Farewell Cork
Dingle Peninsula, Ireland
This post was originally published May 25, 2017.
Well, my time abroad has ended. I missed the trees and the closeness of the lake, and I even missed the squirrels eating out of the bird feeder. My last few weeks in Ireland were tame, filled with finals I didn’t want to study for and a paper I didn’t want to write.
I crossed a few more things off my bucket list before I hopped back over the pond, like finally trying a donut at that place down the road from campus and visiting the animal sanctuary less than 30 minutes away. I spent my birthday in Ireland too. I met some friends for brunch then split a bottle of wine and blew out a lighter in lieu of candles.
Inch Strand, Ireland
I spent some quiet nights going through my pictures and recalling the stories. From murder holes to monstrous lakes, I’ve spent this semester exploring a lot of exciting places. I trekked through the mud along the cliffs of Moher and splashed in the seas where Homer detailed the existence of mythical creatures and heroes sailing home. I kissed the stone at Blarney and skied the snowy slopes of Norway. I sipped on tea in the café where Harry Potter was born and screamed in the caverns where body snatchers once roamed. I’m so grateful for my time abroad, but it’s good to be home.
I think it might surprise people, but the most rewarding part of travelling was the reception I received from this blog. Writing is my lifeblood. It’s as much a part of me as the lungs I use to breathe. The love and support I’ve gotten excites me for the books I’m working on and the future posts I have planned that explore the state I call home. I want to thank you all for sharing this experience with me.
Travelling is hard. There were many days I walked around the city with my soul feeling naked and exposed. I felt like I had been stripped down, leaving nothing but my strengths, my flaws, and my faith. Returning home hasn’t removed this feeling, but it has helped me better understand it. Studying abroad didn’t change me so much as it made me realize the woman that I am.