This study abroad experience was eye-opening to me, because it is easy to forget
that not everyone lives the same way we do. Things that we consider to be
normal could be considered absurd to those from another country and vice versa.
However, that is not to say either one is right or wrong. That being said, I
challenge all of my friends to travel to another country at some point in their
lifetime and to fully engage with the culture.
Ireland Study Abroad 2019
Monday, June 10, 2019
Think Globally, Act Locally
As stated in one of my previous blog posts, Ireland has
taken steps to become a more sustainable country. They have done this by
implementing recycling programs throughout the country, replacing plastic
straws with biodegradable straws, and getting rid of almost all paper towels in
restrooms. Although Ireland is a small country, they are taking steps to
improve the quality of the earth surrounding them. Small changes can have a big
impact on the environment. That being said, Ireland sets an example for other
countries to become more involved in sustainability efforts. It has also helped me realize how wasteful humans are. Usually, we do not think about the amount of waste we are creating. After spending 2 weeks in Ireland, I feel that I am more conscious of how much trash we produce daily.
Friday, June 7, 2019
Global Consequences of Local Behaviors
Ireland seems to be a very sustainable country overall.
Recycling bins are much more common here than from what I have seen in the U.S.
Where there is a trashcan, there is a recycling bin. Also, do not expect your
drink to come with a straw in Ireland. If you do get a straw just know that it
will be made out of paper. The straws here in Ireland are biodegradable. Another
common thing in Ireland is glass water bottles. Glass can help reduce waste and
better protect our environment. It is also very uncommon to find paper towels
in bathrooms in Ireland. I have only seen paper towels in one bathroom out of
the 2 weeks we have been here. Small steps such as these are helping our planet
in bigger ways than we may realize. However, Ireland is a small country. If bigger
countries also took these steps to become more sustainable, it could have a lasting
impact on the earth.
Field Trip - Blarney Castle
Yesterday we got to visit the Blarney Castle. A fun fact
about the Blarney Castle is that it is actually not a castle. Technically
speaking, it is a tower house. It took a total of 40 years to build! While we
were there, we all got to kiss the Blarney Stone. The infamous Blarney stone
was once given as a gift to the lord of the castle at the time, and it cannot
be moved. Climbing to the top of the castle was an interesting experience in
itself, because of the narrow design of the staircase. As you get closer to the
top, the staircase becomes narrower and narrower. I finally made it to top, and
I got to kiss the Blarney Stone. It is said that those who kiss the Blarney
Stone receive the gift of eloquence, so we shall see. It can feel intimidating
at first, but the key is to not look down. They have also placed metal railing
underneath the hole to ensure safety. Plus, there is an employee there to hold
you. The view from the top was amazing too, so of course we had to use it as a
photo op!
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Expanding Worldview 1
It is easy to forget that not everyone lives the same way we
do in the United States. In Ireland, many restaurants will not split the check for
a large group. It has been difficult at times, especially since we are a group
of 13 people. Trying to calculate the exact amount each person owes, including the
10% service charge to everyone’s meal can get confusing at times when there are
13 people in the group. In the United States it is not uncommon to ask the
waiter to split the check, but here it is not common at all. Another thing that
I found interesting is the portion sizes. I expected the portions to be small, but
surprisingly they are huge here. In the United States it is wrong not to tip
your server, but in Ireland it is not expected. It is also considered unusual
to tip your waiter in Ireland, which was difficult for me to get used to at
first.
Field Trip - Heineken Headquarters
Today we went on a field trip to the Heineken Headquarters
in Cork. The people at Heineken were so welcoming to us. When we arrived, we
were offered scones, tea, and coffee. Then, we were given a presentation on the
history of Heineken and how it came to be. Did you know that Heineken is the
number 1 brewer in Europe and number 2 in the world? After the presentation we
got a private tour of the process of making Heineken. We also got to try the
non-alcoholic Heineken 0.0, which has become increasingly popular in Ireland since
its launch in March of 2018. One of the most interesting things I learned on
this tour was that it takes 28 days to brew the perfect Heineken beer.
Monday, June 3, 2019
Field Trip - Aran Islands
Today we took a trip to the Aran Islands. Our day started
with a ferry ride to the largest island, Inis Mor, which actually means “large
island” in Gaelic. One fascinating part about the Aran Islands is that most of
the signage on the island is written in Gaelic. Once we got to the island, we
got on a bus that took us all around the island. As you can see in the pictures,
there are stone walls all over the island that were constructed by people years
ago in order to divide their property. At
the end of the bus tour, we got to hike up to the DĂșn Aonghasa fort, which had
an amazing view. The wind was pretty intense today and yesterday, but it did
not stop us!
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Global Citizen
This study abroad experience was eye-opening to me, because it is easy to forget that not everyone lives the same way we do. Things that w...
-
Today we went on a field trip to the Heineken Headquarters in Cork. The people at Heineken were so welcoming to us. When we arrived, we we...
-
It is easy to forget that not everyone lives the same way we do in the United States. In Ireland, many restaurants will not split the...
-
Yesterday we got to visit the Blarney Castle. A fun fact about the Blarney Castle is that it is actually not a castle. Technically speakin...