Summer Trip to Ireland: A Journey of Self-Discovery

Me, exploring Ireland alone.

I have gone through several phases of self-discovery throughout my academic career at Kennesaw State University. The first phase occurred when I was an undergraduate at the university: It was my awakening. I learned things about myself, I discovered that I had strong opinions about a wide variety of topics, and I became enthusiastic about and thirsty for knowledge. I remember coming home every day after class and excitedly telling my husband about all of the new things I had learned that day.

The second phase followed when I entered the M.A. in Integrated Global Communication program at Kennesaw State University. It was at this time that I discovered a passion for research, a desire to achieve a PhD, and my future ambitions to teach at a university.

Now, I am in my third phase of self-discovery: The Summer International Experience. At 30 years of age, in a strange country…alone, I have realized several new things about my personality, including:

I am a strong, independent woman. I’m not sure if you figured this out yet, but I flew all the way to Ireland by myself. AND, this was the very first time I had traveled out of my home country! Nothing makes you feel stronger than leaving your husband, pets, and home responsibilities behind to jet off to a faraway land.

A particularly busy intersection where people generally tend to heed the “Do Not Walk” warning.

I am a rule follower. I would like to think of myself as a rebel, and maybe I am in certain situations, but if a sign says, “stay off the grass,” then I generally choose to not walk, sit, or stand on the grass. And, if the sign says, “don’t walk,” then you won’t find me dodging cars as I dash across the street. However, it appears that people in Ireland pay little attention to signs as I often see them ignoring these rules (sometimes I find myself closing my eyes while people dart across the street as a bus rushes towards them). So, if the rule seems reasonable, and it doesn’t hurt anyone for me to follow it, then I generally feel more comfortable when I pay attention to that rule.

I can eat out alone. And, go shopping alone, and walk the streets of an unknown city alone, and make new friends alone. The point is, I can go out by myself in public and not be embarrassed or feel weird. Well, maybe I still feel a little weird, but those emotions dissipate more and more the longer I’m in Ireland. This was something that I wasn’t sure I could do, but also something that I wasn’t rushing out to do back in the States.

This trip has been fun, exhilarating, and sometimes a bit scary. But, as I look back on the past three weeks, I realize how lucky I am to have this opportunity; and that makes me grateful to be a part of such a unique graduate program.

If you’re interested in a master’s in integrated global communication and want to learn more about the Summer International Experience, make sure to check out my classmates’ insights on the MAIGC blog.

Cultural Sensitivity in a Global World

In the M.A. in Integrated Global Communication (MAIGC) program at Kennesaw State University, we talk a lot about cultural sensitivity when communicating to a global audience. We’ve read case studies, discussed the various follies that have occurred when advertising campaigns ignore cultural factors, and debated about how we would go about performing various public relations tasks outside of the United States; all of which center around successfully communicating to a global audience.

I recently had the pleasure of learning about the real-world application of maintaining cultural sensitivity in a global world though my first interview here in Ireland. It was a wonderful experience that helped gear up my excitement about my research project on how Irish PR professionals use social media to build relationships with key online audiences.

Though I must protect the anonymity of the professional and the firm in which the conversation took place, I can share with you the insights on global communication that I learned from one of Ireland’s top digital media professionals.

• Communication efforts must be sensitive to the culture of the intended audience. This could include not using words that the audience may not understand or could misinterpret, or using words/phrases for promotional events that stir up negative emotions about a culture’s historical past.
• PR professionals should strive to localize content. For example, a metro-Atlanta public relations firm running a social media campaign for a Canada-based brand should not use Facebook as a platform to promote Music Midtown to its online audience. Instead, that PR firm should use information about a local music festival to spark conversation on social media.

In both of the above examples it is important for PR professionals to do all of the necessary research before launching a campaign.

The information I received in this interview provided a nice platform to bring what I learned in the classroom full-circle. It just goes to show that having knowledge about of how to function in an international market is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.

To find out more about how Kennesaw State University’s MAIGC program can prepare you to be a global citizen/professional, visit the website.

Expect the Unexpected When You Travel Abroad

Trim Castle

I have to say that I’m having a blast in Ireland. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to get out of Dublin and explore some of the surrounding countryside through a bus tour. I visited Loughcrew Passage Tomb, Hill of Tara, Monasterboice and Trim Castle.

In addition to my excursion outside of the city, I have also spend hours just wandering around Dublin and have ended up at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Grafton Street and Temple Bar. And while I have been out and about I have noticed some things about Dublin and its people that I didn’t quite expect. Below are some of my observations:

Speed Walking: People in Dublin walk fast: I mean really fast. Even when I walk at a nice pace, I still get passed by people.

Crowds: It is always crowded here. So much so, that it can be difficult to get around on foot. Once, I couldn’t make it all the way across a narrow road before the crosswalk light turned red (I started walking when it was green) because there was a wall of people coming at me.

Sign in Irish and English

Cultural Hotspot: I expected when the cab dropped me off in Dublin City Center that it would be me in a sea of Irish people. I was wrong. It’s not just one lonely American among the Irish: There are a wide variety of different cultures represented in the city. In my apartment alone we have someone from America (me), Asia, Italy and Costa Rica. In the park I met a woman who moved to Ireland from the Czech Republic, and on the bus tour I met a lovely English couple as well as a woman vacationing from Moscow, Russia. 

Revival of the Irish Language: When I first arrived in Dublin, I saw that the signs had two languages on them: A phrase written in Irish followed by the English translation. I later learned from my tour bus driver that Ireland is trying to revive Irish, as many people have lost touch with the language throughout the years for political and cultural reasons. Therefore, the country passed a law that says all signs must include Irish, and it must be listed first.

Appletiser–Sparkling Apple Juice

Different Foods: I’m not talking about weird or exotic foods. Ireland still has the same kinds of fresh produce and meat, as well as chips, sodas, etc. Though, they are not the same brands that I’m used to finding. I guess I just took for granted that my American brands could be found anywhere and everywhere. However, I’m starting to find new brands to love like Appletiser—a sparkling apple juice in the vending machines on the Trinity College campus.

Though it has been a bit of an adjustment to adapt to a new culture and lifestyle, I feel well prepared to handle the situation. The classes and assignments in the M.A. in Integrated Global Communication (MAIGC) at Kennesaw State University equipped me with the skills needed to think and react as a global citizen. Not only does the program give students practical knowledge for the professional world, but the professors also mentor students on how to think outside of the box and to be culturally sensitive.

To find out more about the MAIGC program, visit the Kennesaw State University website.