So as my time here is quickly coming to an end I figured I would reflect on my past three months while in Ireland..
When I first arrived in Carlow, Ireland I was scared and completely out of my element. Though things haven't went exactly as I expected them to I have no regrets in my decision to study abroad. When looking back I remember having some bad times such as being terribly home sick and missing my family. But besides my personal emotions we also had issues with our living situations..one difference between American and Europe teens is Americans are a lot more mature. Living in a student complex and being with first year students has been challenging.. we have had rocks thrown at our windows and through out letter hole that night resulting in us having to call the Grada to make the situation better. Then there was the time our dinner got stolen because the boys who live here think its amusing to steal food. Oh and the boys favorite thing to do is egg people's windows thankfully that only happened once. Though situations like these have occurred here I am pleased to say that I can look back at laugh at what I have witnessed here. Also I am happy to say that I made a lot of friends with the Irish students around me. Thankfully my Irish roommates have been absolutely amazing and I couldn't imagine my time here without them. I have also made friends with two other girls and I am so grateful I did. These girls really made my time here enjoyable.
Some things I have noticed between America and Ireland...
1. Ireland does not have Ranch dressing!! Very depressing but thankfully my mom sent me some!!
2. Common dinners for my Irish roommates consist of bacon or chicken stir fry. But the chicken stir fry is in a white sauce and completely different than what you would expect it to be. My normal dinner was tacos or a chicken salad or some form of pasta. My Irish roommates were amused but the dinners we made because they were so different that ours.
3. It is very very common to walk miles and miles daily while in Europe. Having my car when I go home is defiantly going to be the best thing ever. I will never in my life take cars for granted or the fact that I don't need to walk a mile daily to school.
4. When people drink here they drink to get completely drunk.. Americans I feel understand the meaning of limits and not over drinking here it is about having good "crack".
5. Tea is the number one drink! I have never drank so much tea in my life!! They use electrical tea kettles and when I get home I will have one in my house to make tea hopefully daily :) Oh and they put milk in their tea which I have never saw until here and I am proud to say that I started doing it as well.
6. Instead of bars like Southside has to offer Ireland has a large amount of pubs. These are what Americans would call dive bars back home. But the pubs environment are awesome there is always some Irish band or some kind of Irish music playing in the back ground.
All in all my experience hasn't been what I expected and at times it has been very difficult but I will forever cherish the moments I have had here. This experience has been way more than I have expected. I have been to Ireland, Germany, Italy, France and England and I am only twenty years old. How many people at my age can say they accomplished that in a short three month time span. I am very grateful for what I was able to do in my time here and I feel I have grown to be a better person. I am able to live on my own away from my parents and survive. I am also able to deal with my own obstacles and not have to rely on my mom to get me out of situations.
My time here has went by very fast but 96 days is a long time away from your family and loved ones and I am pleased to say I am ready to go home and resume my life back in the states :) The fact that I am going home still hasn't fully hit me everything seems so surreal and I can't even begin to imagine what my feelings are going to be when I step off that plane and walk towards my family.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Well I did it I have made it to December!! Nothing new and exciting has happened in the past few weeks until last weekend December 8 through the 11. Chrissy, Shawna and I went to London and Paris. We left on Thursday had a day in London then early Friday morning was on the Chunnel to go to Paris for a day and a half.
London was beautiful. While we were there we went on the London Eye and got to see the whole city. The views were incredible. Growing up I remember seeing London and movies and think how magically and pretty it was. Well being able to see it for myself I am pleased to say it lead up to my expectations and more. Along with the London Eye we saw Big Ben, Winchester Abbey, and went shopping on Oxford Street (which reminded me a lot of a street in New York). All in all it was an amazing experience.
Then there was Paris! Ugh I can't even begin to express how beautiful the Eiffel tower all lite up was. I will forever remember standing on the sidewalk counting down the minutes until it was five till the hour and the Eiffel tower came to life!! We wanted to go up and get the full experience of the tower but when we arrived there was actually a bomb threat! So when they reopened the place was ridiculously busy and myself being exhausted from all the traveling and freezing just wasn't up to waiting in line. My favorite thing we did was putting a love lock on the love lock bridge for my boyfriend and I to go back and take it off together sometime in the future. Though Paris is full of bridges with locks we went to the originally bridge called L'archeveche it is located behind the Norte Dame.
