2019 Study Abroad: Ireland landed in Dublin this morning. What a crazy thing to say. Not 24 hours ago, the group was an assortment of strangers at O'Hare. How quickly things change!
After a quick pit stop at Trinity College Dublin, our home for the first week of the program, we set off for Skerries, a small town outside Dublin. I anticipated this devolving into a textbook case of the "Sunday Scaries", as we asked sleep-deprived teenagers, some coming off their first overnight flight, to muster what minimal energy I imagined they possessed to play in a field in the middle of, seemingly, nowhere. I quickly learned, however, to never underestimate the power of new experiences, and most importantly, new friends. Oh, and the weather helped! At this beautiful local community field, students were treated to scones and tea by our wonderful Irish hosts, and gave it their all on the cricket pitch. With the green Irish fields as the backdrop, the students quickly formed bonds that, maybe, they'll have for the rest of their lives.
Back in Dublin, we attended a mass at the Notre Dame - Newman Centre for Faith and Reason. In the Newman University Church, the Father implored our students to action when others are in need rather than sit on the sideline. While his delivery was comical (ask the students), the priest conveyed a message of engagement that underlines Notre Dame's commitment to service.
The day ended with a wonderful dinner at Kevin Whelan's home, the Director of the Notre Dame Center in Dublin. His opening statement to students undoubtedly set the tone for a wonderful first week. Director Whelan applauded the students for their courage to take this adventure across the Atlantic. He implored the students to keep an open mind as they seek to understand a cultural different from their own. And he encouraged them to use this experience to look inward, as new experiences are an integral part of shaping our understandings of who we are in this increasingly globalized world.
While inspired, the heavy eyelids and epic yawns signaled our first day on the Emerald Isle was coming to a close. We returned to our home away from home at Trinity College. We can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!
Comments