Discovering Culture, History and Herself

By Anne Denogean, Marketing, Communications and Strategic Outreach

When Maynett Godoy Hernandez first heard about Pima Community College’s Study Abroad program, she wasn’t thinking about fairies, Celtic rituals or the rocky cliffs of the Wild Atlantic Way. She simply saw an announcement on Pima’s website and thought it sounded interesting.

“I didn’t know much about Ireland before,” she said. “I just wanted to try something new, and it turned out to be a surprising and interesting experience.

In June, Maynett joined a group of about 20 Pima students on a 10-day study abroad trip to Bundoran, a seaside town in the northern part of the Republic of Ireland. Led by Pima History Department Head Randal Munsen, Ed.D., the trip was part of a history course that began with classroom sessions at West Campus before continuing at the Institute for Study Abroad Ireland. The class explored how environment, culture and history have shaped Indigenous and post-colonial Irish identity. Students were expected to take notes, complete a final paper and present their findings after returning home.

For Maynett, an anthropology major from Mexico, the program was her first opportunity to take a deep dive into another culture.

A Rich Experience

During the trip, students explored historic sites ranging from ancient tombs to medieval castles to the streets of Ulster in Northern Ireland, the frontline of “The Troubles.”

“One of the most interesting things I learned about was the recent civil war in Northern Ireland (1968-1998),” Maynett said. “I didn’t know anything about it before. To see places where it all happened just 30 or 40 years ago was shocking. It gave me a whole new understanding of how Ireland became the country it is today.”

Other lessons were equally eye-opening. On a mountain hike, Maynett encountered locals taking part in a ritual that dated back to Celtic times. When she asked her professor about it, she learned that the community returns to the site every summer.

“That really impressed me,” she said. “There are people who still believe in Celtic traditions. I realized history isn’t just something in books — it’s alive in the people.”

And sometimes, history was told in stories that blended myth and belief. “Many Irish people still believe in fairies,” Maynett said. “They even showed us traditions, like putting flowers on windows and doors as protection so the bad fairies don’t enter. I thought it was amazing how those ancient beliefs still have meaning today.”

Overcoming Small Challenges

The trip wasn’t without its adjustments. Accents, new foods and everyday routines sometimes created challenges.

“On Arranmore Island, where Gaelic is the primary language, the Irish accent was hard for me to understand,” she said. “At restaurants, I sometimes struggled to catch every word, but I always got the main idea.”

Practical details also were different. “The showers! You had to turn on the hot water from outside the bathroom before you got in. It took me a while to figure that out,” she said.

Food was a highlight rather than a challenge. “We ate so much fish and chips (a staple of both Ireland and England), probably more than I should admit,” she said. “I also didn’t know how amazing Irish salmon and seafood would be. Everything was fresh and local.”

Building Friendships and Confidence

What Maynett treasures most are the friendships she built. Spending ten days in close quarters with fellow students created bonds she said would be hard to replicate at home.

“It’s different to meet classmates in a class for a few hours than to live with them every day,” she explained. “In Ireland we studied together, ate together, even sang karaoke together on our last night. That night was special because it was when everyone came together as one big group.”

“In Ireland I was immersed — studying, living and socializing with the same people all day. That immersive experience changed me. I got to know people better in ten days there than in a whole year here in the U.S.”

Looking Ahead

Maynett is continuing her studies in cultural anthropology at Pima with plans to transfer to the University of Arizona. She plans to return to Mexico one day and work in the field. The Ireland experience confirmed that she is on the right track.

“It opened my mind to how people live differently, and how things I think are normal may not be for others,” she said. “That’s what anthropology is about — understanding people and their cultures.”

She’s already planning her next international adventure. “I want to go on the Study Abroad trip to China during spring break,” she said. “It looks amazing.”

Why Study Abroad Matters

For students considering study abroad, Maynett offers simple advice: go.

“It’s a really good experience,” she said. “You get to know people from another country, spend time with locals, and make friendships you’ll never forget. It makes you more open-minded and more aware of the world.”

Pima’s Study Abroad programs are open to students across disciplines.