Though our time was limited in both places we manage to get a lot accomplished. I saw way more than I could ever dream of in my time there in London and Paris and being able to experience each place was the greatest thing to ever happen to me. I can't wait to go home and share my stories but also to be able to come back to Europe and visit London and Paris again and hopefully have a few days at each location.
London was beautiful. While we were there we went on the London Eye and got to see the whole city. The views were incredible. Growing up I remember seeing London and movies and think how magically and pretty it was. Well being able to see it for myself I am pleased to say it lead up to my expectations and more. Along with the London Eye we saw Big Ben, Winchester Abbey, and went shopping on Oxford Street (which reminded me a lot of a street in New York). All in all it was an amazing experience.
Then there was Paris! Ugh I can't even begin to express how beautiful the Eiffel tower all lite up was. I will forever remember standing on the sidewalk counting down the minutes until it was five till the hour and the Eiffel tower came to life!! We wanted to go up and get the full experience of the tower but when we arrived there was actually a bomb threat! So when they reopened the place was ridiculously busy and myself being exhausted from all the traveling and freezing just wasn't up to waiting in line. My favorite thing we did was putting a love lock on the love lock bridge for my boyfriend and I to go back and take it off together sometime in the future. Though Paris is full of bridges with locks we went to the originally bridge called L'archeveche it is located behind the Norte Dame.
Though our time was limited in both places we manage to get a lot accomplished. I saw way more than I could ever dream of in my time there in London and Paris and being able to experience each place was the greatest thing to ever happen to me. I can't wait to go home and share my stories but also to be able to come back to Europe and visit London and Paris again and hopefully have a few days at each location.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Whoa... a lot has happened since I last wrote.
Well we no longer have field trips our last field trip was November 4 we went to the chocolate factory in Tullow. It was amazing!! We were giving chocolate cat molds and got to design our own chocolate. After the chocolate factory we walked over to Rathwood, which is this huge store fulled with Christmas tree and everything you could possibly want to see for Christmas. After we had lunch at Rathwood we then went to the Ring of the Rath. This was a very unique place and I really enjoyed experiencing a place like this. Out of all our field trips this was probably my favorite field trip.
On November 10th my boyfriend (Josh) finally arrived to see me :) this was without a doubt the best day of my entire stay here! Before arriving at the airport I had so many emotions and thoughts going through my head. The whole time I was trying to picture what my reaction was going to be like when I first saw him. But I realized you can't picture something like that you just have to let it happen. After waiting what seemed to be hours I finally saw him! I ran straight to him and just started crying. I was so happy to be able to have someone from home here with me and to actually see and hug them was amazing! After I collected myself and emotions we went and I showed him around Dublin.
The next day we took a tour of Cliff of Moher. This was such a wonderful time. We got to see so much in just one day. The cliffs are absolutely beautiful. Though the wind is very harsh and practically blew me away, it was still so amazing to see something that pretty.
After experience Dublin and the Cliffs we came back to Carlow for a few days. Then on November 17th Josh, Chrissy and I left for ROME!! Rome was by far my favorite place I have visited during my time here. We went to Vatican City, Colosseum, the market, Trevi fountain, and the Spanish steps. These places are seriously undesirable.. I will never forget experiencing any of the places I saw. I am so grateful to have such an awesome opportunity to see the world and be able to experience it with such wonderful company :)
Today I am exactly three weeks away from my departure. This day can not come fast enough.. after seeing my boyfriend leave and knowing I have to wait to see him again was the hardest thing I have ever been through. I have been very depressed since he left and just really miss my mom and family. The days are going by fast and I do not want to regret anything but in a way I am very glad that my time here is coming to an end so I can reunite with everyone back home!
Well we no longer have field trips our last field trip was November 4 we went to the chocolate factory in Tullow. It was amazing!! We were giving chocolate cat molds and got to design our own chocolate. After the chocolate factory we walked over to Rathwood, which is this huge store fulled with Christmas tree and everything you could possibly want to see for Christmas. After we had lunch at Rathwood we then went to the Ring of the Rath. This was a very unique place and I really enjoyed experiencing a place like this. Out of all our field trips this was probably my favorite field trip.
