One of Harper College’s main focuses is to bring accessibility to its students and communities. Harper has served me by helping bring one of my dreams to reality. With the help of the Study Abroad office, I was able to explore Ireland alongside 13 other Harper Students, 2 faculty members, and the Institution of Ireland Study Abroad. This took place over the course of spring break, March 22-29 2026.
Pre Trip:
Before beginning this trip, there were many mishaps, before I even boarded the plane. The flight got canceled, and the group and I lost two days of the Ireland trip. Nonetheless, we still did everything on the itinerary and made it all happen in six days. There was so much excitement running through me, I could not believe my own two eyes.
Day 1:
This was the day when my feet were going to settle on top of European soil for the first time.
The feeling of the breeze felt as I was walking out of the plane, and I felt at peace as the sun was rising.
However, when I first landed, everywhere I turned was green. All the signs, lights, and even the grass were coated in a beautiful mustard green. It felt like I was in a fairytale, entering the habitats of fairies and goblins. Every sign was also in Gaelic (their native language), and at the bottom in small font was English. After the initial arrival, it was a three-hour drive from the Dublin airport towards Bundoran, Donegal, where most of the trip took place. The pure excitement and curiosity ran through me because it was all a surprise. It was as if every street was filled with a surprise. As I was witnessing the sights, something that fascinated me was how accessible it was to see Ireland’s history. During the first day, I saw deeply rooted rocks laid in a circle. Although it may not seem like much at first, I found it fascinating because my mind started to wander about how ancient civilizations functioned in Ireland. Specifically, how did these ancient communities engineer large, heavy rocks into specific patterns? As well as the different technologies that developed because of these rock formations, which people are still able to see and touch, thousands of years later. It taught me to become curious about my surroundings and environment, and to never keep questions bubbling inside me. Witnessing what I learned from class became a reality was a feeling of optimism, which is something I have not really experienced before, and left a burning itch to keep studying and to keep traveling to see the world with my own two eyes.
Day 2:
This day was so much more relaxed. I was much less jet-lagged and actually had a full night of rest. Previously, I was fighting for my life because of my internal clock. The day began with a fresh breakfast. I was stunned at something so small because American breakfasts are always sweet. As the day progressed, a new lesson was taught in the classroom. Then it would be applied at each site that we visited throughout the day. Something I enjoyed was the innovative way to support local businesses throughout Donegal. I was able to eat fresh bread and soup produced by local farmers. I was also able to see cows lying in the grass right in front of me as I was eating my soup, while the sun danced around on my face like a warm blanket. At this moment, I felt utter peace, and I felt like everything was going to be okay. Going into this adventure, I was so scared of my stomach turning upset; however, I never once got a tummy ache. That is a testament to the quality of food in Ireland, and I would love to see high-quality produce for everyone outside of expensive organic grocery stores in the States. Afterwards, we made our way to see some donkeys! They were so cute, one even stuck out its tongue, and every single one would come by near you and let you pet them. The surrounding landscape was a breath of fresh air, although every other second, the weather kept changing. I thought that Chicago weather was bipolar, but Ireland was on a different level of manic weather. One second it would be raining, then you could go inside for 10 minutes, go back out, and it would start hailing. As the bus drove to each new thing, I was always at peace. The sky was rich in color, especially as the sun set. Alongside all the mountains that were seen, I felt alive, and it gave me a sense of hope that there is more to this world beyond what I know, and there are so many possibilities.
Day 3: March 25, 2026
Today, the main lesson was colonization. Before coming to Ireland, I was unaware of the long history of the relationship between the English and the Irish. If you paid attention to your surroundings, you could see colonization in every aspect of the nation. Through language, as the main language is English rather than Gaelic. Even if you paid attention to the quality of land between Northern and Southern Ireland, you could tell who had higher-quality land for agriculture and who did not. Despite this, I felt extremely patriotic about a country my bloodline has never been in. Despite the Republic of Ireland being such a “new” country, it has made so much progress socially, economically, and politically. This was especially evident when I visited Donegal Castle. When I entered the lower level of the castle, built entirely of stone, which is normal for the country, I was shocked. People would build, live, and create storytelling with stone, creating beautiful works of art. Regardless, when you went to the second level, you immediately saw the English influence through the etching of the fireplaces, pristine tables, and chairs. I have never seen colonization being displayed like that, and it was wild, basically teleporting through different eras and styles when visiting room to room. Afterwards, we headed towards these cliffs, and they were magnificent. I have never seen different weather from afar, and I was mindblown again. It was also very windy, and I was shaking my boots. It was a beauty seeing the ocean like a moving painting being displayed right in front of me.
