This past fall, I spent the semester at University College Cork, where I participated in the early start program in Irish archaeology. Having gone to college in the same town that I grew up in, I was excited about the opportunity to experience living in a completely different environment through my study abroad experience. When I first arrived in Cork, it was intimidating to try and navigate both a new city and a new culture, but the differences between Ireland and Iowa were more exciting than nerve-wracking. Some of the challenges that I faced just required time to adapt, such as figuring out the bus system and learning which foods would go bad faster than they did at home. Since I chose to do the early start program, I arrived on campus three weeks before the rest of the classes began, which gave me time to form new routines and get to know both the campus and the city better.
Once classes started, I also had to adjust to the different education system. It was strange to have more independence in my courses, since there was no homework or participation in my classes, while the more intense finals season was stressful. I learned that creating routines similar to those that I had at home, such as studying at the campus library, or coffee shops before class, or getting weekly groceries at the same time every week helped me feel more comfortable in a new environment.
One of my favorite parts about Ireland was the landscape — not only its beauty, but also how easy it was to travel to different parts of the country to experience it. The heather-coated mountains in the center, the cliffs along the ocean to the east, and the unique basalt formations to the north were all accessible by bus or train. The school made it even more accessible by providing opportunities for travel through courses, clubs, and societies. In my early start in the archaeology course, I got the chance to travel across Ireland to visit remote archaeological sites that I wouldn’t have been able to do on my own. I also joined the mountaineering club, which organized hikes over the weekend to different mountain ranges.
Some of my favorite memories from this semester were braving the weather and following the club’s hike leaders up the sides of mountains, with some of the most breathtaking views I’ve ever seen. Taking advantage of the school’s opportunities to travel through clubs and societies is something I would recommend because it gave me the chance to meet Irish and international students while travelling across the country together.
Despite the traveling that I did, it was hard not to feel like I wasn’t doing enough to take advantage of the time that I had in Ireland. Rather than thinking about the places that I didn’t get to visit, it helped me to focus instead on the small details that made me love my time in Cork, like the friendly coffee shop owner who learned my order by the end of the semester, or the swans I walked past on my way to class every day. I’m so grateful that I got the opportunity to spend time in Ireland by studying abroad, and knowing I made the most of my time in college through this experience.
The Global Access Ambassador Scholarship program provides awards to study abroad for a summer, semester, or academic year. The scholarships are intended to support students who study abroad with the intent to serve as Global Access Ambassadors upon return to the UI campus. Upon completion of the study abroad program and return to UI, award recipients are asked to submit a photo and an open letter to prospective students or suggest an alternate means of sharing with prospective students.
Please note that the opinions and views expressed by ambassadors are solely those of the students and do not reflect or represent the views of International Programs or the University of Iowa.
International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement. IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.