I have been home in Pennsylvania for almost two weeks now, and I am still reflecting on my past semester. My time abroad was a whirlwind of adventure, buses to the airport, laughter, and FaceTiming. I battled homesickness as soon as I landed in Ireland and had a rough start in the beginning, but this was all part of the process and led to the euphoric experiences I had.
I moved my flight up two weeks to surprise my boyfriend and sister. I was really reluctant to leave Ireland early and end this amazing journey, but I would hate to miss Morgan's and Matt's graduations. Studying abroad has changed me in ways I never anticipated. I feel comfortable to grab a train and taxi to the airport for an international flight all by myself -- just like I did at 6 am on my journey home. I don't hesitate to ask for help when I need it anymore. I find myself thinking about Ireland and other countries all the time.
Most importantly, being away from my loved ones has made me realize all over how important they are to me. I have always been really focused on my own goals, set high standards for myself, and considered myself very independent. Traveling with my abroad friends has been fantastic, but I often caught myself wishing my mom was there to appreciate an artwork with me or that my dad would be able to awe at the beauty of the Ring of Kerry. But all of this is part of the process -- I studied abroad to explore on my own and take a self-journey. Through this adventure, I have finally figured out that even if I don't get my dream job or that 4.0 doesn't work out for a semester, I still have people that love me and everything will turn out fine. I know this all seems pretty cliche, but it's an idea I have really struggled with before I studied abroad. Stepping back from all the pressure I normally put on myself has been life-changing for me.
Before I left for Ireland, I had outlined some goals for my semester. They were to:
1. Explore!
2. Challenge myself & stretch my comfort zone.
3. Learn about Ireland's energy sources and study its leadership.
4. Embrace the culture rather than resist it.
5. Travel throughout Europe.
6. Keep in touch with home as needed.
7. Try new foods.
8. Gain a greater perspective of the world.
9. Have the time of my life.
I am very happy to say that I feel like I've accomplished all of these. Some not as much as I had liked to, and others more that I had anticipated. I am always going to be able to look back at this experience with pure joy.
To my American friends just now returning from Ireland, thank you for everything. It's hard to believe we were strangers in an airport at the beginning of the year. It's been wonderful to grow with you and see a new part of the world. Good luck adjusting your sleep schedule -- seriously, it's harder than you think. It's hard returning from such a beautiful, charming country to a place you've spent most of your life, but I also found it comforting for a little bit. Everything seems to be right were you left it, and there's a sense of familiarity about the landscape, the people, and the roads. I hope this is just the start of your journeys like it will be for me. Hope we meet again in Galway someday.
