CAPA WORLD

Claire Shrader is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing her story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Pre-Occupational Therapy major at Mississippi College, she is studying abroad in Buenos Aires this semester.

In this week's post, Claire participates in a My Global City event filled with tango music and dancing with lots of new friends.

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This last Saturday, many of the CAPA students and I gathered for one last My Global City event. I ran into a group of students from my internship class on the way to La Catedral tango club, still thinking it a hilarious delight to find familiar faces on the streets of this city. We joined forces with the summer study abroad group. It is strangely beautiful to get to give advice on living in this city to the newcomers and also to realize that our time here is rapidly coming to a close. My classes end next Tuesday, and on Thursday my plane heads back to the United States.

I keep trying to process everything that this semester has held and everything that its end means, but it’s simply too much, so I keep focusing on the next thing. This Saturday, it was tango class.

Brandon is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing his story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Political Science major at Clark University, he is studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In this week's post, Brandon talks about his internship experience at Dublin nonprofit FoodCloud and how he adapted to the Irish work style and culture.

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For one of my last posts here in Ireland, I thought that I would write about my internship experience. I briefly went over it in my first pre-departure post but having worked at FoodCloud now for almost four months, I have much more to say about the experience and the organization itself. I would also like to lead with my opinion that everyone who comes to CAPA Dublin should take advantage of the internship program because it added a facet to my study abroad experience that I would not have found doing anything else.

These are the FoodCloud vans that pick up and deliver food.

FoodCloud is a non-profit organization based in Ireland that connects food retailers with surplus food that is not technically bad or spoiled with charitable causes. Many supermarkets and other food retailers will toss perfectly good food away simply because it's past its “best by” date (which are typically arbitrary and don’t actually relate to whether the product is safe to consume) or will no longer live up to exceedingly high consumer expectations. The founders of FoodCloud, Iseult Ward and Aoibheann O’Brien, saw a need to both eliminate the environmental impact and charitable potential of the issue of food waste, and created the company. FoodCloud created an app that food retailers can download and use.

Claire Shrader is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing her story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Pre-Occupational Therapy major at Mississippi College, she is studying abroad in Buenos Aires this semester.

In this week's post, Claire visits a ranch in Rocha, Uruguay, with a friend and enjoys horseback riding through the hills of Uruguay.

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As the bus got closer and closer to Rocha, our panic grew. We were in the middle of nowhere. Even though it was only 7:00, it was already very dark, the only light on our path coming from the moon. “El Dorado: Siempre Cerca” was the first actual business establishment we saw, and I gripped Sophie’s hand as we passed it—the same grocery store we saw hours before! At least, if we were stranded here at a bus stop on the side of the road, we could get some food at a semi-familiar grocery store.

A taxi pulled up to the curb almost immediately after we walked outside, and as we climbed in I read him off the directions to Lucie’s ranch. He assured us he could do it, but next thing we knew he was radioing: “Friends, can anyone tell me how to get to Caballos de Luz?” Sophie and I had a tight grip on each other’s hands that didn’t loosen until we were safely on the property. Cesar was completely lost, he didn’t have any more saldo on his phone, and his radio went out. As we kept going on the dirt road toward who-knows-where, SEBI TAXI kept calling him and telling him where to go. Thank the good Lord for SEBI TAXI.

Happy Pride Week! This year, we are proud to be marching in the 2018 Boston Pride Parade on Saturday, June 9, 2018.

Join us as we celebrate diversity and the LGBTQIA community in our global city of Boston. As part of our ongoing commitment to equity and inclusion, CAPA The Global Education Network is sponsoring a Pride Parade Float and invites YOU – our partners, alumni, friends, and staff – to march alongside as we DisGO Beyond to the beat!

How Do I Register?

It is completely FREE for you to attend this! We only ask that you register here, that way we can keep track and notify you of any updates.

Claire Shrader is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing her story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Pre-Occupational Therapy major at Mississippi College, she is studying abroad in Buenos Aires this semester.

In this week's post, Claire enters into her fourth month in Buenos Aires and reflects on creating roots and relationships in this city.

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I had to laugh today because I saw a group of backpackers, dreadlocks pulled back with thick fabric headbands, hiking pants obviously going on a few uses and, unsurprisingly, all with Nalgene water bottles almost exactly the same as mine.

Visiting Teatro Colon!

