I’m an American expat from Louisiana living in Dublin, Ireland.
Since studying abroad in Innsbruck, Austria for 6 weeks after my freshman year of college, I’ve had a constant desire to travel the world AND a dream of eventually living in Europe. I’ve somehow managed to make my dreams a reality!
In 2015, I packed up and moved from Louisiana to Dublin on a Working Holiday Authorisation Visa with the goal of living and working in Ireland for 1 year. But, I was able to get a work permit after that first year visa was up, and I’ve been living here ever since! I even got my Irish citizenship in January of 2022!!!!! That’s what we call #MANIFESTING besties!!
Moving abroad was the scariest but also best decision ever. Living as an American expat in Dublin has been the best years of my life, and it’s absolutely NUTS to think that I’ve lived the majority of my adult life – almost a DECADE – here in Ireland.
About this blog
This is Sara Sees – a place where I can share stories of my own, real-life adventures, both big and small. A place where I can share first-hand experience, insight, recommendations, and a little eye candy. It serves as both a personal journal where I can share my travel stories and photos to look back on later, and as a place where I can hopefully help others plan their trips and show that it IS possible to travel affordably – whether its studying abroad, doing a hosted tour, or traveling solo. A place where I can share a little about the good and the bad of expat life. A place where I can share tips and first-hand advice on the Irish Working Holiday Authorisation Visa, Irish work permits, and the Irish citizenship process.
I can’t stay in one place too long, so I’m always saving up for my next vacation or adventure. Especially now that I live in Europe (with a gorgeous EU passport), there are so many amazing places just a short flight away!
I don’t travel full-time (although I wish I did)! I maximize my annual leave/PTO and travel as much as I can while having a full-time job. I don’t stay at fancy hotels or eat at fancy restaurants; I travel affordably and still manage to have magical experiences and make life-long memories. I sometimes travel with friends but I also absolutely LOVE travelling solo. I just LOVE travel.
A little more about me…
Italk too fast and daydream too much. I am a coffee addict and semi-professional thrift shopper. I love people watching, different accents, and bustling city streets. I have daydreams about Chick-Fil-A way too often. Puppy videos on YouTube are my jam. I’m a huge Harry Potter nerd. I dream of one day holding a baby panda bear. I have hoarding tendencies. I can speak Spanish but am too lazy to regularly do so. Leslie Jordan is my spirit animal. I’m a Graphic Designer. I think I’m a lot more clean and organized than I actually am. I have absolutely no self control when it comes to pizza. Zero. I love huge crowds just as much as I love being in my bed alone watching Netflix on a Friday night.