2018 Global Immersion Reflections
Reflections from our scholars
Ireland
Traveling to Ireland over spring break was a life-changing experience for me and the other members of my cohort. Not only did the trip transform our relationships from those of simply peers to being close friends, but it also allowed me to develop culturally and grow as a person. My mountaintop moment came while literally hiking up a mountain in Kylemore. I'm from Philadelphia, PA, where the grass is scarce and the buildings are plentiful; in fact, there is exactly one tree on my home's street. That trip up the mountain taught me to appreciate the little things in life that I often took for granted - from a shamrock in a field of grass to a displaced rock on the side of the hill, beauty can be found in all things. Shamar
The global immersion program truly fostered my understanding of diversity and human relations, both within my cohort and through observing the people around me in Ireland. I came to realize the sheer number of people I have yet to meet, and was reminded of the reason I strive to make the world a better place through obtaining an education. I also had the pleasure of getting to know each member of my cohort very well, finding similarities between us and differing perspectives that built upon my own. Overall, the global immersion program reminded me that I am only one small piece of a big picture generation that will improve the world, beginning with my cohort and extending internationally. Christina
Coming from a big city, I am not well-versed in the ways of nature. Hiking, swimming in creeks, and fishing are not activities I normally engaged in growing up. Apprehension consumed me as our group walked towards the base of the mountain. Archeologist Michael Gibbons expertly led us up the mountain and instructed us on the proper ways to climb. A second did not go by without him yelling, “Hands out of pockets!” or “Zig-Zag!” By the time we were climbing down, the entire AnBryce cohort found ourselves yelling, “Don’t forget to zig-zag,” and “Hey, keep those hands out of those pockets!” Instead of just pointing out various artifacts and landmarks, Gibbons would pick random people out of the group to illustrate the history. When the hike first started, Gibbons pulled me aside and told me to go stand in this random pile of rocks a few meters away. After I did, he proceeded to yell at me that I was standing in a 5,700-year-old tomb! I never thought I would ever be able to physically touch an artifact that old, let alone stand in it! Ireland’s history felt more real because Gibbons beautifully put me in the history, and I know I will never forget that moment. Who knew a rising Black woman could feel so connected to a place like rural Ireland? Tia
Upon returning to campus from Dublin, I leaned to Shamar and told him, “Not much has changed at ND in the past week, but we return changed men.” Being in a new and previously unfamiliar country made me think more about who I am, where I come from, and what I can learn from new environments. Nearly every part of the trip was a lesson, from learning Irish history over thousands of years to learning how Ireland views immigration and refugees positively. From hiking picturesque mountains with history lessons from archeologist Michael Gibbons to having political conversations with the locals at restaurants and pubs, interacting with the Irish and Notre Dame family in Ireland opened me up to various new perspectives. Thus, it is not a surprise that the part of the trip that struck me the most was volunteering at a very diverse inner-city school in Dublin. I learned a lot from the 7th-grade class we taught, where nearly every student was of a different nationality. We were also able to give them a taste of the America we know with our About US presentation, and I am glad that our AnByrce cohort left a positive example of America on the kids. I didn’t know Dublin before the trip, and in meeting Ireland, I have met a new, inspired side of myself. Rafa
Washington, DC
What made the Global Immersion Program a useful experience for me was that it allowed me to better understand the culture of our Capitol. I am from New York City, and so I am used to living in a large city. However, Washington, D.C. has several differences from New York City. As a whole, the city is much cleaner; the Metro runs smoothly and does not smell, and there is less litter than in New York City. In addition, I was able to get an inside look at how our government is run: I visited the personal office of Justice Thomas, and was able to see the House of Representatives in session. Although I know how the branches of our government work, being able to see them in action in front of my eyes helped me more accurately see how the government operates on a day-to-day basis. Eamon
(for more information about our Global Immersion Program, visit here)