Well today is my official last day in Dublin for my study abroad experience. In the first blog I wrote about how I hoped my experience abroad would be a challenging, fulfilling and full of new adventures. With pure confidence I can say that all of those desires came true.
Last weekend could not have been more fun and a fantastic kick off to my final days in Dublin! It began with Sara arriving in Dublin venturing to city center walking around town, crepes, and a castle! Then we went up to campus to meet my friends for our final get together, potluck or our Holiday and Farewell Dinner. We had so much food, fun and white elephant presents! On Saturday Sara and I ventured to Howth and Malahide then back into Dublin city center to visit Ireland’s oldest pub - The Brazen Head. On Sunday we went to Phoenix Park to see the President’s House, US Ambassador’s House and the wild deer! Then to Guinness, the Book of Kells/Old Library and of course to try Irish Coffee before Sara had to leave to return to Barcelona.
Last weekend could not have been more fun and a fantastic kick off to my final days in Dublin! It began with Sara arriving in Dublin venturing to city center walking around town, crepes, and a castle! Then we went up to campus to meet my friends for our final get together, potluck or our Holiday and Farewell Dinner. We had so much food, fun and white elephant presents! On Saturday Sara and I ventured to Howth and Malahide then back into Dublin city center to visit Ireland’s oldest pub - The Brazen Head. On Sunday we went to Phoenix Park to see the President’s House, US Ambassador’s House and the wild deer! Then to Guinness, the Book of Kells/Old Library and of course to try Irish Coffee before Sara had to leave to return to Barcelona.
This week has been a really tough week filled with an immense amount of homework and goodbyes. The choir I joined on campus had our final concert on Wednesday, so I had to say goodbye there. I had to say goodbye to my service site (volunteering) that I have been with every week as well. My final days volunteering with them were spent taking groups of students to Bull Island in Dublin Bay, working in the community garden and facilitating tree planting workshops at one of the schools nearby. I learned so much from working with them this semester and from their organization. On my last day they had an incredibly sweet card and a present for me as I left. Thursday was the last night I spent hanging out with a few of the incredible friends I have made. Then today the program I am studying abroad through also had a farewell and final lunch meeting. I will be saying an official goodbye to my host family tomorrow morning who has been there for me through literally the thick and thin. I cannot express how grateful I am for them and how much I will miss them.
Tomorrow I head to Switzerland with Casey & Jake, then off to Florence to see Jessica and Barcelona to see Sara before I head back to Ireland. Once back in Ireland I get to meet my family and we are spending Christmas here on the Emerald Island. This has been a semester that has changed my life through incredible experiences, travel, life long friends and so much more. I am happy that it is this hard for me to leave and say goodbye to everything I have been a part of here because that means I have loved it while here and have forged unique and incredible relationships. My time here in Ireland has allowed me to fall in love with this country, the people, and the many adventures I have had. My amazing sister messaged me today and said remember “it is never goodbye, just see you later.” Ellie is right thanks for the advice lil’ sis!
Slainte! (Cheers in Irish Gaelic)
*I will write at least one more blog once back in the US about my final travels and my return. Keep an eye out for me adding new photos to my photos page on this site over the next week or so. I will be adding more from the last month in Ireland