So here I am on the eve of my departure from Ireland and a semester abroad. I can hardly believe that almost five months has already gone by and I will be back home at this time tomorrow. There are not enough words to describe this experience. It has been unforgettable, exciting, challenging, invigorating and a million other things. I have traveled to eight countries, visited countless cities, and explored nearly the whole of Ireland. I have seen beautiful places, met amazing people, and been able to share the semester with some great new friends. Lucky isn't even the word; I realize not everyone is afforded the opportunity that I was given and that makes me appreciate this experience even more. Ireland has been so good to me, becoming a second home that will be difficult to leave in the morning. But I will board my departure flight with a big smile and the trip of a lifetime behind me. Coming abroad has been the best thing I have ever done for myself as I know I am leaving a little more grown up, with a new sense of independence, and bitten by the travel bug with a fierce desire to see the world. But tomorrow, I think I'll go to Boston...
Love and the experience of a lifetime,
Haley
Friday, May 27, 2011
Trad On The Prom
Back in January during orientation week our API group was given an itinerary for the semester laying out our trips, cultural events, etc. At the time, the last event on the schedule seemed years away. All of the sudden, much like the rest of the semester, our last group activity has come and gone.
The last hurrah set up for me and the 30+ other API students was a night of "Trad on the Prom" or, in real English, traditional Irish music, song, and dance on the promenade. It took place last night at the Salthill Hotel in a banquet hall looking over Galway Bay. A bus picked all of us up from out apartment complexes and took us to the hotel about a 15 minute drive away. Thank goodness for that bus; Ireland has decided to send us off the way she welcomed us in...with lots of rain. An hour or so walk in that would not have been a good look for my hair! Before hopping on the bus, a few girls came over to get dolled up in honor of our last real night out in Galway as tonight is going to be one of battling with our suitcases and luggage weights. We threw on dresses, did our hair, and put on some make-up for the big night. I had been looking forward to this since coming back from Italy as most of my time has been spent procrastinating packing, last minute souvenir shopping, and waiting for my flight home. I really couldn't think of a better way to spend the night than having dinner and enjoying Irish tradition with the people I've gotten to share this whole semester with.
Dinner was delicious but the show was even better. There was lots of dancing, music, and singing hosted by a funny Irishman. I really love the dancing; the dancers are so disciplined and in sync. Their feet move so quickly that I feel like I get tired watching them! But they look like they really enjoy performing which is part of why I feel like it's so fun to watch. The show was two hours and we didn't want to have our last night out cut short so we headed into town as a large group to hit the pubs. We didn't stay together for long, as trying to fit a group over 20 into one of the small Galway pubs is nearly impossible. A few girls and I went to old favorites like the Quays and the Front Door - my absolute fave! - before finally giving in and heading back to Menlo. It was a great night from dinner to the show to pubbing and I'm glad I got to spend it with API and my favorite Galway girls.
The last hurrah set up for me and the 30+ other API students was a night of "Trad on the Prom" or, in real English, traditional Irish music, song, and dance on the promenade. It took place last night at the Salthill Hotel in a banquet hall looking over Galway Bay. A bus picked all of us up from out apartment complexes and took us to the hotel about a 15 minute drive away. Thank goodness for that bus; Ireland has decided to send us off the way she welcomed us in...with lots of rain. An hour or so walk in that would not have been a good look for my hair! Before hopping on the bus, a few girls came over to get dolled up in honor of our last real night out in Galway as tonight is going to be one of battling with our suitcases and luggage weights. We threw on dresses, did our hair, and put on some make-up for the big night. I had been looking forward to this since coming back from Italy as most of my time has been spent procrastinating packing, last minute souvenir shopping, and waiting for my flight home. I really couldn't think of a better way to spend the night than having dinner and enjoying Irish tradition with the people I've gotten to share this whole semester with.
Dinner was delicious but the show was even better. There was lots of dancing, music, and singing hosted by a funny Irishman. I really love the dancing; the dancers are so disciplined and in sync. Their feet move so quickly that I feel like I get tired watching them! But they look like they really enjoy performing which is part of why I feel like it's so fun to watch. The show was two hours and we didn't want to have our last night out cut short so we headed into town as a large group to hit the pubs. We didn't stay together for long, as trying to fit a group over 20 into one of the small Galway pubs is nearly impossible. A few girls and I went to old favorites like the Quays and the Front Door - my absolute fave! - before finally giving in and heading back to Menlo. It was a great night from dinner to the show to pubbing and I'm glad I got to spend it with API and my favorite Galway girls.
