Home Again Home Again Jiggity Jig

I remember what I was doing right now, 2 weeks ago. Some people can’t even remember what they did yesterday, but I remember this because it was a big day for me. 2 weeks ago I was in an airplane on my way to Detroit from Chicago. There was a man sitting next to me and we were both frustrated because the plane was delayed 2 hours… but I could not keep my eyes open to save my life. If we had been falling from the sky to our deaths, I probably would not wake up. I was that exhausted. That day was a long one to say the least. I was up from 7AM to 10AM Irish time (2AM to 5AM American time). One thing I learned this past semester is that traveling is hard work. It makes you tired, sick, and being crabby just comes with the package sometimes.

I did not know what to expect when I came home, just like I didn’t know what to expect when I went to Ireland… just had a flashback to that first day in Ireland. My first Guinness in the old man side of the Roost before we had our first meal in Ireland which was Chinese, lovely. This sounds silly in my head now, but before I went I had only tried to imagine what the semester would be like two times. I came up with a vision of being in the country and the college being kind of secluded. It was next to many fields of sheep and if you went for a run down the country road you would run into some old Irish men with their canes. Don’t ask me why I thought of this. But this vision was anything but reality. Maynooth was a good size town, small but a good size. There were things to do and places to see on a sunny day. It was a bus or train ride away from the city and there were many more people than the old Irish men, although there was a fair share of those... I couldn’t have asked for anything more perfect.

More about being home… I’m still trying to get settled in; my room is coming together slowly but surely. I do wish so badly that I could go back to Ireland even if it’s just to visit, but being home has its high and low points. Some highlights of being home thus far:

Being greeted with pizza rolls

Finding that my 3 year old cousin cut her hair while I was babysitting

Seeing my family at the Tiger’s game and grad parties

The Lumineers concert

Reuniting with all my friends and catching up

Spending time with the fam

My newfound love for working out

I had mentioned in an earlier post that I had an Irish Bucket List. I just wanted to say that I crossed off all of them besides going to a rugby/hurling game. That’s pretty good if you ask me.

Some things I’d just like to mention... I now like some fish, getting back behind the wheel was a breeze, and these past five months have been the best months of my life. Although my bed is the best bed in the entire world, it is quite depressing coming home because sometimes all I want to do is just take the 66 bus into Dublin and walk around St. Stephens Green or sit in a pub and listen to Irish people talk. I never took those things for granted, but I wish so badly that I could just have some of those moments back. Home is usually a good place to be though.

As I am writing this, it is midnight thirty and I’m in a nightgown having a no pants party, in such a good mood, and it’s thunder storming outside… a perfect moment.

So I’m going to answer these questions for everyone who wants to know because I get it all the time…

Q: What was your favorite place you visited in Ireland?
A: I loved Dublin because I love the city life, but Dingle is tied as well. Dingle is so cute and quaint, and the Ring of Kerry is stunning. I went there with my family and we had such a great time seeing all of the sheep and just goofing around.

AND

Q: What did you love most about Ireland in general?
A: I don’t mind the weather but I loved how laid back the culture is. If my class started at 9 I would start making tea at 9 and then go to class. I even turned in one of my final essays 2 weeks after the due date because everything is just so relaxed. I also loved the people. We met some of the friendliest, nicest Irish people. We had many conversations with old Irish men in pubs.

In the past 2 weeks when people have asked how Ireland was and if I liked it I feel like whatever I say doesn’t express how I feel about this past semester. Like I said, it was the best few months of my life so far. Although I lost a few Irish phones, got the worst haircut, destroyed my feet from walking everywhere, and slipped and fell down a muddy hill in the rain, I also celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin, visited 6 other countries, made the most amazing friends, went to an Irish ball, went surfing in Portugal, went to the driving range in Maynooth, celebrated beer with Germans, had the best Guinness in Howth, found my new favorite store (Jack Wills), went on a 4 hour walk and met up with my best friend in Barcelona, kissed the Blarney Stone, got free "bubbly" and had the best birthday in Dublin, and even found the Geraldine Castle where my ancestors are supposedly from. These are only a few memories… when people ask how Ireland was, I could probably talk about it for hours. 

All I can really say to people who are in college who have not studied abroad and are able to, do it. Those who are not a little scared and nervous by the thought of moving to another country for a few weeks/months are not normal. Everyone has second thoughts, but it is 1 million percent worth it. My advice is don’t let anything hold you back, just go somewhere, and have the time of your life. Say yes, don’t have regrets, and travel and go on adventures while you are young. It sounds so cheesy, but when you are young you don't really know how good you have it until it's over so we may as well take advantage of it.

To all those who I have become friends with while abroad... 

Thank you for making my time in Europe the best time of my life. I did not get a chance to say goodbye to all of you, but every one of you added something different to my experience. Ireland has yet to see the last of me so I will see you all again, hopefully quite soon! Thank you so much for everything, come visit Michigan! xo miss you already. 

