I walked on, sat down, and\u00a0walked off. It was so simple. I walked on, sat down, and\u00a0walked off-but when I did everything was different. The air was heavy with moisture and held a earthy tin smell. Everything in sight was green and bursting with life, except for a road that had cars zooming in a manner that was wrong or backwards to me. There was no noise to be heard except for the\u00a0yawning wind and the gentle murmur of people chatting. The people were all unfamiliar, with different voices, appearances, and behavior. I felt my heart putter softly but quickly. I tightened my hand around the handle of my bag, trying to contain my excitement, but a smile escaped and spilled across my face. It always amazed me that\u00a0entering, what seemed like another world, could be so simple. I walked on an airplane in Cleveland, Ohio, sat down for six hours, and walked off in Shannon, Ireland. This was it. My semester abroad, my adventure, was starting.
\nI have been in Limerick, Ireland for nine days. In these past days I have met extraordinary people from all over the world, have seen beauty of all types, have been introduced to a new culture, and have fallen in love with Ireland. I walked out of the plane having no preconceived expectations or really any knowledge\u00a0of what this journey would\u00a0entail.\u00a0The idea of living and studying in Ireland for fourth months was something too large to really wrap my head around and dissect, so I left it at “I’m going to Ireland.”\u00a0I was clueless of what people I would be with, what conditions I would be living in, what the city\u00a0would\u00a0be like, what my education would be, what I would be doing, what I should expect-I just knew what time my plane was leaving.
\nStarting out clueless worked out for me because everything has been a wonderful surprise. I was like a child in an amusement park the first time walking through the city of\u00a0Limerick. I fawned over\u00a0the quaint shops, admired\u00a0humble charm\u00a0of the\u00a0architect, and\u00a0jumped at the endless rows of restaurants, cafes, and pubs. There was\u00a0emerald ivy growing up old stone buildings, twinkling lights struggle across\u00a0small side streets,\u00a0and Irish flags waving\u00a0softly in the wind-my heart was bursting\u00a0with joy. I didn’t think it could get better, but then we turned the corner. There stood the King John’s\u00a0Castle, standing tall and\u00a0proud on the lip of the water’s edge.\u00a0The grainy stone of the castle contrasted with the\u00a0rushing blue river beside it and the rolling green hills behind it. I was speechless. This was going to be my home for four months-how did I get so lucky?
\nAlthough, I could be living in\u00a0a dusty\u00a0city with nothing to do and still be\u00a0enjoying it, simply\u00a0because the people I am with are amazing.\u00a0The first couple of\u00a0days here it was only the international students on campus.\u00a0There is about forty of us and\u00a0we are from all around the world. France, Germany, Netherlands, Australia, Spain, Belgium,\u00a0Austria…the list continues. Everyone\u00a0has such different stories, social norms, accents, and ideas, and we are all interesting\u00a0in finding each others out.\u00a0I have never had such constant\u00a0enlightening and\u00a0beautiful conversations. I have been in awe. Sitting and talking\u00a0has become\u00a0favorite thing to do simply because there is so much to discuss. Other than having\u00a0a diverse\u00a0background, everyone in the group has\u00a0great personalities. We all seem, somehow, on the same page with what’s important and how\u00a0to handle things.\u00a0Becoming friends with\u00a0everyone has\u00a0been the peak of this\u00a0experience thus far.
\nIt has only been nine days, but\u00a0it feels like I have been here so much longer\u00a0due to the\u00a0immense about of stuff I have done.\u00a0I have\u00a0been to a numerous amount\u00a0cafes, restaurants, and pubs. I have moved into my flat and have actually gotten settled in. I have explored the city. I have gone into the castle.\u00a0I have seen live music and\u00a0Irish dancing. I have watched a rugby and hurling game. I have\u00a0gone to classes.\u00a0I have learned a decent amount of French,\u00a0Gaelic, and Dutch. I have planned five trips to different countries. I have gone to the Milk\u00a0Market. I have tried my\u00a0first Guinness. I have danced with strangers. I have made\u00a0lasting friendships. I have been happier than I could imagine. And\u00a0the adventure has\u00a0merely just begun.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I walked on, sat down, and\u00a0walked off. It was so simple. I walked on, sat down, and\u00a0walked off-but when I did everything was different. The air was heavy with moisture and held a earthy tin smell. Everything in sight was green and bursting with life, except for a road that had cars zooming in a … <\/p>\n