On November 10th my boyfriend (Josh) finally arrived to see me :) this was without a doubt the best day of my entire stay here! Before arriving at the airport I had so many emotions and thoughts going through my head. The whole time I was trying to picture what my reaction was going to be like when I first saw him. But I realized you can't picture something like that you just have to let it happen. After waiting what seemed to be hours I finally saw him! I ran straight to him and just started crying. I was so happy to be able to have someone from home here with me and to actually see and hug them was amazing! After I collected myself and emotions we went and I showed him around Dublin.
The next day we took a tour of Cliff of Moher. This was such a wonderful time. We got to see so much in just one day. The cliffs are absolutely beautiful. Though the wind is very harsh and practically blew me away, it was still so amazing to see something that pretty.
After experience Dublin and the Cliffs we came back to Carlow for a few days. Then on November 17th Josh, Chrissy and I left for ROME!! Rome was by far my favorite place I have visited during my time here. We went to Vatican City, Colosseum, the market, Trevi fountain, and the Spanish steps. These places are seriously undesirable.. I will never forget experiencing any of the places I saw. I am so grateful to have such an awesome opportunity to see the world and be able to experience it with such wonderful company :)
Today I am exactly three weeks away from my departure. This day can not come fast enough.. after seeing my boyfriend leave and knowing I have to wait to see him again was the hardest thing I have ever been through. I have been very depressed since he left and just really miss my mom and family. The days are going by fast and I do not want to regret anything but in a way I am very glad that my time here is coming to an end so I can reunite with everyone back home!
Friday, November 4, 2011
It has been a little while since I lasted blogged we have had a busy time. Last week October 28 our field trip was to Dublin. Our first stop was to the Dublin-Kilmainham Goal which was one of the first jails to use isolation. It was pretty neat to see what the cells along with the jail looked like. After that we went to Trinity College and looked at the Book of Kells. It was nice to see more of a college setting rather than what our college is like here in Carlow.
After our field Chrissy, Shawna and I decided to stay in Dublin for the night. That night we did Dublin's Ghost walk, it was a great time. Keeping in mind during our field trip Eric had warned us to not go on the Northside of Dublin at night. Well little did we know the ghost walk took place in the Northside of Dublin. The first half an hour was great, I enjoyed very second and it was really fascinating. When we got to one part of our tour there was a pub on the corner and about 25 ten year old children surrounding it. Their parents have been inside the pub getting drunk I am guessing.. these kids pretty much attacked us. I have never felt so threaten by children before in my life. They began throwing rocks and mooning us it was crazy! Needless to say after this happened we couldn't get the group back on track. It was still a good night and now thinking back... it is really funny.
The next day we went with Chrissy to pick up her sister and her brother-in-law from the airport. This brought a lot of emotions out in me. I was crying in the airport because I was thinking about when I finally get to see my family!! It was a bitter sweet moment. I also couldn't stop thinking about how my boyfriend is coming in less than a week and how amazing it is going to be to see him!! ugh only 43 more days until I am home with my mommy and the rest of my family.. I seriously can't wait for that moment!!
After our field Chrissy, Shawna and I decided to stay in Dublin for the night. That night we did Dublin's Ghost walk, it was a great time. Keeping in mind during our field trip Eric had warned us to not go on the Northside of Dublin at night. Well little did we know the ghost walk took place in the Northside of Dublin. The first half an hour was great, I enjoyed very second and it was really fascinating. When we got to one part of our tour there was a pub on the corner and about 25 ten year old children surrounding it. Their parents have been inside the pub getting drunk I am guessing.. these kids pretty much attacked us. I have never felt so threaten by children before in my life. They began throwing rocks and mooning us it was crazy! Needless to say after this happened we couldn't get the group back on track. It was still a good night and now thinking back... it is really funny.
