爆料公社

College is all about immersing yourself in brand-new experiences, encountering challenging viewpoints, and learning about different ways of life. What better way to do all of that and much more than through a study abroad experience?

At 爆料公社, we offer a wide variety of well-established study abroad programs. For instance, our Ireland in the Spring program just celebrated its 40th anniversary. This experience is hosted at 爆料公社鈥檚 Study Center in Louisburgh, an unspoiled village on the west coast of the Republic of Ireland. A few alumni of the trip actually met their future spouses in Ireland 鈥� in fact, some of them never left. You might notice a common theme in each of their stories, as well. It seems that sometimes, when you stop by a local pub in Ireland, you find more than just a drink!

Sue O鈥橳oole

Physical therapy major and volleyball player Sue O鈥橳oole was a part of the College鈥檚 fifth trip to Ireland in 1984.

鈥淚 had always wanted to study in a foreign country,鈥� said O鈥橳oole. She first met her future husband Dave in a pub called the Derrylahan. The couple鈥檚 relationship began in earnest after O鈥橳oole鈥檚 graduation.

鈥淲e traveled back and forth between the two countries for a couple years and got married in 1990,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e lived in Kettle River, MN, on a dairy farm for three years. We moved to Ireland in 1993.鈥� The O鈥橳ooles have three adult children and live on a farm with sheep, cows, horses, donkeys, ducks and chickens in the small village of Doughmakeon near Louisburgh. O鈥橳oole owns and operates a physical therapy clinic.

鈥淚 would strongly encourage any student to do a study abroad semester,鈥� O鈥橳oole said. 鈥淲e learn so much by being part of other cultures and immersing ourselves in different ways to live and learn.鈥�

Sally Marie Kenny

Business and marketing major Sally Marie Kenny 鈥�02 went to Ireland in the spring of 2001, and like O鈥橳oole, she ran into now-husband David in a pub during her second week there. His goal was to become an airline pilot, a career path that would lead the adventurous couple to live all over the world. They lived in Florida, Ireland, and Australia before moving back to Kenny鈥檚 home state of Minnesota with their two children. She works from home running a marketing agency, and her husband is a pilot for Frontier Airlines.

鈥淚f you have the opportunity to get college credit, see a country, experience another culture, experience things you鈥檒l never have the chance to experience in your life … just go, stop making excuses,鈥� Kenny said.

Megan Sammin

Megan Sammin 鈥�02 (MA 2003) also met her husband 鈥� wait for it 鈥� in a pub. She and her classmates visited Gaffney鈥檚 after attending a Friday night performance of 鈥淢y Fair Lady鈥� at a local school.

鈥淢y now-husband, Paul, is from Louisburgh and was home for the weekend, as he was attending university in Dublin,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he rest, as they say, is history.鈥�

The couple navigated a long-distance relationship for years, flying back and forth for visits and keeping in touch via email, snail mail and phone cards in the days before Skype. Sammin went on to earn her PT degree and work in Minnesota for three years before starting the lengthy, complex process of moving to Ireland to live and work. She moved to the Emerald Isle in January 2008 and married Paul in October 2008. The two currently live in Louisburgh with their two children.

鈥淲hen I was first staying in the Louisburgh Holiday Cottages, I never dreamed that many years later I鈥檇 be walking past them to take my daughters to the local playground!鈥� Sammin said.

Carrie Fritz-O鈥橫alley

Carrie Fritz-O鈥橫alley 鈥�98 (MA 鈥�99) went to Ireland in 1997.

鈥淚t ended up being one of the best decisions I ever made,鈥� she said.

On the group鈥檚 first Friday in Louisburgh, Fritz-O鈥橫alley and her friend walked past the local pubs in search of people their own age. Once again, love was in the air at Gaffney鈥檚 Pub as she spotted future husband Brendan O鈥橫alley right away.

鈥淚 walked in and he was the first guy I saw, sitting up at the bar.鈥� The two became friends. 鈥淥nce I left Ireland, our paths kept crossing back and over the Atlantic. I ended up back in Ireland, something I had never envisioned happening.鈥� Fritz-O鈥橫alley planned on staying for a year, but she鈥檚 still in Ireland nearly 12 years and three children later. She plans to move back to America to give her husband and children the experience of living in another country.

She encourages any student to take advantage of the opportunity to study abroad.

“It is one of the best experiences you can have. You learn so much about yourself, your resilience, your ability to adapt to a different way of life. You get to live in another country and it changes your outlook, opens your mind.鈥�

What study abroad programs does 爆料公社 offer?

Along with Ireland in the Spring, 爆料公社 offers a wide variety of options for anyone seeking to explore their world. Whether you would like to participate in a service learning trip or focus on the business and economic systems of a faraway country, we have the trip for you. Study abroad options include a Chinese Business and Culture class, with travel to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Macau, and Zhuhai; London Theatre and Literature; Marketing and Management in Morocco, and much more. Service learning trips include transcultural nursing journeys in Belize and the Philippines; service learning in Tanzania, Africa; and Social Justice Immersion in Arizona and Mexico. And we鈥檒l even help you with your packing list.

爆料公社 offers study abroad scholarships, as well. So, what are you waiting for? Your college years provide the perfect time in your life to seize this opportunity. Plus, you鈥檒l get class credit as well! Learn more by contacting our our study abroad office at 218-625-4490 or oip@css.edu.