A Month Goes By in the Blink of an Eye

This month absolutely flew by, and I can’t believe the trip has already come to a close. I’ve had countless incredible experiences, traveled all across Ireland, and made plenty of new friends. Along the way, I’ve definitely been shaped by this experience and undergone significant changes. This trip forced me to keep my cool, stay calm in tough situations, and adapt to last minute changes. We had our fair share of mini-disasters, such as a hostel room that was so small and cramped that some people referred to it as a jail cell, but the important thing was learning to go with the flow and deal with less-than-ideal circumstances. Honestly, I was a little surprised by how well I handled these circumstances, and it felt good to be someone people could rely on to keep a level head. This trip also affected my academic goals somewhat. Prior to this trip, I wasn’t very familiar with Joyce. Now, having studied him in-depth, I would definitely be interested in taking more classes on him in the future, and perhaps even diving into his oh-so-intimidating masterwork, Ulysses. This trip has also definitely made me want to study abroad again. On the one hand, I’d love to go somewhere new, like Australia or the U.K., in order to get to explore somewhere new and gain a broader perspective, but on the other hand, I’d love to return to Ireland and spend more time here, perhaps at a university like Trinity College Dublin.
Before studying abroad, I had plenty of apprehensions. I was nervous about being out of the country and far from my family and friends for so long, and I was particularly nervous about not knowing any of my classmates very well. Luckily, these fears were unfounded. I realized that the best strategy was to dive straight in, so, counter to my naturally introverted disposition, I made a real effort to talk to and get to know everyone else on the trip. It was much easier than I thought it would be. The sheer amount of time we all spent together encouraged us to grow close, and I have to say that this really was a great group of people, all around. By the end, we’d all become friends, which made the trip much more enjoyable—it’s always more fun to explore and travel with friends.
Overall, study abroad has really impacted my view of the world by opening my eyes and forcing me to consider things from a non-American perspective. It was particularly enlightening to look at both American and world politics in this way. I had many conversations with various Irish people, from random “average citizens” that I met at shops and in pubs to authors and even politicians like Senator David Norris. It was fascinating to hear their non-American perspectives and to learn about how what happens in America affects people in other parts of the world, like Ireland. I definitely think being forced to view the world through a different lens is a major benefit to study abroad.
The single greatest benefit of study abroad was all of the hands-on experience that I got. We spent plenty of time on analysis and discussion in the classroom, but what makes study abroad unique is all of the opportunities I had for learning outside of the classroom. Getting to walk down the streets that Joyce wrote about in Dubliners and to talk to writers and filmmakers about their works is so much more powerful than just reading about these things in class. They make the whole learning experience much more engaging. Moreover, there is no better way to learn about a country’s culture than to experience it firsthand. From attending a play at the famed Gate Theatre to baking soda bread and jumping into a bog at the farm, we got a full range of experiences that helped us feel as though we were experiencing the real Ireland.
My favorite part of the trip was staying at the Irish-language boarding school Coláiste na Rinne on the southern coast of rural Ireland. The countryside and coast were astoundingly beautiful, and we had lots of fun experiences, from learning Irish dance and the tin whistle to going on a cliff walk or an early morning stroll on the beach and having a picnic in the park. What really made this experience was the people. The employees at the school were amazingly kind, going out of their way to plan wonderful activities for us and make us feel welcome. When we left, we all felt like we’d had a true taste of Irish hospitality.
Looking back on this trip, I can honestly say this has been one of the best months of my life. It’s been an experience I’ll never forget, one that I wouldn’t trade for anything. My advice for future participants is to throw yourself into all of the activities and take advantage of every opportunity. Sometimes you might feel tired and consider staying in and not doing anything during your free time, but you’re in Ireland for such a short amount of time—make it count. Also, approach all of the planned activities with enthusiasm. Maybe you’re not good at sports, or you don’t have a very good voice, or you have two left feet—that’s okay. There’s a wide variety of activities, and they’re meant to appeal to everyone. Even if something doesn’t seem up your alley, give it a shot—what matters is having fun, not being the best. As long as you take things as they come and try to approach everything with a good attitude and open mind, you’re guaranteed to have a great time, and you’ll almost certainly find that studying abroad was one of the best decisions you’ve ever made.