On April 16th, 2016 I woke up and watched the sun rise from the roof of my apartment in Dublin, Ireland. On April 16, 2016, I watched the sun set from my bedroom in Mequon, Wisconsin.
Leaving Dublin and saying goodbye to the best semester ever was one of the hardest things I've had to do and I'm obviously not over it yet. Over the course of a few short months, I lived in a major city, travelled all over Europe, learned so much about Ireland's culture and history, and made some of the most amazing friends. In my mind, those friends range from the girls I lived with for the semester, my classmates, the staff at the IES center, my extended family in Ireland, the old man I met once in a coffee shop, the Ryanair flight attendant that held back my hair as I puked, and every taxi driver that ever asked my opinion on Donald Trump (so.... all of them.) I wanted to thank my parents, both of my grandmas and the rest of my family for the support to make it to Ireland and the continued support throughout the semester and of course the marathon that is my existence. Thanks to Megan for reminding me to literally dance like nobody's watching because *hopefully* we'll never see any of those people again; thanks to Rachel for finding the good in everyone and everything, and unknowingly encouraging me to do the same, from last semester on; thanks to Jack for breaking the mold and forcing me to reevaluate the stereotypes I've been wrongfully perpetuating; thank you to Tori for being the sunshine of my trip and making me laugh until I cried on countless {much needed} occasions; thanks Chris for giving me the [also much needed] confidence to go out into the professional world; and finally thank you Jackie for keeping us all in line (as much as you possibly could, tbh I never once did Travel Tracker). I could go on and on and on with thank you's but let's be honest you're bored already. During this semester, I went on some of the adventures of my dreams, and unfortunately some of the adventures of my nightmares, here's to you, Game of Thrones bike tour in the pouring rain, but honestly, I wouldn't change a thing. Going from a place where there was always something fun to do and someone fun to do it with to a lot slower of a pace at home is quite difficult for me, so my apologies to anyone currently dealing with my dramatics. I feel like I forgot how to sit still and do nothing. It's like I'm no longer productive in a realistic sense, when my mind and soul are halfway across the globe surrounded by a completely different community. I've always joked that I like to keep my circle small, but unfortunately a circle consisting of my dog and mom is a little too small after four months of constant excitement. Dublin will always be my favorite hello and my hardest goodbye and I am so thankful for everyone who had a part in making me feel that way. My study abroad experience made me feel larger than life, but reminded me it's a very small world. It showed me that if you make everywhere you go special, you'll never be too far from home. If you make meaningful connections with the people around you, you'll never be too far from family. And finally, if you're in Dublin, you'll never be too far from a pub and some craic. Sláinte, friends. May your travels and mine bring us closer together in the future.
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For my photography class, "Shaping Visual Narratives," our final assignment was to use our best photos from the semester to tell a story. I chose to create my portfolio a la Instagram, using quotes from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, one of my favorite books. So check it out, some proof I possibly maybe did a little bit of work this semester. I may only have a few days left in Dublin, but somehow I believe my semester isn't nearly over, so I'll keep you updated with that. "Gotta work a little so you can ball a lot, son." ~Megan 'No Chill' Greenfield ![]() This past weekend in Dublin was the 100 year anniversary celebrations of the 1916 Easter Uprising. For those of you who don't know, this was a pretty big deal in the Republic of Ireland's history, as it was the first major uprising against English rule in Ireland since 1798. Many people fought, many people died, and although the Irish didn't exactly prevail, it set the stage for their eventual independence from Great Britain. The stage for the uprising was the city of Dublin, so the 100 year anniversary was a very big deal in the city. Naturally, I decided to skip town during these historical celebrations and ventured just North to Dunshaughlin, County Meath. My Great Aunt and Uncle, Dolores and Brendan (and their dog, Jetta!!!) graciously hosted me for the weekend. They brought me to Easter Mass , where the church honored James Fox,a boy from Dunshaughlin, who at the young age 16 fought in the Easter Uprising, and unfortunately died in the chaos. After the shortest Catholic mass I've ever experienced (TG), my cousins took me to celebrate Jesus' resurrection the only way we know how: by pouring one out for the brotha at the horse track. Although my beat-up