There is far more warmth, even in the cold wet air of Ireland. As American children, we were taught to never talk to stranger; whereas in Ireland, not doing so is considered rude. Not to mention, you will miss out on the best part of Irish culture. The overall friendliness. Now, that is not to say that everyone in Ireland is a wonderful person, because that is not true of any place. But there is a more inviting and welcoming attitude throughout Ireland, which feels very special. I have learned more from the men and women I have met than I will in any book or class or even from Mother Nature. These small interactions quilt together an eclectic and vibrant image of the Irish experience I will never forget.
So, to the couple that I met on my first night in Limerick, when I was lonely and jet lagged, and pretty much faking it: I will never forget you. I was lost and confused. There was so much to take in that I might as well have been blind until that moment. They heard my accent when I ordered, and praised me for coming on a journey such as this one. They talked to me about the growth I will experience, what Cork is like, and what to do at night in Limerick while I was all alone. They invited me to meet them at a club after dinner! They were kind, authentic, and welcoming. They will never know this, but they made me feel like I may find a home here. I have learned more from the men and women I have met than I will in any book or class or even from Mother Nature. To my first Cork cab driver who was quirky and chatty, I will never forget you. He drove me through the crucial parts of Cork in order to familiarize me with this great city that I now call home. He introduced me at reception so I could easily get settled. When all was said and done, we wouldn’t accept a tip. “Oh gosh no,” he said. “We have to take care of our students.” He will never know this, but he made a chaotic time very simple and smooth. To the little old lady in a pink fur coat and a matching hat, I will never forget you. She took off her gloves and wandered through the vacant seats at the coffee shop, yet she asked if she could sit with me. I felt a sense of pride that she chose me, I won’t lie. Maybe she thought I looked welcoming. For whatever reason, I am so happy she sat down with me. She spoke musically, like each statement was a question. She made the sign of the cross before taking a sip of her tea, and talked to me about the sheer comfort of porridge, and how her jacket is her favorite cheap purchase ever. She said hello and goodbye to every employee at the restaurant when she finished her tea. She will never know this, but she made me feel like I was travelling with my grandmother again. To the beautiful and spunky Irish girl in Belfast who complimented me at the bar when I was overtired and underdressed, I will never forget you. She said my old, ratty fleece was “beautiful,” and that I “rocked it.” She invited us to sit with her and her brother, and we spoke like old friends. I felt like I was with my gals at home again. We talked about tinder boys, Chance the Rapper, and spending Valentines Day alone. We exchanged info and she hopes to take us out again on St. Paddy’s day in Dublin. She will never know this, but she made me laugh harder than I have this entire trip, she made me feel like friends weren’t so far out of reach. To the mystic man who saw my soul in the greenhouse, who spoke like velvet and had eyes like the morning sun, I will never forget you. He looked like a well-studied philosopher, very sharp and very wise. He told me, “the problem with the world is that we don’t love each other enough,” before hugging me and filling my heart with joy. What he will never know, or what he may know, is that the joy and free kindness I felt while talking to him, I felt compelled to spread. To all these people whom I have met and who I have yet to meet, thank you and god bless you. This experience would be hollow without my short times with you, and you will never know the energy you have given me. the joy and free kindness I felt while talking to him, I felt compelled to spread. Megstakes: -Missed a train stop looking at my phone for open gelato places, had to ride the train all the way back to where we came from and then all the way back again. -Lost my key on the first day in a hostel -Found the key under the covers in my bed (???) -went out a few nights ago without enough layers, and now I there is snot over literally everything I own. -Bought a blow-up mattress for a friend, told her “IT WON’T BLOW UP! YOU HAVE TO HELP!” she takes one look and tells me, “um, you have to connect the tube to the bed.” -got a little too curious at a harbor, ran downhill on wet cement, FELL HARD. *Gallery Update Coming Soon*
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