Day 4: Derry Day! When I first envisioned myself coming to Ireland, I fantasised everything to be mossy and rainy. Just like I envisioned, it was exactly that. This day was important because I was able to see Derry Town. Seeing DerryTown is so significant because it was how the town remembered the historical events of the 70’s. Otherwise known as Bloody Sunday and its troubles. The museum was especially impactful; within each glass frame, you saw objects of ordinary people fighting for civil rights and a unified Ireland. Alongside this messaging throughout the city, I also saw Palestine flags right next to Irish flags. It was beautiful to see how much solidarity there was for Palestine throughout the city. Although the country is still not perfect, it gave me hope for peace and achieving unity. I aspire in my lifetime to witness more countries pursuing a path towards advancement, however that may look.
Day 5:
This was the day that I was looking forward to the most. To begin, we were in Sligo, and I saw everything I read in English class come to life. I saw a statue dedicated to Yeats, who is notable for his literary work. When I first began my English course, I was confused as to why he was so important, and the readings were sometimes pretty dense. Then I visited this town, and it all made sense. Every poem that man wrote just clicked, and it was beautiful to see the writer’s inspirations throughout every waterfall and landscape. However, it was also the day we landed in Dublin- this was the part I was most excited about the week. When I first arrived and looked at the map, I realized the city was tiny. Every time I go somewhere unfamiliar, I have a bad habit of comparing every city to Chicago, which makes me realize how large Chicago is when compared to other places. When I first arrived, I was starstruck. I loved walking through the city, and the air felt so refreshing after being trapped inside a hot bus all day. The city itself was made for walking, rather than creating a dependency on cars. The streets were a lot smaller, and you would always see so many stylish people walking by. As I was exploring the city, there was a main outdoor shopping center, and so many people walking by, and many musicians out with their guitars.
Day 6:
On this day in Dublin, I have never been to so many museums all in one day. To begin the day, we headed to a museum focused on the country’s history. It showcased how the republic came to be and its troubling history, explaining the English and Irish relations and artifacts from the revolutions. This museum helped present the political and historical context of Ireland and provided context for how the country functions in the modern day. The next stop was the Emigration Museum of Ireland. The biggest ideas showcased throughout this experience were Immigration, what exactly happened in Ireland that caused a massive wave of immigration, and how Irish culture spread throughout the globe. It was fascinating to see these topics discussed in Ireland and how the same patterns of Immigration can be found in other parts of the world. Although the museum was primarily focused on Ireland, messages of unity and civil rights were displayed all over the exhibition. Throughout the museum, I also heard many different languages, and I found it fascinating to hear languages and dialects from people around me.
Day 7:
This was my last day, and I was not ready to go home. Coming on this trip revived a passion for exploring the world and learning how other countries function. This trip also helped confirm why I love political science. I loved learning about each stop and applying concepts I was learning about to patterns I have already learned in my textbooks. This day was just me dreading going back to the airport, but I wanted to make the most out of every second I had left. On this day, Time was my enemy. Once I was done doing any last-minute shopping, we headed to the airport, and I then hopped on that 8-hour flight. However, my sense of time was completely messed up because when I was on the plane, I would look at my phone and it would say 9 pm, but when I looked out the window, it was bright as day. However, I enjoyed looking back at every picture I took and could not wait to open all my souvenirs.
Overall reflection:
Upon reflection, being able to touch and see the landscape beyond a camera was a magical experience. When I entered Harper, I had many doubts about the future. However, once I landed and saw more of the world with my eyes, I suddenly felt more comfortable with uncertainty. Harper College gave me an experience that I had no idea was even possible when I began my enrollment. It was a place with so many firsts, such as seeing a waterfall and so many lambs out in the open. As well as allowing me to see a culture I was not so familiar with, and to help expand my global perspective. This truly was an experience that I will never forget, and if I were to tell an upcoming student about Harper College, I would say take advantage of your opportunities, resources, and support. It does not matter where you go; it’s what you make out of it. You never know who you will meet and what it could lead you to.
