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.