Fun fact, apparently in Lorean culture, for those who can’t swim they are called 맥주병 (maek-Joo-byung / beer bottle) because they just float and can’t do much and if there’s water inside of them they sink and make the gurgling noise! 

One of my favourite part of the trip is making 인절미 (injeolmi korean traditional rice cake covered in soybean powder) because instead of kneading it normally, we hit the rice cake with a wooden hammer. Injeolmi was something that only the royal family could have but now it has become many korean favourite dessert or snack. It also goes well with 빙수 (bingsu shaved ice dessert).

This is 인절미! And you use the hammer to knead it!

We also went to Nami island and it was a really cute small island. It wasn’t very big but there were lots of small shops, cafes, zip lining and lots of cool art! 

I also had 닭갈비 dakgalbi (smoked spicy chicken) and I personally thought it was much better than korean barbecue. It felt light and you can pair it with lettuce and rice and other toppings and make it into a ssam (쌈 lettuce wrap).

I believe that this short exchange has helped me experience things I wouldn’t have done at home. I also experienced Korean culture instead of just reading about it. It’s more fun to be engaged in the culture! It was nice seeing some old friends and making new ones! I am happy to have experienced this opportunity and I will never forget the time I had here!

We spent our first ten days learning about Ireland’s history and exploring the historical and cultural monuments in and around the Cork.

On day one, students toured the University of Cork’s campus in the morning and were regaled with stories steeped in history and superstition. In the afternoon, we toured Blarney Castle and the estate grounds. It took an hour to slowly climb the narrow, winding stone staircase to the top of the castle, but the view was definitely worth it. A few brave souls in our group even hung upside down from the great height and kissed the Blarney stone, which is renowned for giving those who kiss it the ability to eloquently flatter others.               

Walking Toward Blarney Castle                                        Bei at the Ground Level 

Opening of Blarney Castle

Day two we walked a lot! We toured The Bells of Shandon, Elizabeth Fort, and St. Finn Barr’s Cathedral. The sun was shining, and we walked up cobblestone hills and stone staircases to reach the top of St. Anne’s Church, and we played songs on the Bells of Shandon – not too many so as to annoy the locals, hopefully. From St. Anne’s we retraced our steps back down the hills and across the River Lee to the ruins of Elizabeth Fort, from which the English at one time had used to quell Irish uprisings. From the wall of Elizabeth Fort, we could see St. Finn Barre’s Cathedral, a gothic architectural masterpiece, towering in the distance.

St. Finn Barr’s Cathedral

Brian locking Sunaina in the Pillory

Day three featured a very interesting guided tour of the Cork City Goal and the Cork Museum. Originally, Cork City Goal was known as the women’s prison, but it eventually housed both male and female prisoners, the youngest of which was eight years old. The Cork Museum held an eclectic range of artifacts, beginning with artifacts remaining from early Viking contact along the coasts of Ireland.

Cork City Goal Cell                                                     Replica of a Prison Guard

On day five, we rode the Paddywagon tour bus through the Ring of Kerry. Our tour guide pointed out interesting landmarks like glacier worn mountains that had formed millions of years ago to peat bogs where farmers used to collect peat to burn for fuel in their homes. The Paddywagon took us along narrow winding roads through the rolling hills, the glacier worn mountains all the way to the hills above the Atlantic Ocean and the forests of Killarney National Park all the. It was a beautiful journey filled with stunning views and interesting facts, with a few funny jokes sprinkled in by our proficient tour guide. Some of us may have enjoyed the baby animals at one of the pit stops more than anything else that day, however.  

The Rolling Hills of the Ring of Kerry

Bei and Mo at the Killarney Falls                                   Kitten Sleeping in a Boot!

The Misty Atlantic Ocean

On day six we watched a play called It Runs in the Family at The Everyman Theatre in Cork.  Even though the deep Irish accent was at times hard to understand given the pace of the play, many laughs were shared in the theatre that evening. After the play, we also were lucky to experience some rousing traditional Irish singing in a little pub on a narrow cobblestone street. Students also had a couple free days on days seven and eight, and everyone went off and explored different areas of the city or surrounding towns on their own or in small groups. Kelly and I went to the English Market and a couple local thrift stores.                                                                      

Kelly Modelling a 700 Euro Vintage Gown

On day nine we had the privilege of listening to a lecture on Yeats by a member of UCC and Trinity College’s teaching staff, and then in the afternoon we caught the train to Cobh and toured the Cobh Heritage Museum and the                         Cathedral. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to visit Spike Island, but we heard it was worth the boat ride!

