Coming to a Realization

It's now well into 2 months since I've been back and almost 3 months since I left Ireland. I am proud to say that I have finally digested most of my time and experiences in Ireland and just re-read my journal. I am now understanding what I did over there and how it has managed to effect me as a person. I have definitely grown. I was worried that I wasn't going to have a good experience in Ireland, but I can't wait to go back and use my knowledge of the country again.

Every time I run into an Irish person in Boston I tell them that I had just studied in Dublin and tell them something I learned. They are often times surprised that I had chosen Ireland, but nevertheless happy to talk names and places. I am now on my co-op and using my newly found focus on Health Policy in the United States here. It's my first day and the beginning of a new chapter in my life because hopefully this will be my last internship, wishful thinking, I'll have before a real job in a year or so. I am now on my own again, which is something that I am used to. For the past three summers I had thrown myself into a place or experience that I had no roots in. This time it's a new job and I'm happy.

I miss Ireland, but I don't think I'll live there again. It was nice to visit for a while, but there are too many things that I feel loyal to in this country to pack up and move to Europe. I have respect for my Irish heritage, but I also am proud to say that my great great grandparents wanted something better for my family and I have it.

All Good Things Must End

Well it's approaching the last week of the program and I am so excited to not have to go to school for a good month. I also can't wait to go back to normal American Classes. I need structure haha. I guess I'm having an emotional end to everything. Maybe it's because I'm losing my computer, which I mean in all honesty, is like my best friend. I will be falling off the face of the earth in about 24 hours, and will only be able to answer e-mails maybe twice next week. GASP. Isn't that a novel concept. It would be different if I was in Boston and had to give up my computer for a couple weeks, but I'll be in europe traveling and galavanting and Who knows what might happen to me ha! 

Anyway, I really enjoyed the program, I wish that some of the teachers had a more coherent lesson plan and lectures, but oh well. I can take a class pass/fail I think. If there is one thing that I got from this program it's direction in where I think I want to go with politics and policy. I started out knowing that I wanted to do Public Policy and administration. That was a good decision I made as a freshman, probably the only one I made. Then I came here not expecting much, the Health System here peaked my interest and I ended up really enjoying learning about it and in turn learning a little more about the United States system. This has given me the basis to get back to the US and get involved in health policy in the United States. I might hate it down the line, but I've been passionate about it, but being with Jan and the Labour party has really focused and narrowed my passion. I can now hold a conversation with some one about health care systems around the world. I can't write a dissertation about it, but I could write you a good paper on the Irish Health system's problems, if you gave me some time. But please, not any time soon. I'm over Irish school.

I'm sitting in my bed writing this concluding journal, and it's spring time outside, but there is a nagging guilt in the back of my mind that I need to get to studying for Monday. I've started. I'm in Bed, with my computer and my notes are scattered all around my bed. That's a start right?

Anyway I'm off, It's been extremely fun and I've definitely taken something out of the program, now I'm ready to get home and face reality. 

Talk to the Wrist because the Hand is pissed

Although it has been a while since I've written, I have been in poverty mode and a little bit of school mode. I'm doing my paper for the end of the semester. And it doesn't stop there! I will have 5 final written exams in addition to the 3 papers I have to write on various vague topics in Irish society, history and literature. I have one done and I'll finish one tonight. Then on to history, in which I need to do research for. Lovely. 

Anyway, Dan and the rest of 218 columbia street came to Ireland before St. Patrick's day and all hell let loose. Not really, but it was super fun, we got to do some touristy stuff that I've been wanting to do since I got here. we went to the guinness factory and it was overt he st. patrick's day festival weekend so there were a lot of free samples of beer and food! perfect. Except when we got to the gravity bar, you couldn't see 5 feet in front of you, which was disappointing, but I think the 45 minute wait in the line outside, then the 15 minute wait in the line inside was worth it. I thought it was super interesting and a really cool look into the empire of Guinness. 

Then we went and saw the Ireland v. England Rugby game at our tiny place called McDaids.  Well  'saw' or 'watched' aren't good words, we witness a massacre, an embarrassment of sorts, of the Irish rugby team. England has flowers on their jerseys and they still won. I guess it is their own game, but still the Irish team are just brutal. Their coach O'sullivan resigned about 5 days later. Sad day for him, but it's best, kind of a Grady Little situation going on.  