Love and last hurrahs,
Haley
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
And In The End The Journey Is The Destination
While it seems like yesterday that I wrote a post on my goals for my semester abroad, it was actually over four months ago and now as my time in Ireland is coming to a close it's time for me to look back on how I did in reaching them.
1) Have fun!
I don't think there is even any question that this goal has been beyond reached. This blog speaks for itself.
2) Join a club or society I would never normally participate in at home.
8) Volunteer in some manner within the local community.
Even though I am thrilled to go through the goals I had written down and know that I reached them, the best part was getting there. I had to challenge myself and go outside my comfort zone to make them happen. I've traveled to wonderful places, met amazing people, crossed things off my bucket list, completed junior year of college, and had the most incredible five months of my life thus far - all while getting to capture and share it through words and pictures. I think it's safe to say "mission accomplished."
Love and no regrets,
Haley
1) Have fun!
I don't think there is even any question that this goal has been beyond reached. This blog speaks for itself.
2) Join a club or society I would never normally participate in at home.
Joining the rugby team at NUIG was hands-down the best decision I made while being abroad. It gave me the opportunity to learn a new sport, get moving, and make a whole new group of friends that I otherwise would have never met.
3) Kiss the Blarney Stone. Check!
4) Travel somewhere on my own.
This goal was reached the moment my plane landed at Shannon Airport on January 5th. I came abroad with no family or close friends in the area for support. I was able to make it through this experience all on my own, making good friends and unforgettable memories along the way.
5) Get in better shape.
Well, I'm not sure if you've read my posts about all the delicious foods I've eaten in Italy, Spain, Holland, etc. but I have exactly been eating completely health. Dieting and traveling do not mix! However, having my two feet as my primary means of transportation for the past five months has reaped some benefits; I feel more energetic and my jeans are a bit looser. I'll give this goal a check!
6) Go to Italy and have an "Eat Pray Love"-esque experience.
Boy did I ever!
7) Have a fleeting fling with an Irishman.
This one is a bit personal and in the interest of keeping it PG around here, I'm going to spare you all the details and just say CHECK!
Helping out at Bohermore Homework Club was one of my favorite experiences this semester. I really enjoyed working with the children and getting to know them each week.
9) Do well in my classes.
The verdict is still out on this one as grades don't come out until the end of June but I feel confident in saying that it's been a good semester academically.
10) Keep up my blog so I will be able to remember everything after this experience is over. Nearly 60 entries later, I don't think anything went unaccounted for. Check!
Love and no regrets,
Haley
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Buon Appetito Tutti!
Even more famous than the architecture, the history, and the beauty of Italy is the food. Pasta, pizza, sauce, parmigiana, gelato, cannolis, biscotti...the delicacies go on and on and on. Food and eating is a huge part of Italian culture that has been one of its greatest gifts to the rest of the world. I mean c'mon, how many people have you ever known who don't like pizza or pasta? In any country I have ever visited, I am sure to have eaten some sort of Italian based meal. But what I learned this past week is that nowhere does it like Italy. We ate in restaurants, on sidewalks, at hostels, everywhere. Paninis, bruschetta, fresh pasta, meatballs, pizza, prosciutto, gelato, cookies, you name it; Italy is not a place for dieting.
The quality of the food is unparalleled, as its freshness is likely to come from the daily markets that can be found throughout the country and the unique extra virgin olive oil that is used in basically every dish.
While I didn't necessarily try anything new in Italy, it was like having foods I know and love on a whole different level. But don't worry Mom, even Italy can't top your sauce and meatballs!
Love and mangiare!
Haley
The quality of the food is unparalleled, as its freshness is likely to come from the daily markets that can be found throughout the country and the unique extra virgin olive oil that is used in basically every dish.
While I didn't necessarily try anything new in Italy, it was like having foods I know and love on a whole different level. But don't worry Mom, even Italy can't top your sauce and meatballs!
Love and mangiare!