I am falling asleep and am about to be dreaming, and there would be plenty of funny things running through my head, but I will spare you.

Goodnight American hicks and Good Morning Ireland.

Much love to the place which has become my second home, xoxo. 

(Some of my favorite photos)

View of Sligo, Ireland from Maeve's Tomb

Sligo Beach

 Dublin Doors

Left: A Guinness sign in Dublin   Right: NUIM's South Campus

 Henry Street in Dublin

 

My first and Last days in Ireland

My first and last Guinness's!

Left: The Roost   Right: Guinness Storehouse

Goodnight!

( I had written this last week but did not have a chance to put it up until now )

Today is one of my last days in this beautiful country. Not forever that is, because I know I am coming back someday if not soon. But it is one of my last days in Dodder 8C, living in Maynooth, where I celebrated my 20^th birthday, and where I met some really, really great people. I think I should be doing something to make the most of my time here tonight, but sitting here in my disastrous room trying to pack, I cannot bring myself to leave it until someone drags me away. I can’t help but reflect on my time here and think about my favorite memories and how much I am going to miss every single person I became friends with.

One phrase I always believed to be true is “your experiences make you who you are” and ever since I have been in Ireland, I take that to heart more and more every day. I have learned so many lessons and have realized how important it is to just enjoy life without any distractions. I have always been a fan of quotes and lyrics and at points in my life I’ve used them to get me through certain things, but I have also realized how much of a distraction they are from actually living. I mean, why not use your own thoughts to power through your struggles instead of using someone else’s every chance you get? Pinterest is definitely to blame… Maybe it’s all a part of growing up and changing. I mean, everyone changes, some for good and some for bad. But by distracting yourself with social media all the time and not taking initiative to go experience the world, I almost feel like that’s a sin. Leisure time is important don’t get me wrong, but doing something, making mistakes, and experiencing new things… that is living life. What’s the point of living on earth if we don’t take advantage of it?

I've met some really great people while traveling. In Portugal, I talked with an Australian traveling around Europe by himself about what we wanted to do in life and where we saw ourselves in a few years. I was never one to have a set plan on what I wanted to do too far in the future. I’m just a go with the flow type of gal. I don’t know what I want for my future entirely, but I know what I don’t want. Anyway, while talking and looking out over the peaceful water in Lagos, I gained a whole new perspective on life. It is such a precious gift wasted so often. I could go on and on about what I think about life now, but that’d just be boring. SOOO to sum it up…

Make mistakes

Fall in love

Eat

Say yes

Work hard

Step out of your comfort zone

Pray

Let loose

and most of all, Travel.

Because you only have one life, you might as well live it while you can.

Onto other things… a few weeks ago I went to the Aran Islands in Ireland with the whole Saint Mary’s group. It was our last trip with the group, including Roberta and Eugene! Pretty crazy to think about… The first night we stayed in Doolan which is smaller than my hometown in Michigan, apparently it is possible. We went to a pub that night which seemed to be where everyone from nearby came to hang out. We ran into a stag party (a bachelor party) who was very entertaining seeing as they had been there since 3 in the afternoon and it was about 8 by the time we walked in the door. They were very friendly, some even a little too friendly. They had live music there and one of the men taught me how to play the spoons!  Madison learned as well and we picked it up pretty fast… I don’t think it’s too hard to do. The next morning we found them in our pockets, oops! She had the little spoons which means she was more advanced, she’s so talented! We met people from Marshall, Michigan, The Netherlands, and France, so many international people in one little town.

In the morning we headed on a 2 hour very wavy ferry ride to the islands. It was a little long for my liking. All 20 something of us stayed in one hostel and made all of our meals. It was always a big production because groups would switch off cooking food for everyone. That is a lot of people. Now I know how the Duggars feel. There were not a whole lot of activities to do on the island that we were on because it is so small. The Supermacs wasn’t even open which means it’s a pretty deserted place.

We had no obligations; we were free to do whatever we wanted! We rode bikes around the island, explored some ruins, walked around the beach, sat on the side of the road while soaking up the sun and thinking about life, and celebrated LE’s 21^st birthday and sat on the floor of the pub while everyone was in a line swaying back and forth singing Rock the Boat. It was quite entertaining. While exploring, LE and I came across a few statues of Jesus and Mary and stopped at them to say a prayer. It was pretty unreal because as you knelt down, you were looking over a beautiful Irish countryside, it almost looked fake. There was lot of hanging out in each other’s rooms and making videos which for some were eventually added on the Book. Overall, it was a splendid time! On our way back to Maynooth we stopped at the Cliffs of Moher which I was super excited about because I didn't think I would have time to see them while I was in Ireland. They were gorgeous, even better than I remembered! Roberta (our Saint Mary’s leader of the pack) did a great job, even though we did not see her pretty much the whole time. The weather held up for the most part, the food was delicious, and I could not have asked to spend it with better people! It was an awesome little holiday weekend :).