Final Social Party in Derry

On Thursday, July 2^nd, we had our final social party for the 2009 Ireland Program. The event was hosted at a very well known restaurant in Derry called “Da Vinci’s. We were lucky enough to have our own private room for the night.

 [Jake, Tyler, Kat, Caitlin, and Travis]

[Shannon, Mo, Kevin, and Drew]

[Andy, Leanne, Laura, Matthew, Emily, Aaron, and Matt]

Dinner began at 8:00 pm. The meal was a classic buffet style with three courses to choose from: Cottage Pie, Lamb Moussaka, and Lasagna. Some of the students decided to try all three. There was also an endless amount of salads, potatoes, and breads to choose from. Tea, coffee, and a selection of desserts were served after the meal. Everything was delicious! Most said that this was the most filling meal they had the entire trip.

[Jessie, Amy, Jessica, Shannon, and Caitlin]

After everyone finished up with their desserts, tea, and coffee, an Irish band began performing. The band definitely made this night a success. They played for us up until midnight. The students danced away to the traditional Irish music. The professors joined in as well!

[Professors John and Joel showing off their moves!]

The band finished off their night with one last song, “Back Home in Derry”. All the students and professors joined in a circle and sung this song together one last time. “Oooooh, I wish I was back home in Derry!”

 [Kevin, Tyler, Jake, Travis, and Andy posing for a pic!]

The 2009 Ireland summer program has sadly reached the end! 

Final Week in Derry

Everyone returned from weekend travel for one final week in Derry. The students had their Mizzou professors in the morning on Tuesday (June 30). The MBA group presented their final presentations to Joel and the undergraduates finished up their final papers for John.

[Drew, Cory, Pat, Mo & Shannon exploring the Aran Islands the first weekend]

Later that morning the entire group walked into town to visit Singularity. There a couple marketing executives presented the group Singularity’s (a highly computer technology based company) business model and marketing strategies.

The Irish weather has finally settled in and it has managed to rain for a bit each of the last few days. The leprechauns of Ireland had to make sure the group got the full experience this summer and we didn’t have gorgeous weather the whole month. At least we have escaped the Missouri heat for a little while.

Wednesday, July 1 the groups finished up their final classes with the MU professors and had a presentation on investing in Northern Ireland that afternoon. That evening the students finished up their presentations and papers for the Ireland class.

Thursday morning the groups all organized a power point presentation and presented to Rory, the Ireland program director, and the rest of the Mizzou students. Following the presentations they turned in their research papers and were officially finished studying for the summer!

Thursday afternoon everyone did some souvenir shopping and exploring around town. Everyone has been gearing up for a big night tonight. This evening is our final social event at Da Vinci’s. There will be a classic buffet style Irish dinner served followed by live local Irish band playing a few songs, just for the Mizzou group.

[Overlook of the Foyle River & Derry City from the "Waterside" lookout point]

Hard to believe the final party is already here! But as they say in Ireland, the entire month has been nothing but “Happy Days!”

Final Weekend Travel

This weekend the groups split up one last time for their weekend travels. The majority of the students travelled to London while a couple different small groups went to Edinburgh, Paris, and Northern Scotland.

[Shannon, Jessie, Shane, Mo, Pat, & John headed out for the evening in London]

[London group in a empty guard booth in Pall Mall in London]

The London and Paris group managed to do a lot of sight seeing and crammed a lot into their few day excursions. They had many good travel stories and interesting stories to share on their returns.

[Amy, Jessica, Caitlin, & Kat in front of the Gold Gates of Versailles outside of Paris]

The Edinburgh group saw sights including St. Andrews golf course and Loc Ness. Unfortunately, there were no spottings of “Nessy,” the famous, so-called monster. They also managed to see a few large castles and enjoy the sights that Edinburgh had to offer.

The MBA students went down to Cork and Kerry in southern Ireland to see sights including the Blarney Castle and the Ring of Kerry. Luckily, one of the MBA students is originally from Cork, so he managed to give the group a “wee-bit” of advice on what to do.

