Family

    Family, to me, is one of the most important things. When I told them that I was going on this trip they asked me if they could come and visit. Out of all my family, my dad's parents were able to come and visit. Before they came to Dungarvan they traveled out west and spent some time in Dublin. My weekend with them started by going to trivia with them which was a lot of fun. On Saturday we took the day and explored Waterford. We did a tour of Bishops Palace and Waterford Crystal. On Sunday, we just spent time together and I was able to make them lunch and play board games which was giving me a sense of home. 

    When reading through poems that I felt could resonate with my weekend with them it was "Follower" by Heaney. Overall, the poem is about him growing up and his father was the one who had to take care of him, but as his father gets older, he is the one who has to take care of his father. In a way, I was able to do this for my grandparents. When I was younger, they were able to guide me and show me around when I did day trips with them. I was able to do this for them. I could show them around and be a guide for them as they were for me. They really mean a lot and to be able to give them that experience means the world to me.  

Controversial Opinions

"Wine comes in at the mouth

And love comes in at the eye;

That’s all we shall know for truth

Before we grow old and die.

I lift the glass to my mouth,

I look at you, and I sigh."

Being in Ireland it is only right to talk about alcohol. While being here I have had the privilege of visiting both the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin and The Midleton Distillery which is the home of Jameson. This may be a controversial take, but I am not a fan of either, hence why I can relate to the poem " A Drinking Song" written by Yeats. I can specifically relate to the last line of the poem where it states, "I look at you, and I sigh." 

    I really wanted to do my best to enjoy them but to me, they were just not as enjoyable as they were to other people. When it came to the Guinness, I am not positive about why I was not a fan, but I think it was because of how dark it was and how strong of a wheat flavor it had. I already knew before I came here that I was not a fan of whiskey, but I told myself that I was going to give it another chance. Within the tasting, there were three different types of whiskey that we could taste: Jameson, Powers, and Green Spot. I am going to be clear they were all nasty to me, but if I had to choose one, I would choose the Jameson. Did I like them, no, but was it an experience that I will forever be grateful for, yes! 

The Coast

  Growing up the beach has always been an important part of my life. My family vacationed to many different beaches where so many memories have been made. Watching my aunt and uncle get married on a beach in the Dominican Republic. Even as far as going to Presque Ilse in Erie, both with my grandparents when I was a child or going there with my friends on the weekends during the fall semester. No matter what It has been the coast and beach has meant something to me. So when I read the words of Yeats in his poem "The Meditation of the Old Fisherman" I felt like I could relate to the whole poem. 

Within he is talking about a boy who has never had his heart broken by t
he water playing in the waves and just being able to be happy.  These words really stand to resonate with me. No matter what age i have been the water on the beach and the waves crashing have brought me peace... even all the way in Ireland. When we were at the Giants Causeway and sitting on the rocks just looking out at the horizon, it brought me peace. All of the issues that it felt like I was having tended to just disappear. Yes, there was not a beach there but it was just being on the coast. 

The same goes for when I took a walk yesterday along the river here in Dungarvan. I was sitting in Starbucks and was stressed about the amount of homework that I had to get done within the next week. I decided that I just needed to walk and see where my feet took me. I explored. I walked around town and went into shops that interested me, but if you can guess where this is going. My feet, and heart, lead me to the coast. I just ended up standing there listening to the birds and the breeze blows my hair. Like the poem says i felt like there "was never a crack in my heart." When I realized that I needed to get back to reality, I walked along the water until I could not anymore. It was the peace that was needed after a
long week. 

A Whole New World

 

"I composed habits for those acres

so that my last look we be

neither gluttonous nor starved. 

I was ready to go anywhere."  

Today is a month that I have been in the country of Ireland. I have laughed, cried, smiled, made new friends, built stronger connections with others that I had, and maybe bought one too many pints! The poem by Heaney that I feel best describes the time that I have had so far is " Land" which is quoted above. 

While being here I have brought myself to form habits and to have a schedule. People are starting to look familiar to me and I am not only getting to know the country better but Dungarvan better! I have seen sights that I never thought I would see. I experienced things I never thought I would experience and have enjoyed every moment of it! I will not lie there have been the hard parts, like missing family and friends, and not being home for family events both good and bad, but this is not something that I would ever want to take back! 

It is wild to think that we have only been here a month! We have 4 weeks left in this wonderful place! In that time I get to help two of my friends who are here celebrate their birthdays, celebrate Easter, get to have a visit from my paternal Grandparents, travel to Amsterdam, and those are only the things that I have planned. That does not include spontaneous decisions! I can not wait to see where the time takes me!