Celtic Engagement Rings

Irish Diplomacy

Irish Diplomacy

3 reasons to study abroad in Europe

There are probably dozens of good reasons to spend a semester – or even an entire academic year – in which you study abroad. England is one of the more popular choices; the majority of Americans are of English ancestry, and of course, they speak your language (although the accent can make it difficult to understand in some parts of the country). England is also rich in history; that history goes back well over 2,000 years.

Another popular place to study abroad: Ireland. What makes this country unique has a great deal to do with the largest non-event in Irish and European history, which is the fact that the Romans never reached the island. Neither did barbarian Germanic tribes such as the Visigoths, Vandals or even the Anglo-Saxons. As a result, Irish culture retained its Celtic basis nearly intact and untouched by Latin and Germanic influences that shaped other Celtic nations such as France, Scotland, Wales and Cornwall.

This is a good point to bring up one of the best reasons to study abroad. Ireland's native language is not English, though most Irish speak it as their first language due to some 700 years of English occupation and domination. Before that however, the dominant tongue was Gaelic, which is still commonly spoken in the remote areas of Ireland. Since Irish independence in 1921, the Dublin government has been attempting to revive Gaelic; there are Gaelic-language television and radio broadcasts, and all road signs are in both English and Gaelic. If you wish to study this language, there is no better place than this last bastion of undiluted Celtic culture.

Culture itself – apart from language – is another excellent reason to study abroad. England shares much in the way of culture and institutions with the U.S.; your parents may very well remember the “British Invasion” of the 1960s when groups such as the Beatles, the Who and the Rolling Stones nearly displaced native, home-grown American acts like Elvis and the Beach Boys in the hearts of American audiences; you may have grandparents living who were stationed in England during the Second World War and brought home a taste for English ale or small sport roadsters such as the MG and the Austin.

Yet for all its similarities, English culture differs from that of Americans in significant ways. Often, these are not obvious; it requires some time and immersion in a culture to fully experience and appreciate those differences. Such an experience can be quite broadening.

Finally, spending time abroad allows you to see your own country and culture from an outside perspective and lends a greater understanding of global issues, unfiltered by domestic media.  This is a great advantage for those who are considering careers in diplomacy and international relations, marketing or journalism.

About the Author

Wayne Hemrick writes about--reasons to study abroad. England offers the perfect place to continue your education.

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