Back to the United States, back to California, back to San Francisco, back to reality. Until I can make it back to Europe, I plan on living vicariously through the memories I made this summer.
"How was Ireland?" I've heard this over 100 times since July, when I landed in Oregon. People are curious, or maybe just doing the sociable thing to do, and asking about my trip. There's just no way I can accurately put into words how Ireland was. There are the obvious phenotype characteristics: green, beautiful, rainy, etc. Or there is the more in-depth answer; it was amazing, the best experience I've ever had, yata yata yata. But really, it was so much more.
Ireland... it was better than a dream. I was lost, but I found so much. Time didn't matter. Calories didn't matter. School didn't matter. Appearance didn't matter. Nothing mattered. I wasn't worried about fitting in, I wasn't worried about standing out. I was me. I lived day by day on what I needed. I ate when I was hungry. I went to bed when I was tired. I lived out of the things on my back. I left what I couldn't carry, and I realized how little I actually needed. I could only use my phone once a day- if that. Life was as simple as it could have been. And I was happy. I was so happy.
Now don't go getting the wrong idea. I'm still happy. I love San Francisco. I love who I am here, too. The difference is that San Francisco is hustle and bustle. Everything matters in San Francisco, and the goal is to get on top. The goal is to do better than everyone else. To get that interview, job, promotion. To make money. The goal in Ireland was to be a better me. To understand the world. Money didn't matter. Being better than someone else didn't matter. Me, I mattered. And that, for once, felt nice. I could take the time to take care of me. I read 4 books. I wrote everyday. I met new people everyday. I explored. I walked. I rode bikes. I got to know my brother. I simplified my way of living, and by doing that, everything made more sense. I didn't stress. I lived. I truly and fully experienced life. And that, that is why I loved Ireland. It gave to me what I couldn't find elsewhere.
In all honesty, it probably would have grown old after awhile. Hostels are hard. But it's exactly what I needed. The people are what I needed- friendly, hilarious, non-assuming. The land was amazing- green, fresh, pristine. It felt like a home away from home.
I'll be back for you, Ireland. Not because I believe 6 weeks with you gives me the right to say I want to spend forever with you. But because I need more time with you. I need more time to find myself, and maybe by finding myself with you, I'll be able to commit to spending an eternity with you. For now, San Francisco has my heart, because San Francisco keeps me going. It doesn't give me much of a rest, and I do get warn down, stressed out, over-worked, and fed-up. But it's here that puts me on top, and like most American's in the world, on top is where I strive to be. Not out of spite of others, but to better myself. So, one day, Ireland, I'll be back for you. If not for ever, then for always you'll be in my heart. Because you, unlike America, gave me more than I could give myself- a breath of fresh air.
Here are some exerts from my experiences I wrote about in Ireland:
Sunday 5/22/2016
"I'm currently aboard American Airlines flight 722, it's about 2pm and I'm bored out of my mind. I've napped, I've read, I've snacked, what else is there to do??"
Wednesday 5/25/2016
"I LOVE IRELAND! I've had such an amazing experience so far. I don't think I can put into words how much fun I'm having." "The first place I ate at was Glen Tavern. We looked like confused American's when we entered, and the first thing our waiter said was 'ya needy bitches,' because we seated ourselves and then asked for menus!"
Friday 5/27/2016
"These last two days have been amazing!
Sunday 5/29/2016
"I'm having an extraordinary time and cant believe I've already been here for nearly a week!"
Monday 5/30/2016
"We were offered a ride into Limerick by a very kind man who was training his lab puppy. He put us in his van, 2 in front, 1 in back, and drove us to the bus station." "We walked through a beautiful park and looked at woolen goods in the fun little cottage shops. We then went into a gorgeous Roman Catholic Cathedral and then walked a stone wall across the river while traffic was coming, over to an abbey."
"We visited with a cow and then continued to a castle that looked to be in some kind of ruins. It was blocked off, so we jumped a fence and squeezed through a second row of bushes."
"We did what we wanted, when we wanted, and it was absolutely perfect."
Tuesday 5/31/2016
"After trivia we went to the second abandoned castle slightly buzzed."
Wednesday 6/1/2016
"(we) went up to some guys who were walking on a rope. They let us try walking- and let me tell you, it's harder than it looks!"
"We then saw some travelers with a horse. Madison waved and we got flipped off."
Monday 6/6/2016
"I got straight up beaten by a savage woman. But I had a lot of fun and am still sore."
"Our Irish friends were on this trip, which made it all the more fun"
"We walked to the club at 11pm. We all got in, even though I later realized the age was 21+."
"He bought 7 drinks in one round! I would sip and then give them away."
Thursday 6/9/2016
"We ate a traditional Irish breakfast- I obviously liked it. Others... not so much."
Wednesday 6/15/2016
"Wow. How in the world is my summer class already over. I'm so bummed"
"We walked in the door and got a free drink in a pineapple."
"My horses name was Panther and we scaled mountain sides and he sprinted, and just ugh, it was awesome."
STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM ENDED AND ADAM JOINED ME FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS
Friday 6/17/2016
"Adam is here! He arrived yesterday from the Shannon airport and I made him walk to Cratloe from there. We accidentally took the longest route possible and walked 14 miles."
"I'm curled up on a chair by the window overlooking a castle. No wifi, no texting, no calling- bliss."
Saturday 6/18/2016
"I'm nestled on the top bunk in a small stone room with a single window overlooking the rest of the building."
"When we decided to head back, we got stopped by a devilish group of cows. They were beyond terrifying with their blank stares. They basically barricaded our only entrance/exit and made Adam and I retreat up the castle walls."
Wednesday 6/22/2016
"Adam and I are on a train headed to the Stansted Airport, right outside of London."
"On our way back to the hotel, after being completely worn out, we got lost. We took an extra hour finding the hotel, but eventually we made it. Thank god."
Thursday 6/23/2016
"I'm sitting on the wood floor of my hostel in Sligo- waiting for my turn in the bathroom."
"It was gorgeous. Absolutely amazingly breath-taking."
Friday 6/24/2016
"I'm hoping to see Madison in Galway- I miss her and all the super seven!"
Saturday 6/25/2016
"We just showered, breaking our 3 day no shower streak."
"We walked 16 miles today a long the Cliffs of Moher."
Monday 6/27/2016
"(we) watched both the game and the raging pub-goers. They lost 2-1, and that's when we took our next bus to Cork."
"I'm getting weary of the bus rides, the hostels, being dirty, unshaven, wearing the same clothes, squat peeing, etc. But at the same time, i'm not ready to go back to reality- back home."
"I'm in a room with 14 bunk beds. The rock-hard mattresses, enough to make my limbs fall asleep, and stained sheets. Mixed with the stale air and constant ear-piercing snoring, all making for a nonexistent nights sleep."
Tuesday 6/28/2016
"I don't want to leave."
So to answer the question- "How was Ireland?"
Ireland was all that I needed.
