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Gretchen Brown My Time in Ireland   Ireland. . . A country filled with beautiful coastlines,friendly residents, and a unique culture of music, pubs, unconditional hospitality, and, of course, Guinness!   I have learnt more in the past sixteen weeks than I have in my entire lifetime, about the meaning of friendship, how to understand and integrate yourself into all cultures, and most of all - about myself!   I was given endless opportunities to explore the countryside, the community, and also my future profession in the medical field. I spent quite an extensive amount of time in Tullamore General Hospital with several different physicians learning the similarities and differences that exist on either side of the Atlantic.   Quest Campus was extremely supportive to all it's students. The staff made every effort to offer opportunities to travel throughout Europe, various internships according to our personal motivations, classes at various Universities throughout Ireland and at the same time allowed an unexpected amount of freedom to explore and discover ourselves.   I was also anxiously welcomed with open arms, into the home and lives of the Egan's, my stay family. They immediately included me as a member of their family, willing to share with me all that was theirs. I became a daughter as well as a big sister to their four children. I will be forever grateful to them for their incredible hospitality. Dan Cronin A Lesson in Living   24/11/99   Since I anived here in Ireland I have achieved so much. I feel like I have reached a turning point at which all of my future experiences will be placed in reference to. There are now pre-Ireland experiences and post-Ireland experiences. In a way I have reached a memory landmark. I have developed so much as an individual and learned so much as a person that nothing will ever be the same.   I don't want to sound melodramatic. I truly feel as if I have had a life altering experience here. Before I came here, home was in Amherst, New Hampshire at 7 Woodland Drive, the gray house with red doors. In a way, that house will always be my home. My parents live there, and my love for my family will keep it a place where I will always go to feel that love again. But there is a difference now. I feel ready to make my own home somewhere. I don't mean that I am ready to get married, settle down, have kids and own a mini-van. I mean that I now have the confidence to reach away from the comforts of the house my parents live in and develop my own future. I always thought that I was ready for that the second I left high school and moved into my career as a college student, but I realize I was missing one vital thing, life experience.   The world has become much smaller since I have spent four months in Ireland. I have visited and become familiar with Dublin, London, Galway, Cork and soon Belfast. I now understand what it means to be a European, and to see the U.S. from a different perspective. Travel is easy, when it becomes a priority.   I see myself making travel a priority for the rest of my life. I need to see more. I want to experience a wider variance of cultures, from Africa to Zurich. I want to live in, not just visit, different corners of the globe.   I would ask anyone who is thinking of taking a semester abroad to understand that they will leave unsettled. When I say unsettled, I mean that they will remain unhappy unless they are taking or planning their next trip. I'm already planning mine. Justin Gerstein In the Betterment of a Person   As I stepped off the plane at the end of a rainy summer's day I was back in a culture that was already rather familiar to me, nearly a month previously I had returned to the United States after representing Daemen College at the University College Dublin International Summer School.   The culture of Ireland is not very different from that in the United States and Canada, but there are subtleties that you become more aware of. I found that I had easily integrated into the culture and that I share many similar views to most Irish and Europeans.   The Tullamore community is one that is very kind and open. I quickly made Tullamore my home and the host family that I stayed with made me part of their family. The experience of having a support group was very comforting to me.   I joined the Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society in the opening weeks of my term in Ireland. I did this in order to become more familiar and associate with people with similar interests in history. I study British and Irish politics and history, so by joining the society the opportunity presented me the potential of networking and gaining key connections, which it did.   Ireland is a springboard for many North Americans into Europe. Ireland is in the European Union (EU), a collection of nation-states that endeavours to unify much of Europe into a possible "United States of Europe." As a result of being in the EU, travel between nation-states is fairly straightforward. I enjoyed that luxury by travelling to the continent on occasion with ease.   I had been very sceptical of Ireland because of its problems with the North, but living here, in Tullamore, the problems of Northern Ireland seem isolated from the lives of people here.   Ireland has changed me. I see the world differently. I no longer see just the point-of-view of the United States, I now see it from a European perspective as well. I have found my calling as a historian and politically found my roots. I have grown as a person and learnt many valuable leadership tools and skills. Although I am still young, 20, I have found what I want to do and where I want to do it. I came to Ireland rather cynical of many things. My time in Ireland has help mend my heart and views. I have new approaches to the way I perceive the world and people and I am less cynical and more open to different approaches of creating opportunities. I have found myself. Eric Weisz My Experiences In Ireland   My experiences in Ireland have expanded my cultural horizons tremendously. I have grown not only academically and professionally, but also socially. The classes I have taken here have been very interesting and informative to me. The classes have not just helped by teaching me facts and figures, but the classes have also taught me much about the Irish and their culture. The Irish teach in a very good manner. They want a student to learn and they will use whatever method suits the student best; whether it is in the classroom or out hiking through a field, they want a student to learn.   Working and earning school credit with the Midland Health Board has been a very valuable and rewarding experience for me. I have found many similarities as well as many differences between United States Medical Practices and Irish Medical Practices. I have shared many ideas and also will retain many of the ideas and philosophies, which are used here. The M.H.B. has been most kind to me and have given me many opportunities. I have studied a wide variety of different branches while working at the board and I have learned a tremendous amount. Everyone I have come into contact with in the hospital has been most accommodating and helpful and they are always willing to take time and explain things when you don't understand them.   I can not say enough wonderful things about being here in Ireland for the past four months. I have had a wonderful time in everything I have done. Not all of my experiences have been easy or pleasant to deal with, however all of my experiences have been "learning experiences" which have helped me to grow and learn as an individual. The Irish people whom I have become close friends (and like family with) I will never forget; and I am truly grateful for everyone's kindness and hospitality. I know that my experiences here in Ireland are even more rewarding than what I realize now, and these have been some of the best experiences of my life that I will remember for many years to come.