By: Natalia Valentine | Echo
3,597 miles. The distance between Indiana and Ireland. The distance from the Wabash River to the Irish Sea. The distance from DC queso to Irish potatoes. The distance between one home and another.
Freshmen Irish Studies Program students, otherwise known as FISPers, chose to spend their first semester in Ireland. While first-year students studying at Taylor University become assimilated into college through O-Groups, first year programs and wing events, these Ireland exchange freshmen jumped into opportunities like hiking across Ireland, immersing themselves in new culture and living in the close-knit FISPer community. The 23-student team (13 freshmen, 10 upperclassmen) emulate Taylor's tradition close and intentional. The program maintains a 15-hour workload while also providing students with study abroad experience at the beginning of their college career.
The FISPers arrived to Upland a week before Welcome Weekend. On Aug. 19, they boarded a plane to Ireland and settled into their YWCA, or Young Women's Christian Association, flat in the Greystones community, a small coastal town south of Dublin. According to FISP student Kelly Abraham, a typical day includes morning class, chapel, lunch, another class or activity, keeping up with Irish news, eating dinner and enjoying free evening.
However, the days never get dull. Spontaneity occurs in the form of regular field trips and extensive traveling across the Emerald Isle. "There is no such thing as a standard day in the Irish Studies program," FISPer Brad Timmerman said. "One day we may have classes back to back all day and the next day we may have a free day."
Faculty Koert ('11) and Diana Verhagen ('12) serve as professors. The couple resides in the YWCA flat with the 23 FISP students, Koert teaching Biblical Literature 1 and Diana teaching Crossing Cultures. Lecturers from Irish colleges, such as Trinity College Dublin, visit the Taylor community to teach other courses like Irish History.
The meals FISPers enjoy are from a personal chef in the flat, A culinary luxury compared to Taylor's Dining Commons. "The food is amazing, it's what I'll miss most once I come back to campus and have to eat DC food everyday," Timmerman said. According to Abraham, the food tasted more genuine and less processed than much of the American cuisine she's accustomed to and consists of a much larger amount of potatoes, salt and vinegar, and pub food.
FISPers experience other cultural differences besides food served around the dinner table such as driving on the opposite side of the road and differences in social norms. McNinch feels that the Irish community is friendlier and more open to conversation.
A highlight of the experience for Timmerman was a trip to Galway, the West Coast of Ireland. The group biked across the cold, rainy island and enjoyed tracing the soaring sea cliffs along the edge of the island. For Abraham and McNinch, developing close friendships has been one of the most rewarding aspects of FISP. McNinch described memories of getting fish and chips with her team late at night and getting to swim in the Irish Sea. For Abraham, the combination of community and new culture constantly deepens her independence and appreciation of the Lord.
"I've loved getting so close with everyone and not only learning about Ireland's history and culture but also visiting its history and really experiencing its culture," she said.
The experiences students have in Ireland provide them with academic enrichment and spiritual inspiration. Whether it be plugging into a local Irish church, visiting monasteries or seeing breathtaking geography, FISPers will take cherish these memories for the rest of their lives.
In their free time, the adventure continues for these Taylor world travelers. Because it's not overly expensive to commute from Ireland to other European countries, the FISPers continue to explore the different parts of Ireland during their current fall break and plan to explore surrounding countries after classes end on Nov. 18. Timmerman hopes to travel to Spain or Cyprus.
Some FISPers are reluctant to leave Ireland but are nevertheless excited to assimilate into the rest of the Taylor community come second semester. Look for these world travelers who will be full of stories about green hills, ancient castles and friendly Irish people.
