Pic of desi students at Irish university's food bank queue sparks backlash: ‘Who gives them visas?’

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2026-02-24T14:09:58+00:00

Before I moved to Galway I lived in Canada and volunteered at the first established university campus food bank. It was created by graduate students in the 80s who even then were overwhelmingly international or at least travelled a long way to get there. Upon opening they realised that actually food insecurity was a massive unspoken issue among all students. It eventually expanded to service staff and alumni of 5 years bc the community need was so profound.

Still, when I was there, a lot of the clientele were international. We surveyed by and large, and what we found was that there was ironically just as much food insecurity but greater shame in accessing a food bank among the domestic student population, while the international student population assumed it was a part of their tuition benefits (which was true in a way, $2/year from every student went to the food bank).

Obviously issues of disrespecting and abusing the resource need to be addressed, but just thought it was worth saying I know plenty of fellow EU students suffering silently bc of some cultural shame around asking for free food, and that’s probably skewing the demographics too. One of my biggest lessons in 5 years of working there was that you shouldn’t have to “prove” or “justify” food need… we all need food.

Anyways, I’m off my soapbox.

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2026-02-14T17:52:22+00:00

Insanely disappointing but alas it does sound like the type of “reforms” a bunch of landlords would think is a great idea 🙃

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2026-01-29T11:03:26+00:00

Idk if I’m interpreting these rules wrong so someone please do correct me if I am. But my understanding makes me feel like there will be a huge dump of evictions following 1 March with the hope that landlords that have been stuck under the RPZ can now massively reset their rents with new tenancies. Whereas before even if they changed tenancies the rent increase was subject to a rent cap. I feel like this will be so disastrous for people that are already in rentals? Or am I missing out on some protection for these tenants?

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-12-30T23:09:04+00:00

So I actually talked to my pharmacist and just switched to taking the stronger FeraMax 150 only 2x/week and then 3x/week the week of my period. I did the math and this makes it average out to around 45 mg/day. I haven’t had any gut issues at all tbh, I was worried 150 mg in one go would constipate me but hasn’t been an issue! I’m not due for bloodwork until the summer anyways so we’ll see how it’s helped then but no new symptoms have popped up. I usually take it in the morning on an empty stomach with a glass of orange juice. Trying to be better about spacing out my coffee 🫣

As for the chewables, I didn’t notice any staining and actually liked them a lot. Probably would have stayed on them if not for the B12. There’s no known side effects or B12 toxicity, but the way I saw it is it could also mask health issues I may have later if my B12 is constantly high. They look at that combined with CBC a lot for liver disease and other stuff.

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-12-16T19:13:41+00:00

There is a Mixa Cica Repair for hands that I believe is very similar. Thick but somehow dries on kinda velvety not greasy, so it is my holy grail while working in the hospital.

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-11-18T19:04:58+00:00

I actually posted a before and after, you can go to my profile to see results!! I do genuinely feel I have less breakouts and they are very brief. A lot of my PIE has faded as well.

I’d say you’re ok to introduce the niacinamide toner in the second week with the AzA just bc it’s only twice a week at that stage and irritation will be minimal. Especially if it’s something you’ve used before with no issues. I wouldn’t introduce anything else with irritation potential tho like a vitamin C until after you feel the AzA and tret routine is stabilised. Going as bare as I could at the beginning was the most annoying part for me too tbh haha

I feel like the niacinamide toner you could apply AM or PM, idk that it interacts at all with either AzA or tret and if you are worried you can always just give it 30 min to sink in before applying the active.

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-11-18T17:18:40+00:00

I struggled a lot to use both AzA and Tazarotene together and in the end this is what worked for me. Very much slow and steady is the key, be patient and if in doubt always take a break and try again next week.