Haley
Getting Lost (And Stuck) in Venice
As much as I adored Rome and Florence, my visit to Venice was absolutely amazing. I loved every single thing about the little city floating on water from the time I arrived at Santa Lucia train station until the moment I was forced to leave for the airport. It was beautiful and quaint and summery and unlike any place I have ever visited before. As we made our way from the train station to our hostel via the traghetto (water taxi), I just knew that traveling to Venice was going to be one of the best decisions I've made coming abroad. I mean, just look at what you see as soon as you walk out of the train station...
We hopped off the traghetto at San Toma and made the short walk to our hostel, A Venice Museum. That's right, we stayed in a museum turned hostel. It was amazing, with large marble staircases, balconies, high vaulted ceilings, and a little courtyard. But the details of that little hostel are nothing compared to the rest of Venice. At the hostel, we had met one of our Irish rugby teammates Fiona who had decided to join us for the Venice leg of our trip and we were all excited to spend the next couple of days together. The receptionist recommended that we spend our afternoon on Burano, one of the nearby islands just a half hour water taxi ride away. We decided to take his advice and hopped on the next traghetto to the island. It was an absolutely beautiful day with lots of sunshine and a nice breeze. When we arrived at the island, the first thing I noticed was the vibrant colors of the houses lining the narrow street. Each house is painted its own fun and bright color giving the little island a lot of character. The streets were lined with shops selling Venetian masks, famous Murano glass, and other miscellaneous items. We couldn't help ourselves, we shopped until we dropped! There was too much unique and beautiful items to pass up on a little shopping spree. The island was small and we spanned over its entirety in about two hours, shopping and all. It was late in the afternoon by that time so we decided to return to the mainland for dinner and some rest.
The hostel offered a three course meal for 5Euro and between the cheap price and the opportunity to dine with other travelers, we just couldn't pass it up. We dined with Australians, Canadians, and other Americans who were staying in the museum, swapping stories over pasta, homemade potato chips, and hummus. One of the receptionists who hails from Brazil even made a native Brazilian drink for us to try. Boy do those Brazilians like their tequila! Dinner went until almost 11PM without us realizing it had gotten so late. We decided to turn in soon after so that we could take on Venice bright and early the next day.
There was not much on our itinerary as far as seeing sights in Venice besides making it to Saint Mark's Square to feed the pigeons so we kept to the old saying "get lost in Venice." We wandered around shopping, snacking, taking pictures, and falling even more in love with the city. I loved the narrow streets, the old architecture, the endless canals...everything. It is really confusing to navigate through the intertwined streets and alleyways but when you aren't on a schedule it's really not a problem.
We hopped off the traghetto at San Toma and made the short walk to our hostel, A Venice Museum. That's right, we stayed in a museum turned hostel. It was amazing, with large marble staircases, balconies, high vaulted ceilings, and a little courtyard. But the details of that little hostel are nothing compared to the rest of Venice. At the hostel, we had met one of our Irish rugby teammates Fiona who had decided to join us for the Venice leg of our trip and we were all excited to spend the next couple of days together. The receptionist recommended that we spend our afternoon on Burano, one of the nearby islands just a half hour water taxi ride away. We decided to take his advice and hopped on the next traghetto to the island. It was an absolutely beautiful day with lots of sunshine and a nice breeze. When we arrived at the island, the first thing I noticed was the vibrant colors of the houses lining the narrow street. Each house is painted its own fun and bright color giving the little island a lot of character. The streets were lined with shops selling Venetian masks, famous Murano glass, and other miscellaneous items. We couldn't help ourselves, we shopped until we dropped! There was too much unique and beautiful items to pass up on a little shopping spree. The island was small and we spanned over its entirety in about two hours, shopping and all. It was late in the afternoon by that time so we decided to return to the mainland for dinner and some rest.
The hostel offered a three course meal for 5Euro and between the cheap price and the opportunity to dine with other travelers, we just couldn't pass it up. We dined with Australians, Canadians, and other Americans who were staying in the museum, swapping stories over pasta, homemade potato chips, and hummus. One of the receptionists who hails from Brazil even made a native Brazilian drink for us to try. Boy do those Brazilians like their tequila! Dinner went until almost 11PM without us realizing it had gotten so late. We decided to turn in soon after so that we could take on Venice bright and early the next day.
