Traveling internationally is something I had never thought I would do until this opportunity. I spent a week in Ireland during what is arguably the best time to experience the country — St. Patrick’s Day. I got to do so many exciting things during my visit with Marching Mizzou such as being in St. Patrick’s day parades in Tipperary and Dublin, seeing the Rock of Cashel and Cliffs of Moher, and visiting places like Dublin City and Galway. I will be sharing my experiences across a few different areas.

Holidays and traditions: St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Being in the parade you just saw seas of green on either side of you, and you could tell that everyone was excited to be there. I also found it interesting that people from around the world were there to celebrate, not just the native Irish people.

Communication: I must admit, this trip really made me realize how much I depend on my phone throughout the day. When I was not at a place with wifi, which turned out to be most places that weren’t the hotel, I was unable to use my phone. It made me realize the importance of verbal communication and in the end helped me connect with my peers.

Food: The food surprised me, and in my opinion made me realize what America was missing. Every meal we had felt well prepared, and tasted like it. There’s less fried food, artificial dyes and preservatives in the food in Europe, so it was no surprise that everything felt healthier.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: School of Music: Marching Mizzou in Ireland