The next day we went to Kilmainham Gaol in east jesus Dublin. I led everyone the way that I thought was fastest because I am cheap and don't want to take any form of transportation in Dublin after I've gotten into the City because it's just not worth it, it's crap. Anyway, so we went and it was really cool to see my history and literature and society classes all rolled up into one tour. I knew a lot of the facts and stories that our tour guide was telling us about, but to actually see that these people might have been real and the struggle they lived through really made everything (to be cliche) come to life. It was a sad place, but a really historical and political place. Even though there had been miserable people housed in the Gaol for almost 400 years, there was an energy about the place that I guess was left because of the revolution.  The prisoners would carve things into the wood above their doors in the west wing, like 'To Let' or 'Hotel such and such' that made me laugh, that even prisoners still had a sense of humor. Maybe that makes me a bad person for chuckling at that? I guess the main question that I was asking myself after we left the Gaol was "Is this Ireland what the revolutionaries envisioned?" like Tom Feeney my history teacher says, another What If of Irish History. 

Then there was St. Patrick's Day. A holiday I never really took part in drinking or other debauchery. But this holiday I was legally able to drink, I was with the people that I love and I figured that going to the All Ireland GAA finals at Croke park was as Irish as it was going to get. Usually I spent it with my family having dad's potato soup, which I would really love, but like the last 2 other St. Patrick's Days I spent it with a Rusteika haha. Which I'm glad we could keep the tradition going. I even spent Easter with a Rusteika as well! We went to get a pint after the game, but ended up staying in this one bar Called the Big Tree on the Northside of the Liffey for about 6 hours. The Parade, was weird. There's really nothing else to say about it. I do love parades though. I still stand by Manlius New York having the best parades ever. 

The boys were supposed to leave for Doolin on tuesday, but it seems that the food we had the other day did not agree. He was a very sick boy for about 20 hours straight. The next day felt well enough to get to Galway to meet up with Rob and Matt, but definitely took it easy. I felt so bad I couldn't really help him, just had to let the food poisoning run it's course. 

I stayed in Dublin for school on wednesday, but then the next day met up with the boys in Buncrana Donegal. It was a hike to get up there, but worth it. It was so beautiful and pretty much everything the poems we've read about in class described. Good and Bad I suppose. It was raining when I got there, but I wanted to get my bearings so I walked down the main street and hopefully trying to find the hostel, but mostly just wandering in the rain. I did see some pretty cute dresses in windows for east jesus Ireland, but alas, I am but a poor pauper and could only look at the pretty easter dresses that I wanted to wear on Easter Sunday. I walked to the Super Market and asked for Directions to the Hostel and a nice lady told me a couple minutes down the road. I was prepared for a long walk because usually a short ways means a couple miles for Irish people, but she was right, just over the bridge and around the corner. I came to the TullyArvan Mill hostel, which was pretty nice for a hostel. Apparently it is brand new and from the looks of it, we could have run the place if we wanted. Then as the guy from reception was showing me the code for the door for after hours, Dan pulls up with his Dad's Cousins Wife and says we're being kidnapped for lunch/dinner. It was kind of a miracle that they found me and met up with me right on time! who needs cell phones! although very handy at times. 

Bing and Siobhan took us out to a place and had a very very nice roast beast lunch. With plenty of Carrots and green beans. My favorite. They had mashed potatoes, and we all know how much I love potatoes, but I think my host mom has ruined mashed potatoes for me because they are so awful. I mean honestly, how can she be Irish and mess that up? Bing and Siobhan were so hospitable to us, I can't even tell you. They fed us, and very well might I add. After a night out with half of Buncrana we had the best Full Irish Breakfast I've ever had in my life. So good, so perfect, even had tater tots. I've also grown to love fried eggs since I've been here. When travelling they are like 1.50 for two and toast, so very cheap too. We then all went into a food coma, so Bing decided to take us for a ride up the Gap road in between the mountains of Donegal, which are massive, but don't look like it because you are in fact, apart of the mountains. We went to a Holy Well on the Gap Road and the view from there was spectacular. It was again good to see what we had learned about in Class and the Irish culture and Holy Wells and mystical orgins of christianity in Ireland. 

After the little road trip, we went to the House that Dan's grandmother was born in and his cousin ( i think) Barney had lived in until 2001. Dan managed to climb in through the window because no one knew who had the key (there are only 15 cuts of skeleton keys in Buncrana, but we still couldn't find a fit) and it ended up being in the US, so to see what kind of shape the house was in Dan, Kevin (another distant cousin) and then I went into the house. It was cool to see what a very simple typical Irish house looked like. It was also really important that Dan was visiting this house that had been in his family for ever. He hadn't been back there since he was 11 I think and now he was seeing it as a mature adult with a better sense of what and how important his family is to him. I loved being there with him because my family is just as important to me. I think about them constantly and here Dan is making a pilgrimage to his family's origins that may some day be fixed up and passed down to him and maybe his kids, I just admired his opportunity. 

One thing about my trip to Donegal that I loved, other than being there with Dan, was all the baby Lambs! allll the tiny baby lambs were hatching and they were absolutely every where and adorable. I wanted to see if I could hold one but the farmer that was done the street from Bing's had just gone inside when Dan and I were out walking. So many of them, I now need a baby duck, a baby lamb, a baby turtle, and a tiny orange and white kitten and my life would be perfect. 

