Europe Short Term Programs Summer Session

Where the Cliffs Met the Classroom

Submitted by Emily Mateja on the 2025 Summer program in Howth, Ireland…

I have been in Ireland for two weeks now, staying at Trinity College Dublin, as part of the Summer HIST/POSC Ireland study abroad. The city shocks me, not only for its walkability, but also its accessibility to day trips in many beautiful places nearby. This weekend was no different, as we would be spending Saturday in Howth.

Howth is a little shipyard town, packed with docks and seafood restaurants. Large boats, used for fishing and cargo, dotted the inlet, a sight that I was always drawn to. Yet, the boats and the sea were not why we were there.

We were there for the summit.

After a bus ride through the small town, climbing up steep hills, we reached the top of the summit. Our professor told us to go explore the trails for a couple of hours, after giving a short history of the town. What set before us, winding steep paths down towards the water along the cliffs. Howth was sometimes referred to as the baby cliffs of moher, and I understood why, it was a breathtaking natural beauty.

As he hiked our way down, we found ourselves in constantly changing weather conditions. At one moment, the sun would be out and it would be hot, but in the blink of an eye, a little shower would pass through. The brush along the trails was high, reaching to at least our hips. Yet the views, the cascading hills that formed the cliffs, were straight out of a movie. It was beautiful.

Howth gave me more than just a postcard view to enjoy on a saturday. It taught me that history, and learning about it, is more than just what happens in the classroom and to noblemen. It reminded me that history lives in the land, and the people that walk it. (Submitted July 23, 2025)

Independent Project: Experiencing Madrid

Submitted by Hailey Galbraith on the 2025 Summer program in Granada, Spain…

I was so excited for this weekend, and it certainly didn’t disappoint! One of the reasons I chose Spain of all the study abroad programs was specifically so I could see the beautiful country that my friends Ade and Carlos had described to me while they were interning abroad the US. I was such an incredible experience to spend the weekend with natives of the city, who were kind enough to give me a personal tour!
When we first arrived in Madrid off the metro, I had to hustle to meet up with my friend Carlos, who I was staying with for the weekend! He showed me his beautiful apartment, which was originally the home of famous Spanish poet and author Miguel de Cervantes! I think that its so insane that in Spain, that living with this history is not at all uncommon. My friends recently graduated with degrees in Interior Design from the University of Madrid, so I feel incredibly lucky to have such marvelous tour guides for this weekend.
After we met up, we quickly made our way back to the subway station to meet up with Guillermo, Ade, and Victoria, our other friends before we went on our trip.
Speaking with the four of them that Saturday made be realize how much I had been missing out on as far as exploring the country and learning Spanish by really only speaking with my English friends. I love my host mom, but the ease in which I could form basic sentences and the excitement I felt to be included in their conversations with each other, but also locals was so different. The first place we went to was Cercedilla, where they introduced me to “authentic” Spanish cuisine; croquetas, tareta de carne, y huevos.
After, we visited the Palacio Real de Riofrio, which was simply gorgeous. According to Guillermo, the palace was never finished. I was originally built in the 1700s but was never inhabited until Francisco de Asis in the 1850s. It was then redecorated in the 1960s, much of which remains in the palace to this day.
The next day, we had some hours before my bus left, so Carlos and I walked around the city. First, we went to a local panaderia called Levadura Madre. We each got a croissant, and this mini chocolate covered flaky pastry. They were delicious and we ate them on a bench outside of the congress building of Madrid.
Before checking out the Sunday Market, we walked by the opera house and the official Palacio Real, which was enormous and extremely beautiful. Nearby, there was a musician, playing Viva la Vida on his Violin for the tourists and visitors. The views were stunning, but what interested me more was Carlos’s discussions on the Royal family. He says that he likes the current royal family, as they are more modest and closer to regular people than previous rulers. This came back to me on Wednesday’s class, where the profesora explained that the concept of a royal family is weaning in Spain and that she predicts that there will not be many more generations crowned after this one.
The last thing I did in Madrid was to visit the Sunday Market. Extremely busy and bustling, there was everything from snacks to clothes to antiques. I found some adorable souvenirs and gifts for my friends and family, and it was so fun to be among so many people. Everyone was so nice, and I was even able to buy a very cool belt for my brother. The booth was so cute and as soon as I brought the belt over to purchase, the owner of the booth lit up! He was so sweet and so excited to explain he crafted all the belts himself and even had newspaper clippings of his workshop hung all around. It was such an interesting experience, I have never been to a flea market that large before, and apparently, they have them every Sunday! (Submitted July 3, 2025)

