Learning Across Borders: Students Connect with History, Culture, and Heritage
Expansive cliffs dropping hundreds of feet into the sea, 40,000 unique hexagonal basalt pillars erupting from the waves, and thousand-year-old works of art are just a few of the many sights students saw on the Literature and Culture Study Abroad saw while visiting Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland this January.
Alaska Pacific University (APU) student Hazelanne Stuart shared that one of the most meaningful parts of the trip was the sense of immersion. “I love getting to know the group I’m with and learning alongside them. Seeing the scenery and everyday life here has been my favorite part. I like being as not touristy as possible, and this trip made me feel like a regular person walking around.”
Nearly half of the students had participated in the study abroad program the previous year, a testament to its impact. Each day balanced group activities with free time, allowing students to explore with a travel partner before reconvening for dinner. These nightly meals became a space to reflect and share stories from the day.
This year’s course included several full-day excursions. In Ireland, students traveled to the Cliffs of Moher, stopping along the way in the coastal village of Kinvara on Galway Bay. They also visited the Famine Walls in County Clare, where stone walls, built by Irish peasants during the Great Famine in exchange for small food rations, stretch across the stark landscape.
In Northern Ireland, the group toured Giant’s Causeway and stopped at Dunluce Castle and the Dark Hedges. The Dark Hedges, a hauntingly beautiful avenue of beech trees planted in the 1600s, contrast with the ruins of Dunluce Castle, which sits dramatically on the edge of a basalt outcropping in County Antrim. In Scotland, students explored the Highlands and even tried their luck spotting Nessie at Loch Ness. During free time, students visited museums, browsed local shops, relaxed in cafés, and explored historic sites such as the Book of Kells.
Preparation for the trip began before departure. Students read short stories and folklore and watched films connected to the region. APU student Aubrey Strayer reflected, “The assignments helped me understand the culture and history of these places and the people. Without reading the stories, I wouldn’t have had the same perspective.”
While cost can be a barrier, APU offers travel scholarships that make participation possible. Many students relied on these funds to attend. Reflecting on her scholarship application, Strayer shared, “Experiencing other cultures strengthens my ability to work with people as a counselor. I’ve also seen how being disconnected from culture and heritage affects mental health, especially working with Alaska Native people. Learning how the Irish were barred from speaking their language made me think about similar experiences in Alaska.”
Strayer’s family traces its roots to the province of Connacht, making the journey especially meaningful. Her story reflects a broader truth: the Irish diaspora is vast. Following the Great Famine, millions of Irish emigrated, many to the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that nearly 39 million Americans claim Irish ancestry—more than six times the current population of Ireland.
Stuart noted how learning about Ireland’s history reshaped her understanding of the present. “What impacted me most was seeing how ancient history still shapes life today, especially through resistance and conflict. That blend of unity and struggle helped me draw parallels to the United States. I also appreciated learning how connected Ireland’s history is to other countries, something we don’t often focus on in the U.S. The culture, resistance, and history here are incredibly inspiring and it’s uplifting to see that it’s possible to reach the general harmony that they’ve gained here.”
Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland all share histories shaped by British colonialism, with explicit effects felt as recently as the late 20th century during the Troubles. Through readings and guided tours, students identified parallels between Britain’s treatment of the Irish and the United States’ treatment of American Indians. British laws once barred Irish citizens from speaking Gaelic and banned traditional clothing, instruments, and cultural practices in both Ireland and Scotland. Irish people weren’t allowed certain jobs or positions of social influence, while Scottish Highlanders were removed from their land to make room for sheep grazing. Many guides shared that they do not speak Gaelic fluently and expressed a wish that they could. Sitting with these histories of loss and resilience stayed with students long after the tours ended, influencing how they reflected on their own stories once they returned home.
While the study abroad trip gave students a firsthand account of these places, the assignments before and after helped them hone in on similarities between cultures. One assignment asked students to explore Irish authors’ perspectives on “adventure” and compare them with their own experiences. APU student Christina Bailey plans to write about a childhood camping trip near her hometown of Bethel. She set out with her uncle and grandmother to gather specific plants for iqmik, an Alaska Native chewing tobacco, and encountered strange experiences along the way, including a ghost that repeatedly unleashed their dog. The Literature and Culture Study Abroad course offers students the opportunity to experience the world with curiosity, context, and care. Through reading, travel, and reflection, students not only learn about other cultures, they often discover how deeply connected they are to their own.
