Welp, I'm all packed and ready to go! My suitcase feels like it's under 50 pounds but we'll see!
So far today has been a lot of reflecting. Reflecting on the trip, my internship and my family and friends.
This trip was the best trip of my life. I made fourteen new friends (awww) and saw sites that I thought I would never see. From this trip I've come to appreciate free public toilets, the McDonald's dollar menu, showers without buttons that you have to press every ten seconds for water, bubblers, mold free bathrooms, spacious bedrooms, my car, working internet as well as many other things. I've also come to appreciate the times I had here as well as the memories that I will cherish forever. I've fallen in love with Ireland and I can't wait to come back. This country's beauty simply leaves you speechless. All you can do is look and appreciate the picturesque landscape (except it is incredibly hard to capture in a simple picture).
Although there are many memories and funny stories that I will be sharing with most of you, the one thing that I appreciate most out of this trip is my parents. From the time I was five years old and wanted to play the piano, they have made all of my dreams come true. Every opportunity I was and have been given, my parents made possible. They have molded me into the person I am today and I can't appreciate enough everything that they have done for me. Their love and support have gotten me through the hard times and made me appreciate the good times. I know that I am truly blessed to have my parents and I couldn't ask for a better set. I love you mom and dad.
So now that I have tears streaming down my face, it is time to say goodbye to Ireland and head back home.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Glendalough and Dublin
Friday we took a train to Dublin and then a bus to Glendalough which is in the Wicklow Mountains. After we got settled into the hostel we went roaming around and the view was absolutely amazing. A few of us went on a hike and climbed up to the top of a very big hill which was amazingly gorgeous. There were two lakes, one at the bottom of this big ravine with mountains all around. So surreal, you really can't put it into words. On our hike down we climbed around in this water fall that was again super pretty. The water was really cold but it was still really cool. Saturday we all started out at the bigger lake at the bottom of the ravine, but by 1 p.m.we were all back at the hostel working on our fabulous presentations. I was dying working on my presentation, but nobody wanted to go outside because they were all focusing on their projects. It was pretty frustrating and I was going crazy. It was way way waaayyyyy too nice to be inside. But I did get a little sunburn action, which I'm loving hahah. Sunday was rainy but we still went to Powerscourt which was this big garden estate thing that we walked around. Then we made it to Dublin and got settled, had the first set of presentations and then most of us stayed in to finish ours. while the others went out.
Today we went to the jail, Kilheman Gaol or something like that. Then went to Trinity College and saw the book of Kells. Tonight we're making tacos after our presentations. Tomorrow we're going to Google for the first half of the day and then we have the last of the presentations, which is also when I present.
Dublin is really cool and I wish we were staying here longer!
Today we went to the jail, Kilheman Gaol or something like that. Then went to Trinity College and saw the book of Kells. Tonight we're making tacos after our presentations. Tomorrow we're going to Google for the first half of the day and then we have the last of the presentations, which is also when I present.
Dublin is really cool and I wish we were staying here longer!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Cork
Ahh, what to say about Cork. Not much other than it's sketchy, and really dirty. We keep hearing how Cork is one of the top cities to travel to in the world, and we're all confused as to why hahah. We're definitely missing Galway! Today we moved to a different hostel that has bigger rooms and no mold covering the bathrooms. But I guess I should recap with what we've done so far this week.
Monday we went to the University of Cork College where we listened to three professors lecture (interesting, but boring). But we were able to go to Eve's Chocolates which was pretty fun. It's basically like a James J. Chocolate Factory, only a lot more colorful haha. And her chocolates were pretty good. Didn't do much after we left the university, basically just stayed in and called it a night.
Tuesday was a lot more fun, minus going to the Cork Chamber of Commerce in the morning. In the afternoon however we went to Blarney Castle where a bunch of us kissed the Blarney stone. It was really fun even though it lasted two seconds. Best kiss of my life though! NOT hahah. But now I can say I did it! The grounds were really pretty though so after we kissed the blarney stone we wandered around. There was a poison garden that had two plants that are mentioned in the Harry Potter books, I forget which ones but you'll eventually see them on Facebook :p Then we went to these "wishing stairs" and I guess you're supposed to walk up and then back down them with your eyes closed only thinking about your wish. I only went up with my eyes closed, and I didn't even think about my wish because I was too busy concentrating on walking up stone stairs with my eyes closed haha. Then we just walked around some more before we decided to leave. That night we went out to a pub but I wasn't really feeling the atmosphere so I went back early with a few people.
Today we went to Cobh which is the last place where the Titanic stopped before making it's way to America. We walked around a little museum and then went up to this super tall and gorgeous catholic church. After walking around that for a little bit we ate at this really small place called Gills, which was a super cheap fish and chips place (none of us got fish) but what we did get was still really good. After Cobh we went to Midleton where the Jameson Distillery is. That place was crazy expensive, but it was still cool to see. Everyone gets a shot of Jameson at the end of the tour, and I highly recommend mixing it with cranberry juice, it was super good!
Tomorrow I'm finally meeting with a company called Faaltech for my big project. After that we're all going to Kingsale which is on the coast and it's supposed to be super nice. I'm thinking of finally shaving not just below the knee but my thighs now too so I can wear shorts! Hahaha, we'll see what Ireland weather we get. But that's about it for now!
Happy mom? ;)
Monday we went to the University of Cork College where we listened to three professors lecture (interesting, but boring). But we were able to go to Eve's Chocolates which was pretty fun. It's basically like a James J. Chocolate Factory, only a lot more colorful haha. And her chocolates were pretty good. Didn't do much after we left the university, basically just stayed in and called it a night.
Tuesday was a lot more fun, minus going to the Cork Chamber of Commerce in the morning. In the afternoon however we went to Blarney Castle where a bunch of us kissed the Blarney stone. It was really fun even though it lasted two seconds. Best kiss of my life though! NOT hahah. But now I can say I did it! The grounds were really pretty though so after we kissed the blarney stone we wandered around. There was a poison garden that had two plants that are mentioned in the Harry Potter books, I forget which ones but you'll eventually see them on Facebook :p Then we went to these "wishing stairs" and I guess you're supposed to walk up and then back down them with your eyes closed only thinking about your wish. I only went up with my eyes closed, and I didn't even think about my wish because I was too busy concentrating on walking up stone stairs with my eyes closed haha. Then we just walked around some more before we decided to leave. That night we went out to a pub but I wasn't really feeling the atmosphere so I went back early with a few people.
Today we went to Cobh which is the last place where the Titanic stopped before making it's way to America. We walked around a little museum and then went up to this super tall and gorgeous catholic church. After walking around that for a little bit we ate at this really small place called Gills, which was a super cheap fish and chips place (none of us got fish) but what we did get was still really good. After Cobh we went to Midleton where the Jameson Distillery is. That place was crazy expensive, but it was still cool to see. Everyone gets a shot of Jameson at the end of the tour, and I highly recommend mixing it with cranberry juice, it was super good!
Tomorrow I'm finally meeting with a company called Faaltech for my big project. After that we're all going to Kingsale which is on the coast and it's supposed to be super nice. I'm thinking of finally shaving not just below the knee but my thighs now too so I can wear shorts! Hahaha, we'll see what Ireland weather we get. But that's about it for now!
Happy mom? ;)
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