[The MBA group: Aaron, Matt K, Emily, Matt F, Leanne, & Rudy in Cork and Kerry]

[The MBA group and their cycles on the Aran Islands]

The group that went to Northern Scotland decided to go off the beaten path and hike around Isle of Sky for three days. They bought 10 pound sleeping bags and “midge masks” (equivalent to mosquitoes back home, but worse) to keep the bugs away throughout their travels. By day the group explored and hiked the gorgeous hills of the island and by night they unrolled their sleeping bags and fired up a campfire “cowboy” style. They managed to come back with a few bug bites and reek of campfire smoke.

[Andy, Tyler, Kevin, Jake, & Travis hiking the hills of Isle of Sky in Northern Scotland]

Regardless of all the weekend destinations, the entire group returned safely for the last week of classes. Only a few company visits, papers, and presentations left before the final party and departure back to the States. The group is slowly getting a sense that the program is unfortunately coming to an end.

Donegal County Day Trip

This Thursday the students got up for one last day trip of sight seeing in Ireland. Today (June 25) the bus departed the student village again around 10 AM. We took an hour bus ride out the Donegal County to our first stop, Glenveagh National Park.

Glenveagh is a well-kept national park with tons of trails for exploring with amazing views and lookouts. The students made about a mile trek to a small castle that overlooked a huge lake with several flower gardens throughout the courtyard. Unfortunately, we only had a couple hours to explore here at Glenveagh before we had to board the bus to continue our day trip of Donegal County.

[Castle on Glenveagh National Park in Donegal County]

Our next stop was Dunlewey, which we were excited about, but turned out being only a small store to do a bit of souvenir shopping.

After looking around the souvenir shop, we boarded the bus again and continued on to Leo’s Tavern. Leo’s is one of Donegal’s most famous pubs. Leo himself is an extremely popular musician, father of the popular Clannad and Enya. Luckily, Leo performed a personal performance for the Mizzou group, which included several Irish songs and stories of his own.

A few of the students managed to get involved in a few of the performances and we had a great Irish mid-afternoon meal prepared while we were entertained. Leo gave the group a true feeling of Ireland's history, traditions, and music.

[The entire group of students with Leo in front of his tavern]

That evening the group headed back to Derry for a last night before leaving on the 3rd and final weekend trip.

The Mayor & Pramerica!

On Tuesday June 23^rd, all of the students had the opportunity to meet with the Mayor of Derry. The students had the chance to ask questions about the Derry City Council and his goals he would like to implement during his term. The Mayor also shared a brief history of the government system in Derry, which the students found to be quite interesting.

The Mayor even gave suggestions on places to eat and pubs to visit. He mentioned that Peadar O’Donnell’s is his favorite pub where he likes to go to listen to live music, just like the students!

After our meeting, the Mayor presented a special plaque to our program, to say thanks for choosing Derry as our host city. We will definitely show off our plaque to the University as soon as we return!

[Student Manager, Andy Butler, receiving the plaque from the Mayor]

On Wednesday June 24^th, the students had their third company visit to Pramerica. Pramerica Financial is a brand name used by Prudential Financial Inc. of the U.S. Their main goal is to help their clients both grow and protect their wealth.

The students quickly learned that Pramerica was an international company that has clients from all over the world. The company visit also gave them an idea of how competitive it is to receive a high salary job coming out of college in Ireland. This visit gave the students a better understanding of how business is conducted in Ireland and also at the International level.

We have a big weekend coming up! Check back in a few days to hear about our day trip to Donegal and to find out where all the students traveled to on their third weekend!

Derry City Soccer Match

On Friday June 19^th, the students were lucky enough to finish early with class around 12:30 in the afternoon. Some of the students ventured out into the city, while others came back to the dormitories to get in a short nap before the soccer match that night.

