Our Last Day in Ireland

Day 39: July 25, 2012

As I lie here on the bench outside of our dorms on the last day I can't help but play through the last six weeks I've spent here. I never could've imagined my study abroad experience any better. I have honestly enjoyed my entire time here. Being in Ireland from the summer of 2012 is something I will never ever forget. It really does seem like yesterday that I was sitting in the airport getting ready to board the plane to come here. I remember spilling that cold cup of water all over my legs on the flight and that first tour of Dublin, jet lagged and hungry. Only to be let down with Japanese food as our first meal. I have flashes of all the memories playing through my mind from our first week all the way to today.

I'm sitting on this bench listening to country music, my choice of summer time tunes, and I do not want to leave this surreal summer destination. Even after the rain and long bumpy bus rides I still wouldn't have changed a thing. But there is a huge part of me that is completely ready to go. I'm ready to see my parents and sleep in my own bed! Ready to see my best friends and Haley.  I'm ready to be at the beach even if it is practically 100 degrees. I've missed loads of things back home. My car, and driving, my dog, the sun, shorts and flip flops, green American dollars, Chipotle, Chik fil A, and sweet tea.

I cannot believe that in less than 24 hours I will be able to see and do all the things I have missed! I have no regrets from this trip at all. That's the best way to come out of an experience and I was so lucky and blessed to go through this with such a great group of people. Having Emily and Haley come visit for a week was like a little tease of home but it came at the perfect time! Their week here made my entire trip even better! I am going to miss Ireland greatly but I cannot wait to be home tomorrow!

We ended our trip by going to see River Dance. How much more Irish can you get? It was an awesome way to finish out our trip. After the show we all went to Trinity Bar. It holds a place deep within all of us because it’s the place where we all went out together for the very first time. We sat in the same spot, took repeats of some of the first pictures we had taken, and enjoyed reminiscing on the trip and chatting about what we will enjoy most when we return. At the end of the night we all walked back to Trinity College together and, the girls with their eyes watering, said our goodbyes. Some of us are traveling on the same flight so we will say them tomorrow back in the states. But for me it’s not a big deal to say goodbye. I mean we all go to the same school. Yeah, I know we will never be able to share this experience together again but it will live forever in the thousands of pictures taken and in our memories and stories we tell back home. We will get together once we return to JMU to remember our wonderful trip to the Emerald Isle in the summer of 2012. It definitely won’t be forgotten by any of us. So it's not goodbye. It's just see you later!

But now it’s time to go to bed. Catching an early bus in the morning to make it to the airport. But I will be in the states in less than 24 hours and I will be back in Yorktown in a little over! I am so blessed to have gone on this trip. I will always hold a place in my heart for Ireland.

See you back on the other side of the pond!