We came back to Dublin after a lovely and not nearly long enough visit to Donegal and settled into the Marina house Hostel for a couple nights. We went to Easter Sunday service at Christ Church Dublin. It is a beautiful church, gorgeous on the inside, beautiful floors. But I think that it is safe to say that my Dad is the man at Easter Tide Services. From Flowers, to the music, to the actual service itself. My Dad is the master of all Easter Throw Downs. The choir was beautiful, but they needed the horns and the timpani to be louder because of the size of the church and the crowd, they just got swallowed up. Same with the Choir at times I thought. The Arch bishop gave a short homily about the recent violence against immigrants in the community and the need for the community, in light of the recent big event (murder of two poles), to come together and Easter is a good season to start. He equated the event to the last day and Jesus' Resurrection being a life changing event. It was a decent sermon, one of the better that I've heard when not being at my home church. 

Then Today had to come. The boys had to go home, and I had to go back to Reality and finish my papers, but here I am...writing a blog to update you on my galavanting and joy. Don't worry I'm almost finished with second paper and I have 4 days to right 2,000 words on Women in Irish History. Easily done. 

Yes sir

So we went to Versailles it was beautiful, but outside the palace gates was such tragedy and violence. So you can't help but think about that when you are touring through it. It's a very ornate and intricately designed chateau. Meagen and i had a big fight with the tram that we paid 5 euro for to bring us.... within walking distance, to Marie Antoinette's estate.  I guess it's just for the lazy Americans that come to Versailles...aka us, but we really shouldn't have waited that long to get driven 5 minutes. and then the tram closed, so we couldn't get back to the chateau by the tram. It didn't matter because we had a lovely walk through the Peasant village and the gardens. It was really beautiful I can completely understand why she would want to build such a grand estate on that land. France is just beautiful in general, no wonder the French are considered so smug about it haha. It was also nice, again to have meagen actually tell me what's going in History and interesting tid bits. We Left on Tuesday after meeting up with the boys from the IPA and having yet another Taco night...which i had a dream about last night so...I think I'll have to bring a kit to Doolin! 

Well, That was a long time ago and I'm sorry that it took so long for me to get a little bit up, but I've been busy...err... right. haha We had a couple days after we got home from Paris to relax and enjoy ourselves and catch up on sleep. Then back to school this week, which really kind of kicked my butt. This is not real school, we have so much freedom to do other things, so going to class every other day is really nice, but not a very good routine. I got through the school week, and now I'm at the Dail listening to the Health and Children Committee debate on the misdiagnosis of Cancer for 9 women at a hospital in PortLaoise.  It's kind of crazy. They are bring up facts and wrong doings that are clearly stated in papers, e-mails, letters and reviews, but the Health minister is just dancing around it. And that's ok? I don't get it some times. 

Haven't gotten my mid-term exams back and I'm kind of nervous because I felt like I was writing like a 5 year old, and some people got like B +'s on all Three. Everyone else's schools take the b+ and turn it into an A because they grade a lot harsher and differently here. I HIGHLY doubt that Northeastern will do anything like that. I really doubt it.  So I might be screwed this semester in terms of grades, I mean not terrible grades, but not the 4 A's I really was hoping for. 

I'm going to Doolin to see Meagen and her friends that are on spring break this weekend, and I'm so excited. Everyone in my family has been to Doolin and now I'm going to be able to see everything they saw! I'm so excited to be spending time with Meagen again because I really don't think I'm going to be able to see her again for a while. Which makes me sad, but I'm going to see her in Greece again at the end of April. 

Sarah and I booked our flight to Switzerland last night, so we are actually traveling after our program I'm so excited and it's going to be such a great experience. Sarah and I really do well together in terms of traveling, well you can ask her if she agrees, haha, but I think so! I think things are going to work out in terms of getting to Greece and Italy. Now I just have to finish all of my papers and study for finals! which are in about a month! I have three papers due in 3 weeks and I've started one and almost finished it, I'm really just writing down a paragraph or two every so often and I think I'm about half way done, I'll probably finish it up on Monday. 

And the most important and most exciting thing that is happening next friday is that Daniel P. Sieger comes! Spence and Matt are coming over too! We have a lot planned for a little amount of time, but it's going to be such a good time, I've missed Dan a lot and it is going to be really good to see him. Also a little bit of Boston and home is a good thing for everyone. 

This is the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius

Well,

There is much to tell those who read my blog about my trips in the recent weeks. We jet setted back from London to take two exams for two days and work one day and then off to Paris last wednesday! How exciting it was to be relatively healthy and going to Paris! and to see my best friend! The exams we took were nothing to really write home about, they were interesting questions, challenging...Kind of, but hopefully we will learn that we all did relatively well. I hope they understand that most of us have no written essays, much less HAND written essays in about a year because of Co-op and the type of majors we are. Good luck to my professors who have to attempt to read my hand writing. I blame my parents for giving me a mixture of both of their hand writings therefore giving me a terrible style. I call it Priest Scratch. 

