Having Shannon here has been wonderful and we have had some really great adventures! I have gotten to show her around my temporary home in Derry and take her to some of my favorite places on the Northern Coast. We got to travel together to Galway and see the Cliffs of Moher and even travel to London and Paris.
I had already been to London, but that did not make this trip any less of an adventure. The day before we got to London a soldier was killed on the street where our hostel was but we didn't hear about it because we were traveling. We found out when a riot broke out just after we walked into a grocery store to ask for directions. The manager of the store drove us out of town so that we could find somewhere safer to stay at least for the night. We were safe and had no more problems during our stay in London. We saw many beautiful things and enjoyed a city very different from Derry. I think my favorite part of London was walking through Westminster Abbey for several hours and having Eucharist while we were there closely followed by seeing Singing in the Rain on stage. We were also fortunate enough to get seats on an overnight bus to Paris after being unable to find a place to stay our last night in London.
Paris was a dream, especially once I was rested enough to fully enjoy it. Simply walking through the streets was enough for me before we saw anything else. Paris was one place that I wanted to see before I died and I am glad that I took the time to go see it, even though this point in my time in Ireland in precious. The highlight of Paris was simply sitting by the Eiffel Tower, whether it was to watch the sunset, eat a dinner of baguettes and wine, or watch it brilliantly sparkle at night. My time in Paris is something that I will cherish for a long time to come and I couldn't have shared my time with a better person than Shannon.
I've now packed up everything in my room and I'm leaving Derry tomorrow to stay near the airport for an early morning flight. It is a very bitter-sweet time for me and my feelings are quite polorized. I couldn't be more excited to get home and see family and friends that I have missed dearly, but it is definitely harder than I could have ever imagined to leave Ireland and the amazing friends that have become like family since I have been here. I know that this is not goodbye forever because I will be back to my second home and I will see all of these people again, but I can already feel how much I will miss this place. I have changed a lot as a person during my time abroad and I am very excited to share those changes with everyone at home, but I will definitely be leaving a part of my hear behind.
So Ireland, this is goodbye for now, but not goodbye forever. Thank you for the amazing memories that I will cherish forever, the amazing friends that I will hold close to my heart, and the beautiful sights I will never forget. Sláin go fóil!
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
We're on the road to Paradise
This weekend was a long weekend because of the bank holiday in honor of May Day. Though I always have long weekends because of my class schedule, long weekends in the real world mean that I get to go on adventures with friends that usually have to work or go to class. This weekend was a great opportunity to spend some quality time with friends that I will miss dearly when I leave for home.
On Saturday we took a trip to Donegal and got to see a lot of the mountains that I can see in the distance from the student village. We drove through Glenveagh National Park which was beautiful and reminded me a lot of the highlands of Scotland. We took a walk through the park (which ended up being 4km) to see the Glenveagh Castle. The castle and gardens were beautiful and I was very happy that we decided to walk to see it, though I was equally happy to take the bus back to the car park. We also made it to the beach before we left Donegal. Being on the beach with multiple jackets and jeans still takes a little getting used to, but I was wearing canvas shoes, so I decided to walk barefoot on the beach. It was a great idea where the sand was dry, the feeling of sand under your feet is unbeatable no matter where you are, but once my toes hit the water I instantly regretted my decision because the water was freezing!!! All-in-all Donegal was an amazing day trip and I couldn't have asked for a better day or a better group of people to spend time with.
Which is why on Monday we decided to take another trip, this time to Rathlin Island just off the North coast of Ireland at Ballycastle. Rathlin Island is known to be home to both Puffins and sea lions which I was lucky enough to see! The island was beautiful and during our 4.5 mile walk back to the harbor from the lighthouse where we saw many beautiful birds, I was lucky enough to take in and be very aware of the beauty of creation that God chose to reveal to me. We encountered cows, donkeys, sheep/lambs, and I was even lucky enough to see an Irish hare. The landscapes were beautiful and I made sure that Stephanie and I took time to stop what we were doing so that we could appreciate the stillness and beauty that is Rathlin Island. I truly felt God's blessings as I walked through the Island and realized that the stillness will probably be the thing that I miss most about my time in Ireland. God has given us a beautiful creation to enjoy and I plan on taking advantage of that as much as possible while I'm abroad as well as when I return home.
