CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Dublin, Ireland

Studying abroad was the best decision I ever made in my life. I chose CAPA because I was drawn to the fact that they offered the chance to study and explore abroad, but also an opportunity to work abroad. My internship through CAPA was my first and I truly learned so much. Working in Dublin made me learn so much about the Irish work style as well as learn about myself and my strengths. Studying abroad allowed me to grow as a person and put me in situations that gave me more confidence in myself. Studying abroad allowed me to travel, learn, and make friendships that will last a lifetime.

Ever since I was young, I knew I wanted to study abroad in college! There are so many options of cities to go to or programs to choose from, but I have no regrets about choosing CAPA in Dublin. The internship component is what really drew me in. I am hopefully pursuing a career that will allow me to travel and deal with people from different cultures. Being able to tell employers that I already have experience working in a different culture is going to be a huge boost to my resume! One of my favorite moments of my semester abroad was traveling to my internship placement on my first day. I consider myself an outgoing person, but I can have a lot of reservations about new places and situations. I was extremely nervous about having to figure out the Dublin bus system, and how to navigate through the city. However, I really put myself out there, and found my office with no issues! I was welcomed by an extremely friendly staff, and felt really great about myself. This was only the first sign that this semester abroad would teach me a lot about myself, and my ability to overcome fears. The Irish people are so welcoming, and I felt integrated into the culture very quickly. The food is delicious and the views are incredible. I am counting the days until I am able to return!

The program was very nice. The food was multicultural and very fresh. I took Irish history before and it was neat to see some places like the Irish GPO and monuments from the revolution. Flights are also very cheap from country to country, so you can see a lot of Europe. CAPA also gives an internship, which is a huge boost to a resume.

I was really nervous about going abroad, but I was determined to follow through with it. At my home institution I commute, so I had never lived with anyone besides my family. I was also very nervous about making friends because I'm quite shy. CAPA was extremely supportive and the Dublin staff always tried to help when it was needed. The weekly "Tea at CAPA" was a great way to talk to the Dublin staff about how my experience was going and if I was having any problems. At one point I injured my foot and they were able to set up an appointment for me. The flats on campus were comfortable (although the mattresses were very springy) and there was a kitchen so my flatmates and I could make food whenever we wanted to. I ended up living with 3 amazing women and we all got along great! CAPA also provided bus passes, so transportation in the city was easy. The best parts of the CAPA program were the excursions and classes. The classes weren't fully lecture-based; we were able to be immersed in the Irish culture and explore Dublin by going outside of the classroom. The trip to the Cliffs of Moher was spectacular and a fantastic way to end the program. Overall I'm glad I made the choice to go abroad and I was extremely happy with the program and location I chose.

Dublin was a fabulous, lively city with more to do than I could squeeze into six weeks. The city was just a few hours from the most breathtaking sites in Ireland, including Galway, Cork, and many other suburban landscapes. The program provided the upmost support and the class I took to coincide with my internship was very helpful to adjust to Irish culture.

I left Dublin with so many skills and friends that I didn't have prior to the experience. Dublin is the perfect city to go out and meet locals because everyone is so friendly, and I met many locals that I plan on keeping in touch with a long time. It was nice to live with Americans though to come home to a sense of understanding of our own culture. I interned at a small social media company and was given a great view of how small companies work in Ireland. I really enjoyed learning about the culture in a work environment instead of just a social setting. My experience was so positive that I am returning to Dublin this year with one of the other American students that was enrolled in the CAPA Fall Dublin program for graduate school. The city has so much to offer and I could not imagine not spending more time there.

CAPA Dublin differs from other CAPA programs in that it is totally immersive; you attend classes with Irish and international students. I found it very affordable and the staff very supportive. The trips offered by CAPA allow you to see more of your host country without breaking the bank and the staff is always available for other travel recommendations or help in general! Dublin is an extremely affordable and well-located city, so it is easy to venture out and see more of Europe.

Its hard to believe that it has almost been a year since I left Dublin. I studied abroad in the Spring semester, 2012. Before leaving for Dublin I would have never imagined the impact that studying abroad would have on my life, perspective, and future goals and plans. When I returned home from Dublin people would say, "so how was it?" That was suprisingly a tough quesition. How could I describe a whirlwind of four months in a few words? I met people from all over the world that had grown up so differently from me but, yet, when I got to know them, they weren't that different at all. We had similar tastes in music and even liked the same basketball team. I made life long friends that I still keep in touch with today (I even got to skype with a few friends from Paris last week). I can't wait to go back to Europe (I'm even looking for jobs overseas after I graduate in May) and I encourage everyone that has the opportunity to study abroad to go! Many people think that you must know a foriegn language to go abroad but the CEA Dublin program allowed me to go abroad, but speak English.

Go with CEA!