My water bottle is a novelty here. Sometimes I’m called, “Claire with the bottle” because people are so just not used to seeing water bottles, and especially not Nalgenes, which are massive. I guess I look a little something like those adventurous vagabonds wandering through the city with wonder in my eyes and a walk that obviously isn’t exactly sure where I’m going. And my water bottle, of course.

Brandon is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing his story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Political Science major at Clark University, he is studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In this week's post, Brandon lists the 10 best things about Dublin that will make you fall in love with the city.

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This week in Dublin was particularly beautiful in terms of weather, and it put me in the mood to write on what I would consider to be the best parts of the city. I hope you enjoy this Top 10 List and that it makes you fall in love just a little bit with what I have made my home for the past few months.

1. Sunny Days

On a sunny, warm day in Dublin, the entire city seems to emerge from the woodwork. The sun draws everyone outside, and it is magical. To see the sides of the canals crowded with groups of people having a picnic lunch and St. Stephen’s Green being packed with Dubliners playing soccer and chatting brings a smile to my face every time.

Claire Shrader is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing her story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Pre-Occupational Therapy major at Mississippi College, she is studying abroad in Buenos Aires this semester.

In this week's post, Claire shares how going on a walking tour of Buenos Aires brought an academic course to life.

It’s so easy to learn language on the colectivos chatting with the people who press in around you, asking where they’re headed and finding out what their day holds. Or in time with tango as you let your feet learn a new language of their own. Or in the plaza where the kids play and shout it out in a way that only kids can. Or in the phrases you need to request a café con leche, with azucar, please. I’ve found that my time in Argentina has stretched and grown my Spanish in ways I never even imagined it would.

Bianca the friendly cat is a must-visit attraction!

Buenos Aires has been my greatest teacher this semester, and my Global Cities class has given me a great chance to learn more about the city. We talk about the city in regards to the world, and what makes it unique from the rest of South America or even the cities we call home. We’ve learned its history and discussed class issues and economic issues, and last week we took the class to the street to combine what we observe in our day to day with what we learn in the classroom.

Brandon is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing his story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Political Science major at Clark University, he is studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In this week's post, Brandon chats with Hayley Ni Bhriain from CAPA Dublin on his semester and internship abroad in Dublin, as well as his impressions of Ireland and its friendly people.

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This week's post is an opportunity for the tables to be turned and have a local ask me about my time so far in this charming city of Dublin. Hayley Ni Bhriain, Senior Program Coordinator at CAPA Dublin, has kindly agreed to interview and chat with me about my thoughts and impressions of the city, country, and my study abroad program.

HAYLEY NI BHRIAIN: Why did you choose to study abroad in Ireland? Why did you choose CAPA specifically?
BRANDON MOONEY: I chose to study abroad in Ireland because I had some family from here, so I was really interested in that part of my family history. I had also spoken to some students at my home university who had been to Ireland on this program and they spoke about how friendly and welcoming the people and environment was. They also said that Ireland was a European country but was also distinct and by itself. I chose the CAPA program because it was the only one available for Ireland, but I spoke to a lot of CAPA representatives before I chose the program and they were very on top of things and receptive to my needs, so I felt secure in my choice.

Brandon is an official CAPA blogger for spring 2018, sharing his story in weekly posts on CAPA World. A Political Science major at Clark University, he is studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In this week's post, Brandon gives us a look at his experience with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS). If you have any questions, please consult your CAPA Admissions Advisor or Program Manager.

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Although it may seem boring and unnecessary, I would like to devote this blog to the task of registering with the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service (INIS).

The INIS homepage for appointments.

As a non-EU student, you need to get a visa in order to stay in Ireland legally. When you first arrive at Dublin Airport, you will walk up to the INIS immigration officer behind his window and explain that you’re not a tourist but a student looking to study in Ireland for the course of the semester. The officer might ask to see your documentation proving that you are indeed studying at Griffith College, but will most certainly stamp your passport. This stamp has a date on it that shows what is officially known as your “permission to remain.”

Gabriella is a CAPA Dublin student for spring 2018, sharing her story this week on CAPA World. A Journalism major at Auburn University, she is studying abroad in Dublin this semester.

In this week's post, Gabriella takes us along on the path of Howth Cliff Walk and gives us a look at some beautiful sea views around Dublin.

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Thanks Gabriella!