What inspired you to travel abroad?
During a class my freshman year I had a CAPA ambassador visit. While they visited, they discussed their internship abroad and how they studied in Ireland. I always wanted to go to Ireland due to my family heritage, and I knew that interning abroad would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Why did you choose CAPA The Global Education Network?
I chose CAPA for the internships they offered. I heard about previous locations that hosted students and knew they were amazing opportunities. Not many study abroad programs offer this, so I knew CAPA was the program I wanted to go with.
The Louvre, Paris, France
What was your favorite part about Dublin?
My favorite part about my host city was the convenience and history it held. Unlike many other programs, I had the ability to live right in the heart of Dublin. This allowed me to explore the city whenever I wanted and learn about it. Through one of my classes, Global Cities, my class was allowed to walk around Dublin for two hours with our professor as he explained the history of the city and showed us important locations and monuments.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
The program allowed me to have a family away from home. This family was made up of other students in the program and the program staff, and they truly made me feel comfortable every step of the way. In every direction, I had a support system that encouraged me to take a chance to step out of my comfort zone and explore.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
Hayley, Darren, and Susanne went out of their way to make us all feel at home. They all had the Irish humor that made anyone feel comfortable and like old time friends with them. They also went out of their way to be there for us and assist us at any time. I mentioned to Hayley once that I loved Harry Potter and when she found out I was going to Edinburgh, she made a huge list of all the Harry Potter inspired locations I should visit.
Even though it wasn't for me, I witnessed Susanne come back to the college at 3:00 a.m. to bring my friend to the doctor for an ear infection. She stayed with him for the entire night while he was there and made sure everything was okay. The staff at Griffith truly went out of their way to provide an exceptional experience for all of us.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
The one thing I wish I did differently was immerse myself more into the CAPA programs they had at Griffith. I wish I joined the CAPA student council and attended the events they put on. I also wish I attended tea time more with Hayley and Susanne because it was wonderful to just be able to sit down and chat with them, and I wish I did it more often.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
My typical day included me waking up at 7:30 a.m. to get ready for my day. Around 8:30-ish I would then leave my apartment at Griffith College to walk to my internship at Olytico. I would often get a coffee on my way to work as I walked for 30 minutes. Once I arrived at my internship, I usually worked from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. During this time, I would do different tasks at my internship and go out for lunch in Fitzgerald Square with my coworkers.
Around 5:00 p.m. I would leave my internship and walk back to Griffith. Once I arrived, I would normally have a couple of minutes before my classes started at 6:15 p.m. These classes were the business classes that I took at night with the part-time Irish students. Once class ended around 8:30 p.m., I then would either go back to my apartment or my neighbor's apartment for dinner. We would then eat and hang out until curfew.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
During my free time abroad I enjoyed exploring both my host city and other cities in Europe. While there, I traveled all across Ireland and also visited England, Scotland, France, Poland, and the Netherlands.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I lived at an apartment on Griffith College's campus. I loved how convenient the location of my accommodation was and how I lived with other international students.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
They should be aware of everything that their program has to offer. CAPA was amazing in that sense and lets its students know that they offered housing, classes, internships, excursions, and a bus card. If you weren't aware, many people would be surprised to learn that not many programs offer meal plans or transportation money.
Would you recommend CAPA The Global Education Network to others? Why?
I would recommend CAPA in a heartbeat. My experiences with them were nothing short of amazing and I don't even think I could praise them enough.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
The cultural knowledge you gain is unlike anything else. You truly become a "worldly" being and have a plethora of experiences that other people lack.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
It definitely is something I bring into almost every conversation. My time abroad has helped me become more independent and grow into myself. Before going abroad, I would've never traveled by myself. Now that I've studied abroad though, I'm aware of how much I am capable of doing by myself.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel to me means experiencing everything possible and not being closed off to different cultures. The experience of traveling to a different place alone is amazing, but opening up to a different culture and allowing it into your life is a whole different experience. It takes a lot for one to travel, but even more for one to be open to new experiences.
