Before Departure: I'm Going on an Adventure!

Hey Everybody! My name is Sarah Barber and I am a senior at Georgia College and State University studying Psychology. I will actually graduate at the end of summer (woohoo!) so I'm taking my last classes of undergrad ever in Ireland and I couldn't be happier! I am very thankful for my family and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving me this opportunity to learn and experience life in this other country that I have always wanted to visit. I enjoy doing many things and am easily entertained so I can't wait to start a new adventure in Ireland!

Last summer as I was taking some summer classes for my major, my teacher, Dr. Chiang, was telling all of us students about the trip to Ireland. At first I didn't really think it applied to me because I would be graduating in May and didn't see the point in extending my actual graduating just to go to Ireland. As fall semester started and Dr. Chiang was continuing to tell her students about this opportunity, I felt like this might be something that would be a good experience for me but I still thought that it was silly to extend my graduation and spend all that money when I could just finish and graduate in May. One day, my cousin Lawson called me and told me that she was thinking about going to Ireland for the summer for study abroad. I asked her with what program and it turned out to be the same one that I was interested in experiencing. We knew then that it was a sign for both of us to go and we couldn't wait to participate in this journey together.

I am very excited about learning a new culture in Ireland. I have always wanted to go to Ireland and see the Irish culture and I'm thrilled that I get to have that dream come true in this study abroad trip. I'm also excited about seeing castles and just the scenery in general. I know it's going to be beautiful and I can't wait! Another thing I am excited about is the music! I love Irish music and I am delighted that I am going to have the opportunity to hear authentic Irish music. Some things that make me nervous about this trip would be the plane ride, dealing with a different type of money, and not being able to focus on my classes. I  have never flown in a plane before and I have never gone out of the country so I am nervous about flying for the first time and going somewhere that is unfamiliar to me. I know that trying to figure out the money is going to be a challenge for me and I am nervous that it will be too much of a challenge trying to figure out euros. One thing that I am nervous about, that seems a little silly, is actually focusing on my classes in this beautiful country. I am going to Ireland to learn and experience Ireland as well as take classes and I'm afraid that I will become entranced with the Irish way of living and neglect my studies. I hope it doesn't come down to that because I really want to learn about Ireland and the classes I'm taking!