One year later...

My time studying abroad in Northern Ireland proved to be challenging, but well worth the risk. It has truly given me the travel bug, as well as the urge to become a better Global Citizen. After I returned from Europe, I knew that I wanted to keep the feeling inside of me alive, the feeling like I could do something proactive on the University of Minnesota campus, or more generally, the world. I knew that I was also going to have a hard time adjusting to American culture again. Some may say that the Irish culture is very similar to American culture and I couldn't disagree more. By the time I left Jordanstown, Northern Ireland, it had stolen a piece of my heart and I was speaking in an Irish brogue. In order to keep the study abroad spirit alive, I decided to get involved with two internships through the Learning Abroad Center: Global Ambassadors (GA) and the Classroom Visit Internship (CVI). GA allows me to stay connected with fellow students who studied abroad, and has even allowed me to meet a student who studied abroad for a year in Northern Ireland. It is these people who can fully understand what I mean when I say I'm having a hard time readjusting or I'm really missing the tea and digestives (cookies). We meet a couple times a semester to talk about various aspects of Learning Abroad and how to become better Global Citizens. CVI has allowed me an outlet to continue to talk about the impact that learning abroad had on me and how it could have an impact any student who decides to study abroad as well. I talk to 15 classes a year and answer any questions that I can about studying abroad. The University of Minnesota has a goal of 50% of all students Learning Abroad somewhere for some length of time. I hope that the U will be able to reach that goal and that students will be able to understand how beneficial it would be for them to learn abroad.

So one year later, I still love my experience abroad immensely. It has given me fuel to be a better Global Citizen and to learn more about my home country and others. I miss it, but I have no doubt that I will be heading back soon...