Scholarship Applications
September 30th, 2022
Before I apply to the student teaching abroad program this fall, I am filling out scholarship applications to see if I can earn any financial aid. I submitted an application for the World Topper Scholarship today, and I will wait to hear back in a few weeks if I earned any money. I completed the application through Topper Scholarship and wrote about my interest in the program and what I hope to gain from the experience. I think doing some of my student teaching abroad would equip me with the tools to gain enhanced communication skills and self-confidence as an individual and educator. Having the opportunity to exchange ideas, prior knowledge, and introspective thoughts with individuals from a background unlike mine with diverse cultural customs will develop my interpersonal skills and deepen my global perspectives. I can then implement my communication skills more effectively in my future classroom when conversing with students, and I can share my international experience to encourage students to embrace their diversity in the classroom. In the meantime, I will wait to hear back from WKU Study Abroad and Global Learning!
Study Abroad Application
October 3rd, 2022
Today I completed my study abroad application for student teaching. The application process was fairly simply and I mainly filled in information about myself and digitally signed paperwork and travel forms. I should hear back from the education department sometime soon if my application was accepted!
Study Abroad Application Update!
October 26th, 2022
I received an email from the Director of Professional Education Services that my application was processed for student teaching and I was asked to set up an interview. I will meet with Mrs. Martin and Mrs. White on November 4th!
Pre-Departure Orientation
November 2nd, 2022
I attended a pre-departure orientation at the Honors College and International Center today. I learned lots of helpful information about safety abroad and heard from other students who studied abroad how to make the most of an international experience.
Interview Process
November 4th, 2022
I had my interview today, and it went incredibly well! Before meeting with Mrs. Martin and Mrs. White, I printed off an international student teaching interview form listing my choice of host countries to visit. My first choice is Ireland, my second is Sweden, my third is Germany, and my fourth is Spain. While I would be grateful to visit any of these countries, I put Ireland at the top of my list for many reasons! During my freshman year at WKU, I applied and got accepted to a three-week faculty-led study abroad program in Ireland; however, the Global Pandemic suspended travel, and I missed out on the opportunity. When applications opened again in my junior year, I eagerly applied to the same program in Ireland but was devastated to discover that a level four lockdown would halt traveling again. As I approach my last semester at Western, this is my final chance to study abroad in Ireland and take advantage of an opportunity I will not have access to after student teaching.
Furthermore, my interest in going to Ireland has only amplified since my previous applications. I took a modern Irish history class in the spring of 2022, where I learned about critical moments and historical figures in Ireland’s past that helped shape the culture and identity of the country. I even had the opportunity to write a research paper about an educational policy implemented in Ireland around the mid-1990s and explored how it created barriers to higher education. Applying the content I learned about in the class alongside the research I conducted on the Irish education system would help me make critical observations and reflective connections about global systems throughout my experience.
During the interview, Mrs. Martin and Mrs. White asked what I was doing to prepare for the trip and what I hoped to gain from the experience. I made sure to let them know I filled out scholarship applications and attended the pre-departure meeting. I also made sure to let them know I already had a passport! The interview went well, and I cannot wait to hear back from them!
World Topper Scholarship Update!
November 7th, 2022
Great News! I got an email from Global Learning and International Affairs (GLIA) that I received $850 from the World Topper Scholarship for my study abroad program!
I am going to West Port, Ireland!
November 30th, 2022
Today I attended the International Student Teacher Meeting and found out I am going to Ireland! Mrs. Martin led the meeting and provided information about pre-departure requirements. There was also a guest speaker who student taught abroad in West Port who came to the meeting to share her experience! The most exciting part of the meeting was finding out I have the opportunity to leave two weeks early, which I plan to take advantage of to explore other cities in Ireland! My friend Ruby will also be going to Ireland, and we are discussing the possibility of traveling early together! I cannot wait!
Zoom meeting with Louise!
February 10th, 2023
This afternoon was very exciting! I had a Zoom meeting with Stephanie, Cindy, and the other girls traveling to Ireland to speak with Louise—the international education consultant for the trip to Westport. Louise told us about our bed and breakfast, Broadlands, and gave us essential information for our stay in Ireland. For instance, she told us about public transportation in Ireland, gave us suggestions for what to pack, and made sure we downloaded WhatsApp. I got to ask questions about traveling early and was told we will get to book flights in less than two weeks!
The Flight is Booked!
February 21st, 2023
Ruby and I booked our flights today! We will be flying out of Nashville on April 2nd around 8:35 at night and landing in London on April 3rd around 10:40 in the morning! From London, we will travel to Belfast and stay our first night there at a hostel!