converse, dirty leggings, and sweatshirt didn't exactly fit the prom-esque dress code at the horse races, I figure I won't see most of those people ever again... plus I was pretty warm :) This was obviously when I metamorphosized into a proper Irish person by spending the whole day drinking pints with my cousins and their friends. A lot of gambling took place and though I can't say I gambled myself, but I definitely lost a bet Kieran put in my name on a horse named "American" (it was a French horse.) Sorry Kieran!! Later on, I like totally took a rad picture with the Garda at the track, because, like, duh! I'm American! Then we clown-car piled into Brendan's car, obviously parked in the owners and trainers lot, and headed home for a lovely Easter dinner. This was when I unknowingly consumed lamb for the first time.... Check out my instagram for a picture of the poor guy.... oooops Special thanks to the new (and adorable) parents Niall and Ciara for leaving your kid with Grandma just to end up babysitting me! I had a blast, come chant with me about Sinn Fein and Free Derry in the States anytime! Just tell your friend I still want his Copper's gold card ;) Overall, I had such a great weekend "getting in touch with my roots" and being reminded that I'm never too far from family. I'm so grateful for the Murphy family's generosity and hospitality. ![]() This past week has been an absolute whirlwind of emotions. Early Tuesday morning, I awoke to horrible news: a boy I went to high school with had passed away while studying abroad in Barcelona. Alex positively influenced the lives of everyone around him, and I know he will be remembered as the smart, funny, athletic young man he was. I haven't been homesick much at all so far, but this really made me miss my family, and made my heart ache for his family. When terrible news comes your way, nothing is more comforting than talking to and being with your loved ones. For probably the first time in several months, I had a paralyzing panic attack. Thank goodness I had supportive friends right by my side at the time. I've been so open with everyone abroad about my anxiety and panic attack disorder and they have been nothing but accepting and non-judgmental. In the past, I felt like I was burdening the people around me and that if I wasn't always 'fun' or 'happy' they would leave. In all reality, some did leave and that's what makes being open with new people so hard. Until now, I believed the stigma of mental illness would keep anyone from admitting to me that they weren't always okay. I'm so happy to say that since I've been abroad and since I've decided to stop letting stigma get in my way, a couple friends have talked with me about having their own mental illnesses and even those who don't have been accepting and asked me questions as to better educate themselves. Nothing could make me happier than to see people reacting the opposite way you think they will when you put yourself in a vulnerable position. From enlightening conversations with roommates to much needed hugs in times of exasperation, the openness and support of my peers has made this experience incredibly positive and I really appreciate it. I've never come across such an uplifting group of individuals and I truly believe the luck of the Irish brought us all together to experience life, grow, and learn. All of this has really made me realize that our time here, abroad or just on earth, has nothing to do with getting more likes on your Instagram, or finding wifi so you can send a Snapchat. It's not about staying at the best hotels or eating at the best restaurants, it's about the people you share those experiences. Whether they be positive or negative in the moment, hopefully when it's all over we can look back and smile about the memories we get to share with the handful of people who grace our lives, even if only for a moment. To any friends of Alex's, and of course the Fish family, my thoughts and prayers are with you. My heart goes out to anyone affected by this tragedy. Please remember that it's okay to not be okay and reach out to someone if you need to talk, or maybe just to be lifted up. ![]() I love Indiana University. I'm a Hoosier, through and through. I love going to the enormous sporting events, having more than 750 clubs and student organizations to choose from, and meeting students from every major under the sun.. although I can't seem to get away from business students.. I love being a Big 10 basketball champ, even if it is from across the pond. But when I make my half hour commute to class each day and don't pass a single familiar soul, I wonder if I made the right choice going to a school with 40,000 students. I wonder if I would've fit in more at a smaller school. IES Dublin's Irish Studies program has given me the opportunity to have that experience, and I couldn't be more grateful. Walking into the center every day feels like coming home. I personally know every member of staff, every single one of my classmates, and am on a first-name basis with all of my teachers. You don't get that in a 300 person statistics lecture at