My travel-study to Ireland with the English department this May was something I will never forget.  I have always loved literature and history, but to be able to physically stand where so many stories began has had a lasting impact on how I view the subjects.  Twenty-six students joined Professor Clark and Dr. Coffman on a two-week tour of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and each one of us has commented on how amazing and memorable the trip was in so many ways.  I’ve stood at Yeats’ grave and looked out at Ben Bulben and recited his poetry, walked along the River Liffey in Dublin and seen the Book of Kells at Trinity College, and watched my friends perform an impromptu play on the grounds of Coole Park.  I’ve also had my share of fun- I’ve walked up to the ancient fort on the Aran Island of Inishmore, I’ve met fellow college students in Kinsale that spoke Gaelic for me, and I’ve had dinner at a 15th century castle, complete with traditional mead.  An account of everything I experienced would take hours to read, there were so many things each day, hour, and minute.  The trip made so much of what I’ve previously just read turn into stories and poems that mean immensely more now, because I can so clearly visualize what the authors and poets are trying to put on paper.  I couldn’t have had a better trip and I can’t wait to go back.

Scarlett Hixson
Senior Cell and Molecular Biology major, English minor
Ireland Travel Study, English 496

My name is Lorie Mallari, and I am a senior biology and international business double major. I have always loved to travel. During summer 2008, I went on a two-week travel study to Ireland and Northern Ireland with Ms. Anna Clark and Dr. Chris Coffman. We traveled all over the island, visiting key literary sites such as Lady Gregory's Coole Park and W.B. Yeats' grave at Drumcliff. We also did a fair share of sightseeing, visiting places such as the Aran Islands, Blarney Castle, and Giant's Causeway. Participating on this trip has stimulated my desire to pursue international business in Europe and has given me a life-changing experience that I will never forget.

Lorie Mallari

Senior Biology and International Business Major

Ireland Travel Study, English 251

I had the unique experience of going on a travel study to Ireland in May 2008. Although I am a staff member at UT Martin, I enrolled in an Irish poetry class in which the travel study was a component. It was my first time in Europe, and Ireland was a great choice to get a good taste of traveling abroad. I found Ireland to be rich in culture, history, and friendly people from the urban areas to the rural islands. The readings and the places we visited really illuminated one another. From this travel study, I learned more about Ireland than I would have any other way. I encourage students to take advantage of travel studies to broaden their horizons, to learn about other places and people, and deepen their educational experiences.

Tiffany Emerson

English Learning Specialist

Ireland Travel Study

Guten Tag!  My name is Eric Haldeman and I am a Senior History Major and Minoring in German.  I had the great fortune and opportunity to attend the six week Internationale Sommerkurse at the Technischen Universität Braunschweig, Germany.  I had always wanted to visit Germany.  So being able to fulfill that dream while at the same time learning the language and earning college credit was to good of a deal to pass up!  We visited Berlin, Hannover, and Hamburg.  We went hiking in the Hartz Mountains.  And I even had a special opportunity to drive on the Autobahn.  I met students just like myself from all over the world including, but not limited to:  Syria, China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Greece, and Egypt.  You won’t see everything while there, even on the six week trip, but you will have an experience you won’t soon forget.

Eric Haldeman

Senior History Major, German Minor

Braunschweig, Germany.

My name is Will Binkley and I am a junior who went on the Paris and London travel study during spring break 2006. The idea of traveling to another part of the world to see things that I had only seen in pictures and meet people with different backgrounds, histories, and outlooks that I never knew existed excited me but also scared me in many ways. My perspective changed the minute that I arrived and realized that I was in Paris! The most interesting thing that I learned from my overseas experience is that people are people no matter where you go. I was able to see that everywhere I went people had the same feelings, emotions, vices, fears, etc. as me, they just use different languages to express them. The one thing from my trip to Paris and London that I will never forget is my visit to Versailles. It was freezing cold, the gardens had yet to begin to bloom, and the fountains were covered up for the winter. Ignoring the frigid temperatures a good friend and I left the confines of the warm castle and wandered through the famous gardens, and even though there was nothing in bloom it was still worth it.

Will Binkley

Paris/London