The next day we went with Chrissy to pick up her sister and her brother-in-law from the airport. This brought a lot of emotions out in me. I was crying in the airport because I was thinking about when I finally get to see my family!! It was a bitter sweet moment. I also couldn't stop thinking about how my boyfriend is coming in less than a week and how amazing it is going to be to see him!! ugh only 43 more days until I am home with my mommy and the rest of my family.. I seriously can't wait for that moment!!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Okay, now that things have finally calmed down I can finally write about my wonderful experience in Germany! When we arrived to the airport Shawna's cousin (Roland) met us there so we could take the train to his house. This was very comforting because I myself speak no German at all and I had no idea where I was. Roland could not have been nicer! He talked to his neighbors before we arrived and set up a place for us to stay since his nieghbors had a guesthouse.
For our first day we went to a medieval city. Every thing in this little town looked straight out of a movie. The architexture was truely amazing. Every house there was made out of wood unlike the houses that are built today. While I was walking around I felt like I was in Beauty and the Beast and people were going to be singing to me while I walked down the streets. Along with the housing being different the streets were so narrow! I was a shock a car could even fit down them.
The next day we adventured off without Roland and went to the nearby zoo. I was a little nervous for this since I didn't know my way around and not being able to speak German I thought I would surely get lost. But even not being able to speak German I felt so welcomed and people were trying to talk to us even though they spoke very little English. The zoo not only housed many unique animals but had many green houses for different plants and flowers which were beautiful! The zoo itself was very clean and very pretty. The exhibits were not like the ones back home where animals are up high on a hill or what seems like miles away. All the animals were very close and you could almost touch, which I thought was very neat.
On the third day we went to a castle and pumpkin festival. We didn't go into the castle but the outside was more than enough to see. There were gardens all around filled with beautiful roses and other flowers. The pumpkin festival was on the same property of the castle. Since I have been abroad this was the first time I actually felt like I was at "home". Fall is my favorite season back in Pittsburgh and Ireland doesn't have the prettiest fall lol.. Germany however had an awesome fall! All the leaves were changing and this pumpkin festival put the icing on the cake. They had a 800 pound pumpkin that a man from America was craving. The only thing missing was the pumpkin pie!
The fourth and finally day was definitely one that I"ll remember for the rest of my life. We took a trip to Heidelberg and this is where my great-grandmother lived before moving to the states. Every picture from my great-grandmother shows a river, castle and a bridge. While on our way to Heidelberg we found the river the whole way there!! Then as soon we go into the town I saw the castle. We actually were able to walk through the castle. From the top of the castle we could see the whole city, it was truly beautiful and it was there I got to see the bridge. After the castle we did some shopping and I got some presents for my family. This was probably my favorite moment of Germany.
This trip was exactly what I needed! Being in a family setting and playing games as a little family nightly really helped with my home sickness. I have also realized what great of an opportunity this truly is for me. I may never get the chance to come back over to Europe so I plan on traveling and living life to the fullest for my remained of time over here.
For our first day we went to a medieval city. Every thing in this little town looked straight out of a movie. The architexture was truely amazing. Every house there was made out of wood unlike the houses that are built today. While I was walking around I felt like I was in Beauty and the Beast and people were going to be singing to me while I walked down the streets. Along with the housing being different the streets were so narrow! I was a shock a car could even fit down them.
The next day we adventured off without Roland and went to the nearby zoo. I was a little nervous for this since I didn't know my way around and not being able to speak German I thought I would surely get lost. But even not being able to speak German I felt so welcomed and people were trying to talk to us even though they spoke very little English. The zoo not only housed many unique animals but had many green houses for different plants and flowers which were beautiful! The zoo itself was very clean and very pretty. The exhibits were not like the ones back home where animals are up high on a hill or what seems like miles away. All the animals were very close and you could almost touch, which I thought was very neat.
On the third day we went to a castle and pumpkin festival. We didn't go into the castle but the outside was more than enough to see. There were gardens all around filled with beautiful roses and other flowers. The pumpkin festival was on the same property of the castle. Since I have been abroad this was the first time I actually felt like I was at "home". Fall is my favorite season back in Pittsburgh and Ireland doesn't have the prettiest fall lol.. Germany however had an awesome fall! All the leaves were changing and this pumpkin festival put the icing on the cake. They had a 800 pound pumpkin that a man from America was craving. The only thing missing was the pumpkin pie!
