Matty Habersaat, Media Planner

A Month of Growth, Travel, and Once-in-a-Lifetime Moments

Traveling abroad to Ireland was an experience I will never forget. Before this trip, I had never been to Ireland—let alone traveled internationally by myself. Given a past travel mishap involving a disastrous checked bag incident under an airplane, I was determined to make this trip work with just one carry-on suitcase and a backpack. Somehow, I managed, and what followed was a month of adventure, cultural immersion, and personal growth.

Upon my arrival, I was met with warmth and hospitality from the Dublin office. The team’s kindness made it easy to build relationships and settle into my new home for the month. They were quick to share their knowledge of the city and its culture with me and I realized that in many ways, Dublin was reminiscent of Boston with its easy-to-navigate layout and rich historical backdrop. Among the many sites I visited, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Trinity College campus, and Dublin Castle stood out as my favorites (it also wasn’t hard to find a decent pub either). 

Beyond Dublin, I took several day trips to explore more of Ireland’s breathtaking landscapes and historic sites. Each location presented unique learning opportunities, pushing me to step outside my comfort zone and embrace the unfamiliar. Belfast, Northern Ireland, Glendalough, the Wicklow Mountains, and Kilkenny each left a unique impression on me, deepening my appreciation for the country’s history and natural beauty. Each destination had something special to offer—whether it was the medieval charm of Kilkenny, the serene lakes of Glendalough, or the rugged beauty of the Wicklow Mountains. 

One of the greatest advantages of the program was the opportunity to travel abroad beyond Ireland. My girlfriend and I took a quick weekend trip to Valletta, Malta—a place unlike any I had visited before. The architecture, history, and atmosphere of the Mediterranean city was captivating and reinforced the importance of being open to diverse experiences and perspectives. It was a completely different experience from Ireland, and I’m grateful for the chance to expand my horizons and explore another part of Europe during my time abroad.

My passion for football (soccer) provided a unique lens through which to observe Irish and English culture. Attending matches live, particularly at Port Vale FC with my dad, allowed me to connect with locals on a deeper level. This was the highlight of my soccer journey, as I’ve had a personal connection with the club since visiting when I was 12 years old. Knowing that my dad and I had traveled all the way from the U.S. to see a game, the club went above and beyond, introducing me to both faculty and players while parading me around the ground. The incredible hospitality we received was a testament to the unifying power of shared passions. This experience reinforced the importance of building relationships and finding common ground in a foreign environment.

Overall, this experience was nothing short of life-changing. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity CP provides to work abroad, which exposed me to the advertising industry in a different country and allowed me to build new relationships with my peers. More importantly, I learned a lot about myself. This experience challenged me to adapt to new routines and cultures, navigate new places, and embrace the unexpected. I returned home with a greater understanding of myself, a broader perspective on the world, and a renewed sense of confidence. 

For anyone considering this program, I highly recommend it. The stories and memories I’ve gathered during this trip will stay with me forever, and I will always cherish the personal and professional growth I gained along the way. 

Neal Malone, PR & Social Media Management Supervisor

“Guinness tastes so much different in Ireland—it’s way better than what we get in the U.S.” 

To everyone who said that to me ahead of my first visit to the Emerald Isle…can I be honest? As hard as I tried, I couldn’t really tell the difference—and I say that with the utmost respect. To me, it tasted as fantastic as it always does. 

But after several weeks—and plenty of thirst-quenching field research—a lightbulb went off. I realized exactly why people are so partial to an Irish pour of Guinness. It’s because of the place. The people. The positivity that you’re surrounded with. That’s why Guinness “tastes” better in Ireland.

So as I look back on my month abroad, I’ll say this…Ireland is a truly remarkable place that is home to the nicest, most welcoming people I’ve ever encountered. Here’s what else I’ll remember from my experience:

True Cultural Immersion

When you live somewhere for a whole month, you’re gifted with a cultural experience that goes way beyond that of a typical vacation. Our Irish immersion of course included the greatest hits—parks, museums, landmarks, and pubs—but it was the everyday stuff that I appreciated the most. The coffee shop conversations with locals, the casual neighborhood strolls, the education on Gaelic football and hurling, and the opportunity to work out of our Dublin office. 