Seemingly all across Spain, there is a dining out culture that is very different from the US. Numerous small local cafes and bakeries can exist because of this and allow them to keep their prices extremely low. The croissant pictured was only one of the two, plus we also bought two palmeras de chocolate for only 3 euros. That is four pastries for under 4 dollars, something practically unheard of in America.

Tour Through Albayzin

Submitted by Hailey Galbraith on the 2025 Summer program in Granada, Spain…

Our first Wednesday here in Granada, our tour guide Ignacio guided us through the Albayzin quarter, introducing us to the beautiful architecture and some of the rich history behind it. Ignacio, or Nacho, explained that Granada holds the only true castle in Spain, combining both military defense purposes with royal residence and the culture and art that accompanies. While there are many other fortresses across Spain, apparently this is the only one that truly classifies as a castle. Alhambra is a beautiful blend of Muslim architecture and Christian influence, reflective of Spain’s unique cultural history.
One of my favorite things about ancient cities, but especially Granada, is the continuity. Granada is a living city and as an American, my view of Spain prior was beautiful, but stagnant and old. But of course, Granada has people in it who live in the present. Street art and graffiti reflects that, as my perspective shifted from a violation of a significant cultural place, to a manifestation of how the modern people express themselves and influence the world around them, much like the many inhabitants before them.
While touring the city, Nacho took a moment to explain to us a situation of increasing concern in Granada, but Albayzin especially, of gentrification. A complex relationship between tourists and locals, losing balance and pushing family generations out in place of Air BnBs and apartments. This housing crisis of sorts, or at least a budding one, deeply resonates with me as an American.
With every year, less and less Americans are able to buy homes due to the rising prices of homes and apartments without the match in wages. While this may not necessarily be for the same reason, the result is the same. I feel a sort of sorrow and affinity for the younger generations, experiencing a displacement from their family history. (Submitted July 3, 2025).

Here is a mural painted onto someone’s garage. Street art seems to be very common here, with graffiti and paintings everywhere, though it seems to be looked at much more fondly here. In America street art, especially graffiti is looked down upon and even deemed disrespectful. However, in Spain there is Graffiti everywhere, though as our tour guide explained, there is more of a cultural appreciation for it, hence why it is everywhere, including private and public property.

Festivals in Granada

Submitted by Hailey Galbraithon the 2025 Summer program in Granada, Spain…

Wednesday, our professors allowed us to leave class early in order to witness the pagan festival, celebrating the legend of Tarasca. There was singing and music and hundreds of people gathering in the streets to see the lively parade. I love the legend of the Tarasca, I think it’s one of the more compelling myths of human nature, where hatred and ignorance can blind diplomacy and good faith. I loved that even the locals seemed to be excited for the parade, dressing up and stepping onto their balconies to watch, even though they get to see it every year. I think that is a bit of a cultural divide. Americans are obsessed with efficiency and newness. We tend to hold the attitude of “on to the next”, which I feel isn’t as strong here. It was lovely to be part of, I really enjoyed this.
Additionally, the late-night festival was such a wonderful experience. I love amusement parks, but mostly just being around people in general. I had such a great time, even on the packed metro and dizzying rides, the lights and excitement cast an infectious glow over the area. We ended up leaving around 2:30, but people were still arriving when we were just leaving! If I am lucky enough to come again, I would like to stay longer.
Then there was the Corpus Christi festival. I was actually pleasantly surprised with this religious festival; I wasn’t necessarily expecting a boring march, but nonetheless, I was unexpectedly pleased to be part of this crowd. Though I didn’t know the words, hearing the crowd join in to whatever songs or chants was so interesting. Rather than a stuffy, strictly traditional event, the parade seemed dedicated to honoring the people as well as their god. I wasn’t expecting that, and I feel that’s just another way Granada is so good about honoring their history in a way that still moves forward. I feel that often times in America, we struggle to find that balance and I hope to take these lessons with me back overseas. (Submitted July 3, 2025).