The fourth and finally day was definitely one that I"ll remember for the rest of my life. We took a trip to Heidelberg and this is where my great-grandmother lived before moving to the states. Every picture from my great-grandmother shows a river, castle and a bridge. While on our way to Heidelberg we found the river the whole way there!! Then as soon we go into the town I saw the castle. We actually were able to walk through the castle. From the top of the castle we could see the whole city, it was truly beautiful and it was there I got to see the bridge. After the castle we did some shopping and I got some presents for my family. This was probably my favorite moment of Germany.
This trip was exactly what I needed! Being in a family setting and playing games as a little family nightly really helped with my home sickness. I have also realized what great of an opportunity this truly is for me. I may never get the chance to come back over to Europe so I plan on traveling and living life to the fullest for my remained of time over here.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
This past week was probably one of the worst weeks I have been through during my time abroad. I have realize how much I appreciate home. Being here I can already tell that I am growing stronger as a person. I am become less reliant on my car, cell phone, and in some way my family. I will always be close with my family especially my mom, she is more than my mom she is my best friend. Up until this trip I didn't think I would be able to go away from home for such a long time and yes I miss my mommy, my little sister, and my whole family but I realize I can do this and I don't need them by my side (as much as I wish they could be). I am very grateful in a way I get to realize this about myself and have this opportunity to grow as person.
Our field trip this Friday (October 14) was to Kilkenny. While we were there we went to the castle and Smithwick's brewery. I loved Kilkenny, the town was so lovely and there was towns of shopping shops. I am planning on going back for a day so that I can fully look around and see what the town has to offer and of course do some shopping.
I am very pleased to say that tomorrow morning I'll be on a flight to GERMANY!! Yay! Germany is some where I have wanted to go to for a long long time! My great-grandmother was an ancestor from there and she passed away when I was a baby. During my time there I will get to go to Heidelberg and see exactly where she came from. This is really special to me because I am the first out of my family to actually be able to go to Germany and see where my great-grandmother came from. All I can say is that I am very excited and my feelings are seriously indescribable!!
Well I need to go pack :) I can't wait to share my Germany stories with you!!
60 more days.. I can't wait
Our field trip this Friday (October 14) was to Kilkenny. While we were there we went to the castle and Smithwick's brewery. I loved Kilkenny, the town was so lovely and there was towns of shopping shops. I am planning on going back for a day so that I can fully look around and see what the town has to offer and of course do some shopping.
I am very pleased to say that tomorrow morning I'll be on a flight to GERMANY!! Yay! Germany is some where I have wanted to go to for a long long time! My great-grandmother was an ancestor from there and she passed away when I was a baby. During my time there I will get to go to Heidelberg and see exactly where she came from. This is really special to me because I am the first out of my family to actually be able to go to Germany and see where my great-grandmother came from. All I can say is that I am very excited and my feelings are seriously indescribable!!
Well I need to go pack :) I can't wait to share my Germany stories with you!!
60 more days.. I can't wait
Sunday, October 9, 2011
This week has probably been the hardest week yet for me. Wednesday (October 5) I recieved the care package from my mom. This package really hit me hard for some reason. Yes, it was only a bunch of food, a magazine, pictures that my little sister drew for me and hair feathers to me it was "home" in a box. I just sat on my bed looking at the contains of my box crying for probably a good hour. Since I have been here I have missed home but this time I was actually ready to pack my things and head home. You never realize how important the little things in life actually are until you don't have them any more. By leaving home I have learned a lot about myself and also this trip has already shaped me into a better person. I have realized that when I return home I am going to be much more apperciative for things. I have never thought of myself as a selfish person but in reality we all have this trait. No one realizes how convient things are in America. In Ireland places close at 7 pm at the lastest and they do not have a one stop shop. When you go shopping for your groceries you go to one store then if you need school supplies you go to another, its crazy!! Back home we just go to Walmart and we have everything we could ever want and need under one roof ( I freaking miss it!). Along with convient shopping, I miss my car! Ugh when I see my car I may just run over and hug it! I don't mind walking though I can be a lazy person I am not that lazy but when I hike about a mile every day just to go buy food to just walk back so that I can cook the food I just purchased. It gets really annoying (especially when it rains every day). I wish there was some bus system like Pitt students have back home but of course there is not.