Rain or shine, I couldn’t get enough of my walks to and from the office. It was my moment to take it all in—from beautiful architecture all the way down to little cultural observations like “I still can’t tell which side of the sidewalk people want me to walk on.” 

At the office, I learned a lot from our ever-so-welcoming counterparts in Dublin. There’s a feeling of warmth and balance when you walk into the office—everybody is sharp, creative, and highly dedicated, yet at the same time (seemingly) unafflicted by the common stressors of the American work environment. I mean, on most days, the majority of the office gathers around the kitchen table to catch up and eat lunch together—when’s the last time you’ve seen that in the U.S?

The Many Sides of Ireland

European adventures always come with the temptation to pack a bag and jet off to a different country every weekend. I get it—it’s easy to get swept up by Ireland’s close proximity to places like England, France, and Spain. But this time around, we kept things simple. After kicking things off with a family beach vacation in Portugal’s Algarve region, we really focused our attention on Ireland—and I’m glad we did. 

As city people turned suburban dwellers, we enjoyed living in the thick of things again. Dublin is a bustling, walkable city with amazing parks, accessible public transit, big sporting events/concerts, and an excellent restaurant scene that is packed with flavors from around the globe. 

We rented a car on a few different occasions, creating opportunities to venture outside of Dublin to places like the Wicklow Mountains, Malahide Castle, Bray, Howth, and Maynooth. There are so many cool things to do within a 30-45 minute drive—from beaches and hiking trails to historical landmarks and family-friendly farms. 

The real highlight of our stay, though, was our trip to Dingle. Located in Kerry on Ireland’s west coast, Dingle is a solid 4-5 hour drive from Dublin. Getting out there takes you through the lush countryside that you picture when you think of Ireland—green field after green field, filled with cows and sheep. As for Dingle, it’s a little seaside town that delivers on every imaginable level. Slea Head Drive takes you along the cliffs of the Dingle Peninsula and offers the most amazing ocean views. The harbor is home to several companies that offer boat tours—we were even blessed with a sunny day for ours! In town, there’s a staggeringly high concentration of fun pubs (all of which offer excellent live music on most nights) and some really amazing seafood spots. 

If Not Now, When?

Like with any big decision or opportunity, the longer you think about it, the more likely you are to talk yourself out of it. We could have found plenty of reasons to push this type of a trip further down the road, but we didn’t. We recognized the uniqueness of the opportunity and dove in head first. I couldn’t be happier with our decision and I know that this experience will be something I’ll look back on—personally and professionally—for a long, long time.

David Onessimo, Creative Director

The Result of Living Far Away? Getting Closer.

Why do we travel? Surely, not to snap instagram photos. We travel to grow as humans. Exposing ourselves to new sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and routines jumpstarts our hearts and minds. Travel isn’t an experience that exists solely within departure and return. It leaves lasting impressions. Endless conversations, memories, and sometimes has a direct impact on our daily lives. The best travels define us in more unexpected ways forever. Living in Dublin as part of the CP Abroad program was one of those times. 

My wife and I have traveled any chance we’ve had since the day we met, and we’ve carried this passion through to our family. So, when the opportunity came to relocate for one month to Ireland, we knew exactly what to expect. We’ve taken loads of trips together, both domestically and internationally. Our kids (now 7 and 8) love to travel. They will see new places, eat new food, and try a new routine. Then, we’ll cherry pick bits and pieces of those experiences to bring home, and so will they. Treating travel like a mental souvenir shop. 

As a creative director, I love to collaborate with my peers, getting to know them as people. Nothing beats sitting in a room together and coming up with ideas to solve business challenges for our clients. I have been lucky enough to work with both our Boston and Dublin creative teams, but virtual meetings only go so far. To dream and laugh in the same room, to feel the energy firsthand with the team in person in Dublin, has changed our working relationship. 

