National University of Ireland Galway

Why did you pick this program?

I knew I wanted to study abroad, but I didn't know exactly where. After research and numerous discussions with many people, I knew Ireland was where I wanted to be. Now that I had chosen Ireland, I remember thinking... OK Ireland it is...but where exactly?

I originally thought Dublin because it is the most known county in Ireland, but after some more research, I knew I didn't want to be there. Nothing against Dublin, but it seemed too industrial for what I was looking for. I finally found the location with the perfect combination of culture, history, and livelihood...Galway!

What do you tell your friends who are thinking about going abroad?

JUST GO FOR IT!!! I tell my friends that studying abroad (especially in Galway) was by far the best decision of my life and I would highly recommend that anyone should go. I wish studying abroad was a requirement for students in order to graduate. Studying abroad and living in a different country for four months was so life changing. It sounds so cliche, but it truly opened my eyes to be more adventurous, and open minded to everything.

I had been fortunate enough to travel to a lot of different countries throughout my 20 years, but living in another country is a completely different story. Living in another country is when you fully indulge in the culture. You learn the local hangout spots, sayings, food, and lingo. You truly become one with the culture. I am so passionate about promoting studying abroad because I am so genuinely happy that I studied abroad and want to help others make the courageous choice.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

One piece of advice that I would give is to DO WHAT YOU WANT!! You want to see, explore, and experience as much as you possibly can in your time abroad. Trust me, the time goes by so very fast, that you want to make the most of every single day! You don't want to be on your plane ride home saying "Wow, I wish I did....". In order to see if I truly wanted to do something I would always ask myself if I would be okay with returning home without doing it.

Nine times out of ten, the answer was no. I think you really have to remember where you are, how limited your time is, and how rare your opportunity is. I remember not having much down time during the four months, but that was because I didn't allow myself to, and I wouldn't change that for the world. Instead of relaxing and watching Netflix on my downtime, I went into town, sat down at a cafe and people-watched and just took it all in. Trust me, you can Netflix when you return to the States.

What's your favorite story to tell about your time abroad?

One of my favorite stories from studying abroad is staying awake until 6 am to watch the Conor McGregor fight at a local Irish household. This is one of my favorite parts because when I look at this moment, I know that I got a true cultural experience. Half of my other American friends didn't even know about the fight and the ones that did, didn't stay awake to watch it.

I found the best part of my trip was that I fully indulged in the culture by making friends with other Irish students. I made sure I had one or two American friends that I could trust to have my back and give me a sense of home when needed, but as soon as I had them...I went and befriended the Irish!!! I am fortunate enough to say that I made a life-long best friend who is born and raised in Ireland and we are both counting down the days until we reunite.

The Irish are some of the, if not the greatest kind of people you will ever meet in your life. I have never met more welcoming people than in Ireland, especially in Galway. If you think I am just being biased, just google Galway and see what comes up. I'm sure you will find that County Galway was voted the WORLD'S friendliest city by U.S. magazine "Travel+Leisure".

What did you find essential to pack, and what could you live without/ buy there?

I honestly wish I brought significantly less clothes with me but I had no idea of knowing until after finishing the trip. I brought two large suitcases busting at the seams. One suitcase even actually weighed 70 pounds, which was the maximum for the airline even after paying extra. I thought I needed to bring so many clothes as it was my first time really being away from my normal closet at home. This was a personal opinion, but I also spent so much money on new clothes to bring with me.

I wish I had used that money I spent on clothes in the States, on clothes bought in Ireland and in my European travels. Since this is a program specific forum, I can say that Galway has PLENTY of clothing stores there that have cheap, trendy clothes that are more than sufficient for what you need there. I left Ireland wishing there was a "Penneys" in New York (not JCPenny by the way). I truly wish that I had brought less and bought more there. Not only were most of the clothes cheaper there, I have more of a sentimental value to those clothes that I brought back home from Ireland.

It's pretty cool to have someone compliment your shirt and you can say "thanks, I bought it in Ireland". Because I brought so much with me, I had to be extremely conscious of what I purchased there and on my travels. I was very limited to souvenirs and items while traveling because of lack of space on the way there. I packed and unpacked about seven times before I even left for Ireland because I was scared I wasn't going to have everything I needed. After spending 4 months in Galway, I can say ....just leave it at home! Galway is not in the middle of nowhere, they have plenty of clothing, food, and accessory stores as if you were home in the United States.

One thing I would say to make sure to bring is medicine. Some countries require a prescription for certain medicines that we consider Over-The-Counter drugs in the states, for example: melatonin.

Did YOU study abroad?! If so, where and what inspired you to go?

I caught the study abroad bug early on and couldn’t stop. My first experience was in Caltagirone, Sicily where I spent my junior year of high school. This experience set me on an irreversible path that would bring me back to Italy to complete my undergraduate degree in Rome.

Lastly, I decided to spend a semester abroad, in Cairo Egypt. Living in Egypt before the Arab Spring was one of the most interesting experiences of my life. I was inspired by a strong desire to get out of central Vermont and once I got started it took my six years to come back home again!

What does the future hold for UAlbany - any exciting new programs to share?

The future holds many new things for UAlbany. We are incredibly fortunate to have just had Dr. Harvey Charles appointed as our new Dean and Vice Provost for International Education. His vision will ensure that UAlbany is at the forefront of education abroad programming for years to come.

On that note, we are launching a new summer faculty-led program in Ireland in June 2016. The program is titled “Adventures in Entrepreneurship” and will include site visits to the European headquarters of major tech giants such as Google and Facebook.

Dublin is known as the Silicon Valley of Europe and also has the largest percentage of start-up’s in all of Europe. Students will have the opportunity to explore entrepreneurship in the heart of it all while earning upper level business credit.

Which study abroad destination is most underrated? Conversely, which is most overrated?

I don’t think that any destination is underrated or overrated per se. I think that each and every destination should be the right fit for the student choosing that location. When I started my career, I used to think that students going to England or Ireland were choosing the “easy” path because the spoken language was English and things “weren’t that different.”

Boy was I wrong! I have seen students take Thermodynamics and Advanced Calculus in Galway before heading to a pub to watch a hurling match – this is VERY different. I think every student should choose their study abroad destination based on the best academic, financial, and personal fit. That being said, there are definitely a number of cities that experience the “study abroad bubble” and have less opportunity for students to experience full cultural integration.

The most important thing for students is to commit fully to getting outside of their comfort zone, interacting with local students, and making the most of their experience. The advice I give my students is to visit the “popular” city destinations on the weekend (Dublin, Paris, Rome, London) but to study in the more “non-traditional” ones (Galway, Hull, Aberdeen, Wuerzburg).

What country have you always wanted to visit?

I have always wanted to visit Iceland. I think that Iceland is one of the most underrated destinations on the globe. It has untouched landscapes that are gorgeous, lots of outdoor activities, and the ability to view the Northern Lights! What could be better?

Furthermore, Iceland has a very small population and Icelanders have a strong reputation of being very friendly and welcoming. Most people don’t think about Iceland when they think about planning a vacation. It is now at the very top of my bucket list and hopefully I will get to visit soon.