CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Dublin, Ireland

CEA Dublin was my first study abroad trip and it was amazing! I participated in the 4-week summer program and I thought that it was the perfect amount of time. The staff and professors were amazing and did an excellent job at making you feel welcome and cared about. I took the Popular Culture in Ireland course and it made me better appreciate and understand Ireland's culture and history. The side trips we went on were amazing and a great way to explore more of what Ireland had to offer. Overall, my experience was a 10/10.

I studied abroad In Dublin, Ireland, with CAPA, and it was the experience of a lifetime. I went for my spring semester of 2020, so my experience was cut short; however, I did get to go for about 50 days. To start, the people at CAPA were so helpful before and while I was there. Any questions you have, they can answer, which helped relieve my stress. CAPA is a great company that wants to make the transition as easy as possible. The city is absolutely beautiful, and it is easy to get around! Dublin is filled with history, culture, and amazing people. They have an excellent public transportation system as well, and you can walk everywhere. As a hospitality major, it was fantastic to take classes from a different perspective. I met some of the nicest people while I was there, and I would do it again in a heartbeat!

I am so glad that I spent my summer 2019 abroad in Dublin, Ireland. It was without a doubt the most fun and adventurous summer I have ever had in my life. The program I was in lasted ten weeks. CAPA did a great job coordinating both my classes and my internship. CAPA was instrumental in setting everything up beforehand (where I would be staying, where I would be taking classes, etc.) as well as maintaining the same helpfulness after we had arrived. Studying at Griffith college was an amazing opportunity and a new experience for me, as I had never taken classes outside of my home university. The university is only about a mile away, which doesn't seem very far after the all of the walking you will inevitably be doing around Dublin. I was also very happy with my internship. CAPA asked me a few questions beforehand regarding my interests and where I would like to be placed. I really enjoyed the company I ended up working for. CAPA also provided everyone with detailed directions on how to navigate the city and get to your internship site, along with bus fares if needed. Lastly, the housing accommodations were very nice. Staycity apartments, where we stayed, is a very nice apartment complex that typically holds four people in two bedrooms, a kitchenette, a small living room, and a balcony.

Before deciding where to study abroad I looked into many different locations and programs but I could not be happier with my decision to study abroad with CEA in Dublin, Ireland. All the teachers and advisers at the school were so friendly and fun to be around, I always say they weren't just my teachers but they were also my friends. I loved how the school planned different trips and activities throughout the semester to help students see different parts of Ireland and really get to experience true Irish culture. Thanks to the programs I have decided to get my masters in Ireland next year because how much I fell in love with the city and the country thanks to CEA.

I studied in Dublin in the fall of 2019. I was the only student from my college, and I was completely terrified. I had never traveled further than outside the New England area, much less out of the country. In addition to this, I was a first semester senior. So I knew going in that this may be one of my most challenging semesters. Especially in a new academic environment, different from any other I had been exposed to.
Most of my worries and fears stemmed from this. I was petrified that I wouldn’t be able to handle my course load. Since I was a senior, my home institution required that I take 5 courses, as well as an internship while in Dublin. I had already known that I had good time management skills. At home I had taken five classes and worked during one semester. I knew I could do it at home, but I was worried that the cultural differences would make it difficult for me to succeed.
I have never been so happy to be wrong in my life. They say that studying abroad changes you in ways that you’d never imagine. I can say from first hand experience that they are absolutely true. My semester abroad was the best that I have ever had. I ended up becoming friends with everyone in my program! This made my transition and adjustment so much easier. In addition to this, I had the endless support of the CAPA staff in Dublin. If ever I had a question, comment, concern, or just wanted to share something I had learned, they were always there and more than happy to listen.
My courses were some of the best I’ve ever taken while in college. Each lecturer made their class filled with new knowledge in ways that I can apply to my career. We analyzed problems for real-life scenarios, then worked as a group to find real life solutions. As a business major, with hope of one day starting my own business, this is incredibly useful.
My internship was one of my favorite places to be during the week. I worked 15 hours, going to my site four days out of the week. My internship was at a startup Irish fashion company called Tonn. They make specialty T-shirts themed with the beauty of Ireland. I learned so much from being there. The company itself is only made up of four to five people, so I was able to see first hand the ups, downs, joys, and struggles of owning your own business. Here I learned how to plan for the unexpected, when and how to cope with frustrations, as well as when to walk away. In the U.S. I feel we sometimes struggle with this. Sometimes we take on more than we can chew, or get so invested in what we are doing that we can forget how important it is to take a break. My internship and my courses taught me that walking away and taking breaks are essential to success. While we would love to complete a task all at once, it is important to remember that we are not robots. We cannot run, continuously, forever. We are all human, and that is what makes us unique.
They say that studying abroad changes you in ways you can’t imagine. I can say that they are right. My time abroad allowed me to learn more about myself than I ever had before. It allowed me room to grow as a person, and find myself in places I’d never thought I’d be. I have made relationships that will last a lifetime, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

An experience of a lifetime! CAPA supported me from the moment I applied to the moment I arrived in Ireland. CAPA made me feel safe and kept me engaged and informed while I was in Dublin. Anyone who wants to study and learn about the culture of Dublin is the place to visit. I learned so much about the history and the culture of Ireland. Be apart of a family and go with someone who will connect and show you the ins and out of the country CAPA is the program to go with! Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey.

I was so nervous before studying abroad, as I had never been overseas for three months before. Now, I would go again in a heart beat!! CAPA organized an amazing program for all students, with wonderful representatives to help Americans feel comfortable and confident in their abilities while in Dublin.
I was able to meet so many incredible people while abroad, from all corners of the world. As Griffith College was a diverse community of international students, it allowed for a great academic opposition, where my ideas and perspectives were challenged by other students. The 20 other students in the CAPA program were a great deal of fun as well. I lived with 3 other students in the program, and we all got along so well and often spent evenings cooking together and spending our weekends abroad. I personally did not do an internship abroad, which made for some extra free time. Due to this, I travelled a great deal while in Ireland to mainland Europe. This was incredibly doable thanks to the accessibility of Dublin's airport.
Overall, this semester was one full of challenges, growth, and FUN! My semester abroad was easily the best three months of my life, and I would redo the program if I could. CAPA organizes a terrific program for students, and ensures that everyone feels confident, comfortable, and able to take chances while in Ireland. Whether you are branching out and meeting new people, travelling on your own, or taking classes outside of your major, this semester proposes challenges of all kinds that enable students to grow and develop faster than any US University campus. If you have the opportunity to study abroad, choose CAPA Dublin. Most amazing experience of my life.

Studying in Dublin, Ireland was the best decision I have ever made. Now, most people would probably say that after spending a month in another country exploring and learning about the local culture. However, this program is special because it was with CEA. The staff from CEA was willing to help me more than my own university! My program visited Galway for a weekend with a trip to the Cliffs of Moher and we also visited Belfast on a day trip to learn about the Troubles. Without CEA planning some trips, it would have been much more expensive to travel to all of the big attractions that Ireland offers. It was nice to be picked up outside of our housing, hop on a bus and be taken to our destination!
By studying through my home university and partnering with CEA, I was eligible for a scholarship from CEA which helped lower the overall costs. There are many scholarships available making your dream to study abroad possible and CEA is willing to help you!
If you have ever considered studying abroad, talk to CEA and your home university study abroad office and it can happen!