On Saturday we took a trip to Donegal and got to see a lot of the mountains that I can see in the distance from the student village. We drove through Glenveagh National Park which was beautiful and reminded me a lot of the highlands of Scotland. We took a walk through the park (which ended up being 4km) to see the Glenveagh Castle. The castle and gardens were beautiful and I was very happy that we decided to walk to see it, though I was equally happy to take the bus back to the car park. We also made it to the beach before we left Donegal. Being on the beach with multiple jackets and jeans still takes a little getting used to, but I was wearing canvas shoes, so I decided to walk barefoot on the beach. It was a great idea where the sand was dry, the feeling of sand under your feet is unbeatable no matter where you are, but once my toes hit the water I instantly regretted my decision because the water was freezing!!! All-in-all Donegal was an amazing day trip and I couldn't have asked for a better day or a better group of people to spend time with.
Which is why on Monday we decided to take another trip, this time to Rathlin Island just off the North coast of Ireland at Ballycastle. Rathlin Island is known to be home to both Puffins and sea lions which I was lucky enough to see! The island was beautiful and during our 4.5 mile walk back to the harbor from the lighthouse where we saw many beautiful birds, I was lucky enough to take in and be very aware of the beauty of creation that God chose to reveal to me. We encountered cows, donkeys, sheep/lambs, and I was even lucky enough to see an Irish hare. The landscapes were beautiful and I made sure that Stephanie and I took time to stop what we were doing so that we could appreciate the stillness and beauty that is Rathlin Island. I truly felt God's blessings as I walked through the Island and realized that the stillness will probably be the thing that I miss most about my time in Ireland. God has given us a beautiful creation to enjoy and I plan on taking advantage of that as much as possible while I'm abroad as well as when I return home.
Glenveagh National Park
The beach!
Rathlin Island
home to Puffins!
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
In Dublin's Fair City...
I haven't written a post in a few weeks because we slowed down our travels a bit after Easter and I've actually been busy working on coursework. Last week was the last week of lectures and this week is exam review followed by a reading week and exams. We all seem to be a bit more busy than we were and we are quickly learning that studying in Ireland has made us a bit more lazy about school work than we might have hoped. We were lucky enough to take a bit of a break from working this weekend though and make a trip to Dublin.
Dublin is a great city, but we learned quickly that it is very different from Derry. It was a lovely place to visit and there were plenty of things to see and do, but I couldn't handle living there for an extended amount of time. Though I wouldn't want to live in Dublin I had the best time visiting. We got to see St. Patrick's Cathedral which was beautiful inside and out. I learned about how Guinness is made and poured a perfect pint at the Guinness Storehouse. We visited Jameson Distillery but didn't have time for a tour because we were also headed to Dublin zoo where I got to see 6 giraffes (which absolutely made my day). Then we headed back into the city center to visit the Wax museum which was a bit disappointing except for the horror room which was terrifying! After a full day of adventuring we even woke up early the next morning and visited Trinity College, Dublin and saw the library and the Book of Kells which was inspiring. Then, as if the weekend wasn't eventful enough (especially since we were celebrating Stephanie's birthday) we went to see The Lion King which was just beginning its run in Dublin. The show was absolutely breathtaking and I was taken aback by the music as well as the ability of the actors to portray animals so well.
We ended our stay in Dublin in the typical Irish fashion by enjoying dinner in a local pub followed by drinks to celebrate Stephanie's 21st birthday while listening to live traditional music. It is sad to think back and realize that my time in Ireland is coming to an end and that this was the last Irish adventure that Megan, Stephanie, and I will take together. I feel like it was only a few weeks ago that I arrived and I am already having to say goodbye to people and a place that I have come to love so dearly, but there is time to dwell on that later. For now I am still here and am determined to make the best of the time that I have left here. This time is a blessing and I intend to enjoy every last bit of it!
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Exploring Ireland - week 2 of Easter Break
After spending an entire week in Scotland, it was nice to be back in Derry for Easter and to have a chance to explore Ireland a bit for the second week.
