Abroad in Dublin

Going abroad is now a huge part of who I am. It was an incredible experience in Dublin, Ireland as I got to see 31 cities across 11 countries. I was able to visit friends from my home university, as I had travelled to Dublin alone. It was incredibly easy to make friends in the program as they have an orientation upon arrival. This was great as I was feeling a little overwhelmed at the fact I had actually landed in Ireland and would be here for months away from friends and family. IFSA - Butler was great by providing information about travel, academics, housing, shopping, and more. If they had not hosted an orientation I would have been extremely lost. Also, they continued being a great resource while in Ireland, as well as before and after I had been in Ireland. Today, I could talk for hours about the things I saw and experienced. Also I gained confidence and became a stronger version of myself. My family was incredibly proud of what I had accomplished and so was I. Lastly, I was also battling my anxiety throughout my travels. This was something I was not going to let stop me from doing what I had planned to accomplish. That experience has given me more control over my anxiety today. As for people I had met, I talk to them everyday through texts, snapchat, and more. We have also visited each other multiple time after returning to the U.S. I made lifelong friends.