Alumni Interview with Brittany Judge

What inspired you to go abroad?

I had never been abroad before, and it had been a dream of mine since I was young to go to Ireland. I wanted to experience everything I could during college, and I wanted to leave my comfort zone and go somewhere where I didn't know anyone and didn't really know what I was doing. I wanted to experience "culture shock" and learn how to adapt. I was also very interested to see how different other countries are from the United States, because this was all I had seen so far. I wanted to meet people that were raised differently than me, had different values, and believed different things from me. I wanted to see where my ancestors came from.

Why did you choose IES Abroad?

Aside from practical reasons, like price and the length of the program, I chose IES because I didn't know anybody else from my university going. I wanted to make new friends, not stick to the friends I already had—I felt like that would defeat the purpose of "leaving my comfort zone."

I wanted to completely immerse myself in a foreign situation and be left to make new friends on my own to have a chance to travel without feeling like I was obligated to stick around with the people from my school. I also felt that the program would be helpful if I found myself in emergency situations, given that I had never traveled abroad before (and neither has anyone in my immediate family).

What was your favorite part about Ireland?

I loved the fact that I could get anywhere I wanted to go by bus or train, in only a few hours maximum. There was also somewhere to go on weekends. More importantly, I fell in love with Dublin and spent so much time in the city. I loved that each part of the city was so different, and that there were a lot of small businesses and markets/arcades where I could give money to local artists and entrepreneurs.

I also loved that there were so many restaurants and pubs where I could hear traditional music and meet locals, rather than just fellow tourists. Dublin also had amazing international cuisine, and as someone from a small town with only one or two restaurants that served authentic food that wasn't American, it allowed me the chance to experience food that wasn't familiar to me.

What made your experience abroad unique?

I had a lot of moments during my time abroad that seemed like they belonged in a movie. On my first night, I got stuck in an elevator with several other IES students that ended up being my best friends.

At one point during my trip, I was walking with a friend through an unfamiliar part of Dublin and we ran into the President of Ireland. This was a huge turning point in my trip because I learned that the political culture in Ireland is so different from that of the United States—politicians aren't "celebrities" like they are in the United States, they don't need special security or get any special treatment.

I also got the opportunity to go on a surf trip in a coastal town in County Donegal that was organized by one of my IES student guides, and the others on the surf trip were from so many different countries and of all different ages. I also got the chance to travel to Scotland over a weekend, and got to stay in an AirBnb with an older Scottish couple that taught me a lot about Scottish culture and the hospitality there.

Another odd thing that I always think about is the fact that during our time in Ireland, it was fairly hot every single day, something not at all common in Ireland—and then it rained on our very last day there. Overall, I had so many special moments.

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

The staff at IES was very welcoming, and we had a short orientation our first few days in the city that helped me to understand the dos and don'ts of the culture I was immersing myself in. Additionally, they gave us a lot of freedom but were there for us if we ever needed anything.

I spoke to a few staff members when I was seeking psychiatric help but didn't have a way to contact my therapist back home, and they were very accommodating. At one point I was having back problems and needed a sports massage, and my student guide contacted me immediately with choices of affordable clinics in my area.

I would also like to point out that the staff made me feel so much less worried about emergencies, because they had all of my contact information and knew where I was at pretty much all times—if there had ever been a dire emergency, I know I would have had their support and protection. I never felt alone, lost, or without resources.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

I wish I had stayed in Dublin longer, perhaps arriving before my program started or staying after it ended. However, I know that it may have overwhelmed me considering it was my first time abroad. Regardless, I miss Dublin so much and wish I had gotten more time in Ireland in general. I am eager to go back.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

I would wake up fairly early sometimes to get breakfast at a local cafe or coffee shop, and then walk to class. In my program, we had classes usually in the morning which lasted until the middle of the afternoon, Monday through Thursday.

During class, professors didn't just stand and lecture—they encouraged student participation, asked questions and loved discussion, and often took things out of the classroom to give us more hands on, interactive experiences—like trips to museums and exhibits, and tours of the city.

After class, I often got lunch or dinner with classmates, and sometimes even professors. In the evening, there was plenty to do in the city. I often attended community activities, visited museums and important historical institutions like Cathedrals, museums, and parks. My friends and I often had dinner and drinks—and listened to music—at pubs at night.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

As previously mentioned, I love going to community activities, like festivals, markets, fairs and the like. I also loved seeing live, traditional music and meeting locals. Sometimes I would just go on leisurely walks through town and visit small shops and private businesses, and try foods I had never tried before. I also did traveling on weekends, and sometimes shorter trips after class to go hiking or sightseeing.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

We stayed in apartments in what was called the "Binary Hub." I loved them—all IES students were in the same block, with one to four suites per floor. Each suite was composed of five people, each with our own room and a shared common lounge/kitchen area.

I loved everything about it! Our apartment was clean, safe, and in a good location. I got really close to my suite mates, and we often made dinner together or played games in the lounge. I was on the top floor (the "penthouse"), and we loved to watch the sunset from our lounge.

It was nice having my own room because it helped me get away from the high-energy of city life when I needed time to calm down and do something quiet and peaceful for awhile. It helped me to avoid stimulation overload.

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

Making the most of your time is the best thing you can possibly do, but take care of yourself too! Don't wear yourself out, take time to do quieter things that cost less energy, and definitely take time to travel alone. Ireland is very safe and you have nothing to worry about.

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

I really do look at everything differently now. I appreciate the things I didn't have in Ireland that I took for granted at home, and I miss the things I had in Ireland that I don't have here. I experience things with a more open mind, and I always remind myself that there is more than what I see in my "bubble."

I think a lot about how politics in my country affect relations with other countries, and I find myself not thinking as ethnocentrically about the United States. I found friends that I will never lose touch with, and experiences I will never forget. I am so much more grateful for the time I got there now that I'm back to my same old routine.

Would you recommend IES Abroad to others? Why?

Yes! I had so much freedom but at the same time I felt cared for and knew I had direct access to resources when I needed them and couldn't find them on my own. The program was very accommodating and I had such an incredible experience—I want everyone else to get the opportunity to experience what I did.