IU. Although knowing everyone by name is enough to make my grinch heart grow 3 sizes, what truly gives me the small school feel is that I know most everyone's story. We're a small but colorful cast of characters, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I've nominated myself as class clown.. it's my personal goal to make as many people laugh (or smile) every single day, no matter if it's at me or with me. So many unique people call this program home, but there's a few pairings that make me smile. There's everyone from Megan "No Chill," a down-to-earth, Midwestern gem with stories funny enough to make anyone laugh hysterically, to "Mr. Jack," a frat star from Penn State with a (not so) hidden heart of gold. Much to my surprise (and delight,) those two get along swimmingly. Then there's the stark contrast of a literal Mother Theresa, (here's to you, Rachel) and a kid who told our entire literature class he grew up "identifying with the villains" of movies. Finally, we have Joe, who's a little California and crunchy granola, to Tori, a spunky little powerhouse from York, PA... LOL Tori I don't even know what that means... Somehow, someway, despite all of our differences, vibrant personalities, and distinct backgrounds, we thrive together in some magical kinda way. It truly is amazing. Besides all of my hilariously crazy classmates, the heart of the organization lies in its staff. First and foremost, there's Jackie, or to us, mom. Her official title has something to do with "Student Affairs" but it really should just be Jack(ie) of All Trades. She's there to answer all questions, organize amazing class trips, and even help us make doctor appointments. I'm entirely convinced the center would go up in flames without her hard work. Next, we have wonderful RA's like Miriam, Conor, and Patrick. Miriam is the definition of a cool girl, seriously go look in an encyclopedia I k n o w her picture is in there. Don't even get me started on how awesome our teachers are. There's Stephen, who lights up everyone's days, feeds us, inspires us to travel the world, and mostly importantly, helps us "make" gorgeous pictures. There's also Darren Kelly, first name last name absolutely necessary. He takes us on field trips to parts of the city we wouldn't normally see, and lovingly makes fun of me in front of the class when I'm just a little too hungover. Finally, we have Chris. Chris is the reason so many of my classmates and future IES Dublin students have and will have amazing internship opportunities all across this great city. He might use the word 'like' more than any pre-teen American girl I've ever known, but that's okay because he keeps us laughing nonstop and he's a really cool guy. All in all, I have nothing but love and respect for these people. Thanks for welcoming my goofy butt with open arms into probably the most dysfunctional family in all of Rathmines. So here's a big Sláinte to the IES staff and class of Spring 2016, you've made this experience incredibly rich and absolutely hilarious. I may only have a month and a half left, but you bet I'm gonna make it memorable. ![]() As a Junior at Indiana University, I feel like I finally know where I’m going and a little bit about how to get there. I’m a Journalism major with a concentration in Public Relations and Advertising, and a second concentration in Law and Public Policy. I’m also currently spending a semester abroad in Dublin, Ireland. Getting here wasn’t by any means easy, but definitely worth it. As far as career aspirations, I have both short-term and long-term goals for myself. My short-term goals entail graduating in May 2017 from Indiana University’s Media School. Ideally, I would graduate with a full-time job. In the first few years after graduating, I plan on working for a Public Relations firm, to fully get a handle on the industry, and hopefully figure out what kind of clients I most enjoy working for. Looking further ahead, I see my future going in one of two directions. First, if I have the chance to make enough money, I would like to go to law school. If that ends up being unrealistic, I want to do public relations work for a mental health nonprofit. I think I would thoroughly enjoy both of these options, as I have passions for public policy as well as public relations. Considering my skills in reading, writing, and public speaking, I feel that I could live up to my potential in these fields and really thrive professionally. In order to achieve these goals, I first need to get an internship doing public relations work and graduate from school with a job. I will then be able to establish myself professionally and combine my skills and passions to work to the best of my ability. Something that sets me apart from other rising Public Relations seniors is my ability to tie in my humor and people skills in representing myself, as well as a client. I always respect myself, but know how to not take myself too seriously. I strongly believe this makes me easy to work with, while remaining productive. ![]() I lost SO MANY POUNDS in Scotland! Unfortunately, not the kind I want to lose. But in