reflections

Its all over.

I really can´t believe it already. After reading my friend Regina´s blog note (who I met on a bus in Venice when we discovered we were both from seattle and we both knew Douglas Chavis...random..) about her study abroad experience, i have to agree when she says that we are no longer studying abroad, but rather we have studied abroad. Literally since I came back from Australia, I had the intention of studying abroad again, and for the past 8 years I have spent so much time thinking, talking, and planning this studying abroad experience - and now its finally come to an end!

As you can imagine, this experience carried a lot of expectations when I first departed. Typically most say that their abroad experience more than exceded expectations, but I think it might be more appropriate for me to say that they took my expectations and threw them out the window! My time abroad was completely amazing, but also completely not what I thought it would be. I surprisingly know much more german, (ich werde dic wermissen!), got just a little tooo wet, and made much more lasting friendships than I ever initially thought.

Most also typically say ¨oh it seems like yesterday when I first arrived¨. However for me, I think of the first day I arrived in Galway - and it seems like that was a whole different life for me. I dont know if its the fact that I have changed, or so much in my life has changed, or both, but that girl who first dragged her three giant bags through the rain to her hostel on the first day is not the same as before! Lets just hope that the changes are all for the better - I think they are! I´m much more comfortable in my own skin, happier, and even more confident than before - watch out melanie, I am SO not gonna back down from any argument anymore (if only my ireland experience taught me to be more mature...).

Still, I owe all these learning experiences to the people surrounding me. To all those I met here in Ireland, and to those who I left back in America - you have no idea how much your friendship, support, and love has enhanced my experience abroad. I know I will never ever forget your compassion you gave to me. Even if it was as simple as a small email, text message, or inviting me out - every single time it made my days! I could not have done it without you!

So I leave Ireland with a heavy heart, but also with the determination to come back - I´m already going to start saving again (slowly...but surely!). Caution to all my euro-pals: I will be knocking on your door in a couple of years...and even more caution to my home-town friends because you will be knocking on those doors alongside me!!

Ok so now speaking in present-day terms: I am in Barcelona at the moment - a bit cold at the moment, but still enjoying my time here. Although, admittedly I am tiring very quickly of living out of my backpack - I REALLY just want to throw my clothes all over the place and take a long bubble bath. But tomorrow I already head out to shannon, and spend one last night in Ireland before making the big flight home!

So Barcelona is great - full of sandy beaches, gorgeous views, and Gaudi! I really enjoy the sights here (Las Ramblas, Park Gnuell, Mt. Montjuec, Olympic Stadium) , but enjoy the relaxed lifestyle even more! Staying out late, getting up even later - I could DEFINITELY get used to this! Don´t even get me started on mid-day siestas! ahhhhhh!

Oh yes - AND theres LOADS of shopping....

In fact, I think that´s where I´m headed to now!

Adios mis amigos!


xoxoxoxoxo

Finals Fiasco

It was a cold and stormy morning when I woke up, so I decided against going for a run, which is not like me since today was my very first final exam for NUI Galway! HOWEVER, since my exam was commencing in a hotel in another town, I figured the hour long walk would give me enough fresh air and blood pumping to clear my head. Packing lightly, I packed some water, gum, and a snack in a bag; and of course my most important items: key card, and identification which I placed in my back pocket. I gave them one last look before sliding them in my jeans and taking off! As I strolled out the door I suddenly realized: I forgot pens to write my essay! How stupid of me! So I turned around to grab some pens, but when I reached in my back pocket for my key, I discovered that wasn’t there either! How absent-minded of me – I almost left with all the essential items! I especially would need my identification because with out that I would have had to pay 20 euros and possibly not even allowed to take the test! Luckily Elisa was awake and she let me in the door as I grabbed a few pens. But when I went to look for my ID and key card – they were nowhere be found… I had JUST had them less than 2 minutes ago! I checked my pockets, my purse, under my sheets, in my books, in the refrigerator – I even entertained Elisa’s thought of them being in my shoes and flung off my left boot: NOWHERE! Julia woke up as well and the three of us scoured the entire apartment looking for my identification and key. Nowhere. I was running out of time, so I decided to forget my ID card and rely on my good looks and charm to get me into my test (so you’re now thinking: she’s doomed!). On my taxi ride to the hotel (no more time for walking), I theorized that they must have fallen in the toilet when I went to bathroom, and I flushed it down…either that or it was an evil demon-possessed leprechaun.
Well luckily (ha! luckily…) I managed to get into my test, and didn’t even need to pay the 20 euro fine. And the test didn’t go so bad either – I spent nearly the entire 2 ½ hours writing, finishing with just 5 minutes left. So for the first time the entire day I was able to sit back, cross my legs and breathe. Suddenly, I felt something…and there, tucked in my right shoe – both my ID card and key card lay there…

So now I really better get good marks on my exams because it’s the only way I can restore my belief (as well as the belief of others) that I truly am an intelligent woman!

Off to the library – I hope I find a spot! It’s good thing I have my ID with me, so I can be allowed inside…now where did it go again…?

Study Week?

Classes ended on thanksgiving, but rather than jump into finals, the Irish like to add a little extra time to study. Hence, study week. However, for most Irish people this is considered ‘time-to-learn-an-entire-semesters-worth-of-knowledge-cause-I-spent-this-entire-year-in-a-pub’ week. So this entire week the library here has become the new hot-spot. And I’m not kidding – lines start to form outside the library at 7:30 am in order to find a place to sit. You also have to show ID when entering! They have bouncers to control the inflow of people – ok no they don’t, but I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if the next time I entered, one would be there – either that or having to pay a cover charge (which you have to admit would make them a TON of money).

But unlike the Irish, my study week has gone a bit differently. Here’s my last week:

Sunday: Dinner and going out in celebration for my friend Robert’s birthday!
Monday: Movie night with the girls
Tuesday: Out for a pint of Paulaner at the bierhaus with pals
Wednesday: sex and the city and ate some delicious potato salad made by my roommate, as well as some daily grocery shopping, town exploring etc.
Thursday: Open day for the campus – this is where I made a fool of myself dancing…BUT on the bright side, Corrib Village apartments asked our flat if they could show our place to new students. Since we agreed, we each got 50 euros cash!! WOO!
Friday: finally settle down to study right? Heck no! I just got 50 euros! Hello Galway Shopping Centre (aka Santaville for the Christmas season).
Also went out to the Kings Head and danced the night away to a cover band – who thought Pearl Jam was from Australia…believe me, I was quick to correct them!
Saturday: out to the markets, then went home for a pizza dinner with my roommates. That’s when I was going to go out, but suddenly the weather took a turn for the worst (100kmh winds and rain – just a little bad) so I decided to cuddle and watch television movies and let Elisa examine my feet to see if I had bad circulation or not… J

So today is Sunday – and the horrible weather has continued onward. So I have spent the ENTIRE day inside – finally forced to study!! So after the world’s longest breakfast, shower, and room-cleaning, I actually managed to take a look at some of my papers. But then shortly after I took some photos…then watched a little TV…did a crossword…and now here I am writing in my blog…

Well lucky for me my first final does not start until Thursday – so this coming week can be my study week right?! Great! Ok study week starts right NOW!

OH I think I hear Julia watching TV in the living room – I wonder what she’s watching…

Until next time!

Xoxoxoxo


Note to all worried parents and people that are reading this that might be my future employers: I really am not that much of a slacker, I am really a hardworking, determined individual. I actually have been studying quite a bit during the day. I even admit to waking up at 7am to get to the packed library! yuk!