By: James Spencer, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, jrs478@psu.edu

The trip Brandywine takes abroad is a much-anticipated-second semester class for many Penn State Brandywine students, offering a three-credit class on campus and a trip abroad that takes place over spring break.

Currently three classes offer this option: kinesiology (KINES 81), communications (COMM 100N), and peace and conflict studies (INART 1) and (INART199).  The $2,200 cost associated with the travel portion of the class covers hotels, breakfasts, and ground transportation for the entirety of the time abroad–this spring in Ireland.  Students will also have a lot of free time to explore the various cities themselves, so it is also recommended to bring additional spending money for the time spent out on the town in Ireland, as well as for lunches and dinners–which aren’t included.

One of the best aspects about going abroad with Penn State is that Associate Professor Dr. Fredricks has contacts in many of the cities that the group will visit, ensuring that there is no time wasted.

The trip starts in Dublin, a city known for its pub culture and Georgian architecture, and ends in Belfast, a city known for building the doomed Titanic Ocean liner and housing the world’s largest museum dedicated to the Titanic.

“This experience allows students to, “get out of their comfort zone and realize the world is not flat,” said Dr Fredricks.”  “Experiencing the culture that another country has to offer is something everyone should experience at least once.  The best part is Ireland is an English-speaking country, so there is no language barrier.”

Brandywine student Casey Siter took the Ireland trip with some of her friends during her kinesiology class in March of 2019.  “One of my assignments was to take photos of food in Ireland and compare it to what I would have been eating during my regular diet in the United States. I found the food there to be very good.”

Siter’s favorite part was the few nights she spent in Galway towards the end of her trip.  “Everything was accessible by walking and the streets were flooded with Irish dancing and street performers.  They had a ton of shops where you can find some truly unique souvenirs such as the traditional claddagh ring I bought for myself and still wear today.”

Surprisingly one of the most shocking things to Siter and her friends over the duration of her trip was “how green the grass was.”

A combination of the Mexican Gulf Stream, and high amounts of annual rainfall allows for some of the most fertile soil on the planet.  Thus, the moniker, “The Emerald Isle.”

The nightlife in Ireland is another fun aspect, “It really felt like there was something for everyone there and I can’t wait to go back one day,” said Siter.  For more information on the Ireland trip, contact Dr. Susan Fredricks via email smf17@psu.edu.