Who knew how much one’s life could change in just three weeks? I always thought that people who claimed to become a new person after their study abroad experiences were exaggerating. Now, I know better. Nothing compares to traveling by yourself to another country. Studying abroad allows for a type of personal growth that cannot be achieved any other way. I had the privilege to go to Belfast, Northern Ireland, to study intergroup relations and divided societies at Queen’s University Belfast via their international summer school program. This three-week program begins with an introduction to the history of the U.K., Ireland, and Northern Ireland. We spent the first week attempting to become experts on Brexit and getting acquainted with the city of Belfast.
Readings, lectures, and workshops are invaluable. However, I will argue that the richest part of the experience was being there. You can read as many books as you want, listen to as many podcasts as you can, but nothing teaches a lesson like walking the streets where history took place. So, beyond all the wonderful lessons learned in the classroom, I wanted to share some of the highlights from my time in Belfast.
Field trips
It’s time to board the magic school bus because we’re going on an adventure — every week! Every single weekend, our cohort of international students took a trip to different locations in Northern Ireland.
The first trip was to the North Coast. This was definitely the most scenic trip we took. The water was a beautiful teal blue, and the grass was the greenest I’ve ever seen. We hiked along the North Coast, then crossed the famous Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge. That same day, we visited the Giant’s Causeway and Dunluce Castle.
The next weekend, we took a trip up to Derry/Londonderry. This town is entrenched with a polarizing history, and we spent most of the day visiting museums, walking the city, and touring the murals. These murals are memorials, political statements, and historical markers. I personally was most excited to see the Derry Girls mural.
the city of belfast
Beyond the weekend travels, I spent a generous portion of my time adventuring around the city of Belfast. According to my watch, I was averaging above 30,000 steps per day! Queen’s University is a beautiful campus, and I spent my lunch breaks wandering around the school’s botanic gardens. I would frequent the surrounding cafes every morning before classes, and couldn’t stay away from the various Biscoff-flavored treats. Needless to say, I made the most of every second on that campus, both in and out of the classroom.
One of my personal favorite spots in Belfast was the Duke of York outdoor pub! This outdoor venue takes up an entire street block and is never empty. People lined the streets chatting and sharing a pint. I’ll never forget how magical it felt to walk around the street and chat under the rainbow umbrellas that lit up as the night fell.
New tattoo!
As if the hundreds of photos and postcards weren’t enough, I decided to get a tattoo to commemorate my trip! Of course, I was not alone in this impulsive endeavor. A handful of friends and I from the cohort took a walk down to the closest tattoo parlor to Queen’s campus after our lectures one afternoon — shout out to Ricky B at India Street Tattoo Parlor — and we all got inked up. While some opted for a simple clover and others for various Irish words, I found myself with a simple yet meaningful Claddagh tattoo. The Claddagh symbol, most typically seen on the Claddagh rings, is an Irish symbol that represents loyalty, love, and friendship.
A Not-so irish goodbye
The people I met abroad will forever be some of my closest friends. It is surprising how easy and natural it feels to keep in touch with people I knew for less than 3 weeks, but that is just how life-changing a study abroad can be. To anyone considering a study abroad: DO IT! It doesn’t matter if it’s one week, one semester, or one whole year. There is truly no other environment that provides the same opportunities for personal growth and memory-making.
I never wanted the experience to end. In fact, I pulled an all-nighter with my friends before I hopped on a 7-hour plane ride back to the States. We all laughed, cried, and hugged. I think there was a sort of disbelief that our time in Belfast had actually come to an end. But, you know what they say, “all great things must come to an end”… and so it did. The love I have for that city and for the people I met there has only grown stronger with distance and time. Trust me, Belfast, you have not seen the last of me. I will be back one day, and this time, with a sturdy raincoat!