Exploring Beyond Expectations

Hi, I’m Antonia! I love to road trip and explore, but going overseas is quite the leap of faith for me. Traveling has always been a passion, seeing the sights and getting a dose of culture, but living and studying in another country is a whole other level.

I’ve always known that in college I wanted to study abroad, and I thought I knew where I wanted to go. But as the time approached to choose a destination, I found my enthusiasm waning. Have you ever planned and thought about something so much that the reality loses its appeal? Well, I was feeling that way after fantasizing about going to Scotland for several years. I pictured myself frolicking on the highlands, riding Clydesdales and chasing sprites. Yes, most of my visions of Scotland come from Brave. Funny enough, I was getting a bit discouraged when I wasn’t finding programs that matched my expectations. So, I decided it was time to look for something new-- to step onto a different path.

From my disappointment over the prospect of not spending my days out on the highlands but rather in a classroom at, say, St. Andrew’s, I realized what I wanted was a program where I could immerse myself in a place. I want to experience the food, culture, geography, language, etc., and feel the pulse of day to day life around me. As I directed my search toward places over institutions, I came across IES Abroad programs. Exploring and getting to know the city, the country, is not only an option for free hours on weekends, but is greatly encouraged through the program itself. Perfect! I love that I won’t just be studying in a city, I will be studying the city.

As I sifted through IES Abroad’s offerings, I came across the Dublin Writers Program, and I kept coming back to it in my search. I have loved to write since a young age, but, unfortunately, I’ve sidelined the hobby for classes and more college commitments. Going to another country is so new that it seemed a nice counter balance to return to something familiar. Being able to focus on writing and discovering a completely different environment is just the break I need from the requirements of my major. 

So even though my original plans fell by the wayside, my excitement is rejuvenated. I intend to embrace the surprising routes and detours this new adventure will take me on. That is not to say I can wholly put aside my planner-nature. I already look forward to delving into Ireland’s fascinating history and rich literary heritage, and am especially psyched to read James Joyce’s Dubliners in Dublin! But I am confident that there are many delightful and unforeseen opportunities waiting to be taken advantage of in Ireland! I may not have been planning this for years and perhaps I won’t be chasing fairies (though I hear Ireland has those too), but I am certain this jump into the unknown is not only going to meet expectations but exceed them!