Abigail Kemp

Abigail Kemp is an Ambassador who studied abroad in Cork, Ireland.

Briefly describe a specific cultural experience you had on your trip that made a lasting impression.

While we were in Ireland the Six Nations Rugby Tournament was happening and I will never forget sitting in the jam-packed pub with all of these Irish men and women who were so excited to see their team play. Everyone was wearing green and the enviornment was so loud that it was easy to get caught up in it. To see that much national pride was really cool and even though I was an outsider looking in, I never felt that I was a foreigner to them, rather a part of that Irish family. The Irish culture was easily the most welcoming and jovial of all the cultures we expereienced.

Why did you choose the program in which you participated?

The Cork program was appealing to me because of the direct enrollment option. I truly believe that without a faculty director and our group being integrated into an actual university that we were able to integrate ourselves into the Irish culture/society better. Also Ireland has beautiful landscapes and heritage that one simply could not pass up.

Describe your overall study abroad experience.

Time of my life. I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to experience this with. The memories, the laughs, and the experiences will be with me forever. Ireland was the best thing that I could have ever chosen for myself.

How has the trip affected you? How are you different for having completed the experience?

I definitely stopped seeing things as impossible after my study abroad experience. I never thought I would travel to Ireland, much less live there, and when it happened for me I realized that dreams, matter how big, can become a reality if you are willing to put in the commitment and hard work for it. I see the world as full of oppurtunities and I can't wait to see more of it. I definitely caught the travel bug and my curiousity about the different cultures in this world will push me to new heights and boundaries.

What advice do you have for future Study Abroad Students?

Don't waste a single minute with anything but living in the moment and soaking up as much of your time abroad as you can. Try new things, even if they are scary I promise you will grow from it. Keep your eyes open because the time flies by in a blink. Love it, live it, and don't forget it.