IES Abroad Dublin - Writers Program : Testimonials (Dublin)
The following program testimonial responses have been selected for publication by Office of International Programs
We want to hear about your experience!
What was your favorite aspect of this program?
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My favorite aspect of the program was definitely the professors and administrators I met along the way, as well as the small size of the program. Although I am an English major, I do not practice creative writing normally. This program and my amazing professors encouraged me to explore those outlets and widen my skills as a writer. The size of my classes was also great because they were smaller like at Wofford. We had 17 in-house students that I shared classes with, so it was great because we were able to share different perspectives from all across the U.S. while still getting one-on-one attention from professors. I also participated in a Community Council that is specific to IES Dublin, where students were elected by peers to create and host events for students as well as giving suggestions to make the program better. I was the Engagement Director and was able to host a Diversity Dinner that allowed students to share their experiences in both the US and Ireland, comparing both while also learning more about each other. It was amazing and I learned so much.
— Emily Washburn, Fall 2017 |
What was your housing situation like?
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I lived in an apartment with 4 roommates. We each had our own bedroom and bathroom. The only thing we shared was a kitchen. It was nice and I was surprised, especially after seeing some of my friends' situations studying abroad in other countries. There was a 30-35 minute walk to class everyday that intimidated me at first, but honestly it was one of my favorite parts abroad. I came to take that time to reflect on my trip so far and think of all the things I have done and still want to do. It also kept me in pretty good shape since it was my first time being in charge of preparing my own food and since I'm not a great cook, I would mostly buy food that was already prepared, so the daily walks to class and everywhere else kept me in good shape.
— Emily Washburn, Fall 2017 |
What was your favorite class and why?
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My favorite class was probably my short story class. As I said before, I was not a creative writer coming into the program. Most of the people in my class are creative writing majors at their home schools, so that was definitely intimidating going into the class. But my professor encouraged me to try my best and meet with him if I was struggling. In this class, we read many different short stories from various authors, but each week one of my classmates or I would prepare a short story for the class to read, analyze, and critique. I was very nervous when it was my week, but the feedback I received was very constructive and helpful, especially since it was stuff I wouldn't notice or question when writing but the reader did.
— Emily Washburn, Fall 2017 |
What did you gain from studying abroad?
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Studying abroad helped me to put into perspective who I am and what I want from life. I met many people who helped me to become a better, more well-rounded person. I was able to meet people from across the United States who shared many of the same perspectives as me, but also were extremely different when it came to many things in life. It was great to learn more about people different than me in a culture that was so different from what I was used to.
— Emily Washburn, Fall 2017 |