This past summer, I spent three weeks studying at the University of Limerick in Limerick, Ireland. Of course, the opportunity to travel around the beautiful country of Ireland piqued my interest. However, upon reflection, I have realized that I gained so much more from my experience abroad.
From an educational standpoint, my module on Terrorism, Crime, and Justice in Ireland enlightened me about a unique and divergent form of criminal and civil law. While Ireland and America have a similar basis of law, modern reformation has created drastic and significant differences. Additionally, traveling around Ireland opened my eyes to the beauty of a different part of the world. While going to big cities like Dublin was fun, I personally found that trips to exceedingly small towns like Cobh and Kinsale better acquainted me with the culture and natural beauty of Ireland. Finally, what I did not expect to gain was a wealth of knowledge about the intricacies of Irish culture from the Irish people themselves. From my first ride to the university after landing in Shannon, Ireland, to interactions with store owners and the University of Limerick group guides and professors, every person added important knowledge and context to my understanding of Irish history. From stories of British occupation to instructions on how to play hurling and Gaelic football, the Irish people greatly added to my experience.
Throughout my time in Europe, self-reflection and novel experiences helped me grow and better understand myself. I learned that going outside of your comfort zone and experiencing novel things is ultimately beneficial. In Ireland, we had the ability to travel on our own on the weekends. Despite the reality that some people wanted to party or relax, our group decided to travel to remote towns and meet local Irish people… experiencing the Irish culture and life from a more authentic point of view. I did not realize how much you could learn about a country and its people from the less touristy destinations… as opposed to the big cities and popular destinations.
I would like to thank the Dill Fund for helping finance my unique and exceptional opportunity to study abroad in Limerick. I highly recommend this opportunity to anyone who is interested in seeing a part of Europe that is not as frequently visited, while participating in a flexible program with many opportunities to travel. The travel, instruction, and friends made my three-week stay at the University of Limerick one of the best experiences in my young life.
