This week on the show I got the opportunity to catch up with an old friend.

When I say an old friend, I'm referencing the length of our friendship and not her age.

She is none other than Grace McKibben Rooney, know to me as the person who once guessed my age to be 35 when I was indeed just 26.

Grace is currently living in the Welsh town of Bangor. Never heard of it? Me either.

Listen in to find out how Grace ended up there studying in its University.

I spoke to Grace about the reality of studying away from home and asked if the attraction of the freedom it offers equates to its reality.

We discuss student life, the social side, the facilities, the University and the make up of the student body.

The chat exposed the surprising reach of the little known University.

Grace explains how she wasn't the only Irish aboard, as often is the case.

She reflects on the good, the bad and sometimes the ugly of being an outsider in a foreign University.

Okay, there was county jersey nights and while you might take Grace to be a true blue...you wouldn't see her sporting a Dubs jersey in Coppers of a night out.

I couldn't pass up the chance to mention the elephant in the room. We chatted Brexit! I wanted to know, what, if any impact it had on her life in Wales. How it was discussed between the student body as well as the fall out it created between Remainers and Leavers.

Listen in to our chat about the level of uncertainty it still casts upon the University and the questions it raises for the future.

Grace is ever the positive person and was a boost of energy to chat to once again. Her journey to date is reflective of so many students studying aboard and the insights she shares in the chat are great for all. I'd like to thank Grace for her time, her thoughts and I hope some day soon we can get together to wear our county jersey's while we consume some ice cold cider.

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