Over the course of 4 weeks abroad, we racked up memories. We played cards in pubs for hours, pet cows in Ireland, ate chocolate in Belgium, and attended concerts in London. Photographing and journaling the whole journey like some evening news reporter for my future self. 

But after 3 weeks of being 3,000 miles away from our home, friends, and family, something unexpected happened. Something that had nothing to do with beautiful architecture and European lifestyle. We became closer to each other. My wife and I became better parents. My son became a kinder brother. My daughter became a more patient sister.

Beyond touring a 1,000 year old castle, eating fresh fish and chips off the boat, playing rugby with kids in the park, what we brought home from our CP Abroad was not a memory at all. We experienced a lot together. Experiences you’ll find listed on TripAdvisor. But the unexpected growth we saw as a family was far more satisfying than sipping a Guinness at dusk overlooking the Gap of Dunloe with an Irish fiddle in the background. That was, however, a close second.

Megan Dooge McConnell, Junior Account Manager

A Big Bag of Peanut Butter M&Ms 

The CP Dublin office is no stranger to having a cheerful American colleague temporarily joining our office on a monthly basis. Since I joined CP over a year and a half ago, it’s been a regular occurrence. We love the energy that our colleagues bring with them, and the kilo bag of Peanut Butter M&Ms that get plonked on the kitchen table helps too. Not only do we learn from them and connect over similarities and differences in AdLand, but it’s especially good when we say a common Irish phrase and watch as their face upturns in delight as they blurt out “what did you just say?!” I knew since joining CP and witnessing the program work on the Dublin side, that this was something I just HAD to apply for.

Wow, These People on My Screen Are Real?!

I had visited Boston once, straight out of college at 22, and had always wanted to return. The opportunity to bring my partner along, made it even better. We found being in a different country for longer than a standard holiday rejuvenates a person. Everything is new and exciting, which is exactly how I felt walking into the CP Boston office for the first time, greeted by faces I’d met in Dublin, faces I’d met only on calls, and new faces entirely. Having global colleagues was something I had always thought was a buzz phrase until I joined the CP Brand Team. Working from Dublin, we have had the opportunity to actually connect with the Boston team and sometimes work across campaigns together, so to meet them in person and join in on internal meetings, catch up on what campaigns they were working on was great. Although on different continents, we all have the same experiences day to day, the same stories from campaigns and the same passion across the board. It’s now very nice to know the face behind the Slack icon of an early 2000’s cult coming of age movie character.  

Cape Cod Is for Lovers, New York Is for Margaritas

Now, it’s not all office fun and games, there was some serious holidaying to be done also. I went to 2 (two!) Boston Red Sox games during my month (Go Sox!), watched the Celtic’s (from a bar) win the Championship (Go C’s!) and wandered around every inch of the city. To my delight, when I would mention to someone that we were spending the weekend on Cape Cod, they would immediately throw up their arm, as if they were flexing a bicep (💪) and point to it while saying “Where are you staying?” Recommendations from colleagues rolled in for “theeee best *insert food group here* in New York!” all of which we tried to accomplish in the space of 3 days and rolled back to Boston, with the NYC glow, buzzing from the energy the city leaves you with.  

‘Cause I’ve Got Friends in Warm Places

The CP Abroad program offered me the opportunity to not only connect with colleagues, but to reconnect with Irish friends who have left the green Isle for the sunnier pasture of Boston. Starting my work day at 7am, allowed me to work closer with my Irish team, and to spend late afternoons to evenings not only exploring the city and eating bowls of pasta the size of my head, but also spending time with childhood and college friends who have set up shop in Boston, and are living life to the fullest state-side. The month I spent in Boston was something I will always cherish. As the kids say – core memory unlocked!  