On Monday morning, after being woken up by a fire alarm at 5:30am, Megan and I began our travels to Cork in the Republic of Ireland. We started off with a 4 hour bus trip from Derry to Dublin, then another 4 hour bus trip from Dublin to Cork. When we arrived on Easter Monday we were a bit surprised to see that pretty much everything in the city was closed for the holiday, but we explored anyway and got to see a couple of really beautiful churches and headed to the hostel to get some sleep so that we could spend all of Tuesday exploring before we got on the train to head back to Derry that night.
On Tuesday morning we woke up and went directly to Blarney Castle. Blarney Castle was the ideal picture of Ireland. We got to see the Castle, kiss the Blarney Stone, and explore the grounds of the castle. Kissing the stone was a bit more terrifying than I anticipated because (after we asked the people to sanitize the stone) we had to lay down and lean back over a gap in the stone walls that dropped 3-4 stories down to the grounds. After we gained the "gift of gab" we explored the grounds which are home to one of the most poisonous gardens in the world as well as fairy gardens and druid stones. Playing outside of the castle on the beautiful day that we were there was a blessing that fulfilled any preconception that I held about Ireland.
After a day of resting I went to Armagh with some Irish friends. While we were there we went to the planetarium and then headed to the cathedrals (which was why I was there!). Armagh is home to two cathedrals that are both called St. Patrick's. One of the cathedrals, the oldest and the one that is said to sit on the spot where St. Patrick established the Church in Ireland, is affiliated with the Church of Ireland. The other church, in typical Northern Irish tradition, is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church. We had a lovely day exploring another city and ended the day by teaching me how to play pool once we got back to Derry. It was a fun day and a great way to end another week of adventures in Ireland.
I realize in moments and days like these what a blessing it is to be here. Not only am I learning a lot from another culture, but I am learning about myself and ways that I function best. This time as I explore a bit of the world on my own is something that will shape and influence the rest of my life.
On Monday morning, after being woken up by a fire alarm at 5:30am, Megan and I began our travels to Cork in the Republic of Ireland. We started off with a 4 hour bus trip from Derry to Dublin, then another 4 hour bus trip from Dublin to Cork. When we arrived on Easter Monday we were a bit surprised to see that pretty much everything in the city was closed for the holiday, but we explored anyway and got to see a couple of really beautiful churches and headed to the hostel to get some sleep so that we could spend all of Tuesday exploring before we got on the train to head back to Derry that night.
On Tuesday morning we woke up and went directly to Blarney Castle. Blarney Castle was the ideal picture of Ireland. We got to see the Castle, kiss the Blarney Stone, and explore the grounds of the castle. Kissing the stone was a bit more terrifying than I anticipated because (after we asked the people to sanitize the stone) we had to lay down and lean back over a gap in the stone walls that dropped 3-4 stories down to the grounds. After we gained the "gift of gab" we explored the grounds which are home to one of the most poisonous gardens in the world as well as fairy gardens and druid stones. Playing outside of the castle on the beautiful day that we were there was a blessing that fulfilled any preconception that I held about Ireland.
After a day of resting I went to Armagh with some Irish friends. While we were there we went to the planetarium and then headed to the cathedrals (which was why I was there!). Armagh is home to two cathedrals that are both called St. Patrick's. One of the cathedrals, the oldest and the one that is said to sit on the spot where St. Patrick established the Church in Ireland, is affiliated with the Church of Ireland. The other church, in typical Northern Irish tradition, is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church. We had a lovely day exploring another city and ended the day by teaching me how to play pool once we got back to Derry. It was a fun day and a great way to end another week of adventures in Ireland.
I realize in moments and days like these what a blessing it is to be here. Not only am I learning a lot from another culture, but I am learning about myself and ways that I function best. This time as I explore a bit of the world on my own is something that will shape and influence the rest of my life.
kissing the Blarney Stone
St. Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral
St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Scotland the Brave!
The goal is to share enough about Scotland without writing a million pages. I could not have happier with out decision to go and spend a week. The girls and I were blessed to have the Wehmeyer family, who is living in Scotland for a few years, open their home to us. I had not realized how much I missed living in a home until we were settled into the flat at the Wehmeyer's house. Not only did we have plenty of space, but we had a living room to sit in which was wonderful. It was also nice to have a mom around to cook occasionally and to take us places and give us advice on what to do and see.
