I knew a master’s degree in physiotherapy was going to be challenging, let alone choosing to study abroad in a country that I had never been and didn’t know a single person. To top it all off, I got to experience all of this in the midst of a global pandemic! I was just finishing up the second semester of my first year at UCD, when we were told by our program director that we could go home to Canada as classes would be online for the remainder of the semester due to COVID-19. At the time, I had been living on campus in residence and my contract was due in August, so I had no choice but to pack everything up and take it home with me. There were a lot of unknowns during this time- How long was I going to be home in Canada for? Will classes be online for the rest of the year? Where am I going to live when I do eventually head back to Dublin? These were just a few of the questions running through my mind.
A friend recommended Lesley and her services to me when I mentioned a friend and I were hoping to get an apartment in Dublin. It was very stressful trying to research apartments on our own while home in Canada and we had been warned about scams. To ease our worries, we decided to go with Lesley at Local Line. Seeing as all three of us were in different parts of the world, we scheduled a Zoom meeting to talk about what we were looking for in Dublin. I remember feeling very hopeful after our initial meeting with Lesley because she seemed eager to help and reassured us that we would have no problem finding a suitable apartment. Within a few days, Lesley already had a couple options picked out for us and looked at. Now, we all know how important technology is nowadays, but it was especially important during our apartment search. Lesley was able to send us photos and videos of the apartments via WhatsApp, which made us feel as if we were there with her in person!
Throughout this whole experience, communication was excellent. I cannot say enough good things about Lesley and Local Line. She truly goes above and beyond to ensure you are happy with your new home. Because I was returning from Canada, I had to quarantine for 14 days once I arrived in Dublin. Although it wasn’t a requirement, Lesley offered to pick me up from the airport and take me to my new apartment. I am about halfway through my isolation at the time of this blog, and she has messaged me multiple times asking if there is anything I need and wondering how I’m settling in. I am very happy with our new apartment and it’s already starting to feel like home!
Thank you again Lesley! I cannot thank you enough for your flexibility in these uncertain times. We would not have been able to find our apartment without your help!
Darby
A Canadian physiotherapy student at UCD