As this semester comes to a close, and reflecting back on where I've been, who I've met, and how I've changed as a result of these collective experiences, I am reminded of one of my dad's favorite sayings from his mother. 'if someone asks you how much something cost you, or how much money you have, she would always say "too much to talk about, not enough to brag about". In a way, that's how I would quantify my experiences here in Dublin and in Europe: I've had too many unbelievable, eye-opening experiences to be able to relate to someone in one sitting, but not enough to say that I'm a world traveler, or an expert on Irish culture, or any other culture for that matter. The porridge wasn't too hot or cold, the chair wasn't too hard, and the bed wasn't too soft, it was just right. I've had a taste of Europe, just enough to experience different places and different cultures, but I've left room for expansion; for a European bucket list to return to at some later point in life (who knows when that will be, soon I can only hope).
As I sit here, back at my parents' house in Florida, 3 days removed from Ireland already, I find myself thinking back on both the good and the not so good of this semester. All of my posts have been about places I've been in Ireland or around Europe, and to only read this blog, you'd think that all I did was travel. The truth about spending a semester living and studying somewhere is that 90% of your time is spent at school, in that environment (that may seem like a pretty obvious statement, I know). But what I mean to say is that it's not always fun and games. There's a difference between vacationing and actually living somewhere. Dealing with roommate and apartment issues (and I had the pleasure of dealing with both), keeping a tight budget, maintaining relationships with friends and family back home, etc; it's not always a cake walk. But hell, it was worth it in the end.
I remember one specific moment while still in Ireland, 3 days away from leaving to return home. I was in Galway with my mom, who had come over for the week to travel around Ireland with me, and I had gone out to meet one of my friends who was still studying at NUI Galway. I got to the pub before they did, so I walked down the street to see what else was around when I heard singing coming out of a pub on the corner. I walked in to this small, one-roomed pub, darly lit with a peat fire going, various memorabilia hung up on the ceiling and walls, a bar lined with a bunch of old guys who were talking and reading the paper, and one Irish man sitting in the corner playing the guitar and singing traditional irish songs. I ordered the last pint of Guinness I would have in Ireland and sat down to listen to this guy play. I remember thinking how unique this atmosphere is to Ireland. Sitting in a pub with a bunch of old salty dogs listening to Irish music and having the best Guinness I've had in Ireland is a time I'll remember well (maybe it's because I'm somewhat of an old guy at heart myself).
I have picked up little things about many cultures from my brief travels around Europe: little customs, ways of speaking, etc. But after a semester of study and living, 3 classes in Irish folklore, culture & society and history, I feel that I can truly identify with my Irish heritage, understand how history has affected culture and society, and tie in a few fun facts and folk legends in between. If I were to return to Ireland again to travel or even to live and work, I would not feel as if I was living in a foreign country, I would be returning to a place that for a while I called home.
These 5 months have brought some memories and experiences that I will look back on fondly. I've tried to convey some of the highlights in this blog through dialogue and photos, but of course it's hard to capture the breadth, scale and atmosphere of a place on film. I hope that you have enjoyed reading this blog, and that maybe you have taken something away from my pictures or words that will inspire you travel somewhere different, listen to a new perspective, or even to just take a second look at something that you may have always taken for granted; whether that be a person, a place, or a personal quality of yourself. I can only be so bold to hope for any of that from a couple of brief entries, but if one of my photos turns up as a background on your computer, I'll take it as a personal success.
So with that, I leave this blog with 2 quotes and 2 personal favorite Irish songs of mine. Enjoy
“May God grant you always...A sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering Angel so nothing can harm you. Laughter to cheer you. Faithful friends near you. And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you.”
“May those who love us, love us; and those who don't love us, may God turn their hearts; and if He doesn't turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles so we'll know them by their limping.”