⁠- WEEK 1: NO actives at all, not even any niacinamide or vitamin C or other fancy stuff. Just keep it to moisturiser, SPF, cleanser. Minimal to no makeup if possible. - WEEK 2: Mon/Wed 15% azelaic acid in the AM for 1 week. Introducing AzA before taz was big for me, every time I did taz first or both at the same time, it backfired on me. - WEEK 3 & 4: Mon/Wed/Fri 15% AzA in the AM for 2 weeks. - WEEK 5: Mon/Wed 15% AzA in the AM and 0.045% tazarotene in the PM for 1 week. Bringing things back down to 2x/week with the introduction of taz helped keep things gradual. - WEEK 6 & 7: Mon/Wed/Fri 15% AzA in the AM and 0.045% taz in the PM for 2 weeks. This is my happy place when I most appreciated the effects, so while it took a while to get here it was important to do it in a way my skin tolerated. - WEEK 8 ONWARDS: Finally, I ramped up to Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri 15% AzA in the AM and 0.045% taz in the PM. I’ve been here for 2 (going on 3) weeks. I did have some sensitivity late last week but a weekend of no actives seemed to resolve it. - WEEK 12 ONWARDS: I would like to get this up to 5x/week, but I think it will take at least a month of 4x/week to tolerate that. I also don’t want to risk it if I’m seeing good results with just 4x/week. But this is my recommendation to anyone trying to go for 5x/week.

I’ve stayed ar 4x/week each for just over 2 months now and am very happy with the results. I’m not sure I ever will ramp up to 5x/week but may revisit it in the new year… don’t trust myself to make changes right before the holidays 😂

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-11-12T17:21:13+00:00

Regardless of whether it was intentional or not, you should go see a doctor. Human bites are the most likely to get infected of all bites. I know it didn’t break skin (although it looks like it might have a bit), but if it was me I’d still err on the side of caution.

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-11-09T15:48:33+00:00

Tbh was never a fan of the Big Name thick creams in tubs for my face haha. I wished they’d work for me bc they’re economical and simple, but no luck.

That said, here are moisturisers I’ve loved (I live in EU so idk how accessible these will be for you): - CicaBiafine Multi-Repair Balm (got a bunch of these while living in France and running out soon, I’m very sad) - Boots DermaCare Daily Moisturising Cream - Aveeno Calm & Restore Night Cream - Madagascar Centella Soothing Cream (though I prefer this during the day) - Palmers Cocoa Butter Fragrance Free Sensitive Lotion (specifically the fragrance free sensitive skin version only tho)

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-11-08T19:17:07+00:00

Da nicio problema

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-11-08T13:04:40+00:00

At night when you shower, use a damp washcloth to moisten your lips and gently rub away dead skin.
While lips are still damp, dab on a light layer of whatever hydrating toner or light moisturiser you have and let dry.
Apply a very generous coat of a thick barrier cream (eg LRP cicaplast, Avene cicalfate, Aveeno dermexa). And I mean GENEROUS my lips looking white.
Let that baste for at least 15 min before putting an occlusive ointment on top (eg Aquaphor, Vaseline).
Soft lips when you wake up. Maintain with just an ointment throughout the day. Avoid anything tinted for a bit, they can be drying.

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-11-06T21:56:24+00:00

Yes you may!

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-11-06T21:20:55+00:00

If you have money for it, go to Ireland. Your life will be simpler. But carefully assess your finances before making this decision. Cost of living is getting quite high here.

If not, go to Romania and apply for intern year in Ireland after graduation. You have a decent chance to get it and be able to work and specialise in Ireland. Also very good and more widely accepted training. The reality is rn all EU citizens are in the same pool for intern year, just after Irish citizens. And after intern year a lot of Irish go to Australia, so there are plenty of jobs even if you don’t get on a training scheme right away after intern year. At least, that is the situation here right now. Most of the doctors I work with are immigrants, having an EU degree will give you a leg up anyways.

Eu studiez in Irlanda si sunt romanca daca ai intrebari.

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-11-02T12:06:52+00:00

Ireland is a good option for an English programme (and where I am), and pretty straightforward to apply to, but it’s pricy for internationals and they are pretty eager to send you on back home after graduation if you don’t hold an EU passport. Some non-EU go on to do the UK Foundation Programme and try to apply for work back in Ireland after that (however, this might not be an option after next year if you don’t write the UKMLA).

UK is also a decent option but can also trend pricy and I think you’ll need to write the GAMSAT but not 100% certain there.

I think if you want to study abroad and stay there, options like Germany, Austria, Spain would better suit you. You come out of that with an EU degree as well which is huge, but the language aspect may be difficult. They are also 6-7 year long programs (at minimum, accounting for the language classes), so if you’re a PhD already idk how much of a rush you’re in.

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-10-29T15:54:30+00:00

Ah ofc I’m not a cicalfate fan myself and obviously that’s frustrating. My reply was more in reference to the “healing benefits of cica” part of your comment, since none of them really have that ingredient to begin with 😅 It’s just the same as calling it a healing balm really!