Courtney Marlow, Senior Public Relations, Social Media & Influencer Marketing Manager 

Embracing Unfamiliarity: 8 Countries in 8 Weeks

When Connelly Partners launched its abroad program back in 2022, I about fell out of my seat. You’re telling me I can go live and work in another country while having ample time to travel to places I’ve dreamed of exploring?! Sign. Me. Up.  

I was lucky enough to go for two months and was eager to take full advantage of my time abroad. I told myself to get comfortable being uncomfortable and see as much of the world as I could squeeze in—even if that meant jetting off to many places solo. Ultimately, I set a goal to visit 8 countries in 8 weeks and I’m happy to report, mission accomplished! (Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, Scotland, The Netherlands, France, and Italy)

By no surprise, I loved every minute of it—I could easily talk your ear off about every place I visited, the food I ate, and the experiences I endured—but in addition to the passport stamps, photos, and souvenirs I took back with me to Boston, one of the most meaningful takeaways came from my experience working and living in another country, not traveling elsewhere. 

Shake up Your Routine and Slow Down…

I’m a creature of habit and I love my routine—catch me meal prepping on Sundays, going to the same workout classes on repeat, and circling back to my go-to Boston restaurants with friends. But when I left for CP Abroad, I waved goodbye to routine and instead, embraced unfamiliarity. I skipped meal prepping all together and strived to try as many new restaurants as possible. I walked 45 minutes through the city to and from work—making spontaneous stops along the way and admiring the sights. At the office, I sat at a new desk nearly every day—chatting with different Irish colleagues who were just as entertaining as they were kind. And when it came time for lunch, I followed their lead—ditching my computer and gathering around the table to listen curiously (both to their stories and strong accents). I learned that sometimes, you just need to slow down, switch up your environment, and be intentional about getting to know new people. You never know what you may learn!

Just Go with It…

When it came to my travels, I brought the same adventurous spirit to each trip—eager to be a sponge in a new setting and just see where the wind would blow me. I’m a planner at heart, but I intentionally approached each venture with more spontaneity than the last. I always had a loose plan in place—my hotel booked and some things saved on TikTok for inspiration (as a social media manager, I can’t help myself)—but I really did just go with it. I wandered mindlessly and got lost, unexpectedly discovered the cutest markets and shops, stopped for a cappuccino or glass of wine if I felt like it, etc. I moved to the beat of my own drum and with that, learned a lot about myself and what I’m truly capable of. As cheesy as it may sound, life is truly what you make it! 

Just as importantly, I ate a lot of great food—on each trip, I was on a mission to “eat like a local” because I believe that’s one of the most fun ways to get a sense for different cultures. Even if something scared me a bit, (i.e. snails in France) I gave it a go!

So thank you, Connelly Partners, for giving me the opportunity to embrace unfamiliarity like never before. To say I am grateful would be an understatement. Sláinte!

 

Jamie Shin, Senior Analyst

Connelly Partners’ CP Abroad program was launched shortly after I was hired. While Dublin wasn’t exactly a city I had on my radar, I thought, “Cool, study abroad for adults.” And because my husband didn’t get a chance to study abroad in college, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to travel Europe together for an extended period of time. 

So, just a month into my new job, I applied, not knowing what the next year would have in store (it’s a requirement to have been with the agency for at least a year to participate). Before I knew it, a year and a half passed, and after many, many months of agonizing over our travel plans, we landed in Dublin.

As someone who tends to be a meticulous planner (I’m a ‘J‘), I had planned nearly every detail of our travel itinerary by the hour. Dublin, however, was one of the exceptions. Truthfully, I wanted time to rest between my weekend excursions, but there was also the advantage of experiencing Dublin “like a local.” So, I skipped the Guinness Storehouse and Temple Bar and instead, opted for what I’d typically do during my free time in Boston—I grabbed my camera and walked. 

Film photography is a new hobby I picked up because I was looking for a creative outlet. Camera in hand, and against my ‘J’ nature, I would often walk around the city aimlessly. In this process, I have learned to appreciate uncertainty and approach the world with a sense of heightened curiosity and creativity. 

