Dublin 2009 is officially over. A quick recap before the sentimental stuff:
After the U2 concert, we had a week of class left. It went by quickly, too quickly. I spent the last 2 weekends of the program in Dublin and am thanking myself for making that decision. Dublin quickly became our home, and I wouldn’t have wanted to spend the rest of my time any other way. We had another birthday to celebrate and a day pub-crawl to kick off finals. We watched the movie Once, it was filmed on Grafton Street in Dublin-a street we spend every day on. Our finals were taken and a small group of us went out to dinner (a very expensive dinner) to celebrate. The USIT program put on a wonderful final night bash–full of trivia and karaoke and drinks. And everyone went their own way.
This summer was the best summer of my life. I met some amazing people who have shown me fun, compassion, heartache, and laughter. I learned from them–about life, about myself, and so much more. I learned from myself-that I truly can do whatever I set my mind too. And we all learned from each other: how to get around in a new country, how to interact with other people, how to ask for help when we needed it.
I don’t deal well with good-byes. Or change. I really don’t do well with change. For as excited as I was to to come to Ireland in June, I didn’t want to leave Neenah. As soon as I arrived in Dublin, I got over it. Yet somehow, I think that coming back from Ireland is going to take a bit longer to get over. I said earlier that in the past 8 weeks, Dublin became my home. It became all our homes: a group of 30 students from 5 schools. We made our own little community–one that was often filled with drama for its size but even the drama was fun most of the time. We had our laughs and our cries. We knew who to turn to for advice, who would always watch a movie with us, who would go out to eat instead of eating Dunnnness, and who would go get a drink if we had a really bad day. We found a way to work together-all of us.
And I’m really really going to miss it. I know that when I get back to the United States that I’ll transition quickly and smoothly. I have a busy August left ahead of me and I thrive well being busy. But it’s that much harder because I got along with almost everyone in our group. This quote is fitting I think: “Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same.”
I think the weirdest part is that I’m in London right now–so saying good-bye was even worse because I knew everyone was heading home and I was left in Dublin, almost the last one to go, and I wasn’t going home to people that I knew-I was going to London by myself…but what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. I’ve been in London for over a day now and I absolutely love it. Yet it feels really odd, because I have moments where I look for Allison when I see a really cute little kid, or turn to find Carly or Chelsea when someone is wearing something really funny, or look for Matt to enjoy the view in silence. Right now, it feels like I just went away for the weekend and when I get back to Trinity on Monday afternoon(I’m spending the night there before my US flight Tuesday morning) everyone will be there….I keep expecting that I’ll run into Matt or Nick in the courtyard. Or Andy will be yelling out the kitchen window at the sea-gulls. But that won’t be the case: instead the courtyard will probably be filled with crazy old tourists and little kids.
Anyway, I’m really not that sad, it’s just a weird feeling. I am lucky that I go to Madison and most of the people I’m close with go to Madison as well. We are going to have dinners once a month, on the 18th, because it’s the day we arrived in Dublin together. You always talk when you meet someone that you’ll stay in touch, but I’ve seen it happen and been a part of it all too often when two people don’t. I really believe though that my Michigan friends: (Allison, Matt, and Jacki) will keep in touch. And maybe it will fade. Life’s funny sometimes. Right now, though, I don’t see it happening. We shared a great summer and were forced to get to know each other quickly. Our common phrase was that our study abroad program was like relationships on speed. So being friends with someone for 2 weeks meant 9 months in real people time. And in many ways, it is true–you were forced to get to know people quickly: you were spending 20 hours a day with them most of the time. And with no one from home around to support you, you either curled up on your own or found someone to help you. Like when vodaphone steals your money and you have none left to call your parents. Anyway, the Michigan crew is going to visit Madison for the football game in November and we’ll travel out there. In between, technology: facebook and text messages: are amazing and will help.
Thank you to USIT for a great program. You organized a very hectic schedule and dealt with overly anxious American college students and did it well. I loved that there were events organized around all aspects of Irish culture: sports, music, literature, film, history, etc. etc. Everyone appreciates all that you’ve done.
Thanks to all of my new found friends: you guys have changed me in so many ways. I am so lucky to have met you and can’t wait for the future.
And finally, because it’s appropriate, I’ll end with an Irish Blessing:
May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand.
