In the past two weeks, we've taken two fields trips. The first field trip was to the Aran Islands. There are three islands, Inishmore, Inishmaan, and Inisheer. Of those three, the largest island is the Inishmore; its 9 feet long and 3 feet wide. Before we got there, everyone told us to dress warm because it is super rainy and cold there. Up until then, I thought Ireland was rainy and cold so I dressed a little warmer than usual, thinking I could handle it. I was so wrong. It was a very damp island, beyond beautiful, but the damp, cold, weather made it challenging to enjoy it to the fullest. We went to Dun Aengus as well as toured the town. The town had a lot of history and fun facts, but my heart was sold at Dun Aengus. Overlooking the ocean from a cliff so high has never been on my bucket list until I saw the edge of the cliff. I suddenly fell in love and went up to the edge instantly. Everything I was wearing was soaked. Completely drench because of the rainy weather. 

This previous week, we went to Dublin to explore the city. We first saw the Kilmainham Gaol. This is the jail where a firing squad shot fourteen leaders of the Easter Rising. This started the movement to Ireland's independence from England. Seeing the jail and the living conditions made our prison systems seem luxurious. I only spent an hour in the jail for a tour and I was cold and uncomfortable. Many people spent a good chunk of their lives there because of diminutive offenses. Seeing what they experienced really puts into perspective how poorly they really were treated. I also got to see the Christ Church, the Dublin Castle, and a lot of Dublin.

 Which is a beautiful city. On our way home, we stopped at the Trim castle. As the tour went on, I couldn’t believe all the small things they thought to do to make their lives easier. For example, the chimney isn’t straight up and down, it winds around when the rain falls into the chimney, it doesn’t put it out. Simple things like that I wouldn’t have ever thought to do. Life was much harder back then and they still thought of simple things to do to make their life a little easier. After these two field trips, I am beyond excited for our upcoming trips.

Three weeks has gone by and I have still yet to be bored. Usually when I am back in the states, I have to sleep until 12 as well as taking a nap. Every day I get up around 9 to get ready for class. I drink a glass of coffee because coffee is wonderful. Then I sit in class for several hours. Thankfully, the breaks make class bearable. After class, I spend most days going to Spiddal. The food at Tih Gibblin is my favorite. The queso there is wonderful, as well as a lot of the food here. The walk to Spiddal won't ever get old, I don't think. I am constantly amazed by the ocean and the scenery. You can almost guarantee that there will be rain every day. Even if it looks sunny, it will probably rain before the day is done. The rain doesn't bother me now like it does in the states. Usually when it rains I don't like to leave my house but you don't have an option here. The weather has grown on me quicker than I thought it would. The most miserable day that I have had so far is like a normal winter day in Nebraska. I have also gotten crazy close with everyone on the trip. Being out of town means you spend most of your time with the people that are on the trip. Between walking to Spiddal, and just spending lots of days/nights together, you get real close real quick. Another thing I do almost daily is go to the ocean. With the ocean being so close to me, it doesn’t take much to get there and it is a view that won’t get old. For a while, the wifi was being kind of spotty, so having to go to the school house to get wifi was a tough adjustment because I’m so used to it being there right away. Going every day with little wifi was a challenge at first but I don’t think I ever want wifi with me ever again. I’m much more observant and cognizant of the world around me because I’m not constantly on my phone. Take time to put your phone down and enjoy the world.

"I'm fairly local, I've been around."

                Being able to go into a bar, or a pub as they call it here in Ireland, was something I knew I’d have to wait for in America. That is one of the perks of being overseas, thousands of miles away from home, being able to go into a pub. In my head I was thinking, “Does the security need to see my ID?”, “Can they tell I’m foreign?”, “Maybe I should talk to them so they know I’m of age and new to the country”. As I walked into the first pub, I watched the security guards look me up and down, but not give me a second glance. Wow, let me tell you, that was a weird experience.

