During the spring semester of my junior year, I studied abroad in Limerick, Ireland through an Acadia Abroad program. I spent four and a half months in Ireland and loved every second of it! I was attending a university that was almost 7 times larger than Denison: The University of Limerick (+18,000 students). For the first time in my college career, I had classes that were part lecture and part tutorial; many of my courses were held in a lecture hall with over 100 students. So on my first day of class as I walked into a giant lecture hall for a course on Victorian literature, I was understandably intimidated.
But by the end of the semester, it ended up being one of my favorite classes that I have ever taken! During the course, we read The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. The novella is a fascinating exploration of human nature and the stressors of Victorian era society. I loved how I could dive deeper into my studies while exploring Irish culture, such as through a module I took called Irish Folklore. I had an incredible professor who taught myself and other students about Irish history, fairies, funerary traditions, and European carnivalesque culture. For one of our tutorials, the professor gathered sticks and taught us how to make the St. Brigid’s cross! I also took a course titled Irish Literature 1930-1990. I was able to discuss Irish literature with a professor and peers who grew up in Ireland and had a deep understanding of the culture. This was a truly enriching experience for my time abroad.
In addition to my studies, I also had the privilege of traveling around the country. I visited Dublin, Galway, Cork, and took a trip around the Ring of Kerry. I loved being able to explore Ireland and learn more about the vibrant history of the Emerald Isle. I got to see many famous landmarks such as the Cliffs of Moher, the Guinness storehouse, Trinity College, the Dunguaire Castle, and the Christ Church Cathedral. I felt particularly lucky to visit Trinity College, where my grandmother had studied for a summer term during college.
It was a true gift for me to be able to study abroad in the same country that my ancestors lived in so long ago. I also had the privilege of being able to travel across Europe. I visited Edinburgh, Paris, Versailles, London, and Amsterdam. I traveled to so many places that I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to see. One of my favorite experiences was to observe the cultural differences between America and other countries.
For example, I visited Amsterdam and was amazed to see the culture around biking and public transportation. I saw close to no cars on the city streets because people get around mostly via biking or by taking the bus. It was so eye opening to observe this difference in culture. I feel truly privileged to have been able to not only immerse myself in Irish culture, but to also experience the respective cultures of other countries.
