Before leaving to study abroad in Ireland last spring, I had read about study abroad being an enlightening and mind opening experience. OK, whatever, I thought. My main concern was trying to figure out how long it took to get to the bottom of a pint of Guinness.

But in all seriousness, I feel my time abroad has changed me in quite a few ways. I’ve had friends tell me I seem more mature and focused since coming back (not that I was a slacker before I left). It’s also driven my focus toward, without a doubt, the biggest issue in America: the 2008 election.

If you told me a few months ago that I’d be writing a column about politics, I’d laugh and point you to the nearest mental hospital. I am a guy who can explain the differences between a two-seam and a four-seam fastball, or what makes a sluggo route in football different from a post. But politics? Forget about it.

After arriving in Ireland, I quickly discovered two things. Yes, the Irish are among some of the most friendly people you’ll ever meet, and many also know more about American politics than most Americans.

With my baseball hat and American Eagle t-shirt, I stuck out like a sore thumb during my first few weeks in Dublin. (Although near the end of my trip, I met several newly-arrived Americans who thought me and my fellow group members were Irish. Flattering, but I digress.) Once the basic introductions and a pint were out of the way, the first topic that came up with my newfound Irish comrade was always the same: Hillary or Obama?

This was still during the primaries and the Democratic race was a hot topic, even three thousand miles away. News of the primaries was everywhere. Many mornings I’d stagger out to my common area to find my Irish suite mates watching the BBC or Sky News to see the latest about the elections. I usually pleaded ignorance with them and those I met in the pubs when they asked my opinion, but after several of these encounters, I was embarrassed of my ignorance.

It also opened my eyes to how important the American elections are, not just for our country, but across the world. I vowed to start paying attention more when I got back to America.

I’ve made some steps in doing so. While I haven’t watched the debates yet because I’ve been working nights, I’ve got them stored away on On Demand, and I plan on cuing them up this weekend.

This sounds cliche, but it’s important: get out and vote. I’m not trying to endorse either candidate, but rather urge you to start paying attention and make an educated decision. This will be my first presidential election in which I’m eligible to vote. I feel fortunate that I was abroad and able to experience what I mentioned. As sad as it is, I wonder if I would feel the same urge to pay attention to the elections if I hadn’t spent the past spring abroad.

So go ahead and vote. It took me four months, a six-thousand mile round trip and endless pints of Guinness and Bulmers to appreciate the importance of the upcoming election. It shouldn’t take the same for you.

-Nate Owen is a junior journalism major and member of The News staff.