My trip :)

In these past three months I have created memories that will last a life time with friends that I now call family. Ireland has become a second home to me. From the moment I stepped off the plane I was in a daze. I could not believe that I was getting this amazing opportunity. Still to this day I feel like I like this is a dream. Now that time is running out I look back on the times I had here. When we stepped off the plane the members of town council welcomed us with open arms and accepted us into their town. Dungarven is a beautiful town which I am lucky to say I lived here, even if it was for a short time.  The Mercyhurst students became part of their community. We shopped at the local thrift shop and got to know the family working there. We went and saw a movie at the local theater and of course we became acquainted with the local pub life. At the pubs we not only made friends with each other but also with the locals. The people who lived here were kind and big hearted. Every time I met someone new they would offer their help if needed. If we were in need of anything from directions to the beach or a ride to the Blarney stone there was always someone there to help. I have never felt so welcomed before. Not only were the people amazing but the landscape of Dungarven is breathtaking.  One of my favorite memories was when me and a few friends took a bike ride out to the beach. The bike ride itself was beautiful from the patchwork fields in the distance to the cows mooing right next to us. Then on the beach we just got lost in its beauty and walked around for an hour picking up sea glass and just having some fun.  

I was so glad when my family was able to visit me here and experience the charm of Dungarven. We did the cliché touristy things like going to the Waterford crystal factory and going to Cork to kiss the Blarney stone, but my favorite activity was visiting the fairy tree. We were told that if you truly believed in fairies that if you put your car in neutral then it would roll up the hill backwards. Our faces as the car started to roll backwards was priceless. I wish someone was there to film our reactions because they would have won the jack pot on America’s funniest home videos!  The family trip to Ireland will be remembered as a magical experience.  

I feel like my time here was not long enough.  I am not ready to say good bye to the friends that I have made here. I am going to miss the walk to school along the quay, and going to Murray’s for a pint after class. My Saturday’s won’t be filled with Tom Keith tours and Carmel’s snacks. It is hard to say goodbye but, “Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean I'll miss you until we meet again.”

A small goodbye

The last night in Dungarvan was bitter sweet. I spent the night surrounded by friends and loved ones. After being on this trip I gained over 30 friends and a pair of grandparents. We sang and drank the night away at one of our favorite pubs. We celebrated the time that we had there and the future times we will have together! I know that someday I will be back in the beautiful town of Dungarven; My home by the sea!

"Dungarvan, my home town I love best of all
Dear old faces and places sure oft I recall
In my heart I keep wishing some day I will be

Back again in Dungarvan, my home by the sea"

Living on the edge

The Cliffs of Moher are breathtaking! When you stand next to the cliffs you realize how big the world really is. It just made me want to explore more of what’s out there. When I stood on the edge of the cliffs I felt invincible! At least until Tom yelled at us to get down! Although the cliffs are gorgeous, they are dangerous. One big gust of wind and it can blow you right over the edge. I had fun taking pictures hanging over the edge though J It was thrilling! The water there was so blue and the cliffs were so green. It was like someone came and painted the scene to perfection. We spent hours just walking the paths and enjoying the sights. I see now why this is one of the top tourist attractions of Ireland. I have been there once and I wouldn't say no to going there again! 

Aran Islands

When we went to the west we visited the Aran Islands for the day. During Dr. Reeds English class we learned about these islands. Many of the authors that we read talked about this place. They called it an escape from modern times. I see now why they loved it there. It was like stepping back in time; when life was simple. There are double the amounts of cattle on the island then there are people. This is not an exaggeration!  We rented a small van and a tour guide drove us around the island. He brought us the bay to see wild seals that come up on shore. We got to pet a beautiful black beauty horse. My favorite part was when we climbed a hill to get to an old ruined fort. It stood on the edge of the cliffs and you could see miles out into the sea. It was so peaceful on the top of that hill. We didn’t want to climb back down. After exploring the island I didn’t want to go back to the mainland. I understand why the writers we learned about wanted to spend their last days in the west. It brings such a peace to a person. It is like a little piece of heaven on earth. 

3 more down

When I was in London I was able to check off three items on my bucket list! We started with a bang on Sunday by going to Stonehenge. On my list is to see the wonders of the world. I did not know that there are so many different wonders! I now have on down! Stonehenge is place of mystery and awe. How did these people create this magnificent structure.  And not only how but WHY!? There are multiple different theories, some involving magic, but we will never know the truth. Another mystery of the world.

The second item I checked off the list was going to Abbey Road! I crossed the same area and took the same picture as the BEATLES! EEK! A dream come true! Since I was a little girl my dad would play me the Beatles so it was incredible to be in a place that was such a part of my childhood J

The last thing I checked off was the London Eye. I have had a slight fear of heights and I told myself that if I had the chance I had to conquer that fear and hop on that massive Ferris wheel. Well the last day that we were in London was the day to check it off the bucket list. I am so glad that I took the plunge because the sights were incredible. I could see all of London from the top of the 443 foot Ferris wheel!

Throughout this entire study abroad experience I have checked off multiple items on my bucket list but for every one I check off my list, three more grow in its place!

London!

My last adventure on this study abroad trip was going to London. It was me and two of my good friends crossing the pond to the notorious London! The trip was perfect. We did everything that we wanted to do but still took time to relax. The first night we took the underground to Tower Bridge and saw the city skyline. We enjoyed the view so much that we decided to eat dinner right on the water. We could see the bridge, the river and the city. It was a great start to a great trip!

The next day was another day to scratch an item off on the bucket list. We started at 8 am with a bus tour of the city. It was like we were in the movies, touring London in the double Decker buses with the look of amazement painted on our faces. At 11 the tour bud dropped us off the see the changing of the guards. Usually, people crowd in front of Buckingham palace to just get a glimpse of the guards. The tour guide knew a way for us to get front row seats! Instead of heading to the palace we went to the building where the old guards marched out and walked to the new guards. I was able to stand on the sides of the street and see them up close and personal! Something that not a lot of people have the chance to do. Then we hopped 

back on the bus where we finished the tour at Harrods.

The next two days we walked around the city taking in the sights and the history of London.  We went from one end of the city to the next. Stopping in between sights too of course do a little bit of shopping J We spent half of our day walking through Portobello market near Noting hill.We took a water cruise down the river that passed under the Tower Bridge, London Bridge and the bridge that was filmed in the Harry Potter films. We also went to King's Cross train station and took pictures at platform 9 3/4. And of course we wandered the streets taking pictures in every classic telephone booth we could find! :)

It was a trip filled with quirky crazy moments with friends that are dear to my heart!

Sachsenhausen concentration camp

When I was in Germany we went and toured the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. It is an experience that will stay with me forever. In eighth grade we spent the entire year learning about the events of the Holocaust. I thought after spending a year learning about this and then refreshing our knowledge every year after in high school, I would be prepared to visit the camp. I was wrong. I knew the events that happened there, but to stand in the same place that the horrific events occurred at was overwhelming. It was surreal to be there. I had seen pictures and heard testimonies from survivors but the camp was not what I expected. The feeling that you get as you enter the camp is bone chilling. We toured the medical center. It was not a place of nursing people back to health but a place of experimentation. Then we walked the grounds and ended up at the sleeping barracks. The museum kept the barracks the exact way they were years ago. You really got a look into the conditions that the people were surviving in. I am glad that I had the opportunity to visit a place of such significance. I believe that if everyone has the opportunity they should visit a camp. It brings a reality to the stories we have been told.