience was at a Vietnamese salon. I noticed that most of the staff were male, and the service was very fast and efficient. However, the process felt quite rough and rushed, which made it a little uncomfortable. Although the final result was acceptable, it was not particularly impressive.
Finally, I went to a Chinese nail technician who works from home. This experience was very different. The process was much slower, but the attention to detail was clear, and the final result was the best among the three. It also made me understand, in a slightly humorous way, why there is a common stereotype that Chinese nail technicians focus more on detail.
From these experiences, I realised that different cultural backgrounds may influence service styles and priorities, such as speed versus precision. Personally, I found that I value careful work and detail more, even if it takes more time.