all reality, Edinburgh is full of castles, closes, and most importantly, little shops full of Star Wars art. The city has wonder waiting around every corner and amazing views up every hill. Overall, I have to say that Edinburgh is a fantastic city! We visited everything from the underground closes to the birthplace of Harry Potter, not to mention the gravesite of Tom Riddle (IT EXISTS!). The pints were wonderfully cheap! I say check out The Standing Order for a soccer game and a drink! On our first night, we went on an organized pub crawl, expecting the world. Although it didn't live up to our expectations, the next night my friend Sarah took us on a "pub crawl" of her own ;). I HIGHLY recommend Sarah's pub crawl, 10/10 for sure. We wandered up and down Rose Street in New Town, popping in one random establishment after another, for a drink in each. Following our fearless leader, we ended our impromptu pub crawl with some great live music. On the theme of live music, Edinburgh has bagpipers on every few corners, playing to their hearts desire. One was legitimately so cute I started blushing and got so nervous I had to turn away. After this journey, I've concluded two things. Anywhere I go, I'll always have fun in an Irish pub and it's always a good idea to follow the live music. Early Saturday afternoon, we ventured up to one of the highest points in Edinburgh and braved the snow to see the castle. In and around Edinburgh Castle, we learned all about Scottish history, Queen Mary, prisoners of war, and the crown jewels. After an enlightening journey through Edinburgh's rich past, we took a short trip to the gift shop. I found an interesting little book titled "Don'ts for Wives" from at least 50 years ago. If you ever stumble upon such a book, I strongly suggest ignoring every tidbit of advice in the damn thing, but that's just my opinion...... All in all, I had an amazing Valentine's Day weekend with some great friends, and I definitely recommend visiting Edinburgh if you get the chance. :) ![]() Hi friends! Sorry it's been so long since I've posted, I've been so busy! Schoolwork is finally catching up to me.. I go to class?? Yes, shocking to me too!! I've been abroad for over a month now, so clearly I'm an expert in European travel and culture. {Endorse me on LinkedIn, you won't regret it!} This entire trip so far has been a long series of trial and error, but I think that phrase leaves little room for success, so I'm changing it to 'mishaps and laughs.' That way at least I'm laughing about all the things I do wrong (and then learning from them). I've had my fair share of mishaps, big and small, and even if I haven't completely learned my lesson, at least I've had a good chuckle about 'em. So here's my best "Big Sister" advice: I'm entirely convinced I've brought the freezing rain with me wherever I go, and trust me, water proof and water resistant are NOT synonymous. And no matter how much it does rain, sometimes you're gonna have to pay for tap water... just roll with it, dehydration is SO much worse. Occasionally you'll pay too much for cover at a club you don't have a good time at and unfortunately those boots were not made for walking. But hey, #beautyispain. Last but not least, trust no one for directions. Google maps lies. Signs lie... We actually followed two contradicting signs for the same place and both led us astray.. it was like asking the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz where to go. Sometimes you just gotta trek around in the rain until you find your castle, literally. Waiting for that Disney movie to pop up, I'm available to be the next princess! ;) Last weekend I traveled to Copenhagen with some friends and we were caught in downpours, miserably lost, and honestly got on each others' nerves just a little bit. But at the end of the day, I found myself cuddled up in a ~posh~ AirBnB (thanks Sab!) with some pretty cool people I've only just met, and found myself laughing hysterically at every little thing that went wrong, and I'm pretty okay with that. If bad weather and expensive coffee abroad are the biggest of my troubles, I know I'm way too #blessed to be stressed. Basically what I'm saying is no matter how bad things seem, finding a way to laugh about it definitely lightens the mood and changes your perspective on things. Peace out fam, safe travels. "I'm here for a good time, not a long time." ~ Thanks, Drake. PAST: Before arriving in Dublin, I have to admit that I was not as anxious as I normally would've been. Going to college my first year I made myself so nervous I had a very hard time making friends for awhile. Of course it's nerve racking to leave my family and the comfort of IU, but I think I was ready for this adventure. I needed to surround myself with new people and a new environment. I think coming to Dublin with such a positive attitude really gave me the best fresh start I could ask for. My goal has always been (and probably always will be) to travel the world and experience as many different cultures as possible. In the past I felt stuck in a couple of places with little ability to explore.
