it has been one amazing experience

The last 19 months have been amazing. There is no other way to put it. I was lucky enough to be able to achieve one of my dreams – getting to go back and live in Ireland. It was my goal pretty much from the moment I was flying back to the US from my study abroad experience in Autumn 2005. All I wanted was to be back in Ireland. And I was able to do it. Once I had my acceptance for graduate school – and that was one of the best days of my life, it meant I was coming back.

And since September 2007 I have had one incredible journey in Ireland.

I ….

. moved to Ireland with 167 pounds of luggage. 1 at 67 pounds and 2 exactly at 50.

. graduated with a first class honours degree in history

. wrote a 21,000 word thesis on Irish domestic servants

. lived in three different houses

. went on approximately 40 hikes with the club

. spent countless hours at the climbing wall

. confronted many ghosts from my time studying abroad

. sat behind a computer at work for waaaaaaaaay too many hours

. traveled to England, Scotland, Wales, Greece, England again, Northern Ireland, England for a third time, Spain, Italy, and England.

. had one of the best 5 days hiking in Donegal with the club in April

. spent Christmas 2007 away from my family

. was able to re-connect with friends from study abroad

. heard the Irish side of the M. story from my friends

. had the most awkward weekend of my life in Dingle seeing M. for the first time in 2 years.

. met Kara at the post-grad orientation and had some crazy adventures!

. found a million ways to avoid writing the thesis

. had two amazing vacations to the States – July 2008 and Christmas 2008.

. showed my parents and little brother all around the country I love so much

. a few visits from friends living in Europe – Kathryn, Megan (twice)

. randomly saw a few friends who were visiting – Meg, Jenna,

. after 2 years of being friends finally was able to meet Jenna -“the other girl” and spend some time reminiscing in Cork and loving every second of it

. had two very amazing nights at the clubs&socs ball

. had my co-workers write a poem about me

. college roomie came over and we played around Ireland and then went to Spain

. drove 1000km around Ireland

. lead an outdoor climb

. traveled by myself – a lot

. wrote a lot of emails to my friends

. and even more gchats and im’s

. randomly made out with 12 guys – i believe all were drunken makeouts?

. after three years met up with M’s best friend but it was great to see Dave

. took approximately 8,000 photos - seriously. i am not lying.

. wrote 2900 words on Irish women in Great Britain and 2500 on female emigration to the US

. had the best summer roomie ever and enjoyed our Tuesday Grey’s and Private Practice evenings

. went to the cinema more than I had in the last 10 years

. went to an art gallery opening and appeared in the paper

. read approximately 200 books or journal articles for my thesis

. flew 30 times

. had a few fabulous reunion phone calls with my wac and crewies

. counted more money than I will ever see in my lifetime

. twice liked guys who happened to be 3000 miles away

. spent waaay too much money

. drank countless pints of Beamish and Kopparberg

. been asked where I'm from more times than I can count and heard stories about people they knew who lived there or the time they visited the states

. am now knowledgeable on Irish housing laws

. I've gotten to meet and become friends with soooooooooo many amazing people

. felt like the American political correspondent to Cork

. cartwheeled allll over Europe and Ireland

. made some amazing friendships

. been extremely lucky to be able to get to come back and live in my favourite place.

So I'm in the airport and will be boarding soon. So while the Irish adventures might be coming to an end, the American adventures are juuuuust beginning. And while they might not be the same as the sheep and easy European travel stories, believe me, they are juuuuust as crazy!