Hostel & Hotel Bookings
March 7th, 2023
Ruby and I booked our first hostel for our two nights in Belfast! We are staying at Botanical Backpackers in a four-person women's dorm. After two nights in Belfast, we will travel to Dublin on April 5th and stay in a Hampton by Hilton hotel in the Dublin City Centre. Before booking the hotel, we extensively researched the various Dublin hostels. There were many great options; however, with the Easter holiday approaching during our time there, the hostels were very booked and a bit pricey. Some of the cheaper Dublin hostels were further out from the city and would require more coordination with public transportation. We decided on a hotel because it was central to the activities we wanted to do, and there was only a slight price difference compared to some of the hostels we looked at. Later this week, we will begin booking more housing accommodations!
Tip: To find out information about hostels, I have been using Hostelworld. However, I have been booking through the actual hostel's websites. Sometimes there is more information on the official hostel website, and it can be a few dollars cheaper than booking through Hostelworld.
Airbnb Booking With A Wonderful Host!
March 8th, 2023
After spending time in Dublin, Ruby and I will head to Cork for the Easter weekend. At first, we were worried we would have difficulties finding accommodations since many businesses close for the holiday. We also wanted to be near the city but wanted to avoid paying excessive amounts of money to stay in a hotel since we were staying at a Hilton in Dublin. I proposed to look at Airbnbs in the city and see if there were potential options to book a room with a host or rent someone's place for the weekend. We found a highly reviewed apartment with a woman named Eileen, who was very close to the university and local Easter festivities throughout the holiday. We booked her place for three nights and got a confirmation for the booking within two hours of our reservation request.
The following day, Eileen messaged me, concerned that she would be gone during Easter weekend and unable to meet Ruby and me to give us keys. However, she said since we already got a confirmed booking, she would work with us and try to find a friend to meet with us instead and give us the keys. Her suggestion was such a generous offer, and I appreciated her flexibility. She was incredibly kind, and Ruby and I are both extremely excited to stay at her residence for the weekend and explore the city of Cork!
Travel Insurance
March 14th, 2023
Today I signed up for my travel insurance through Western! It was a straightforward process and required me to put in a few pieces of important information. I received an email with documents and my Insurance Card. I printed the card and will bring it with me on the trip! I also submitted the last of my documents for my study abroad plans on the Study Abroad and Global Learning website.
Accommodations are Booked!
March 20th, 2023
Ruby and I are finally done booking our accommodations for the trip! Now all that we have to do is submit out itinerary to Louise! I linked ours below. It includes where we are staying, what we are planning to do, which modes of transportation we are taking, and contact information.
10 More Days!
March 24th, 2023
Today Ruby and I ordered currency for our trip. The Irish currency is the Euro, while Northern Ireland uses the British Pound. We ordered around $400 Euros in various bills, but we did not order pounds because Ruby had some left over from another trip abroad.
Placements!
March 29th, 2023
Louise emailed me my immigration letter today and I got my school placement. Ruby and I are placed at the same school, Scoil Muire agus Padraig Secondary School. We will ride to the school in the morning with the principal, Pat Dunne, and we will ride the bus back to the bed and breakfast.
All packed!
March 31st, 2023
I am officially packed for my trip! I ordered a 70 Liter Osprey backpack to travel with, and I absolutely love how much space it has. Here is the website link for the backpack: Fairview 70 Travel Pack. I also ordered plastic bags that compress air from the bottom on Amazon to store my clothes in. They really help with more backpack storage!
Here is a list of all the things I packed in my bag:
-1 pair of jeans
-2 pairs of wicking pants
-1 pair of sweatpants
-1 skirt
-1 dress
-3 long-sleeve shirts
-3 short-sleeve shirts
-1 rain jacket
-Hair straightener
-Toiletries
-Umbrella
-Hiking shoes
Packing Tip: Put your socks inside your shoes to save space in your bag!
& We're Off!
April 2nd, 2023
Yesterday, I drove to Nashville with my roommate, Laura (She is also student teaching abroad in Werne, Germany). She dropped me off at Ruby's house and we spent the day getting last minute things, like medicine and adapters. Today, I woke up and went through my packing checklist. I called my parents and my grandparents and let them know the last few details about the trip. Then, at around 5:00 in the evening, Ruby's parents drove us to the BNA airport in Nashville for our flight! It leaves at 8:35 this evening. Then, from there, we will go to Heathrow airport in London to connect to our flight in Belfast. Ruby and I are waiting at our gate in the airport as I am typing this! I cannot wait for all the adventures we are going to have!