Traveling the world has always been a dream of mine. A dream I was not sure when or how I was going to make come true. I truly believe that getting a feel for other cultures, as well as being able to be present and experience all the beauties the world holds, will give me a better understanding and a broader, more positive outlook on the world as a whole. As a psychology major, being able to distinguish and grasp the cultural differences we all have will give me the opportunity to not only be able to sympathize with people, but it will also give me the ability to put myself in their shoes, get a clearer understanding of their situation and empathize with them in a manner that will lead to a positive outcome.
I think this experience will be life changing in several ways. Not only will I get to explore a new country and be submerged into a new culture, I will also get to meet people and gain new friends. I will be able to see the similarities and differences between the young people currently around me and the young people I will be surrounded by in just a few weeks. I will be able to see how differently they interact, or handle situations. This knowledge of how the different cultures effect how we interact with others and live life daily will help me in the long run in becoming a psychologist.
While abroad I plan to meet new people, experience how people live differently than I do back home, learn more about the history, and culture of the country. Getting involved in student activities both on and off campus will help me meet new people and see how different and similar we are. Being able to travel and see so many parts of the country will give me a chance to learn more about Ireland and its people.
While planning this trip to Ireland, there where a few apprehensions/fears I had. One being that I will miss my family and friends. Even while in school, I always had family in Pittsburgh who I could call and meet up with if I needed a break from school. Seeing as I know no one in Ireland, I will not have that privilege. I am also worried about not knowing my way around. Although I know there will be people who are more than willing to help me, I have always known my way around Pittsburgh and relied on myself to get to where I needed to be. Depending on someone else to take me or tell me where I need to be and how to get there puts me even more out of my comfort zone.
However, I am also looking forward to seeing how I tackle those fears and possibly learning more about myself. There are not many times I have been thrown completely out of my comfort zone and the thought of all the positive and maybe negative things I will gain from this experience