Besides my homesickness we had another field trip this Friday to Glendalough.The scenery of this location was beautiful! There was this waterfall that was just ugh so pretty. I have never seen a waterfall before so this was really special for me. The only thing I would like to have changed was I would have liked to go on my own pace and just take in my surroundings. I felt as though I was rush and that I wasn't able to actually be thankful for my experience. I would definetly would like to go back to this place and just take it all in again. But all in all I had a very nice time and took got a lot of pictures.
My time here is going by quickly and I am enjoying every second of it the best I can. Every day is getting easier but I do have my moments where I just have break downs and want to go home. Only 69 days...
Besides my homesickness we had another field trip this Friday to Glendalough.The scenery of this location was beautiful! There was this waterfall that was just ugh so pretty. I have never seen a waterfall before so this was really special for me. The only thing I would like to have changed was I would have liked to go on my own pace and just take in my surroundings. I felt as though I was rush and that I wasn't able to actually be thankful for my experience. I would definetly would like to go back to this place and just take it all in again. But all in all I had a very nice time and took got a lot of pictures.
My time here is going by quickly and I am enjoying every second of it the best I can. Every day is getting easier but I do have my moments where I just have break downs and want to go home. Only 69 days...
Monday, October 3, 2011
So it has been a while since my last blog but nothing really interesting has happened. There isn't really much to do around this town besides going out to the pubs at night. As much as it would be lovely to get out of the apartment I have been spending most nights in because I don't want to waste money by going out. Going out here isn't as easy as just walking out of my dorm back home and going down to Fifth Ave. To get to town is a twenty minute walk and when I go out I like to wear my heels; no one wants to walk twenty minutes before their night even begins. So this means we have to call a cab, which living on a budget cab fees seem to add up quickly. So needless to say I have been trying to save money by staying in and trying to make the best of it by hanging out with friends. Thank goodness we have our Friday "field trips"! (which are free!! YAY)
This past weekend has been the greatest experience since I have been here. Friday we had our second "field trip", we went to the Irish National Heritage Park in Wexford. This trip was very education; through the tour we got to see what the Irish houses first looked like when they came to Ireland. Along with their housing we got to see the how they improved into nicer housing and how they accomplished farming. The next place we went to was the beach where Saving Private Ryan was filmed. There was nothing too special about this beach. Normally beaches back home have board walks or little beach shops all around them but this beach only had on little beach shop in the parking lot and it wasn't even open. When I'm at the beach I am so at peace with myself and I can just sit there watching the ocean and listening to the waves for hours. Though it was raining I haven't been more relaxed since I have been here. I wish there was a beach close to Carlow so I would be able to go and just sit there and leave all my worries else where. This was just the start to my weekend.
Shawna, Chrissy and I planned a trip to Cork to visit the Blarney Stone and Castle and the Jameson Distillery. Saturday morning we left by bus to go to Cork. We had to go to Waterford to catch another bus to finally get to Cork. The scenery on the bus ride there was so beautiful! We drove by this mountain breath-taking. Though it has fog around it , the fog was what made it so pretty. Every one would tell me how green Ireland was but by taking this three hour bus ride to Cork was when I finally realized how many different shades of green there actually are here. As soon as we got to Cork we got on another bus that took us to Blarney. So far this is by far my favorite place I have visited so far. While we were here we went to the Blarney Castle. It was here that I finally felt like me doing this whole experience was actually worth it. We climbed the narrow stairway up to the very top of the castle to where the Blarney stone is located. To kiss the Blarney stone you have to lay on your back and go upside down to kiss the stone. Thankfully there is a guy that holds you so you don't fall but I couldn't help but feel as though I was going to fall straight to the ground.
While in Cork we got to experience our first hostle...let me just say this was a treat! haha completely not what I was expecting by any means. The room was so small, online it said it would sleep three people. The bed was a bunk bed with a "double" bed on the bottom. Needless to say Shawna and I had to share a bed and cuddle. But this experience is definitely something I will remember for the rest of my life. Sunday we woke up and went to see the Jameson Distillery. We got to take the tour and see how Jameson was orginally created and the process they still use today to make the whiskey. At the end of the tour everyone gets a sample of Jameson whiskey. Also eight volunteers get to do the "taste testing" which is tasting scotch, American whiskey (Jack Daniels) and Jameson. Of course, Chrissy and I volunteered to partake in this fun experience. I can honestly say Jameson was the smoothest to get down. At the end of the taste testing the eight volunteers were given certifications stating that we ae offical Irish whiskey drinkers.