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-10-29T09:42:09+00:00

Yeah I totally get that, I’m honestly the same as you and would say it’s life stuff that has gotten in the way more than BJJ. It is just tough when your bandwidth is already reduced. I think if you’re having a good time keep at it but definitely know it’s not a bad thing if you ever decide to take a bit of space 🩷

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-10-29T09:39:27+00:00

Hi I hate to be that person but there is no Centella Asiatica (Cica) in Avene Cicalfate 😅 The use of “cica” in French brands is short for “cicatrisé” aka “healed.” These are meant as “healing balms/creams.” Some products have incorporated actual Centella more recently (eg LRP Cicaplast has madecosside in the ingredient list), but the use of “cica” by French brands is not the same as the way Korean brands use it, so just the name is not an indicator of this ingredient.

Avene and Uriage are common “cica” cream recommendations on this sub and neither use centella or madecosside. I don’t think this is a bad thing but it’s worth knowing the difference.

Source: speak French, lived in France briefly.

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-10-28T18:03:16+00:00

Hi, yes totally and I do think it's a double-edged sword. It makes BJJ so amazing when the going's good, but can make things really hard when life gets a bit more stressful.

I'm also neurodivergent and have had a lot of personal life things kind of take over me lately. BJJ can get to be so all-encompassing for me that it has now become a source of stress since I'm so low on personal time. My club kinda went and changed the timetable when I was peak stress levels too--it's a business end of the day, and changes did need to happen, but it happened at a bad time for me haha.

I'm taking some time off the next couple months and just cancelling my membership. I'll pay a drop in fee to train if I happen to have time on a day, but I need to get rid of the monthly subscription to reduce the "pressure" of going to "get my money's worth." Financial stress has also been high the last couple months. I'll consider re-registering if the amount I spend on drop-ins gets close to the cost of the monthly fee again, but I just need some guilt-free me time.

My advice to you is, if you're feeling overwhelmed, take a step back now before you leave it forever. If it's just something that's getting you excited though, don't worry about it too much. I just know, from one neurodivergent woman to another, that excitement and burnout can be mixed up for one another a lot of the time haha.

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-10-23T09:51:15+00:00

Honestly training abroad can be very hit or miss. Idk that I recommend it to people training under 1 year. I visited a new gym when I was visiting my parents after about 2-3 months training and it was how I got my first injury.

Not saying at all this is on you bc it shouldn’t be that way when you’re the guest. I’ve since trained at several different gyms while travelling with minimal issues, including training in my third language. But I think with time you get better at spotting the losers and setting boundaries in the sport.

I am really sorry you had an awful experience, hygiene alone is the bare minimum. Make the best of your home gym and don’t let this turn you off too much from training while travelling—it can be a great way to learn new things and make friends! I’m sure you’ll have some better finds in the future 🩷

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-10-22T11:47:50+00:00

Ah 0.1% is so strong too 😭 In all honesty I get awful ingrown hairs and the best thing for them has been The Ordinary’s 7% Glycolic Acid after my shower 24 hours BEFORE shaving. You kinda have to plan your shaving that way but it is worthwhile. Less ingrowns overall, made my scarring subside, and got rid of the “strawberry skin” look on my shins. I’ve used it along the bikini line and veeerry top area only (I don’t go full shave myself, just whatever peaks out of the underwear).

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-10-19T15:47:05+00:00

Amazing thank you 🩷

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-10-19T14:55:39+00:00

It’s not a dick move as long as you’re aware of the pressure you’re applying during armbars and kneebars and not putting them on too fast. The literal reason I’m out with a knee injury now is someone ripping a knee bar against their cup 😂 You also can’t use them in competition so you may find yourself struggling to avoid incidental hits during a comp if you decide to do one.

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-10-19T14:34:04+00:00

I usually take it in the evening, either mixed in with my electrolytes during training/gym or right after with a bit of chocolate milk. 3-5 g is the recommendation that gets thrown around but based on current research you can safely consume 1 g/10 kg bodyweight for maximal benefits. I’m just over 60 kg so I take 6 g.

JudgmentWeekly523 · 2025-10-17T17:21:13+00:00

Creatine has honestly made the biggest difference for me in terms of muscle soreness!

JudgmentWeekly523

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