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I love to travel, and as a recent graduate of the University of Dayton (UD, Dayton, OH) I can definitely relate when students say, "There never seems to be extra dough lying around in order to see the world." But, where there's a will, there's a way, and I found one.

Through UD's  

study abroad program

 , I was able to see Ireland without sacrificing my studies or my budget. Studying abroad is a wonderful concept. Through educational travel, you get to take part in a specific program that extends your academic (and geographic) boundaries. Most importantly, an academic adventure abroad can help you develop an international perspective and a deeper understanding of a new culture.

Academics and Adventure
My school's program brought me and 40 other UD students and faculty to Ireland's Trinity College for a month over the summer. We had to pick two classes out of the six being offered.

In the Irish Literature class, we read works by prolific Irish authors -- including James Joyce and W.B. Yeats -- and even visited the places they wrote about. For my Report Writing class, I took part in a tour of the Guinness Brewery in Dublin, and wrote an extensive business report on the company. Other classes studied aspects of the cultural heritage such as Irish philosophy and music.

Experiences Galore
Although we attended classes five days a week, they ended early enough so that we could still take the Dart (Irish term for train) or a bus and see the rolling hills outside of Dublin. On weekends, we traveled across the country, experiencing all that Ireland had to offer. What an education it was!

Through the program, we received tickets to many of Dublin's museums and castles, rode open-top buses, went on a tour of local pubs, and even journeyed on longer trips to County Sligo, Newgrange, County Kerry, Wicklow County, and County Galway.

The Friends I Made
Traveling on the weekends and sleeping in youth hostels, I was able to meet so many people from all over the world. On a bus trip to the Cliffs of Moher, I was grouped with students from San Francisco, Korea, and New York. I even hiked in Wicklow with a German girl who spoke very little English. Despite our differences, we were able to share with each other our enjoyment of the amazing mountainous scenery. We all remain friends to this day.

Make the Most of Your Time Abroad

• Bring homework with you on long train rides.


• Although the thrill of being in a different country makes it easy to have fun, safety should always come first. Be smart about where you keep your money or traveler's checks. Familiarize yourself with the town in which you're staying. Check out leading travel guides from publishers such as Fodor's Let's Go, Berlitz, Lonely Planet, etc.


• When planning your weekends or day trips, keep in mind that all the souvenirs that you buy have to fit into your luggage when you return home. Hint: Don't buy too many bulky items like wool sweaters and blankets.


• Because the currency is different, it's easy to spend money a lot faster, so be careful.

Exploring an Abroad Program?
If studying abroad seems like an option for you, be sure to pack along these questions when shopping for a college.

• Will the abroad institution charge full tuition or only a part of it? Are there any fees beyond tuition?


• Does the program offer any vacation time in which I can travel independently or with a group?


• Is a room or an apartment included from arrival to departure?


• Are breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided? If so, does that include weekends?


• Are instructional materials provided or do I need to buy the books and supplies prior to travel?


• Does the program cover the transportation to and from the program site? Does it include commuting costs if you are living off-campus?


• Does the program pay the expenses of program-related excursions, tours, performances, or other activities?


• Does the program provide any insurance coverage?

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