There was not much on our itinerary as far as seeing sights in Venice besides making it to Saint Mark's Square to feed the pigeons so we kept to the old saying "get lost in Venice." We wandered around shopping, snacking, taking pictures, and falling even more in love with the city. I loved the narrow streets, the old architecture, the endless canals...everything. It is really confusing to navigate through the intertwined streets and alleyways but when you aren't on a schedule it's really not a problem.
We crossed the Grande Canal on the Ponte di Rialto which kind of reminded me of the Ponte Vecchio that we had seen in Florence. It was crowded with shops and tourists but offered great views of the canal.
From Ponte di Rialto we made our way to San Marco to feed the pigeons and meet up with our friend Shannon who also studies in Galway and happened to be visiting Venice at the same time. The square was crowded with people and pigeons and a little girl gave us some bird feed to get them to come to us. The pigeons were not hesitant at all and as you can see I did not enjoy the experience at all...
I was too skeeved out by the pigeons to like them climbing all over me with their little claws so I threw the rest of my feed and ran away after about 15 seconds. However, there were two little girls who really seemed to enjoy the experience. Gross.
The square itself was nice although I was a bit disappointed that the majority of it was under construction so I couldn't see it in full. But we strolled through and headed toward the river to see the Bridge of Sighs, the bridge over which prisoners sentenced to death would cross to see their last glimpse of the world before their execution.
From the promenade we continued exploring Venice and looked for a place to grab lunch. After we ate, Shannon left us to join back up with her friends and we went back in the direction of the hostel, getting lost and exploring more along the way.
We washed up and relaxed at the hostel for a bit before going out to have the ultimate Venetian experience: a gondola ride. Prices go up by over 20Euro before 7PM so we were determined to be on the boat before then. We bartered with an older man and got a 35 minute ride for 15Euro each and it was worth every penny. Our gondolier was a young Italian man named Nicolo and he was gorgeous! As well as informative and entertaining. We popped champagne and snacked on strawberries as he took us through the backroad canals and briefly on the main canal. The sun began setting and we got great views of the city from down in the water. It was definitely the best part of visiting Venice.
 |
| He is so handsome, right?! I would have loved to bring him home as a souvenir but he had a girlfriend. Surprise, surprise. |
After our gondola ride, we grabbed some pizza for dinner then Katie and I continued wandering the city while Caitrin, Lindsey, and Fiona went to a mask shop for a mask-making tutorial. When it began to get dark, Katie and I went back to the hostel to shower and organize ourselves for the flight back to Ireland in the morning. A while later the other girls came back and we decided to go out for a bit with other people from our hostel. We went to a local bar and had drinks with Australians, Argentinians, Irish, Canadians, and others. I really like hearing about other peoples travels, where they have been and where they are going. It got late fast and we had to be up at 5:30AM so we walked back to the hostel with a couple of other girls to pack and hit the hay. The next morning we took a bus from Piazzale Roma to Venice-Treviso Airport, which was the sorriest looking excuse for an airport that I have ever seen. It was so small that it looked more like a bus station than an airport but we made it through security and passport patrol in record time. Unfortunately, that's where the smoothness of our trip ended. We boarded the plane for our 10:10AM departure late and we ready for takeoff at about 10:30. The pilot told us we were ready to go and then we sat for a half an hour in the same spot before he came on and told us that they were having mechanical issues. After another half an hour of sitting on the stalled plane, he reported that there was a problem with the hydraulic system and a mechanic was called to check out the situation, but he would not make it to the airport for another four hours. Why they didn't have a mechanic on site is beyond me, but in we went to the airport as our flight was delayed indefinitely. We sat around and waited until about 2:15PM when an announcement told us that we would be leaving within the hour. So we boarded the plane once again and finally took off around 3PM. It was the worst flight of my life, the pilot drove like a maniac making abrupt turns and landing the plane going way too fast. I had never been so happy to be in Dublin when we finally landed around 5:15. Fiona drove us from Dublin to Galway and we were back in Menlo Park by 8PM. It had been a long and dramatic end to a great trip. I was sad that it was over but happy to be able to lay in my own bed and relax after such a week. I'm sure the travel bug will be back soon, though, and Venice is at the top of my list!
Love and travel bugs,
Haley
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