Tarasca, the center of the celebrated legend thought to be based on St. Marta, who is thought to have tamed the dragon she is depicted as riding with nothing but prayers and a cross.

Volunteering in Limerick

Submitted by Nyasha Rutanhira on the 2025 Spring program in Limerick, Ireland…

At the end of my program, I received the University of Limerick’s Presidential Volunteer Award in recognition of my work with UL AccessCampus during my time abroad. When I arrived in Limerick, I felt a strong desire to engage with the community that would be my home for the next four months. That opportunity came through volunteering at the University of Limerick’s AccessCampus, a satellite campus in the city’s Southside that promotes access to education for underrepresented groups and promotes inclusion through community-centered initiatives.

I had the privilege of volunteering with Conversation Club, a program supporting members of the displaced Ukrainian community as they learn English. The goal is to create a welcoming, participant-led space where language learning happens naturally and at each individual’s pace. This experience allowed me to build meaningful relationships, engage in cross-cultural exchange, and witness the power of language in building community.

Volunteering abroad has been one of the most rewarding parts of my study abroad experience, proving that wherever we are, community engagement truly makes a difference. (Submitted May 7, 2025)

Myself and another UD student (Sophia K) receiving an award for volunteering abroad

Paddy’s Day in Ireland

Submitted by Nyasha Rutanhira on the 2025 Spring program in Limerick, Ireland…

When deciding to study abroad in Ireland, it never crossed my mind that I would get to experience St. Patrick’s Day in its country of origin. At the University of Delaware, students know how to celebrate this holiday, so I was excited to compare my experiences at UD with my time in Ireland during St. Patrick’s Day.

Instead of going to Dublin, I chose to stay in Limerick to celebrate in a more intimate community setting and see how the locals marked the occasion. I attended the Limerick St. Patrick’s Day Parade, where people of all ages participated, entertaining the crowds with music, dancing, and performances. In addition to the parade, Limerick hosted other exciting events, including an International Band Parade featuring marching bands from across the United States and Ireland, who were judged based on their performances.

After the daytime festivities, the nightlife was just as lively. Every pub was open, filled with people, and playing live traditional Irish music. It was an incredible experience where I truly felt immersed in the culture, and I know I’ll never forget my St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland.

P.S. I learned that the Irish don’t call it “St. Patty’s Day” — they only refer to it as St. Patrick’s Day or Paddy’s Day! (Submitted March 31, 2025)

Friends and I celebrating St. Patrick’s Day

Cliffs of Moher

Submitted by Nyasha Rutanhira on the 2025 Spring program in Limerick, Ireland…

I arrived in Limerick, Ireland, almost a week ago, and I am really settling in well. I was a little nervous at first that I would have a hard time meeting new people. However, the University of Limerick ensures that its study-abroad students can acclimate quickly through orientation meetings and exciting excursion opportunities.

One of these excursions took us to the famous Cliffs of Moher, an experience I won’t soon forget. The moment we arrived, I was totally blown away—literally. The winds at the cliffs were unlike anything I had ever felt before. Just days earlier, Ireland had been hit by a countrywide red-level storm, and lingering gusts at the cliffs reached up to 50 miles per hour. While my pictures may not capture the intensity, I can assure you that we were struggling just to stay on our feet without being swept away! (Submitted January 29, 2025)

My friends and I in front of the cliffs!

Ending January in Rome

Submitted by Samantha Madden on the 2025 Spring program in Rome, Italy…

As January comes to an end, I can already feel how much this experience is changing my life. Though I’ve only been in Rome for about two weeks, I feel like I am transforming into a new person. I arrived not knowing anyone and nervous about finding my place, but I’ve since found how warm and open both American and Italian students are. I realized that most of us are in the same boat and it is not as scary as I once imagined it would have been. I still can’t wrap my mind around the idea that I will be living in Rome for the next four months of my life and I have already seen so many amazing sights. The Pantheon, the Colosseum, and the Trevi Fountain have been some of my favorites so far and soon I plan to visit the Spanish Steps and Vatican City. I am also excited to travel outside of Rome and visit other European countries like Hungary, Ireland and France. The first trip I took outside of Rome was Florence last weekend and it was a beautiful city but also a learning experience. Navigating a new place and figuring out transportation can be challenging, but the sense of accomplishment once I did eventually figure it out makes it worthwhile. I have already learned and experienced so much and I can’t wait to see what the coming months have in store. (Submitted January 29, 2025)

Here is a photo of me at the Colosseum in Rome at night time.