During my time in Dublin, I tried to embrace this approach. Through my walks and encounters, I discovered Ireland’s resilient history, the city of Dublin’s rapid growth and its strengths and challenges, as well as its surprising similarities to Boston. But it was the people, with their passion, humor, and penchant for banter and quality nights at the pub, that I have come to appreciate the most.

Coming away from CP Abroad, I feel incredibly grateful for this experience. It became much more than an excuse to travel. It was an opportunity for me to discover my strengths, meet new people, work on my weaknesses, and appreciate unplanned discoveries. What’s more, I’ve also learned that perhaps organization and creativity are the twin engines of my success, whether in life or at work.

Lucky for me, data and analytics within a creative agency offers the perfect arena to exercise both, as campaign reporting is about much more than just reciting numbers. I believe we are at our best when we employ creative approaches to uncovering insights, are innovative in our problem-solving, and approach storytelling through data as an art. 

While I will probably never be able to fully relinquish my need for control (bless my husband), I am excited to enter the new year with refreshed creative energy, a greater appreciation for the Boston office, and new perspectives to inspire the work ahead.

Special thanks to my boss and the CP leadership team for making this possible, and truly everyone in the Dublin office for a grand time. It was class.

Abby Peterson, Associate Creative Director

There are plenty of sayings about routine being the enemy of creativity – like that exact quote from Isaac Asimov – but what about the routine you fall into and don’t even realize you’re in? That has to be the worst creative killer of all.

The CP Abroad experience was an incredible way for me to break from my routine and rethink the way I think as a creative.

“One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure.” – William Feather

When I’m traveling, I’m the type of person who wants to make the most out of every second I spend somewhere. I’m making Google Docs with all of my plans, researching restaurants and pinning them to maps, planning excursions I would never attempt to fit into my schedule at home.

I find a parallel with my creative expression – I want to plan and control it, execute exactly what I have in my mind. But when I’m actually doing it, I find myself exploring and am always surprised by where I end up. 

The benefit to the CP Abroad experience, for me, was embracing my type-A planning persona, while also living and working like a normal human being. I completely changed the way I’m used to working at home so that I could maximize my time exploring new places and leaving myself the opportunity to be surprised and spontaneous. 

“Surprised!” Painting by Henri Rousseau, National Gallery of London; Copenhagen; Amsterdam

I took in as much art, architecture and history as I could. I visited 5 countries – Scotland, Ireland, England, the Netherlands and Denmark, each different in their personality and culture.

I went all over Ireland and drank in its history. I drove to Northern Ireland and learned from locals there the fascinating (recent) history of the Belfast troubles. I went west to the Dingle Peninsula and saw great surf, forts from the 6th century and held a baby lamb. I drove from Galway to the harbor and took a ferry to the remote Aran Island Inisheer and hiked along the tops of the Cliffs of Moher. 

I did things I never would have thought about at home – like flying a falcon on the rocky shores of Ireland. Or drive on the left side under a rainbow on narrow country roads. Or get a spontaneous tattoo I based loosely off my favorite branding from my favorite Irish Stout…

International travel has a way of engaging the senses in unique ways, from tasting unfamiliar foods to seeing breathtaking landscapes to hearing different music and foreign languages. I found myself constantly inspired, and reinvigorated creatively.

“A person who does the same things each day will not grow, change, or learn as much as a person who constantly seeks out new experiences.” – Karen Salmansohn

Before I left for Ireland, I often found myself asking, “how did I ever do everything I did in one day before Covid?” I had a routine to provide stability and structure but left myself open to new experiences to continue growing, learning, and finding creative inspiration in life. (I was also younger and didn’t have a dog to take care of, but that’s beside the point…) It’s made me come home with a fresh perspective on my life and my own city – I want to experience it and be inspired every day, in ways I never have been before.