[Derry City Soccer Field]

Kick off was at 7:45 pm. As we made our way closer to the stadium, we knew it was going to be an exciting atmosphere. Crowds of people with their red and white Derry scarves and jerseys were hurrying through the entrance gates. As we finally made our way into the stadium, we were amazed at how many locals were there to cheer on their city soccer team.

During the first half of the match, Derry scored the first and only goal against the Bray Wanderers. In the second half, Derry scored another goal. Thankfully, Bray was unable to make a come back, giving Derry the 2-0 win!

[Kat McCarter, Amy Williams, Jessica Kuebler, Patrick Hooper, Jessie Scroggins, & Shane Neel enjoying their time at the soccer match!]

Afterwards, the students and locals hurried to the pubs to celebrate. It was definitely an exciting night, an experience the students will never forget.

On Saturday and Sunday of the second weekend, most of the Undergrads hung out in Derry, while a small group flew over to Scotland for the two days. All of the MBAs made their way down the west coast of Ireland to Galway. Students that stayed in Derry used the weekend to relax, catch up on reading, and to souvenir shop.

With the three-day weekend, students did not have class on Monday. The group that stayed behind in Derry decided to take a day trip to Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland. There, they got to take a walking tour back in time to the days of Titanic. They got to see the grounds of the shipyard where the Titanic was built. Following the walking tour, the students split off into groups to walk around the city. After a long day of exploring Belfast, the students caught a 9:30 bus back to Derry so they could get ready for classes on Tuesday.

[City Hall in Belfast]

We are now officially half way through our four-week program in Ireland! Check back in a few days to hear about our meeting with the Mayor and our company visit to Pramerica!

Week 2 - Bushmills

Classes resumed on Wednesday (June 17) after an extended weekend of traveling. However, that morning the group loaded onto a bus, yet again, to head to Bushmill’s Whiskey Distillery for a guided tour of the processing facilities. Following the tour, which somehow makes whiskey seem appealing, 1 voucher can be used for a sample of the different kinds of whiskey that are distilled there in Bushmills. By the looks on most faces, it wasn’t as tasty as it was made out to be.

This week we experienced more “traditional” Irish weather with scattered showers most of the 3 days. No worries, it would take a flood to dampen the spirits of our group here in Ireland.

Thursday (June 18) was a free day for the students to travel to Belfast or explore Derry on their own. The majority of the students used the leisure day to catch up on laundry, homework, and sleep!

Friday the group had early morning Mizzou classes with Joel and John followed by a lecture by Denise Crossan, the counterpart in Ireland that started the program three years ago.

This evening the group is planning on attending a local “Derry City” soccer match to get an idea for how the European culture embraces the sport, as it begins to show more interest in the States.

First Weekend Travel: Dublin/Galway & Elsewhere!

Fourteen out of the sixteen students traveled down to the Republic of Ireland, making their way to Dublin and Galway. The two other students journeyed to Edinburgh, Scotland to test their golf game on a few of the world’s finest courses. Professor John Bennett also enjoyed a trip to Edinburgh while the rest of Professor Joel Poor’s family arrived into Derry City over the weekend. The two student managers rented a car and drove down to the Republic of Ireland to Kilkenny (an hour south of Dublin), Kilkee (small town on the west coast), then up to Galway to meet up with the rest of the students. Driving on the left side of the road is definitely as hard as it seems. The entire graduate group spent the extended weekend exploring London and its major attractions.

[Cliffs of Moher]

With the long weekend, the students were able to spend two nights in both Dublin and Galway. They were able to take a tour bus throughout Dublin, allowing them to be dropped off at all the main sights of the city. They also had the opportunity to take a tour of the Guinness Factory, home to Ireland’s signature beer! After their two nights in Dublin, the group took a bus over to the west coast of Ireland to Galway. The student managers were already there to greet them. On Monday, half of the students visited the Cliffs of Moher and the other half took a ferry out to the Aran Islands to bike for a day. The cliffs are an amazing overlook of the Atlantic Ocean from cliffs that have been carved out over the years. The Aran Islands are a step back in time just off the west coast. The views ranged from a rough landscape to a picture perfect unpopulated beach. Galway, a popular college town in Ireland, offered a good food, a great nightlife, and lots to take in within the two-day visit. The weather couldn’t have been better for these four days!

