One of the things I am going to miss most about Ireland is Penney’s. Penney’s is a discount store in Ireland and probably the most amazing place I’ve ever been. They sell mostly clothing but also have things like shampoo, make-up, bedding and other various household goods. The best thing about Penney’s though is the prices. You can get tops for as low as eight euros and the average price for pants is about ten euros. Most knit sweaters (or jumpers as they are called here) range from about ten to 15 euro, which is a very good price considering how warm they are. Penney’s is the most popular place to shop among college students because of how affordable it is and most of the time when you are walking around campus at NUIG you will be able to recognize the clothes that people are wearing from the racks at Penney’s. Another great thing about Penney’s is that even though the prices are so low, the clothes are comparable to things I would pay a lot more for in the U.S. Not only has shopping at Penney’s been an effective way for me to dress authentically like an Irish college student, it has also proven to be a great way to save money on gifts. When my parents visited with my grandma, all of them left Penney’s with things for themselves and for others back home. It’s also great to know that there is a place I can go when I run out of shampoo and get what I need without paying a ridiculous price, which often happens in Galway if you don’t look for bargains. They also have a wide selection of onesies, or footed pajamas, for about 12 euros. This may not seem like a big deal to the average person, but footed pajamas mean a lot in Ireland in the winter! Even though I’ve got a few weeks left here, I’ve already bought a number of Christmas presents for people at Penney’s just because I thought they were really nice. I’m really excited to wear all of the clothes that I bought at Penney’s when I get back to the U.S. because I know that no one else will have the same stuff as me, even though here everyone is walking around in the same thing!
There’s No Place Like Penney’s #GWU #GWAbroad