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” – Oscar Wilde

Cliffs of Moher

 

 

 

Mary McMahon, Group Strategy Director

“I want to go home to Dublin, but I don’t want to leave Boston.” This was the conundrum of my 5-year-old daughter as our time in Boston on the CP Abroad Program came to a close. After a month of hot American summer, immersing ourselves in everything Boston has to offer, I pretty much felt the same! 

As a company that truly believes in integration, Connelly Partners offers all employees the opportunity to live and work from one of its office locations in Dublin, Boston, or Vancouver. During this time, you work side by side with colleagues from that office, who you usually only ever see on screens. At the same time, you are able to completely immerse yourself in the culture and explore everything these cities have to offer. 

My role at CP has allowed me to visit our Boston office a number of times over the past few years, but this opportunity to spend an extended period of time there made it possible for my family to come along too. I worked from the office in Boston’s South End, which is HUGE and always takes a bit of navigation to find my way around. 

While I work with some Boston clients already and have met many of my colleagues virtually, there’s nothing like meeting in person. I learned how invaluable face-to-face meetings are for building relationships and fostering creativity. While in Boston, I noticed that the stop-start “no you go, no you go” nature of conversations on Zoom was replaced with free-flowing comradery and ideas, leading to even more focused and productive conversations. 

After office hours, I dusted off my old rugby trainers, donned a baseball cap, and joined the company softball team on the field for games. It was a fun way to meet more of my CP Boston colleagues and immerse myself more in the company culture. 

Outside of work, I found that Boston had so much to offer me and my family – every evening, we explored the city and beyond. Some highlights include seeing the Red Sox play at Fenway Park, visiting the New England Aquarium, and even a trip to New York City. The general buzz and energy of the Italian North End we were staying in is an atmosphere that I’ll always remember. And how could I forget the roof deck on the condo?

Dana Wantman, Senior Partner & Chief Client and Integration Officer

I missed the opportunity to study abroad in college. It was offered, I was just a bit too lazy, or maybe immature, to take advantage of it – one of my few regrets. You can’t go back in time, but when the opportunity to live and work in Ireland for a month through CP Abroad presented itself, I wasn’t going to miss out again.  

I was lucky enough to be part of creating the Abroad program and I was excited to see how it came to life. Putting the program on paper is much different than really experiencing it. The intention behind the program was a simple one. Create a program that would spark curiosity…live, learn, explore, be inspired, and bring all that back home to share with co-workers and clients.    

So off we went….

We booked short-term housing, sight unseen (for someone with control issues this was a very uncomfortable endeavor), in an area of Dublin called Sandymount, and boy did we nail it – walking distance to the CP Office, the beach, and a great little downtown area where the Pubs outnumbered the grocery stores 4-1. It truly felt like a storybook town.  

One of my favorite parts of this trip was getting to walk to work. Twenty-five minutes of calm and quiet walking through beautiful neighborhoods, with a cappuccino in one hand and an umbrella in the other. I love our office in Dublin – the location is amazing and there’s a great energy. It reminds me of the early days of the CP Boston office when we’d just yell to each other over desks. There’s still great energy in Boston, it’s just different with 80 people as opposed to 40. Getting to work with, meet and just “be” with the team was one of the key motivators behind the CP Abroad program. The team was incredibly welcoming to me and my family. We got great recommendations about what to see, where to eat, how to get around, etc…they made us feel like neighbors, not tourists.

I also had the opportunity to attend an IAPI event (Ireland’s version of the 4A’s). It was a recap of Cannes, and as a community what it would take to have a better showing next year. And rather than people lamenting that the judging was unfair, or that clients were too conservative or didn’t have big enough budgets, it was a discussion around what it would take to be better, to do better work and drive clients’ business… There truly is a close-knit and talented creative community in Ireland. I left feeling excited about what our team could do and how we can inspire the entire organization with the same focus on strategic and creative excellence.

But it wasn’t all work. We did all the touristy stuff too.

