On May 28th at 5:10 a.m., our study abroad group landed in Dublin, Ireland. The red-eye flight was long, hot, and stuffy, and I did not get a wink of sleep – partly due to the cramped airplane ride but primarily due to excitement. We made our way through customs and then loaded into the van to begin the journey to our first destination. Although exhausted, I forced myself to stay awake to take in the beautiful green, rolling hills outside my window. I was immediately taken with Ireland’s breathtaking landscape.

Within two hours, we arrived at the University of Limerick campus. We checked into the residence halls, unpacked our suitcases, and boarded the bus to head to town to begin our photo scavenger hunt for famous city landmarks. Although we were tired, the sunny skies and 60-degree weather were refreshingly energizing – much different than the humid, hot climate most of us were used to or the gloomy, rainy weather we had been told to prepare for. Our professors split us into smaller groups, handed us a hand-drawn map of Limerick, and set us loose, telling us they would meet us at a historic restaurant, Loche Bar, at 5:00 p.m.

Our group set out to explore, stopping to admire historical monuments, archaic cathedrals, city parks, and incredibly unique architecture. Before long, we saw a magnificent castle in the middle of town! We had fun coming up with creative poses for our photos at each of the landmarks. We did manage to get lost a few times, making us the last group to arrive at our meeting spot. However, much to our surprise, our professors declared us the winners! They were proud of us for taking our time on the scavenger hunt. We joined the rest of the group, settled in for an incredible three-course meal, and enjoyed the traditional Irish music and a lively, welcoming atmosphere.

I expected to feel overwhelmed and out of place in a new culture, but I had the opposite experience. Back at home, it felt like people were often in a hurry, but people moved at a slower, leisurely place in Ireland. It was refreshing to experience a culture that does not view productivity as the most essential aspect of our everyday lives. Even in the crowded streets of Galway, as people wandered in and out of pubs or stood in the street talking and laughing with friends, I felt relaxed and at ease.

Ireland is a place I have wanted to visit for years, which played a significant factor in my decision to pursue this specific study abroad program. However, I also applied because I knew the experience would allow me to get a head start on my electives for my degree while observing another culture and nation’s approaches to social issues. I want to work in social work administration, so learning about the development, implementation, organization, and delivery of social services with different funding sources and political climates was an opportunity I could not pass up.

Although we visited a few other cities during the trip, we completed our site visits in Limerick, Galway, and Dublin. Although I learned so much from every organization we visited, our experiences at Novas, CareBright, and with the Wheelchair Association significantly impacted my experience. In Limerick, we toured Novas, an organization that provides an extensive range of services to those experiencing homelessness in Ireland. In my first social work internship, I worked with families experiencing homelessness. I was interested to see how the environment and services in Ireland compared to those in the United States.

I was blown away by the familial-like bonds between staff and service users (the term used in Ireland that refers to clients) and their sense of community. We learned that Ireland is experiencing a housing crisis similar to what we are in the United States. Although many approaches and challenges were similar, I was amazed at Novas’ emphasis on trauma informed care, live-in services, community building, and preventative services. For example, due to connections with people in the community and funding sources, Novas purchased houses for families at risk of experiencing homelessness: how revolutionary that would be in the Northwest Arkansas community!

Outside of Limerick, we visited a memory care facility, CareBright, which offers day services for people in the community and live-in services for those with more severe cognitive needs. Clients lived in houses where each person had a bedroom, bathroom, and patio. The staff, or service workers, knew each person individually and could tell us about each service user’s family, former careers, and other details about their lives. All rooms displayed decorations from service users’ homes to make it feel more familiar and welcoming. CareBright did not feel like a memory care center; it felt like a family home. At CareBright, service users can roam wherever they please, whenever they want. There were no locked doors separating service users from outside the house. At first, I was alarmed by this difference. However, the staff at CareBright informed us that service users and their families understand the risk involved but value the autonomy over the increased security.

In Galway, we spent time with elderly and young adult members of the Wheelchair Association. Many service users got emotional when talking about their experiences, sharing that the community these organizations provided gave them a sense of purpose that many lost or would not have experienced due to their disability. During our visit, we got to experience what it feels like to ride in a van in a wheelchair, which was nerve-wracking but gave us a better understanding of what people with disabilities encounter in their daily lives.

If you are a student pursuing a healthcare or social work career, I insist you apply to this program! One piece of advice I would give is to check the weather before you travel! It may sound silly, but our group packed for typical Irish weather: rainy and cold, but it only rained one day we were there! Every person we met credited us for bringing the warm weather with us from the United States! The first thing I did when I got home was show my family pictures and souvenirs from the trip and tell them about the incredible people I met. I miss Ireland, but I am determined to return one day! My experience studying abroad was life-changing, and I am so grateful for the opportunity!