[Cory Chew, Drew Kelley, and Patrick Hooper at a beach on the Aran Islands]

After a long weekend of traveling, the students returned to the Student Village in Derry around 5 pm on Tuesday the 16th. They spent the entire night recuperating from the weekend and getting ready for their second week of classes. Everyone had awesome weekends but was definitely happy to arrive back “home” to the Student Village to unpack.

[Group pic in Galway!]

This week the students are hit with a short week of class as they prepare for another weekend trip only 3 days away.

Week 1 - Tour of Northern Ireland Coast

[Mo, Amy, Caitlin, Jessie, Pat & Cory at the first stop of Northern Ireland coast tour]

We have been in Derry for a week now and have had awesome weather. Wednesday (June 10) the group toured the coast of Northern Ireland. Our bus driver, Willy, was great about pulling the bus off at several different scenic lookouts throughout the day. We started out from the Duncreggan Student Village at 10:00 and went up the Foyle River toward our first stop, a lookout point where the Foyle River meets the Atlantic Ocean. We then continued to the ruins of a castle where students explored the coast and a small cave directly below the ruins.

Mid-day we made our way to Giant’s Causeway where we all explored the unique rock formations and learned about the naming of the Giant’s Causeway, which is after an Irishman who built the causeway to reach Scotland and battle a giant. The students spent a couple hours here exploring the rocks and walking the high lookout points.

Later that afternoon the group rode a few miles up the coast to the Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge. The bridge is an old rope bridge that connects to an island used for fishing purposes several years ago. Now the bridge is a famous Northern Ireland attraction not recommended for those who are afraid of heights. No worries, all students crossed safely. Even a couple received certificates for their significant accomplishment.

[Travis crossing the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge]

We had intentions of touring Bushmill’s distillery that evening but did not make it to the distillery in time. Fortunately, the bus driver was able to find the “best fish and chips” restaurant in Northern Ireland and we were all treated to a traditional, yet greasy, Ireland box of greatness. Luckily, the Bushmill’s tour has been rescheduled for next week.

[The girls checking out the scenic view over to the coast of Scotland from the Ireland coast]

Classes continued on Thursday (June 11) followed by a company visit to Seagate that afternoon. Seagate (based in the United States) is an international company that processes wafers and highly technical computer software. Today, Friday (June 12) students have had a morning lecture and packed their bags for an extended weekend of traveling. Most of the students are headed to Dublin and Galway, while others are flying to London or Scotland. Be sure to check back next week as there are usually great travel stories that students bring back after weekend travel!

Week 1 is now complete and I’m sure all the students have only good things to say about the city of Derry and their experiences thus far.

First Weekend in Derry

We have just finished our first weekend in Derry! Despite our busy weekend schedule with tours, museum visits, and day trips, the students were still able to experience the diverse nightlife Derry has to offer. From live Irish music in a local pub to Karaoke night in a vintage bar, there is something to do for everyone! The students have even found time to cook in the kitchens at the dorms to help save some spending money. I can’t believe how quickly the students became acquainted to the historical city. I can already sense that Derry will become their foreign home away from home!

[ Student, Travis Militzer, singing along to a Karaoke song!]

The beautiful scenery and warming locals makes it hard not to fall in love with the city! A few of the students have already mentioned that they never want to leave! But don’t worry, the Student Managers will make sure that everyone returns to the States safely! The weather has also been miraculous these past few days. I have yet to feel a drop of rain, which is unusual for Ireland! The temperature has been in the high 50s each day since we’ve arrived. But I’m sure a few rainy days are on their way!

On Sunday (June 7^th), we took a day trip to the Ulster American Folk Park in Northern Ireland, which tells the story of emigration from Ulster to North America in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. The Old World and New World layout illustrates the various aspects of emigrant life on both sides of the Atlantic. The students were able to capture a better image of the troubles their ancestors experienced in search of a better life.