This weekend was exactly what I need to help me get through the weeks to come. It made me feel like I chose to do this for all the right reasons and that all the homesickness is worth it in the end for times like these...
Only 75 more day until I get to go home and see my loved ones who I miss so much
This past weekend has been the greatest experience since I have been here. Friday we had our second "field trip", we went to the Irish National Heritage Park in Wexford. This trip was very education; through the tour we got to see what the Irish houses first looked like when they came to Ireland. Along with their housing we got to see the how they improved into nicer housing and how they accomplished farming. The next place we went to was the beach where Saving Private Ryan was filmed. There was nothing too special about this beach. Normally beaches back home have board walks or little beach shops all around them but this beach only had on little beach shop in the parking lot and it wasn't even open. When I'm at the beach I am so at peace with myself and I can just sit there watching the ocean and listening to the waves for hours. Though it was raining I haven't been more relaxed since I have been here. I wish there was a beach close to Carlow so I would be able to go and just sit there and leave all my worries else where. This was just the start to my weekend.
Shawna, Chrissy and I planned a trip to Cork to visit the Blarney Stone and Castle and the Jameson Distillery. Saturday morning we left by bus to go to Cork. We had to go to Waterford to catch another bus to finally get to Cork. The scenery on the bus ride there was so beautiful! We drove by this mountain breath-taking. Though it has fog around it , the fog was what made it so pretty. Every one would tell me how green Ireland was but by taking this three hour bus ride to Cork was when I finally realized how many different shades of green there actually are here. As soon as we got to Cork we got on another bus that took us to Blarney. So far this is by far my favorite place I have visited so far. While we were here we went to the Blarney Castle. It was here that I finally felt like me doing this whole experience was actually worth it. We climbed the narrow stairway up to the very top of the castle to where the Blarney stone is located. To kiss the Blarney stone you have to lay on your back and go upside down to kiss the stone. Thankfully there is a guy that holds you so you don't fall but I couldn't help but feel as though I was going to fall straight to the ground.
While in Cork we got to experience our first hostle...let me just say this was a treat! haha completely not what I was expecting by any means. The room was so small, online it said it would sleep three people. The bed was a bunk bed with a "double" bed on the bottom. Needless to say Shawna and I had to share a bed and cuddle. But this experience is definitely something I will remember for the rest of my life. Sunday we woke up and went to see the Jameson Distillery. We got to take the tour and see how Jameson was orginally created and the process they still use today to make the whiskey. At the end of the tour everyone gets a sample of Jameson whiskey. Also eight volunteers get to do the "taste testing" which is tasting scotch, American whiskey (Jack Daniels) and Jameson. Of course, Chrissy and I volunteered to partake in this fun experience. I can honestly say Jameson was the smoothest to get down. At the end of the taste testing the eight volunteers were given certifications stating that we ae offical Irish whiskey drinkers.
This weekend was exactly what I need to help me get through the weeks to come. It made me feel like I chose to do this for all the right reasons and that all the homesickness is worth it in the end for times like these...
Only 75 more day until I get to go home and see my loved ones who I miss so much
Friday, September 23, 2011
It has been a week and three days and let me say it has been an eventful time already. I had my first day of classes Wednesday which was a huge mess. I was told my class would start at 10 o'clock and I get there to find out that class no longer exists. Long story short I had to completely rearrange my whole schedule to meet all my needs for credits back at home. So now I will have classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Yes that means I missed my first day of classes this past Tuesday but hopefully the teacher will be understanding and flexible with me considering all my issues.
Today we had our first Irish experience field trip. It was so nice to get out and see what Carlow has to offer beside the town and pubs. I can honestly say I will never forget the different locations we went to today and breath taken it was to witness everything. My favorite place of all today was visting the walled garden. Just history that location has it beyond incredible and I would love to go back and experience it all again. The greatest part of all was while I was taking in my surroundings of the garden a wedding party showed up to take pictures. I wish we had a place as beautiful as this location so on my wedding day I could go there and take pictures. :) But I'm sure I'll find something beautiful in America.
