Riptide

The last few days have been a bit of a whirlwind. We had a night out on the town in Dingle, a morning of shopping and an afternoon on horseback.  We had a couple more drinks before we went to bed. We missed our bus in Dingle due to a schedule change and had a fast taxi ride to Tralee instead. In my defense I've come down with a cold.

We got into Galway early Thursday evening. We wandered around the town and ate dinner by the water. The next morning we took a tour to see the Cliffs of Moher, Ailwee Caves, and the Burren. We had a great but the weather was uncooperative and we could just barely make out the cliffs. After a picnic dinner at the hostel, we wandered the town in search of music. Neither of us really wanted to drink so we ended up going into a tea shop that had about thirty different kinds of tea. The tea shop was actually/also a hookah bar. The tea was good and we enjoyed the calm atmosphere. This morning we went to the largest of the Aran Islands, Inishmor. It's really awesome. there are only about 700 residents. It also has a several thousand year old fort on it. The fort is interesting because the fourth side is just the edge of a cliff. The cliff has no fence so you can go right up to the edge. It was thrilling.

Of trains, buses and sheep

Today is bittersweet. I have officially moved out of Dublin. I no longer reside in Belgrove. It means that this adventure is wrapping up. However I'm on to the next one. My roommate and friend from back home Alex is here and we're off to travel together. We'll be touring around for the next couple weeks. I'll try and keep this updated on our adventures as we go.

I'm currently sitting on a train to dingle. Actually it's a train to Mallow, then to Tralee and then a bus to Dingle but you know.

I didn't even realize...

I just used an app on my phone to listen to my favorite radio station back home. I don't do it often. Partially because I forget I can but also because it makes me a bit homesick. The music itself doesn't make me homesick that much. It's the DJs and commercials, they remind me of what I'm missing out on. e.g. concerts or races. Anyway, it's probably been at least a month since I listened to it. Today it was like a punch to the gut. I can hear something I never could before...I hear a Colorado accent. I heard a commercial and it was like coming home. I can't tell you how it's different from my roommates' accents or what makes it what is but I know it's there. It caught me off guard because I never really could hear the difference before. It produced the oddest melancholy feeling. I desperately want to be back home with those accents, where I recognize all the social customs. I want the possibility of snow on Mothers Day and the madness that is the Centennial State Yet I don't want to leave my home here.

 I thought that I didn't miss the American accent and I think it still holds true. I do however miss the culture my state and even my county.

Exams are terrifying

Today I had my first exam. dun dun dun... I'm finding myself surprisingly unstressed this finals season. Maybe it's because I'm going on trip right after or that I'm looking forward to coming home. Or it could be that my grades come back pass/fail.  I've learned a lot but I don't feel like I've actually taken a semester of school.

The exam hall was so weird. At home, we just have our exams in our classroom usually. occasionally for bigger classes it might be somewhere else on campus. Here exams are not on campus and the rules are extremely strict. It was basically lines of desks in a big exhibit hall, fairgrounds style. There was several hundred desks and about 20 different classes taking their exams. There are also proctors walking up and down the rows. It takes me back to the standardized testing of high school. I prefer our exams at home.

Highs and Lows Trip 2: Portugal

Portugal was really a whirlwind trip. I went with a friend I met at a event hosted by the International Student society. We went all over the place in just a few days and were there for Carnival, the Portuguese version of Mardi Gras.

Lows: On our last day in Lisbon the car got booted, which makes for a great story now but it was highly stressful at the time. I also got lost one the way back from dinner to a Skype job interview and had to take a taxi back. We also go lost a bunch of times before we figured out this handy GPS map. let me tell you not having data when you;re used to a smartphone is frustrating.  Also on our second night Miriam got hit in the head with a door and ended up with a concussion which we didn't know about until we got back.

Highlights: The Carnival Parade in Loule was so cool. It wasn't huge but it was awesome. I also go a chance to go in the ocean which is always a highlight for me. Portugal was also just breathtakingly beautiful. The landscape, minus the fact of the coast, was very similar to home and it was nice. Also the sunshine! Warmth, it was lovely. I also took a bunch of artsy pictures which I love to do.

Things I'll bring back

I don't know how much I've changed as a person on this adventure but I've certainly picked up some traits. For example I feel a day is incomplete if I haven't had at least two cups of tea. The first thing I do in the morning after I drag myself out of bed, is put the kettle on. Some of the phrases I've already talked about. But grand and lovely I think may permanently imbed themselves in the way I talk. Some of the things I've started cooking here I'll probably make at home. Like the chicken stir-fry.

Highlights and Lowlights Trip 1: Cork

Cork was my first trip and was totally spontaneous. Three days before I booked a hostel and bought my train ticket. I went by myself to city with no plan. Overall it went well.

Lowlights: I had a bit too much time on my hands. I found out later that there are many things to see and do around Cork, not in town.  I was also there in the offseason, like way offseason. The tourist buses weren't running so it was a bit hard to get around. My hostel was not the nicest, the beds were uncomfortable, breakfast was decidedly lacking. Also, it's weird eating in restaurants by yourself.

Highlights: The town itself was really cool to walk around, it had all sorts of pedestrian only streets that I enjoyed exploring. I had this phenomenal brunch at a crepe place. The Goal, or jail, was really cool and worth the mile I walked to get to it. I got some amazing pictures on this trip, it was foggy and gorgeous one of the mornings. I loved the Crawford Art gallery. On the night that I was actually brave enough to go hang out in the bar I met some really cool people: a Croatian and two Irish guys. It was a good time and there was fun live music.

I think this trip made me realize how independent I really am. The Irish guys I met in the pub thought I was crazy for doing such a thing on my own, while I didn't think it was particularly brave. I also learned that it can be hard to travel alone. It is nice to be able to choose what you want to do but sometimes I found myself wishing that someone else was there to share it with or make a decision.