Search results for: “ireland”
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Carry It With You: Perspectives on Navigating Goodbyes
Throughout my life I have been fascinated by the challenge of leaving. It seems that to be human is to try to cope with the farewells and adjustments that accompany change, but we all do this differently. As a former nomad, I used to pride myself on my ability to sacrifice discomfort and unfamiliarity for…
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Embrace Tourism in Dublin
When traveling abroad, quite a few people recoil at the words ‘tourist trap.’ In fairness, most of the popular attractions at the biggest tourist destinations tend to be a bit pricey, but it certainly doesn’t mean they are not worth seeing. They’re popular for a reason! I’ve put together a list of common tourist attractions…
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Do Not Let Disability Hold You Back Abroad
Since coming to Dublin, I’ve gotten quite close with a number of IFSA students who are studying abroad at University College Dublin with me, including Jacquie Kelley, from Vermont. Jacquie studies Political Science and Music at Providence College in Rhode Island, and lives with her three-year-old Golden Retriever, Moose. He’s a service dog, and helps…
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Celiac Disease Abroad
One of the best parts of traveling anywhere is tasting new flavors of local food and drink. Our human need to eat and gather around meals manifests in diverse, beautiful and interesting ways all over the globe. Yet while the connections gained around cooking and sharing meals are vital aspects of a cultural experience, they…
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Letting in Kindness Abroad
I arrived in Ireland two days before I could move into my accommodations at the Burren College of Art. I booked a room at a cheap inn I found online with a sparse website and no numbers in its address. I was staying in Ennis, a market town in the west of Ireland. It was…
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Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mental Health Issues Abroad
“Wherever you go, there you are.” As someone with a host of mental health issues resulting from a past I’d do anything to forget, these words have always been a reminder that no matter how far I travel, I’ll never be able to escape myself and my history. But as I reflect on the challenges and…
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Bucket List Goals: With the IFSA Learning Plan, You’re Not Alone
Before studying abroad with IFSA, all students fill out an application stating the goals that they want to achieve while studying abroad. The goals are framed in three categories: professional, academic, and personal. The IFSA learning plan is then reviewed and revised with IFSA staff during several meetings on campus during your study abroad experience…
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Why it is Essential to Live by Experiencing
Step out of your comfort zone. Be Present. While abroad, I learned how important it is to live by experiencing – the importance of taking advantage of open time, doing something new every day, and overall taking advantage of where you are and this opportunity in life. While living in Edinburgh, my goal was to…
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Study Abroad and STEM: Contradictory or Not?
Many of my friends back home are STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) majors and are on the pre-medical track. Their schedules are jam packed with science and math courses, all hoping to earn top marks to gain entrance to a medical school. They spend hours in labs, clinics, and doing research for their professors…
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How Getting Involved in Irish Politics Made Me Change My Flight
I arrived in Ireland with one thing in mind: perfecting my Irish accent. Okay two things: taking a break from American politics. 2017 was an exhausting year for my mental health and I needed to escape. So, I picked the little lush island off the coast of Europe, packed up my clothes, hopped on a…
