The vast majority of students who move to Dublin come straight out of ‘the shticks’; the only other times they were in the ‘big smoke’ for a significant period was on December 8 for farmers day, when they dressed in their Sunday best and descended upon the Ilac Centre like bargain-hungry vultures. After four years of living in Dublin, I’ve noticed the not-so-subtle changes that have affected my persona and views on life – some for better, some for worse.