                After taking the first few steps into the pub, I could not hardly move. I have never been to a place, besides a concert, that was as packed as this pub was. “Excuse me”, “Pardon me”, “Cheers”. Over and over again, trying to make my way into the pub. A few steps in I decided that this wasn’t how I wanted to experience my first pub. On to the next one we went. The next pub we went into was not near as packed as the other. I order my first drink and shortly after the band starts to play. Not long after the band starts to play I feel a pull on my arm. The next thing I know, I’m dancing in the middle of the pub with some locals to two guitars, a cello, and a saxophone. Most of the music were songs I didn’t recognize, but some of them I recognized, for example, Johnny Cash. We danced long enough for my calves to start to cramp. I told them goodbye and off to the next pub we went too.

                The next pub was quite crazy. Beyond packed, with music playing in the background. We make our way to the stage floor to watch the band. Soon enough, all of us are dancing with the locals once again. It’s almost like they couldn’t tell we were Americans, they were so welcoming, it was almost like we were born and raised there.

                This wasn’t the only time I found the locals to be beyond welcoming. On Shrove Tuesday, or better known as Pancake Tuesday. A group of us walked to Spiddal and stopped into a pub, hoping for pancakes. As we looked at their specials… THEY ARE SERVING PANCAKES! The excitement the group experienced after finding that out was so crazy. We still continued to look at the menu and decided to get an appetizer. Instead of telling us they didn’t have the crisps, the Irish word for chips, they told us they would go get some more for us. Talk about customer service!! Once again, the people are absolutely so wonderful.

                I have yet to find a rude person over here. I am completely shocked and beyond ecstatic to find this out. Whenever I need help, they are ALWAYS there to help while being as friendly as ever. It’s safe to say, I found it easy to get along while enjoying all of the locals.

Week 1

            At 8am, my palms were sweating, my mind was racing, and I kept walking all over the house into rooms I don't need to be in. It's safe to say I was nervous. Shortly after all of my pacing my family and I were off on our way to Omaha to get on a plane to start an adventure I'd never forget. 

            On the way to Omaha my palms didn't stop sweating and my mind definitely didn't stop racing. I kept telling myself that once I got into the airport and checked through security, my palms wouldn't be so sweaty. That wasn't the case. As my family and I say our goodbyes, I look up at my mom and the tears start flowing instantly. As we finish up our goodbyes, the crew and I head towards security. Each of us asking simple questions "Is this what I'm supposed to be doing?", "Does this go here?", "How was your break?” all trying to cope with our nerves and excitement. 

             Boarding the first flight was easier than the second. Boarding the second flight was when it all seemed too real. This is it, no turning back, no going home. I was headed overseas for three months, with people I hardly knew, in a place I had never been before. During our night on the plane, I hadn't gotten hardly any sleep because of the irrational fear I have of the plane crashing over the ocean, and the turbulence. When the flight attendants went around for the last time for drinks is when I looked to my friend and said "I'm ready for this, I'm ready to land and I'm beyond excited to start this journey." Up until then it was all nerves and a running mind. 

              After landing we took the longest hour bus ride in my life to our hotel. The hotel owners fed us and then the rest of the afternoon was ours. Seeing the ocean was so breathtaking. It isn't your stereotypical ocean scene because it is cloudy, rainy, and the shore line is rocky, not sandy. Monday rolls around and we start classes. The first class we learning how to speak Irish. Yes, it's Irish not Gaelic. The Irish people prefer Irish not Gaelic. We walked into Spiddal, a 2 mile walk in 130km per hour. That's about 80 miles per hour!! Spiddal is the cutest little town I have ever been too, and I have been to quite a bit of small towns. Our next big adventure was to the city of Galway. Galway had so many commemorating buildings, it was unbelievable.

               This week has gone on and on, the days feel like they have twice as many hours in them as well as twice as much fun. I can't wait to see how the upcoming weeks feel.