“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.”
– Ambrose Redmoon
Hi everyone! My name is Gracie Malcomb and I am a senior studying Humanities and English. This semester I am studying abroad in Ireland, which is a dream come true for me! I have been in Ireland for about three weeks, and I am already loving my time here so much. It is such a surreal feeling to finally be here, and I am so excited to have the chance to showcase why Ireland is such a special place in my heart with you over the course of the semester!
Although I am a really indecisive person, I have always known that if I were to ever study abroad in college, it would be in Ireland. So last spring when I decided to take a leap of faith and submit my study abroad application, I chose to do a direct enrollment program at a local university in Limerick, Ireland. Being in a direct enrollment program has been such an incredible experience for me! I have had the opportunity to meet students from around the world from places like Germany, France, the Netherlands, Zimbabwe, and Brazil; and I also have the opportunity to attend weekend trips and events planned by the International Office. The University of Limerick is a much bigger school than Wofford, but I am loving experiencing a new and different kind of school. One of my favourite things to do on campus is to go on walks and explore the hidden charms near and around campus! I am also living in a six-bedroom apartment on campus with four first-year students from Germany, and a third-year student from the States. When I first arrived on campus I was a little worried that I would be missing out since I wasn’t technically in the “city centre,” but now that I have been in Ireland for the past three weeks, it is such a blessing living in an on-campus accommodation because the public transportation in Ireland is so accessible. The city centre is about a 15-20 minute bus ride, and I am beginning to become more comfortable with navigating the bus system in Limerick.
Over the next four months, some of my goals are to go outside of my comfort zone, join a few clubs and societies offered on campus (like the surf club and outdoors club), explore Ireland, and to take advantage of this incredible opportunity. See you next time!
about a two-minute walk from my apartment! 
Exploring the Aran Islands 
The River Shannon (I pass this everyday on my walk to class!)