Across Generations: What We Learned Traveling Through Ireland and Scotland

By Stacie Freeman, M.S.S.W.

Some classrooms have four walls.

Others have cobblestone streets, castle gates, and dramatic coastlines.

This spring break, Bethel University / GCAC travelers – students, alumni, and friends – journeyed together to Ireland and Scotland. What unfolded was more than a study tour; it was a powerful reminder that education and connection continue long after graduation.

Dublin: Where History Comes Alive

Our journey began in Dublin, a city where history rises from the streets themselves.

Students walked through the historic campus of Trinity College, founded in 1592, where centuries of scholars have debated ideas that shaped literature, politics, and culture. We discussed Ireland’s literary legacy through figures like Oscar Wilde and James Joyce, whose writing helped define Irish identity and influence global literature.

In the city center, we visited Dublin Castle and explored the vibrant energy of a Victorian-era market. Along the way, students learned about pivotal moments in Irish history, including the Easter Rising of 1916 and the lasting impact of the Irish Potato Famine. 

One particularly meaningful moment came when a former Bethel student (and member of the 2008 National Championship soccer team) from Dublin joined our group for dinner. Sitting together around the table, current students were able to hear firsthand how life is really lived as a Dubliner.

Moments like these remind students that the Bethel community extends far beyond campus – and even across oceans. And it opens their eyes to the potential they have to live and learn beyond their home zip codes. Several students expressed interest in attending graduate school abroad as a result of these experiences.

The Irish Countryside

Leaving Dublin behind, we traveled through Ireland’s countryside, where rolling green hills, ancient stone walls, and historic villages tell stories of resilience and tradition.

Here, the landscape became the lesson plan. Students learned how geography shaped Ireland’s history – how rural communities endured hardship, how famine forced migration, and how Irish culture spread across the world through the diaspora.

Yet some of the most meaningful learning didn’t occur during guided tours. It happened during bus rides, shared meals, and informal conversations. Students found themselves sitting beside alumni who had once been in their exact position years earlier. Community members shared stories about careers, leadership, and the unexpected paths life can take.

These conversations are one of the hidden gifts of intergenerational travel.

Edinburgh: A City of Ideas

In Scotland, the city of Edinburgh welcomed us with its dramatic skyline and centuries-old streets.

Walking the Royal Mile and exploring Edinburgh Castle, students learned about Scotland’s monarchy, its national identity, and its complex political relationship with the United Kingdom.

But Edinburgh is also known as a city of ideas. During the Scottish Enlightenment, thinkers such as David Hume and Adam Smith helped shape modern concepts of economics, philosophy, and democracy.

Standing in the same city where those ideas once took shape gave students a powerful reminder that intellectual movements capable of changing the world often begin in specific places with curious people asking difficult questions.

The Power of Intergenerational Travel

While the castles, cathedrals, and landscapes were unforgettable, one of the most meaningful aspects of this journey had little to do with the destinations themselves.

It had to do with who was traveling together.

Our Global Studies programs intentionally bring together students, alumni, and community members. For students, the benefits are immediate. They gain access to mentorship, encouragement, and professional perspectives that extend far beyond the classroom. Casual conversations during travel often evolve into discussions about internships, careers, graduate school, and leadership.

For alumni, these journeys offer a meaningful way to remain connected to the university that shaped their own lives. Traveling with current students allows them to witness firsthand how Bethel continues to invest in transformative educational experiences.

That connection matters – not just for the travelers, but for the university itself.

Strong alumni engagement strengthens the entire Bethel community. When alumni remain connected through programs like Global Studies, they continue to support the university’s mission, mentor current students, and invest in opportunities that expand access to global education.

Investing in the Next Generation

The alumni and community members who travel with us support student scholarships by paying slightly more for their GCAC program fee. These contributions help ensure that students from a wide range of backgrounds can participate in life-changing global experiences.

In this way, every journey becomes something larger than a trip. It becomes a shared investment in the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and global citizens.

Students gain access to the world.

Alumni stay connected to the institution that helped shape them.

And Bethel University continues to build a community that spans both geography and generations.

A Classroom Without Walls

At Bethel Global Studies and GCAC, we often say, “The world is our classroom.”

In Ireland and Scotland, that classroom included ancient universities, medieval castles, literary landmarks, and breathtaking landscapes.

But the most important part of that classroom was the people within it – students eager to learn, alumni eager to give back, and community members committed to supporting the educational mission of Bethel University.

Together, they demonstrated something powerful: that learning, mentorship, and community do not end at graduation. Sometimes they continue… across generations and across the world.

“As alumni, it’s important to maintain close ties with Bethel … the opportunity to be with students and faculty on this trip to Ireland and Scotland was absolutely amazing! To see these young people experience a different area, different language, and different culture has been a blast and we’re looking forward to more adventures with this Bethel Global Studies group!”

Chris Edlin

Bethel University Alum, 1985

“Participating in the BU Global Studies Colombia program really changed my life – even the way I think – because when you travel you see different cultures, you become more open-minded. And that is why I decided to come here – to Ireland and Scotland. This trip has been one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had … it seems like the grass is actually greener here! And I was able to travel with Bethel alumni … which was extremely amazing and interesting!”

Artem Dzun

Bethel University, Senior

“Watching the Bethel youth interact with people from other countries was truly amazing this week. Also, for people my age it was a once in a lifetime experience that we wouldn’t be able to do if we didn’t have GCAC and Bethel University!”

Ricky Price

Community Member, Bethel University Supporter

Group in front of the Titanic Museum in Belfast; Front: Ricky Price (McKenzie), Cianna Haney (Paris), Donna Taylor (McKenzie), Kaylee Staten (Milan), Azariah Busby (Dyer), Artem Dzun (Russia), Cholena Hopper (Joelton), Grayson Thompson (Camden), Chris Edlin (McKenzie), Stacie Freeman (Dresden).Back: Teresa Washburn (McKenzie), Joel Washburn (McKenzie), Cindi Hall (Covington), Christa Rice (Covington), Jenny Wilson (McKenzie), Anthony Hopper (Joelton), Sarah Kidd (Gleason), Charleace Edlin (McKenzie). Not pictured: Tami Hall (San Antonio)