Dublin!

Hi!

Let me just start off by saying...I am writing this post right now as a means to procrastinate because I actually have real WORK due this week and I am not a fan. Yes, finally during my fifth week of classes, I have papers due and have been forced to sit in my room and actually STUDY while abroad. Crazy, right?? It's so scary how fast this week snuck up on me, but that is just a testament to how much fun I am having, and how much I am enjoying my time here.
It's so nice to wake up every day and actually not dread having to go to class or go to work. I hate how we have the tendency to constantly wish for the weekend, and pray that the day goes by quickly. Here, I never wish a day away. I have really been trying to take my Dad's advice and never have a "nothing" day here, and so far I have loved every single second :)

I really wish I could just student teach everyday instead of having to take classes. The kids get cuter every time I go in, and I always leave with a funny story. Today, a boy came up to me and said, "You're from America, right?" "Yup." "Did you know that there are over 10,000 McDonalds in America?" Great, I thought, another comment about how we are notoriously known for being overweight and eating fast food. Ha!

Anyways, what I really want to tell you about is my weekend in Dublin! I have to say, for my first solo international trip, I think I did pretty well. I flew out of Bristol (about 20 minutes from my apartment) and literally hopped on a plane to Ireland. I flew RyanAir for about 40 pounds roundtrip. Such a great deal!! I actually really love the simplicity of this well-known "sketchy" airline. There is no gate that connects to the plane, but instead you walk outside, and take the ladder to the entryway. Then, you just sit anywhere you like. I looked everywhere on my ticket for my seat number, and in a moment of panic I turned to the guy behind me, and he just said, "just pick any seat, love!". So cool! The flight to Dublin was about 40 minutes and so easy. After a quick stamp on my passport, I set out to go find my friend Erin who is studying at Dublin Business School. It was so nice to visit with Erin and Amanda (who flew in from Milan), two of my best friends from home. It was great to see some very familiar faces in a foreign country!

Me, Erin, Amanda. Friends since Elementary School!

What I most enjoyed about Dublin is the nightlife! There are hundreds of pubs across Dublin, and I don't know how they ever decide where to go! It was much more crowded and city-like than I expected. (Yes, I know that is a naive statement). I have always associated Ireland with sheep and green fields, so I was shocked at how incredibly lively and populated Dublin is! It's also so strange to only fly for 40 minutes and then instantly be in a different country, with a different accent, and different currency (I really wish England used Euros!) That, is why I knew I had to study in Europe. I had a lot of fun just exploring the city. I saw Dublin Castle, Temple Bar, Trinity College, had a Jameson Coffee on Grafton St, had my first Guinness on Dane St, and much more.



Penny Bridge



Trinity College

Dublin Streets

The other highlight of my trip was going to Howth! Howth is an adorable little peninsula town about a 20 min train ride from the city center. It was so beautiful, and Erin and I were able to walk along the shore cliffs and take some really beautiful pictures of the scenery and of the seals that come up so close to the waters edge! They were so cute!

Howth

Well, I think that is all for now. Sorry for such a long post! This Friday my program is going hiking in Wales, so I'm sure I will post again next week with more pictures.

Thank you for reading!

Cheers!

xx Sara