Visiting Acropolis, Island of Aegina, Mycenae, and Epidaurus

Submitted by Zeppelin Evans on the 2025 Winter program in Athens, Greece…

A photo of the Erechtheion from the gate of the Acropolis

Visiting the Acropolis has been on my bucket list for a long time, so this was an absolutely amazing experience. Being able to walk where ancient people did (albeit not very often for most people) was important to me; seeing the temples that I have been studying, in person, was almost religious. On top of all of that, Iris was an amazing guide – I am so happy that she talked about the construction of the buildings, from the orders to the flutes to the slight curve of the bases. I also learned a lot about the history of the Acropolis after the ancient period, like the conversion of temples into churches, the various wars, and the excavations. Other than the academic part of it, the views of Athens were beautiful and put into perspective its place geographically (living in Pangrati it can be hard to imagine Athens as near the sea or surrounded by mountains). The Acropolis museum was also really interesting, especially the top floor with the “reconstruction” of the Parthenon. I never would have thought of that as a concept, so as a museum worker it was important and interesting to see how the architect and conservators handled it. This site will definitely be revisited if I come back to Greece.

To begin, I LOVED taking the ferry to Aegina. This was a part of the water that I had never been on before and the views were immaculate as well. As for the site, the temple of Aphaia and the archeological remains were really interesting – this was another site / part of Greece that I had not really heard of before. It was also a really cute little town to explore with amazing food. My favorite part (other than the ferry) was the temple and how it offered a clear view of the intricacies of construction with the U-shaped divots for lifting the gigantic pieces of rock. I also found the inscriptions on the wall interesting, as they were really well preserved and if they weren’t pointed out I would have walked right past them. I also liked seeing Athens from Aegina’s point of view, and talking about how the city-states would have seen each other in antiquity with both fighting to be seen as powerful and wealthy.

I think these sites were the absolute highlight of the trip for me. The tomb of Atreus was really cool to see, since most similar constructions are not preserved in that way. Seeing the Mycenaean Lion’s Gate in person was like a religious experience for me, since I have been studying it for so long. I also really enjoyed how Alice and David brought the story of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra into what we were seeing and standing on – most people do not realize that mythology and theater are steeped in reality. The grave circles were also really interesting because we saw the finds in the Archeological Museum before and then where they were found. I liked seeing the fragments of Linear B in the museum as well. Epidaurus was another really cool site – as a theater nerd seeing the best preserved ancient theater was amazing to see. The history of the site as a sanctuary of Asclepius was also interesting, especially learning about the healing practices. The stadium was beautiful as well. Epidaurus had something from every one of my interests – medical history, theater, and sport. I would come back to Greece just to see these two sites again.

Education in a New Perspective

Submitted by Anna Sherr on the 2025 Winter program in Barcelona, Spain…

As an Elementary Education major at UD, I have been able to experience in-person field placements since my very first semester of college. The education program at UD is full of incredible professors and mentors that have ultimately helped me achieve my goal of getting accepted into a study abroad opportunity! During January of 2025 I was able to spend three weeks of my life in Barcelona, Spain where I was placed in a private elementary school, St. Peter’s School. I took EDUC390 Classroom Management with Dr. William Lewis who provided us with amazing support throughout our experience in both the school and the city. During my mini-mester I was welcomed into this school with open arms and was instantly able to immerse myself into their curriculum and classrooms. Due to St. Peter’s being an international school, the student population was extremely diverse. The instruction and everyday interactions in the school were spoken in English, but as I walked the halls I was exposed to Spanish, Catalan, Italian, Russian, and more languages from around the world. This lingual diversity at St. Peter’s School causes them to heavily focus on phonics and the English language. This educational experience is one that I will never forget, especially throughout my career in education. St. Peter’s taught me so much about the importance of creating a teacher-student relationship built on trust and respect. I cannot wait to implement these teaching strategies in my future career with my students.