4 weeks later, we finally finished the woodcock global honors program with a visit to Microsoft and then final presentations. I am in disbelief that it has been a month since I met 10 amazing people in room 104 of Panther Hall. Throughout our time, we experienced our first college class together, first dorm experience, international…

Today, we started later in the day with our final guest speaker, Stephen Dillion. He is the founder of Startup.ie which is a not for profit website that connects entrepreneurs to the resources they need to help them succeed. It is the leading resource for startups and entrepreneurs in Ireland and gives out awards annually for…

Today, we spent the morning working on our final report and presentations then went to the Botanical Gardens after lunch. This visit was something that was special to me because my grandparents would take me to see botanical and traditional Japanese gardens when I was little. Seeing another one reminded me of those times. It…

Today, we had class in the morning and worked through a case study. It was about supplying drinking water to villages in Africa that did not have clean drinking water. We were split into three groups: philanthropists, engineers, and villagers. I was a part of the engineer group and we had to decide if building…

Today, we had another excursion day and took the bus to Kilkenny, Wiklow Mountains, a family sheep farm in Glendalough. Similar to other places in Ireland that we visited, tourism was the main business that kept the towns, farms, natural sites, etc alive and surviving in the economy. We first drove to the family sheep…

After visiting Croke Park last week, we were all interested in watching a game that Brad and Dr. Lada changed our schedule to go see the quarter finals of the men’s Gaelic football game this afternoon. Considering the fact that I had no idea what Gaelic football or Hurling was before the tour of Croke…

Today, we rode the Dart (train) for the first time to go to a city called Howth. It was an off the shore city that had very unique scenery. The Howth station was bright yellow with beautiful flower pots everywhere. Then we walked to the Market where I bought a Claddagh Ring. We came back…

Today, we went on a full day excursion to Cliffs of Moher and Galway. We left very early in the morning but I got more sleep on the bus than any other day on this trip. The first nap, it was very nice waking up to the view of Ireland’s beautiful nature. The first destination…

Today, we spent the day listening to two lecturers and working on our final report. The weather looked very nice and it was actually very warm but we spent the majority of the day inside. We have spent five days in Dublin so far and I have definitely seen how globalization has affected/impacted Ireland specifically…