Mason Spirit's editorial assistant Katarina Benson traveled to Ireland this summer as part of a George Mason study-abroad trip.
Katarina Benson
Major: English with a concentration in cultural studies
Hometown: Sparta, New Jersey
Where did you go and for how long?
I went to The University of Galway in Galway, Ireland, for four weeks for the International Summer School. It's actually the only official bilingual university in Ireland so everything is in Irish as well as English.
What was the class you took?
I took two classes while there: “Representing Ireland: Literature and Film” and “The Archaeological Heritage of Ireland.”
Favorite part of the trip?
I really loved meeting new people and exploring Galway with them.
Was this your first time out of the country?
Yes, it was my first time abroad.
What made you want to study abroad?
I’m Irish American, and my family loves Ireland, so I’ve always wanted to go!
What would you recommend to students thinking about taking one of these trips?
I would recommend having an open mind and be willing to try new things! Just because you don’t like something or aren’t interested in something at home doesn’t mean you won’t like it abroad.
How was the food? Do you have a favorite dish/restaurant now?
The food was really good! I ate a lot of Italian food, which is kind of ironic.
Do you have recommendations for places to visit?
I would recommend Trinity College and the Book of Kells/Old Library experience in Dublin and Galway City in general. There are so many nice places to go in Galway like The Kings Head, which is over 800 years old, and the Galway Saturday Market.