[Small group picture at the Ulster American Folk Park]

Yesterday morning (June 8^th), the students attended the Campus Orientation at the University of Ulster: Magee. They were treated to a traditional Irish breakfast at the campus cafeteria. Afterwards, they attended a brief history lesson of the University from the Irish program director, Rory McLaughlin. Following the session, the students were given a tour of campus.

Today (June 9^th), the students were up bright and early for their first day of class! Their American class, taught by Professor John Bennett, began at 9 am. Their Irish class, taught by Rory McLaughlin, followed at 11 am. A few of the students returned to the dorms after class for a short nap, others made their way out into the city!

Tonight, we will be having our first social party event at Flamin’ Jack’s at 7 pm. I’m sure the students are excited to mingle and eat some free food!

Cheerio for now!

Derry Student Arrival

All of the students have arrived and are getting situated in Derry. The majority of the students arrived Thursday morning (June 4) into Belfast International Airport and we made our way to Derry later that morning. Students were moved into their rooms in the Duncreggan Student Village of the University of Ulster – Magee and took a power nap before headed into the city for some exploring. Most all of the students found the very popular “Ice Warf” for a bite to eat for dinner. Later that evening the group made it to “Peader O’Donnell’s,” a famous pub in Derry known for its life Irish music.

Friday morning the group met up with Rory McLaughlin, the Irish program director. Rory tends to be “everyone’s favorite” little Irish man by the end of the month has he coordinates and plans the majority of the events that the students participate. He led the group to the tourist information center where we met up with Martin McCrossan. Martin is famous throughout Derry and known for his detailed walking tours of the trademark walls of Derry City. After a tour of the walls and famous murals of the “Bogside” area of Derry, the students stopped at “The Diamond” for a traditional Northern Ireland breakfast, the Ulster Fry. Friday afternoon the students were free to explore the city on their own. For more information on the tour please visit: www.irishtourguides.com.

[Students at an viewing point overlooking the city of Derry]

Saturday morning the students rolled out of bed for a bus tour of both sides of the city of Derry. The Foyle River splits the city and is known for having a “Protestant side” and a “Catholic side.” Both sides have several different painted murals depicting their views and memorials to the recent troubles that have faced the city. The bus tour ended at the Derry Tower Museum where we had a guided tour of the award-winning museum. Following the tour, the students once again had the afternoon free to explore the city at their own pace.

Students have quickly found that Derry is a very welcoming city with lots to do and see. The people are very friendly and tend to be known for striking up conversations with the American travelers. They tend to be very interested in where we are from and why we have decided to travel to Derry of all places. So far, the weather has been unusually sunny but a bit chilly. We have had no more than a few drops of rain since arriving that is very unusual for this time of year. Hopefully the luck of the Irish will continue to bring sunny weather for the remainder of our stay in Derry!

[Students in front of the "Free Derry" mural in the Bogside]

"Take me back home to Derry"

Welcome to the University of Missouri Trulaske College of Business Study Abroad blog for the Derry, Ireland Summer 2009 Program! We have an incredible action packed 1 month program planned. Get excited, but be sure let me remind you that it will be the best and quickest 4 weeks of your summer!

On June 3 we will have 17 undergraduates, 8 MBA students, 2 student managers, and 2 MU professors departing for a 1 month stay in Derry. Derry is a true Irish city that has a great mix of culture and history. Derry, which is technically located in Northern Ireland, has had a interesting recent history due to the conflicts known as "the Troubles." However, the first thing you will notice about Derry is that it is a very welcoming city takes very kindly to Americans.

Throughout the month, we have several excursions, day trips, cultural events, and free weekend travel to fit in (well, and a bit of studying also). A few of the highlights include various tours of the city, trips to Bushmills, Giant's Causeway, Donegal County, Belfast, and several social events to entertain your time in Derry. No worries, we will have more details coming soon!

See you in Derry... CHEERS!