What inspired you to travel to Ireland?
I was inspired by my older sister who studied abroad in Florence, Italy through CAPA. She came back an entirely different person by the end of the semester. She returned self-assured, bold, and fearless. She was surely bitten by the travel bug. I wanted that for myself; the growth, the independence, and the new perspective she earned.
Therefore, in the Fall of 2019, I went abroad for a semester in Dublin, Ireland through a CAPA Program. It changed my life for the better. It allowed me to grow outside my comfort zone and seek out new experiences. My study abroad in Dublin was the best semester of my life!
One of our first trips: Croatia! Pictured with my roommate, Jen.
Why did you choose CAPA?
Back at my U.S. university, I was matched to a list of study abroad programs based on my interests and area of study. Dublin, Ireland was there, but I wasn't sure about it. After asking friends and family about their travels to Ireland, everyone RAVED about their time there.
Not a single person had a negative comment. They all claimed that the people were friendly, that the landscapes were incomparable, and that Dublin itself was entirely enjoyable. They were right on all accounts!
What was your favorite part about Ireland?
Ireland has a stereotype that the people are friendly, that is incredibly true! Every person I came in contact with was social and hospitable. As soon as they realized I was an American, they would ask what I thought of their country and culture. They were curious to know about my experiences. This doesn't usually happen in the States...
The people were surely the best part of my semester abroad. I will most definitely miss the CAPA Staff and the Professors at my host university. They made the semester very enjoyable and, of course, educational.
What made your experience in Dublin extraordinary?
The flexibility!! At my home institution, academics consumes every waking moment I have. Students are constantly studying and preparing for classes, whereas in Ireland, classes were once a week and far more laid back. Rather than having lots of homework due every day, we as a class worked on projects towards a long term goal. We enjoyed the classes and paid attention rather than scribbling down every word the professor said. Therefore, it was much more laid back and stress free.
The free time allowed me to have fun experiences, such as traveling, shopping, and simply exploring! With Ryanair flights being as cheap as 20 Euros I travelled a lot. My friends and I only had classes three times a week, meaning that we enjoyed our five day weekends. Overall, the flexibility and stress free environment was incredible. It made for a wonderful and educational semester.
How did CAPA staff support you throughout your program?
The CAPA Staff was available 24/7 for questions and concerns. They ensured that we felt comfortable adjusting to a life away from home in Dublin. They hosted trips abroad, and meals in between the semester to catch up. Most notably, they hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for the U.S. students. A day that was largely plagued with homesickness. They were thoughtful and considerate about our adjustment abroad. Their care truly made the semester a success.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time In Dublin?
I wish I hadn't fallen into a routine while in Dublin.
Once you find a rhythm of life abroad, such as grocery shopping, going to the gym, etc., it's hard to break it. I also wish I wasn't as frugal and went out and explored the city more on weeknights rather than cook at home and watch Netflix. Although I did my fair share of exploring while in Dublin, I would advise a student going there to never live two days the same! Mix it up and explore! Even if you find a restaurant that's wonderful, keep trying new places. You may never return to your host country, so see as much as you can while you're there. You will never regret those moments, but you will regret those you spent inside.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
I only had classes three times a week, so on the days off I would often travel around the city through Dublin’s bus system. I would go shopping on Grafton Street, College Green, or O'Connell Street, grab groceries, and wander around the streets. On the days that I had classes, I would workout, attend my three hour classes, and then go back to my dorm hang out with friends, and complete errands. On the weekends, we would almost always travel. We flew everywhere we could with the amount of time and money we had. Then we would return to our routine by the time classes rolled around the following week.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time aIn Ireland?
Traveling!!! Tickets were fairly inexpensive for flights, and often we would just pick the cheapest ones from the list. For example, I flew to Croatia on a whim and it ended up being my favorite trip from the entire semester. I hope all students studying abroad get to explore as much as I did. You, most likely, won’t have that opportunity again later in life. Therefore, plan ahead, book flights to explore as much as you can. While in Europe, my friends and I managed to visit multiple countries; that was the most educational experience of all. Exploring different cultures and comparing them has taught me a great deal about my life back in the U.S.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I had a dorm in the Griffith Halls of Residence. I shared two doubles, a kitchen, and two bathrooms. I liked it because I had built-in friendships through my time abroad. I feel that students who might end up doing a homestay are a bit distant from other students in their program and will, therefore, refrain from traveling or venturing out.
The fact that I had roommates helped me to make friends and plans.
Especially during those bouts of homesickness, my roommates completely understood and could empathize. Even though some students won't let on, everybody is a bit scared to spend a semester abroad. Therefore, having roommates who are experiencing the same feelings as you helps to counteract that unease.
One of my favorite weekends: Split, Croatia.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
They should know that they are going to face situations that are uncomfortable, but that doesn't mean they are bad. I had so many moments this semester where I got lost, took the wrong bus, faced difficulties with language barriers, etc. However, those situations end up being the most educational in the end. Therefore, embrace the uncertainty and unfamiliarity. Soon enough, you're going to be seeking it out. Especially when you graduate and enter the "real world", you are going to face a lot of uncertainty. Think of the semester abroad as a tester, or the "real world" on training wheels. You can make mistakes and take risks, with the support of the program and friends you have while there. It's all going to be okay in the end.
Would you recommend CAPA to others? Why?
Absolutely!!! It was the best four months of my life, as I met so many incredible people from all over the country, and I learned to grow outside the boundaries of my comfort zone. Despite being a shy person, I learned how to put myself out there through this program, I found stability in my abilities while abroad. I think students in the US are too comfortable in their routines and habits. Therefore, a semester abroad, being tossed into the unknown, forces people to react differently, grow, and take risks.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
You become confident in your abilities. Before traveling abroad, I was unsure of how I would travel overseas, make friends, adjust to the culture, etc. You learn to embrace the unfamiliar and simply adjust on the fly.
You can't truly prepare for a semester abroad, you have to let it happen, and savor every minute of it!
Before I left, I kept asking my sister who travelled abroad how things went for her. I kept wanting to compare my experience to hers. However, Ireland was so different from Italy (her host country). Therefore, I learned to let go and simply let the semester take its course. The biggest benefit is to learn how to apply this philosophy to most of your lifestyle.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I would go back in a heartbeat. I feel as though I have a better grasp of myself and my abilities, and I'm not shy of taking risks anymore. I feel that I can connect better with people as I simply live life on the fly now. Before I would plan so much about my life, but now, I go more with the flow. This new approach came from my semester abroad. During a study abroad you experience the unknown without any preface. It has done wonders for me, and enabled me to live life with less fear and more excitement.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
It means that you immerse yourself completely, and not simply check the boxes. For instance, instead of traveling to Dublin and just visiting Guinness or Temple Bar, a visitor who travels meaningfully will go to a local pub and speak with people and get a grasp on the real culture of the area. A semester abroad enables you to do so, therefore one must take that opportunity and sink one's teeth into the real experience!
Make sure you walk around the city at your own pace, and observe all that it has to offer. I learned that in the Global Cities class on campus, as we learned to be flaneurs. Flaneurs were individuals in the 19th century who strolled around the city at the pace of a turtle, and observed their surroundings. The method of the flaneurs allows for meaningful traveling. Practice it and live that in your daily life!
