When I was young, I was obsessed with the book The End of the Beginning by popular children’s author Avi.  The book, about an ant and a snail that travel all around the world meeting many different creatures, instilled in me an intense desire for adventure.  I would read it over and over again, often aloud to my little sister and grandmother during sleepovers.  I dreamed of going on my own adventure and meeting new people, but was always held back by the fact that it is generally frowned upon for children to travel the world alone.  To cope with this minor limitation, I read every book I could about people going on their own adventures.  That way, I could be ready when embarking on my own travels.

My love for adventure and reading never died.  Currently, I’m a senior studying English and Community, Environment, and Development with a minor in Sustainability Leadership.  This is hardly the first time I’ve traveled abroad without my family, but it is an adventure all the same.  I will be spending four weeks in the picturesque country of Ireland studying English and art.  The program is entitled Representing the Irish Landscape, Literature, and Visual Arts.  For the first week, I will be staying in Trinity College Dublin housing in, you guessed it, Dublin!  Then, we will be traveling West to Achill Island, where our accomodations are holiday homes.  National University of Ireland Galway, also in Western Ireland, is next.  The longest leg of the program, however, is in the small Southern town of Allihies, where local families will host us for a week.  Finally, The last three days are spent back in Dublin wrapping up the program.

Ireland is a beautiful country.  I flew over a few days early with my mother, grandmother, and grandmother’s friend since they had never seen Ireland before.  Now, they have returned home and my program starts today.  While I am very excited to see the beautiful Irish countryside, I am most excited to experience Irish culture and engage with the local community.  Both of my professors have led this trip five times and my art professor, Helen O’Leary, is actually from Ireland.  I know they will help us understand and respect the culture here.  Helen and Janet Lyon, the English professor, know so many small nuances found in Irish culture that an outsider like me would completely miss.  I’m excited to see Ireland through a new cultural lens and understand it as I never have before.

– Katelynn (Kat) Conedera

Location: College Green, Dublin 2