Tomorrow we are going to Dublin to go shopping and experience the city life compare to Carlow. I can't wait until I can write about my experience over! I still miss everyone back home but over time its getting better...only 86 days.
Today we had our first Irish experience field trip. It was so nice to get out and see what Carlow has to offer beside the town and pubs. I can honestly say I will never forget the different locations we went to today and breath taken it was to witness everything. My favorite place of all today was visting the walled garden. Just history that location has it beyond incredible and I would love to go back and experience it all again. The greatest part of all was while I was taking in my surroundings of the garden a wedding party showed up to take pictures. I wish we had a place as beautiful as this location so on my wedding day I could go there and take pictures. :) But I'm sure I'll find something beautiful in America.
Tomorrow we are going to Dublin to go shopping and experience the city life compare to Carlow. I can't wait until I can write about my experience over! I still miss everyone back home but over time its getting better...only 86 days.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
What did I get myself into?!
Okay so I made it to Ireland. The emotions I had arriving are honestly indescribable.. After the bus ride to our apartment we then took a tour of our new town. I felt like everything was kind of just thrown at me and then I was just let go to adventure out on my own ( very scary). I have learned one thing though the Irish are very laid-back and are helpful people and give directions very well :) I had to ask a lot of people several questions lol...
Culture shock and home sickness is already here! I remember sitting back at home before my departure thinking of how my life would be here.. example going to pubs and just having a wonderful time. That has not been the case. Yesterday I felt completely out of my element and had many emotional break downs. I have noticed how much I take for granted back in the states such as my cell phone. Since I have been here my world kind of focuses on finding Internet so I could come in contact with my mom and let her know I was okay. I wasn't sure what to do beside try to relax myself and tell me I did this for the right reasons and my time here will get better.
Today on the other hand was much better I had my orientation at my school and got my schedule or "time table" as the Irish say. I am very pleased that I will only have classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays so I will get long weekends to experience hopefully everything I want to. I am happy to say I haven't cry today or felt like I wanted to come home so I guess things are starting to look better. The weather is chilly kind of like our late October feeling weather and it didn't rain today..YAY! Going shopping today I noticed how expensive things are here compared to the states. Most of the things are the same but there are some things I have no idea what they are lol. But I will learn to become familiar with such things hopefully.
I know things are going to be bad before they can get better but I pray that the worst is done and over with! I miss my loved ones back home but I know they are supporting me and will be ready for all my stories when I return. So again keeping my head held high!
Culture shock and home sickness is already here! I remember sitting back at home before my departure thinking of how my life would be here.. example going to pubs and just having a wonderful time. That has not been the case. Yesterday I felt completely out of my element and had many emotional break downs. I have noticed how much I take for granted back in the states such as my cell phone. Since I have been here my world kind of focuses on finding Internet so I could come in contact with my mom and let her know I was okay. I wasn't sure what to do beside try to relax myself and tell me I did this for the right reasons and my time here will get better.
Today on the other hand was much better I had my orientation at my school and got my schedule or "time table" as the Irish say. I am very pleased that I will only have classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays so I will get long weekends to experience hopefully everything I want to. I am happy to say I haven't cry today or felt like I wanted to come home so I guess things are starting to look better. The weather is chilly kind of like our late October feeling weather and it didn't rain today..YAY! Going shopping today I noticed how expensive things are here compared to the states. Most of the things are the same but there are some things I have no idea what they are lol. But I will learn to become familiar with such things hopefully.
I know things are going to be bad before they can get better but I pray that the worst is done and over with! I miss my loved ones back home but I know they are supporting me and will be ready for all my stories when I return. So again keeping my head held high!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Welp, I only have one day left before my departure. I remember when I first decided to go to Ireland, I was so excited about being able to experience something so wonderful but as my departure approaches me my happy/excited feeling isn't the only feeling there. I'm so nervous and scared about leaving for another country for such a long time but I know this is going to be such a wonderful opportunity for me. So I'm going to keep my head held high and keep a smile on my face!
Time to go pack some more! Next time I write I'll be in Ireland!!
Time to go pack some more! Next time I write I'll be in Ireland!!
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