• We explored Dublin and the Irish Countryside
• Stayed at a beautiful resort with the most incredible gardens. Truth be told, visiting gardens wasn’t high on my list of priorities, but they were truly spectacular.  
• Played golf in Ireland (bucket list ✔️)
• Walked up the Arc de Triomphe. That’s a lot of steps.
• Shopped along the Champs-Élysees
• River cruised down the Seine
• Went up the Eiffel Tower (only to the second observation deck. Go ahead and judge me, that thing’s high.)
• Got lost in the neighborhoods of Paris. Breathtaking…
• Saw the Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Parliament, Piccadilly Circus
• Toured Kensington and Buckingham Palace
• Took a double-decker bus tour
• Shopped in Harrods
• Toured Stamford Bridge

I can’t look back on this trip without a tremendous amount of gratitude and appreciation.  A total immersion into a different culture, the opportunity to meet countless great people and hear their stories, and work alongside some incredibly talented people…. memories for a lifetime.  

I’m excited to bring those experiences and a renewed cultural curiosity back to Boston. 

We started CP Abroad with a simple premise. Create the kind of connections, experiences and curiosity that would inspire our team and benefit our clients. Mission accomplished.

Lee Junkin, Platform Media Supervisor

When I was in college, everyone used to say that if you can study abroad, you need to do it because you may never get the chance again. Well, as a 28-year-old adult, I was lucky enough to be provided with that opportunity a second time when Connelly Partners launched their CP Abroad program. So, in late February I set off for my month of working in Dublin – after making a quick pit stop in Chamonix, France to get a few days of skiing in as the winter began to fade away.

One of the things that struck me when I first arrived in the Dublin office is that my coworkers, who I had previously known almost entirely through Zoom and Slack, were so welcoming and passionate about sharing their culture. Almost immediately after being shown to my desk, I was hit with a flood of recommendations for restaurants, pubs (a lot of pubs), hikes, and any other experience in Ireland you can think of. It’s overwhelming to try to experience as much as you can in a new country in just a month, but with the help of my coworkers, I was able to make a pretty good plan for appreciating Dublin life. 

It being March, I was able to experience an Irish St. Patrick’s Day, which is a national holiday in Ireland. The parade was beautiful and the crowds were massive. People from all over the world poured into the streets wearing green hats and Guinness shirts. By the way, make sure you call it St. Paddy’s Day and not St. Patty’s Day – Americans often come over and use the more Anglicized spelling to the dismay of Irish residents. 

After St. Paddy’s, I explored the incredible Dingle Peninsula, driving over Conor Pass before eating seafood chowder with a Guinness in the quaint seaside Dingle pubs as Ireland beat England in the Six Nations rugby tournament. I also explored the beautiful Cliffs of Moher as well as Galway City.

Ireland may be an island, but plane fare in Europe is much different than in the U.S., making Dublin Airport a gateway to other cultures and languages just a few hours away. Over the course of a few weekends, I flew to Soria, Spain to reconnect with my host family from my college abroad experience, explored castles in Edinburgh and took a cruise on Lake Loch Ness, sipped coffee by the brightly painted houses in Copenhagen, and toured and learned about the complicated history of the city of Belfast.

Overall, I learned that while every culture has its slight differences – pronunciations and slang, cuisines, and lunch break standards (the Irish office is better at eating lunches together while Americans often eat at their desks) – there are many universal human truths that we all share. People everywhere are generally welcoming and excited to share pieces of their culture. People like to have fun and try new foods and keep eating the foods that they already love. Whether it’s baseball or Gaelic football, everyone loves to go to a game with their friends. The advertising industry certainly has some nuances across different countries (my position as a programmatic media buyer is not a big thing in Ireland), but in any culture, humans like to do the things they love, and part of our job as advertisers is to help humans enjoy those things.

CP Abroad provided me with a better understanding of my fellow humans and helped me grow as a person, but maybe more importantly, it was an incredibly fun experience that I will never forget.