The next day we had orientation and two people won sweatshirts for posting a picture for NUI Galway summer school. I was one of them.

 

     Who has time to blog? We hit the ground running and have not stopped and all of it has been great! One of our hosts, Kevin, picked up most of us at the airport. We took the bus to Galway, he got us checked into our rooms, then took us to the grocery store, and then we walked to the university, right past our first castle siting, Terry Castle!

                         

First views of Ireland

It was neat to see the sun so early in the day as we traveled towards sunrise. A wee bit o' cloudiness met us upon our arrival in Ireland, but the sun came out after we landed.

And the rest of the tribe

Becky and Steve were in the previous blog. Since then, I got to spend time with Christy and Amy before I left. The best Mom ever took me to the airport to see me off. 

My sister Peg used to work for an airline and she always says to live in the moment so I am wearing this shirt in honor of her.

I had to have my picture taken by the Creighton sign at the airport because Creighton is the reason I am able to have this awesome experience. Go Jays!  The next picture is at O'Hare where, after a two hour delay due to mechanical problems, we merrily headed towards the Emerald Isle.

I leave for Ireland a week from tomorrow but before I left, I got to see three grandsons: Brandon, Axel, and Paxton. And, of course, my own "not so little guy" Steve, Pax's dad, and my "not so little girl" Becky in the picture with Brandon.  How amazingly blessed I am to have all of them in my life!

Dear Students

On June 22 NUI Galway will host a Public Interview with Dancer and Choreographer, Jean Butler, moderated by Méabh Ní Fhuartháin, Centre for Irish Studies, NUI Galway.  Jean Butler is possibly best known for being the original female lead dancer in the Irish dance theatrical production Riverdance.

WHEN:  Wednesday, 22 June 2016 from 18:30 to 20:00

WHERE:  Ó hEocha, Arts Millennium Building, NUI Galway

Tickets for this event are free but must be booked in advance. Please register online to reserve your ticket.

Best wishes.

Louise Coyle
Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development
NUI Galway 

Dear Students

As part of the Irish Studies Summer School, NUI Galway arranges for students to attend the theatre. Attendance is not compulsory and does not impact on grades or assessments.

The theatre options for the Irish Studies Summer School 2016 are "Arlington" written by Enda Walsh and Waiting for Godot, written by Samuel Beckett. Both plays take place at 8.00 pm on Wednesday, 13 July 2016.

Information for both plays can be found on the website of the Galway International Arts Festival.

Please use our survey to indicate which play you would like to attend. You can also indicate if you do not wish to attend.

Regards

Louise Coyle
Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development
NUI Galway 

A few Irish songs

When Irish Eyes are Smiling by the Irish Tenors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHSV8igDiEo

My Wild Irish Rose by Ronan Tynan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2D7nXEBjSY

Whiskey in the Jar by the Dubliners

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlWTASnnft4

Oh Danny Boy by Finbar Wright

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlzWRQ5e4qg

The Rose of Tralee by Marino Van Wakeren

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imdkNJCnrOM

The Unicorn Song by the Irish Rovers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EPsuOEH1fY

Countdown to Ireland!

So here I am, twelve days from my departure to the Emerald Isle, a place that has always been on my bucket list of “places I will visit sometime in the distant future". It is still hard to believe that it is happening. I never imagined going as a college student and spending a month attending a university there, followed by a road trip around the country. There is no doubt that Dad is dancing an Irish jig in heaven and Grandpa Ed, whose mother emigrated from Tipperary, is with him, singing, "My Wild Irish Rose".

Perhaps I should go back and explain how this trip began. In the spring of 2015, I began taking classes online through Creighton University to complete my Bachelor's degree, an ongoing goal of mine for many years. When I started, I was still living in Iowa, but was moving to Omaha in the summer. Once I got to Omaha, I became involved in activities in Creighton, thanks to my awesome advisor, Amy Gillaspie. Amy and fellow advisor Laurie Galeski (who is equally awesome) both provided many ideas about opportunities to become involved at Creighton, and each one has been a positive experience. Currently, I am a peer mentor for Creighton's CPS 200 class (the beginning class for online students), I am a member of the Adult Learning Council, and I am a member of the Non-Traditional Student Union.  Life's great at Creighton, whether you are a traditional student who lives in a dorm or a non-traditional student who lives and works off campus. I just can't say enough good about Creighton and the many people there who have helped me in so many ways.

One day in January as I was headed for class, I stopped at Starbuck's in the Skutt Center for a cup of coffee. A table was set up displaying study abroad opportunities by API Study Abroad (Academic Programs International). I stopped just to look at it, just out of curiosity with no intention of pursuing anything. One of API's Regional Directors, Jason Kouba, was manning the table. Jason has a wonderful way of connecting with people. He did not make a sales pitch, we simply visited about his travels and experiences. I didn't really give it any more thought until some later when I emailed him. Jason, however, apparently sensed that I was more interested than I realized. When I emailed him, he had already mentioned to the Creighton Global Engagement Office that I might be a potential study abroad student. Somehow it all fell into place very quickly, thanks to the special efforts of Christine Billings, Director of the College of Professional Studies, Amy Gillaspie, and Krista Cupich, my advisor from the GEO. 

Because I began the process later than normal, having only one year left before graduating, I was very fortunate to meet all of the deadlines and requirements in time. Special thanks goes to Christine Billings, Director of the College of Professional Studies, Amy Gillaspie, and Krista Cupich, my advisor at the GEO.  If you are considering studying abroad, begin the process as early as possible. Talk with your advisor, and if you are a traditional age student, talk with your family, and the study abroad office which at Creighton is the Global Engagement Office. There are different options for study abroad programs. A student can go on a Creighton faculty-led program or with a company that partners with the university such as API Abroad. There are numerous other opportunities such as mission trips that the Global Engagement Office can also discuss if you are interested in that.

One more thing: I will be at NUI, National University of Ireland, Galway. So stay tuned for what is sure to be a great adventure!