Arcadia Ireland

I wanted to share a story from one of our current Trinity students, Ellen Jennings, Pomona College.  It highlights the importance of community for sure but also the lengths a student will go to meet a goal and find a way of making something happen.

When our co-curricular events for the Fall went "live" in August, this student happened to be driving a very long journey with her parents. With limited places on some of the events, this student's determination got stronger! She begged her parents to stop the car and drive into a nearby hotel so that she could steady herself, get WIFI and grab one of the hot seats to Scotland. Her enthusiasm and determination worked in her favor and she was one of the lucky ten! She felt it important to let Arcadia know this story and I'm glad that she did. It makes me think that getting to this place of being in Ireland or on any study abroad programme means having to break through many obstacles. It doesn't just happen and often means having to go the extra mile to make a dream come true. For some, it may seem like the impossible because of financial reasons, academics, personal health, family and lots more. 

I can't share this piece without mentioning Community. The regional along with all of our orientation and co-curricular events help create an inclusive experience for students. We encourage students to not only feel comfortable in Ireland but to really find their sense of belonging here. 

Ellen generously wrote this piece following the weekend with Jane and the other nine students. Go raibh mile maith agat Ellen. 

This weekend’s Regional Weekend took me and nine other lucky Arcadia Ireland friends to Edinburgh for what will be remembered as a highlight of our experiences abroad. Soon after landing and taking a scenic tram ride into St. Andrew’s Square, we got to appreciate Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns in all their glory. Jane accompanied many of us on a steep walk up Arthur's Seat for spectacular views of the city, and a few of us opted to shop around the Royal Mile instead. We regrouped at the hotel, where Jane introduced us to Hamish, director of Arcadia Scotland, and our peers at Arcadia England, Arcadia Wales, and Arcadia Scotland who would be joining us for the weekend. Together we walked to the Surgeons’ Hall Museum for a four-hour céilí dance led by an amazing band (thanks Molly, Briony, Fergus, and Angus!) and complimented by a buffet that included fried haggis bon-bons!

The next day the group split onto two coaches for two parallel adventures inland— each group was to visit a different whisky distillery (not called “whiskey” or “Scotch” in Scotland!), enjoy a traditional pub lunch, then a scenic view, and a historic castle or palace. My coach group, led by Hamish and our inimitable coach driver Tina, set off to a tour and tasting at the Glenturret Distillery, where Don led us through the process of producing whisky and the proper plan of attack to consuming it for maximum flavor discernment. Our coach journey through the scenic countryside took us to a pub lunch in the gorgeous town of Aberfeldy, which inspired Robert Burns’ famous poem, The Birks of Aberfeldy. We also stopped at a forest walk to the prettiest waterfall, narrowly avoiding becoming woods-wedding crashers! After a full-on forest photoshoot, we loaded back onto the coach to our final destination—Scone Palace. Hamish prepared us to witness the site of the Stone of Scone, or Stone of Destiny, upon which Scottish kings have been crowned for millennia. We enjoyed a tour of the Palace, and a quick frolic with the grounds’ many peacocks. Back in Edinburgh that evening, Arcadia Ireland celebrated UCD Kendall’s birthday with dinner at Wagamama and several pints of Ben and Jerrys, before many of us headed out to explore Edinburgh’s spooky Halloweekend nightlife.

Our final day in Scotland began with group breakfast in the hotel, and then we once again split to take on our choice of morning city activities. Many of us headed to Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Royal Mile, where we saw recreations of the castle’s Great Hall, dungeon cells, and the Honors of Scotland, Scotland’s crown jewels. A few of us fit in a trip to the Castle’s café for a scone with jam and clotted cream, before catching a glimpse of a spectacular full rainbow over the city.

Arms full with last-minute airport souvenirs and leftover calzone from our final lunch, we enjoyed a bittersweet return trip, with beautiful sunset and fireworks views above Dublin. I could say that the best souvenirs were the friends we made along the way, but honestly, I really love my new lambswool scarf. Thank you Arcadia Scotland for hosting such a memorable weekend!”

Ellen Jennings

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