PRESENT: I do miss my family and friends, although they're making me proud from 2,000 miles away. Shout-out to my family, you're each killin' it in each and every way! Meanwhile in Wisconsin, someone stole $160,000 worth of cheese. Keep your dairy safe fam. On another note, I'm thankful for a breath of fresh air, or a gust, since we've had wind speeds of up to 40mph! I've been meeting so many amazing people, making new friends, both Irish and American, and been going on incredible adventures! Even if those adventures mainly involve a trip to Penney's or Queen of Tarts. I still haven't really gotten the hang of grocery shopping or cooking here. Don't worry cause you know I ain't missin' no meals, my roommate is the President of the Clean Plate Club.... I've been thinking a lot about the phrase "your vibe attracts your tribe," and I think being here has allowed me to be the most positive and outgoing version of myself! I can already tell the lessons I learn here will last me a lifetime, and I'm hoping the friendships do too. I can't stress enough how supportive and amazing the people I'm surrounded by have been along this journey. (You guys know who you are, cause you're *butter* than the rest ;)) FUTURE: I can't wait to start traveling to other countries! I'm going to Copenhagen this weekend and have many other trips planned. It seems as though this semester is already flying by and I'm so excited to take it in! Watch out RyanAir, I'm coming for ya. Till next time, please enjoy this picture of a rainbow. #nofilter ![]() I've been in Dublin a little over a week now and it seems like 5 minutes and 5 days, all at the same time. In my deceivingly short time here, I've noticed a few things that surprised me. 1. I surprised myself. Upon arrival in Dublin, IES staff welcomed me with some unsettling news: my apartment had a leak and was unfit to live in. My roommates and I had been temporarily relocated to a new apartment. I surprised myself by staying calm. Normally, news like this would send me into a spiral of panic and anxiety. Rather than freak out, I went with the flow and came to realize that my new living situation was even better than what I expected. 2. The Irish are so friendly. Everyone, from the IES staff to taxi drivers, has helpful tips and wonderful recommendations. Virtually all the people I've come across have been eager to help me get acclimated and I could not be more appreciative. The friendliest of the people I've met so far is an older gentleman named Sam. Sam sat down at the same table as me at a coffee shop and we started talking. He was so kind and seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say. He gave me recommendations on what to do in Dublin and left by telling me he was sorry he had to go, but gave me his number to contact him if I wanted. I left that coffee shop with more joy in my heart than I've experienced in a long time, and I have Sam to thank for that. [I sniped his picture while he was writing down his phone number :) ] 3. THE WOMEN HERE ARE SO COOL. Not to generalize, but I cannot stress how cool the girls in Dublin look. I haven't walked down a street without noticing a cool girl. Cool girls in Dublin walk with a sense of pride in who they are and where they're going. Cool girls in Dublin do not falter in their heeled booties on rough cobblestone. Cool girls in Dublin don't reveal the pain of the harsh winds and freezing rain blasting against the paper-thin pair of tights (barely) covering their legs. Cool girls in Dublin rock a fashionable hat no matter the windspeed. In my attempt to become a cool girl in Dublin, I bought a hat and braved the wind. (selfie to come) 4. It surprised me how environmentally friendly Ireland is. I'm utterly impressed by Dublin and honestly disappointed in America at the same time because of this. Although Dublin is a "walking city," it offers so many options in public transportation. At grocery stores and many retailers, you have to buy a bag to carry goods in, which not only reduces the amount of waste contributed by plastic or paper bags, but ends up saving businesses money by not having to produce so many. Finally, many of the outlets here have individual switches. So when you want to use an outlet, you turn it on. When you're done, you turn it off. This is so unbelievably simple but I've never seen anything like it before! I think these are all incredible ways of saving money and natural resources and America could take a few tips from the Emerald Isle. |
AuthorKelly Burke, 20 Archives
April 2016
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