Returning from a semester abroad, and in my case eight months of traveling, has culminated an identity crisis for me. I do believe identity influences the lens which we view the world through, but identity is also malleable. With every day that I spent in a new place, my identity shifted slightly. Now that I…
Author: jsparks@rollins.edu
Cheers! Also known as the most popular saying you’ll hear in Ireland. I have moved in, chosen my courses, and adjusted to the lifestyle over here at Maynooth University. While this is the smallest university in Ireland, it is four times the size of Rollins College. As I meet people on campus, I have developed…
A Home Away from the States
Maynooth is a very small town (or in Ireland’s case a very large town). And if you don’t believe me, it was awarded the “Best Kept Award for Large Towns.” It has about two streets that are lined with small shops and eateries. There are three bus stops and I could walk the way from…
Northern vs. ‘Southern’ Ireland
Last weekend, I was able to travel to Northern Ireland, a different country on the same island. I simply boarded a train in Dublin and arrived in Belfast two hours later. No one checked my passport or even a photo ID. Yet, when I stepped off the platform I was in another country (Northern Ireland…
One month at Maynooth
Cheers! Also known as the most popular saying you’ll hear in Ireland. I have moved in, chosen my courses, and adjusted to the lifestyle over here at Maynooth University. While this is the smallest university in Ireland, it is four times the size of Rollins College. As I meet people on campus, I have developed…
USA to Ireland in T-Minus 1 Month
As I prepare for my semester abroad in Maynooth, Ireland I am reflecting on my past experiences of visiting Europe and how I can fit into the environment. While I identify as American and female, my portrayal of my appearance can be abrasive to other countries (or even other states within the USA). From my…