Hello! My name is James Deacon and I spent the spring semester studying at University College Cork (UCC) in Cork, Ireland. I am now entering my senior year at the University of Montana studying environmental science and sustainability. However, within the GLI my global theme is culture and politics — directing my studies at UCC towards courses such as International Politics, Political Corruption, and Language and Culture in Traditional Irish Areas. Within my global theme, I aimed to discover key differences/similarities between Ireland and the United States within political polarization, and what cultural consequences it leads to.

Traveling to Ireland opened my eyes to a completely different political environment, and one that was actively changing with the elections of the Dáil Éireann in progress. As an exchange student I leaned on discussions in my courses, as well as talking to Irish professors and students when gaining a better understanding of the climate within Irish politics. To start, there is a lot more codependence within Ireland’s multi-party system due to the collaboration of parties to implement policy, creating overlap of values and beliefs between parties. In addition, unlike the United States, Ireland’s main political ramifications and consequences are held within the parliamentary body and not with a singular figurehead such as the prime minister or president. Lastly, due to the stranglehold of the United States on global outcomes, I found that most citizens felt as though news coming from the United States oftentimes transcended current issues in Ireland. From my time surrounded by Irish students, and learning new political concepts, I was able to gain a better understanding of diverse perspectives on how politics interacts with everyday life in Ireland compared to the United States.

Beyond the classroom I spent a lot of time traveling, both within Ireland and to a dozen other countries in Europe including Switzerland, Norway, and Italy. A couple of the different countries I traveled to were trips with clubs on campus such as the surfing and mountaineering club. Most of the time I would travel with a group of friends, however when I traveled alone it was always fun to go to museums, take photos, and try different types of food from all around the world.

Being able to study abroad in Ireland was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. Whenever I was in Cork I made new friends, interacted with tons of different cultures, got involved with clubs, and became confident even when I felt uncomfortable. One of my coolest experiences was spending five days in a An Rinn within one of Ireland’s Gaeltacht’s, a place where traditional Irish culture is preserved. During this trip we learned to play Irish instruments, speak the Irish language, and engage with locals about the history of Ireland’s independence and continued drive to protect Irish values. This trip was designed for international students to experience Irish culture in a secluded part of the country, though the bulk of international students on the trip were Americans. However, this led to my realization about both Irish and American culture — no matter where we were, who we were with, or what we were talking about, the experience I had was built upon creating community. I spent four months building community in Ireland with a wide range of students and locals, but I also learned how important it is to build community being home in Missoula. Wherever I go next I’ll always be thankful for the community that I built in Ireland, and for the influence it had on getting to understand my own culture a little bit better.