I entered this international internship program with several goals for my personal and professional development. Reflecting on my experience, I can not think of a single goal that was neglected. Numerous aspects of my international experience have shaped me to become a better individual, student, and employee. I am forever grateful for this opportunity and…

Global Competency and Expectations Oh, this week has been bittersweet. Realizing how much time has flown by is insane. It feels like a week ago, I was taking pictures of a rainbow as I landed on this beautiful island, but here I am now. Typing my last blog while in this country with all of…

Reflecting on Communication Differences When I first was researching study abroad programs, I thought eight weeks was a lengthy timeframe, but I underestimated how quickly the time would fly by. As I started my last week of work, several coworkers already tried to persuade me to stay. Even some of the guests at my placement,…

Leadership Skills & Style I never realized how quickly this program would pass me by. I am not looking forward to saying goodbye to this fabulous island, but alas, I will have to very soon. At my placement this past week, I was moved to a later shift with the night manager. It was pretty…

Critical Reflection on Skills and Competencies Believe it or not, the hospitality industry is essential for our modern world. This fact is backed by the industry being within the top five largest employers in the United States and the world. Another reason is that so many people rely on this industry to fulfill the basic…

Adaptability and Flexibility Man, oh man, what a week! This week has challenged and uplifted me higher than any other week I have faced so far. Not only did I celebrate my 21st birthday, but I also got to run reception at my placement by myself. My supervisor had faith and confidence in me to…

Problem Solving with Incomplete Information Here we are wrapping up week three, or is it already week four? All I know is that the time is flying by, and I hope I am able to grasp what is left. Before we get to the fun part, I am going to take a moment to highlight…

Time Management I cannot believe how fast time has already started to fly by. Everyone has completed their first work week at internship placements, and that means we are all one more week closer to flying back to the states. Although I thought I would be traveling around Ireland more in my free time, I…

Assessing the Business Environment Greetings from rainy but beautiful Ireland! So far, I have traveled to some of the must-see locations in the Wicklow Mountains. I am fortunate to have walked the stunning gardens of Powerscourt, visited the tallest waterfall in Ireland, walked around Glendalough, driven through Sally Gap, and visited some filming locations of…