So we left right from school and caught the airport bus, had time for a quick dumb airport meal and got on the plane to France. Needless to say we got there and were blown away at the Charles De Gaulle. It was like a playground for adults. They had people movers that were like roller coasters and ones that were vertical that took you from the terminal to the exit. Maybe it was just that Sarah and I were so tired, or maybe we're just that simple. either way Kudos to CDG for getting our trip off on the right foot.

We were told to meet Meagen at Notre Dame. After managing to successfully navigate the Paris Metro system, sarah and I stepped foot out of the underground to see one of the most amazing sights that I have ever seen in my life. I had some classmates tell me that "it's not that great" "It's actually not that big." I was standing on the square with the lights shining on the flying buttresses and intricate carving, and I'll tell you I felt like an Ant. We didn't mind waiting a while for Meagen, we were sitting in front of one of the world's most famous buildings with a man playing the harmonica and the Seine calm and clean. I didn't expect Paris to be so amazing right off the bat. We were about to text Meagen, which in a foreign country is truly an investment, when I heard my name and saw Meagen bounding towards us. Man, it was so good to see her. I haven't gotten to spend a significant amount of time with Meagen since probably Freshman year. I knew this Spring Break was going to be special.

We decided to get home and crash because we were tired from travelling, even though it's only an hour flight, we had been travelling for a good 6 hours. We got to Meagen's Tiny Precious Guest House and it was everything I imagined and more. We threw down our bags and got to sleep thinking we'd get a head start on the next morning. Nope. we were so tired from our other trips and tests and work and such that we slept until about 12. Go going, went to the grocery store, got all the supplies for Taco/Bordeaux night and decided to have a few glasses of wine with Lunch. Well, I mean, that is the parisian way. Then we were on our way into the city. We went to Notre Dame, after getting a Nutella and Banana Crepe of course. It was free to get in so that was conducive to our bank accounts. It was absolutely amazing on the inside. A lot of people were there, but it didn't take away from how high the ceilings were and the sheer beauty of the windows. I love the windows in these european churches. Whether they are newer because of the war or old, they never cease to amaze me. What was really cool was around the Altar there was the carvings of Jesus' life and resurrection. Meagen pointed out that she wonders why they use Jesus' circumcision in these carvings every time she comes in there, but I promptly pointed out that clearly that is Herod's Decree that all baby boys in the kingdom be killed. We had a good laugh. I mean why would there be dead babies underneath the throne...right.  We then succumbed to the great consumerism vibes that Paris gives off and went shopping, mostly window, but oh well. I saw this beautiful white dress with beads and buttons on the front of it, it sounds weird, but absolutely beautiful. Good thing I didn't get it though haha. 

At this point I had already fallen in love with Paris and was not planning on going back to Dublin. The next few days were just as lovely and easy going and vacation like as the first couple. We went out to Meagen's favorite Bars including one that had Virgin Marys and Jesus' plastered all over the walls. Kind of weird, but an interesting concept. We met some French people and the one I was talking to tried to tell me that I had no concept of American Politics and that I was wrong in everything that I said. I mean he's right because he went to an American School in Dubai...so he knows America very well. right.  I'll never see him again, it's not his fault he's French. 

What began as an early night, became very very late. 

The next night, the Louvre has an open house for 18-26 year olds that is free from 7-10 every friday night. So naturally we went and it was amazing. The collection of Icons they have there are excellent. I took a few pictures, but they really don't capture how awe inspiring they are. The fact that they have survived, some of them, from the 1100s is crazy to me. 

On Saturday we saw the Eiffel Tower at night. very cool, I got a video of it maybe I'll try to post it here. We then went to the biggest Sephora that I've ever seen, it was like the walmart of all Sephoras. Tres Tres chic. Saw the Arc D' Triumph Briefly and met our friend Margeaux who was visiting her parents in Paris and studies in Brussels! We found this Bar called the Great Canadian and I have never wanted to see cheap beer so badly in my life. Needless to say that the night was a success and we headed home for an early morning at Versailles the next day... To be Continued....

When in Rome

Well just got back from London and now I'm off to Paris! ohhh to be a jet setting backpacker. I can't wait to see meagen in her natural environment!  I just wanted to check in for a moment and I'll post more at a later date. 

These trips really get the ball rolling in terms of travelling. I just have to get through these two exams this morning, but oh well I'm not really too excited or worried about them. The exams yesterday were pretty much an insult to our intelligence. 

What a nice boy

I just got flowers from the boy. They are red and roses and lovely! I've never gotten flowers from anyone except my parents or grandparents in my life haha. He is good to me.