We were able to take our time seeing the city. We slept in a little the first day and still had time to go to the museum, get tea at the Elephant House (where JK Rowling would sit and drink tea while working on Harry Potter), explore a bit of the city, and get a bite to eat. The next day was devoted to Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. The castle is enormous and I'm not sure that I have ever been more cold in my life! Tuesday was the day of castles. Kate took us out all day and we saw two castles and a palace. We started off at Dune Castle which was used in the filming of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, then we went to Stirling Castle which was huge like Edinburgh Castle, but more restored on the inside. Kate also took us to Linlithgow Palace. The palace was in ruins, but it is one of my favorite places that we went. We also took a day to tour the Highlands of Scotland. We got to see many beautiful lakes and mountains. We traveled all the way to Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle. After exploring the castle we took an hour long boat ride on Loch Ness and got to search for Nessy between snowstorms.
We ended our trip with a full day on Friday. After attending Good Friday service at Old St. Paul's in Edinburgh we hiked up to the to of Arthur's Seat which was a steady uphill hike most of the was and almost rock climbing at the top. All of the work was worth it though because the view from the top was unbelievable! We got to watch the sun set while we hiked down. After dinner Megan and I went back into town for a ghost tour through the town and in the underground of Edinburgh.
The first week of Easter was amazing. So much was done and so many beautiful things were seen! More exploring to come during the second week of Easter break, but I will save that for a later post!
We were able to take our time seeing the city. We slept in a little the first day and still had time to go to the museum, get tea at the Elephant House (where JK Rowling would sit and drink tea while working on Harry Potter), explore a bit of the city, and get a bite to eat. The next day was devoted to Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. The castle is enormous and I'm not sure that I have ever been more cold in my life! Tuesday was the day of castles. Kate took us out all day and we saw two castles and a palace. We started off at Dune Castle which was used in the filming of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, then we went to Stirling Castle which was huge like Edinburgh Castle, but more restored on the inside. Kate also took us to Linlithgow Palace. The palace was in ruins, but it is one of my favorite places that we went. We also took a day to tour the Highlands of Scotland. We got to see many beautiful lakes and mountains. We traveled all the way to Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle. After exploring the castle we took an hour long boat ride on Loch Ness and got to search for Nessy between snowstorms.
We ended our trip with a full day on Friday. After attending Good Friday service at Old St. Paul's in Edinburgh we hiked up to the to of Arthur's Seat which was a steady uphill hike most of the was and almost rock climbing at the top. All of the work was worth it though because the view from the top was unbelievable! We got to watch the sun set while we hiked down. After dinner Megan and I went back into town for a ghost tour through the town and in the underground of Edinburgh.
The first week of Easter was amazing. So much was done and so many beautiful things were seen! More exploring to come during the second week of Easter break, but I will save that for a later post!
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Luck of the Irish
I'm not sure I will ever experience a St. Patrick's day that could top Sunday. First off...St. Patrick's Day in Ireland is a big deal. Even on a Sunday when the city is pretty much shut down for the majority of the day, the place was hoppin'.
I started my day off with church, which is fitting because it is the Feast day of St. Patrick. I even got to sing what has become one of my favorite hymns...St. Patrick's Breastplate, or I bind unto myself today. I learned a little about the real St. Patrick and then decided to head back to the flat to meet up with everyone else.
After changing into my green attire we all headed out to watch the parade. The parade was lovely with lots of Irish dancing, what I'm assuming is the Irish version of bagpipes (which are Scottish by the way), and tons and tons of people. After the parade we ventured toward the City Center to hear the open-air concert during which I decided that I could live in that moment and never leave. The moment quickly passed though and we headed to the pub to toast to the day!
Overall it was a great day to spend with the wonderful people that I've met since I've been here. We had great craic and I realized how luck I am to have such a great group of friends!
