Ireland Archives - IFSA

Ten Steps to Complete Before You Study Abroad

ichilds — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 19:51:55 +0000

While studying abroad at University of Galway in Ireland, I have had the opportunity to meet so many amazing people and travel to so many amazing places. For me, this is a time to explore different countries and experience different cultures. I was excited to go, but also nervous to be so far from home. So, here are the ten steps I completed before I departed to make study abroad a little [...]

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I Belong Here: A First-Generation Experience Abroad

ichilds — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 16:18:41 +0000

When I first got to Galway, I was so nervous. I kept asking myself, can I really do this? I come from a family of Ethiopian immigrants. As a first-generation student, studying abroad felt impossible. Traveling wasn’t a regular thing for us growing up. Every summer, my friends would come back with stories of all [...]

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How the Challenges of Study Abroad Lead to Growth and Strength

acarter — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:14:58 +0000

Studying abroad in Galway, Ireland, was my second time living internationally. The first time, I was fresh out of high school and became an au pair, a live-in nanny, in Rennes, France, for a year. If there is one thing I learned from both of my experiences abroad, it’s that growth comes with discomfort. Most [...]

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Unpacking the Gifts of Study Abroad in Ireland

acarter — Mon, 19 May 2025 21:20:15 +0000

As I pack up my dorm room and take one last walk through Galway, I’m reflecting on more than just the items I’m cramming into my suitcase. This journey has left me with something intangible that will outlast souvenirs and photos. I thought the hardest part would be saying goodbye to Ireland, but in truth, [...]

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From Wallflower to Wanderer: How I Learned to Embrace Adventure

acarter — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 16:29:58 +0000

Before studying abroad, I used to think adventure was meant for other people—bold, fearless, extroverted people. I admired it from a distance, but stepping into the unknown felt overwhelming. I was the kind of person who preferred a quiet evening with a book over a night out and who felt a twinge of anxiety at [...]

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Treading Water: The First-Gen Study Abroad Experience

acarter — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 22:10:09 +0000

Studying abroad as a first-generation college student feels a lot like being thrown into the deep end of a pool with no life raft and no map. I knew how to stay afloat, but I had no idea where I was going or what was beneath me. The excitement of being in a new country [...]

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Stepping Outside the Safety of Hometown

Kate — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 15:45:37 +0000

Studying abroad was the first time in the past decade I had lived anywhere outside of Oberlin, Ohio. I grew up there and now attend Oberlin College. I was incredibly nervous to be in a completely new place, across the ocean from anyone I knew and any sense of familiarity. Gaining confidence to explore But [...]

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Preserving the Magic of Study Abroad

Kate — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 15:33:26 +0000

Studying abroad is an unforgettable experience that has forever changed my life. Ireland, the people I’ve met, my campus, even the weather are things I hope to never forget. Unfortunately, as time goes on, remembering details can be difficult. This is doubly true for someone like me who forgets about things as soon as I [...]

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At Home Studying Abroad in Galway, Ireland

Kate — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 20:22:25 +0000

Blackberries and Basalt When I first arrived in Galway, I couldn’t help but compare the landscape to the trees, tidepools, and basalt I knew from my stomping grounds in the Pacific Northwest. Just like in Washington state, blackberries wrap around handrails and riverbanks, and ferns unfurl on a trail near the University of Galway campus. [...]

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Finding a New Identity as a Student Athlete

Kate — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 14:55:25 +0000

Throughout my entire life, most of my best friends have been from soccer. I spent so much time playing soccer growing up, and made lifelong friends doing it. Coming into college as a soccer player, I had 30 built in friends. I never really had to put myself out there to make friends. My whole [...]

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