For my “Dublin on Your Own” assignment, I did what I know how to do best: shop and eat. To combine my two favorite pastimes, I went to a store called Marks & Spencer—M&S, as the locals call it—to find the most exciting and interesting snacks.

During one of our first days of the trip, I went to a mall downtown that had a Marks & Spencer, but it turned out to be just a clothing store. So, when I saw another M&S down the street from our hostel that was advertised as ‘M&S Food’, my curiosity got the best of me. And boy, am I glad it did!

As a snack enthusiast, this place was like heaven. Comparable to Trader Joe’s, the store was stocked with things like produce, snacks, prepackaged and frozen meals, and even a ginormous wine selection!  

It was me and my basket against the world. I filled it up with all the fun snacks I was interested in trying. And yes, Professor Ryan, I did try Ribena. And yes, it was amazing.

Approximately €42 later, my bank account and I decided that it was time to check out. I brought my snacks to a cute little table by the bridge and dug right in. If you guys learn anything from reading this, it should be that sushi from M&S is highly disappointing (who could’ve seen that one coming!?) and their gummy candy is top tier. My favorite candy was called Squidgy Snouts by the brand Percy Pigs. The texture was unmatched. They were soft, pillowy, and the perfect mix of sweet and sour. Because they use potato starch and tapioca instead of gelatin, all the gummies I purchased were also vegan! Not only that, but the ingredients were much cleaner than those of American candy, which I greatly appreciated #healthyqueen.

My solo snack time by the River Liffey allowed some time for self-reflection, which I always love. I felt incredibly grateful to be where I was and to have the opportunity to go the Europe for the very first time!

Oh, and don’t worry, everyone! I made sure to go back to M&S before I left to grab more of my favorite things to share with my family when I got home!