Now its time to get ahead on some work this week so that I don't have to worry about anything over Easter break. Cheers
I started my day off with church, which is fitting because it is the Feast day of St. Patrick. I even got to sing what has become one of my favorite hymns...St. Patrick's Breastplate, or I bind unto myself today. I learned a little about the real St. Patrick and then decided to head back to the flat to meet up with everyone else.
After changing into my green attire we all headed out to watch the parade. The parade was lovely with lots of Irish dancing, what I'm assuming is the Irish version of bagpipes (which are Scottish by the way), and tons and tons of people. After the parade we ventured toward the City Center to hear the open-air concert during which I decided that I could live in that moment and never leave. The moment quickly passed though and we headed to the pub to toast to the day!
Overall it was a great day to spend with the wonderful people that I've met since I've been here. We had great craic and I realized how luck I am to have such a great group of friends!
Now its time to get ahead on some work this week so that I don't have to worry about anything over Easter break. Cheers
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
She is the Belle of Belfast City
This weekend in Belfast, Northern Ireland was both eye-opening and comforting. We were lucky enough to spend time with two families that were extremely welcoming.
Maria and her mom, Michelle, hosted us at her house and made sure that we were well taken care of. Michelle cooked us our first fry on Saturday morning taking into consideration the fact that we were American and not used to such a heavy meal. When we came back to the house that night she had dinner for us as well. We really ate like kings...roast beef, roasted potatoes, creamed potatoes, steamed veggies, Yorkshire pudding, and gravy. I was so full afterwards, but I couldn't help but eat as much as I could because it was so good!
We also got to spend time with JP's family. Friday night they welcomed us into their house and talked with us well into the night. My eyes were opened to how real and ongoing the discrimination against Catholics in Northern Ireland is. We learned a bit about history, shared a little bit about ourselves, and even got to hear some embarrassing stories. We were also invited back for Sunday dinner because that is a big deal here. JPs mom made us chicken, ham, sweet chili potatoes, mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, cabbage, and gravy with chocolate cake for dessert. Luckily we literally climbed up and down a mountain before dinner, so we could handle it.
On top of getting some well-needed family time we also got to see lots of Belfast which is still a vivid picture of segregation. We toured the entirety of the city on a bus, but the windows weren't conducive to picture taking. We saw murals, peace walls, and many flags. We toured Crumlin Road Goal (Jail) and saw St. Anne's Cathedral with the largest Celtic cross in Northern Ireland. Our adventure side took hold when we climbed up Cave Hill and down through the Devil's Whirlpool to Belfast Castle.
There was so much fun to be had. I am very grateful to have wonderful friends (Maria and JP) that welcomed us into their homes and planned and made sure we were taken care of all weekend. I am so very blessed!
Maria and her mom, Michelle, hosted us at her house and made sure that we were well taken care of. Michelle cooked us our first fry on Saturday morning taking into consideration the fact that we were American and not used to such a heavy meal. When we came back to the house that night she had dinner for us as well. We really ate like kings...roast beef, roasted potatoes, creamed potatoes, steamed veggies, Yorkshire pudding, and gravy. I was so full afterwards, but I couldn't help but eat as much as I could because it was so good!
We also got to spend time with JP's family. Friday night they welcomed us into their house and talked with us well into the night. My eyes were opened to how real and ongoing the discrimination against Catholics in Northern Ireland is. We learned a bit about history, shared a little bit about ourselves, and even got to hear some embarrassing stories. We were also invited back for Sunday dinner because that is a big deal here. JPs mom made us chicken, ham, sweet chili potatoes, mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, cabbage, and gravy with chocolate cake for dessert. Luckily we literally climbed up and down a mountain before dinner, so we could handle it.
On top of getting some well-needed family time we also got to see lots of Belfast which is still a vivid picture of segregation. We toured the entirety of the city on a bus, but the windows weren't conducive to picture taking. We saw murals, peace walls, and many flags. We toured Crumlin Road Goal (Jail) and saw St. Anne's Cathedral with the largest Celtic cross in Northern Ireland. Our adventure side took hold when we climbed up Cave Hill and down through the Devil's Whirlpool to Belfast Castle.
There was so much fun to be had. I am very grateful to have wonderful friends (Maria and JP) that welcomed us into their homes and planned and made sure we were taken care of all weekend. I am so very blessed!
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