Group Photo in Cobh

While in Cork, we stayed in the University of Cork’s very chic and comfortable student accommodation. The rooms were fantastic! We each had our own bedroom and bathroom, and each apartment had a communal kitchen and living room filled with large windows looking out at an old insane asylum and other interesting old buildings. We met in the evenings occasionally to play cards, and we had a yummy group potluck one night. We were sad to leave Cork behind, but on day ten, we were ready for the next chapter in Dublin.

 Willow Chilling in the Apartment at UCC in Cork

We caught the train to Dublin on day ten. The countryside was fresh and green and rolling, and the hills were spotted with massive wind turbines that looked like matchsticks in the distance. In Dublin, students stayed at Isaacs Hostel, and Kelly and I stayed around the corner in a tiny hotel above a little local bar. After we checked into our rooms, we went for a stroll through Merrion Square and St. Stephen’s Green. Dublin is a big, busy city.

 Isaacs Hostel in Dublin

Our first full day in Dublin, day 11, was packed with places to visit. First, we toured Trinity College and saw the Book of Kells, the Yeats exhibit at National Library and the Chester Beatty Library. It was a full day of reading and learning and listening to our knowledgeable tour guides explain the historical, political, and cultural significance of architectural landmarks and treasured artifacts.

Statues and Monuments to Ireland’s Fight for Independence are Everwhere!!

Blacks Castle in Dublin

Day 12 included a visit to the Dublin Writer’s Museum in the morning, and in the afternoon we caught the train to the coastal town Sandycove to see the James Joyce Tower and Museum. The tower was right on the ocean, and Jack, Sunaina, Mo, and Brian went for a swim in the little public swimming hole just down the hill while Fraser explored the tide pools and Bei and I climbed the rocks.

The James Joyce Tower in Sandycove (Top) and The Dublin Writer’s Museum (Bottom)

The Sandycove Swimmers

 Day 13 and 14 were free days for everyone, and the last chance to explore Ireland and buy gifts for loved ones before most of us had to head home. Kelly, Willow, and Bei stayed in Ireland and continued to explore the countryside.

Sunaina Sitting on the Edge of the Cliffs of Moher (Top) Donegal Castle (Bottom)

Mo and Brian’s Band Photo                                 Foucault’s Panopticon at the Kilmainham Gaol

The campus of Kansai Gaidai University was huge and beautiful. Even in the -2 degree celcius weather that Hirakata was experiencing because of the unnatural cold snap that Japan was experiencing, I didn't want to stop exploring the new city that I would be calling home for close to 6 months. 

During the first two weeks, Kansai Gaidai ran an informative orientation that they hoped would prepare the students for the overwhelming task of adjusting to Japanese culture. It was very helpful and it allowed me to prepare myself for the culture shock that soon followed my arrival. We were introduced to the incredible transit system, the beautiful city of Kyoto, and were introduced to the RA’s and Professors that would be assisting us throughout the semester. After this, class selection began and all of the students were assigned to their corresponding levels of mandatory Japanese language levels. I was in Level 2, Section B with Motohashi Sensei. We met in the mornings 3 times a week for 5 and a half months along with 13 other classmates. With the small class size, we were able to form a very strong bond between the students and teachers!

The most difficult part of my semester abroad was finding a balance between exploring the new country and culture, and buckling down to study and achieve the high grades I needed to continue studying once I returned to Canada. I feel that even though I put more focus on travel and new experiences, it helped me to apply the real-life knowledge to my classes and return to Victoria with satisfaction with my choices.

I will always speak highly of my time abroad in Japan. Before I applied for the semester abroad on a whim, I didn’t think that it was an option that could work for me or my education plan. I don’t have a lot of money and rely solely on my student loans and full-time work year round. Because of the One World scholarship and Camosun College offering this opportunity, a large portion of my financial burden was removed. I cannot recommend a Study Abroad enough to any of my fellow students. My whole perspective on life has changed.

Because of my semester in Japan, I changed my major to fit my passion and interests, I made lifelong friends, and I feel like an independent woman. I cannot wait to return to Japan, hopefully as a student again and for a longer period of time, to continue my discovery of a new and interesting world!