Study Abroad in Ireland

A group photo in front of the Rock of Cashel in Cashel, Ireland.

Editor’s note: “An Intern’s Insight” is a recurring blog by our summer interns. This unedited content is strictly the opinion of the writers, and not necessarily of The Buzz. In this blog post, intern Sarah Jane Knowlton reflects on her experience studying abroad in Ireland.  

Studying abroad seems like a quintessentially collegiate experience, something done only by students willing to put in the effort of finding a program and a place to stay halfway across the globe. But at my school, Elon University, over 70 percent of the students study abroad, most of them more than once. One of the reasons Elon students can do this is Winter or January Term, a month set aside for students to take one course at an accelerated rate. Many students, myself included, use it as a way to travel.

Winter term abroad is done completely through the university. Courses, consisting of 16-30 Elon students led by two faculty members, range from mission-focused classes in Ghana to the Holocaust journey across Europe, to film courses at Sundance and in Australia—just to name a few. Courses based solely in large cities like London and Paris allow the students to be able to do more in-depth explorations like one would on a semester abroad. Others, like mine, consist of travelling all over a country. They’re more intense and schedule-based, but still fun.

Why Ireland?

I chose the Ireland trip, which examines the history, culture, literature, and art of the island, mainly because I have wanted to go to Ireland my entire life. My grandmother has always talked fondly about her Irish heritage, and something about it has always intrigued me. It seemed like the perfect opportunity.

My trip, which studies the culture, history, literature, and art of Ireland, began on the western coast in Shannon and ended in Dublin. Along the way we passed through Limerick, Killarney, Galway, Sligo, Derry, and Belfast, with several stops such as the Aryan Islands, the Cliffs of Mohr, the Giant’s Causeway, and many others along the way.

My Advice and What They Don’t Tell You

The Good

Everyone wants to get along. No one is going abroad to start drama. For the most part, people are as eager to make friends as you are, and since everyone is there to have a great experience, a collective effort goes into making sure people feel included. I was terrified leading up to the trip because I only had a couple of friends on the trip and wasn’t rooming with either of them, but I learned quickly through just spending time in the airport you can feel pretty comfortable with almost everyone even before you leave the country.

You’ll learn more than you ever thought you would. After all, you are studying abroad. You’ll go on numerous tours and because you’re there for such a long time, everything will feel more meaningful. To this day I feel a strong emotional tie to Ireland, and I’ve found it’s a shared feeling for people who have studied abroad. But you won’t only learn things about the country you’re in, but also about what you’re capable of when you’re put to the test.

You’re in a foreign country. That, in and of itself, is a blessing and a curse. A curse because you’re not completely comfortable, but neither is anyone else on your trip. So opt for your own adventures. Always take the chance to see one more view, walk one more street, or even dip your head in the ocean like some of the crazies on my trip did if that’s what makes your experience a richer and better story.

Because when you get back, that is what your trip will be—stories. So make them as interesting and memorable as possible. Besides, even if you drop a drink on a dance floor in Killarney (me), get hit on in a pub because you did some high-step dancing, or visit a leprechaun museum to find you’re the only adult on the tour, you’re never going to see those people you did something silly in front of again. Have at least one conversation with a local, and even if you step out of the box and embarrass yourself, you’ll have a story to tell that night and most definitely one to tell when you get back to the States.

The Bad

You’re on the road for a month. That may sound fun, but it’s hard to fathom the travel that’s packed in and how tired you will be. The reality of living out of your suitcase, which has to be able to fit in the undercarriage of the coach bus as well as be light enough for the flight, for a month is something that can be downright panic-inducing when you’re trying to pack. But you’ll learn to fold things like a pro and take advantage of any opportunity to nap, including public transport.

You will struggle with luggage. Not only packing it, but also making sure that all your new souvenirs fit, and any issues that will arise as you travel. For example, my suitcase around week two started to make all of my clothes smell like Crayons. And my roommate, Catherine, only packed one pair of shoes, her Bean boots, which were perfect for trekking around western Ireland, but started to smell from all the wear and rain and looked out of place in pubs and clubs. As soon as we got to Galway, she bought Converses, which were cute but impractical on the slippery walls of Derry. I have a pretty funny memory of pulling her up an incline because she didn’t have any traction. Clothes also start to get a little wonky after being worn out in the constant misting rain, and everyone is definitely ready to burn their winter coat by the end of the trip.

Traveling by bus can be rough. Pairing a late night of pints with an early morning of curvy country roads is enough to make anyone feel ill. Definitely create a first-aid kit for yourself. It’s better to have it in your suitcase than to really need something, go without it until you’re able to find a drug store (if you can), and then use spending money on it.

The Strange

Listen to your instincts. Whether it’s to go into a bookstore that’s caught your eye or to leave a pub with an unsettling vibe, it’s always best to pay attention to your surroundings and how they make you feel. Don’t be paranoid about it; you are a tourist so some things will be strange, but never settle for the ordinary or walk into danger if you can help it.

The Abroad Experience

Studying abroad, if you’re lucky enough to do it, can help define your college experience and shape future decisions. It’s not only fun, but also a challenge to attempt to understand a new place, people, and worldview you might never have considered if you hadn’t left campus. So I recommend you pack your suitcase that smells the least of Crayon and pick a place that’s always interested you—you’ll be surprised what you’ll learn not only academically, but also about yourself.