After spending today hidden behind stacks of books, imagine my delight when I emerged from the ivy-covered towers of academia at five o’clock to find a clear, dry evening sky. For many long, dark winter days, Galway has been plagued by aggressive winds and torrential rain. As I walked home along the river canal, I was rejuvenated by a blazing orange sunset over Galway Bay – an elusive sight on the west coast of Ireland these past few months. When I reached my destination, I knew that the view from my living room couch could not do the sunset justice, so I braved the cool night air and assumed a front row seat beside the bay for this sneak preview of spring. I perched upon the limestone wall that surrounds Galway Bay, legs dangling above the surface of the water, only sharing my space with the famous swans who have also taken up residence here. In addition to a breathtaking view, I found a rare moment of perfect solitude while sitting on what felt like the edge of the world. With my head as clear as the night sky, I took advantage of this peaceful situation to reflect on my Irish life - past, present and future. I did not have to look very far to find my Irish past as it was literally sprawled out before me. In the distance I could see the silhouette of the mountains in County Clare, which was once home to my ancestors. I was with my grandmother the weekend that I learned that I won the Rotary Scholarship to study in Ireland. She shared in my excitement by simultaneously telling me stories about her Irish family and expressing a dream to visit the land where her family tree started to grow. My grandmother would never have the opportunity to achieve that particular dream as that same weekend I learned that she was sick with terminal cancer. She would be proud to know that two generations of her family returned to her roots to celebrate this past Thanksgiving. Despite my lack of journal entries from late November through now, I have not suffered from a paucity of amazing experiences in Ireland (or beyond). One of the most notable experiences during that time was my family’s first visit to the Emerald Isle. We spent Thanksgiving week exploring our ancestor’s homeland from coast to coast, pausing only for a day to prepare an old-fashioned turkey dinner in my kitchen. Other highlights from our visit include a medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle, Christmas shopping in Dublin, a wild car ride through Connemara, and the majestic view from Kylemore Abbey. Photographs from these, and many other, adventures are available for viewing in my online photo album (links to new photos are marked in blue). The very same morning that I waived goodbye to my family in Galway, I said hello to one of my best friends from college. Together we jaunted off to explore the continent during my week-long break from classes. Armed with not much more than a map, a sense of adventure, and a wee bit of common sense between us, we visited the Loire River Valley, Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels all in a week’s time. While I enjoyed the entire trip, I must admit that my favorite part of our adventure was stumbling upon the Christmas market and holiday festivities in Brussels’ Grand Place (of course the great beer and heavenly chocolates helped boost this experience to the top of my list)! Back in Galway in early December after my brief European tour, I suffered through several weeks of exams before returning to the states to celebrate the holidays with my family and friends. Perhaps I was just thrilled to be free from thoughts of Macro and Microeconomic Theory, but I really enjoyed my holiday break at home. Dorothy was correct that there is no place in the world like home, especially during the excitement of the holidays. As always, the holiday season came and went too quickly, and the only lingering effects are fond memories and a New Year’s resolution to keep my web site up to date! With the past few months recapped, I can now focus on what awaits me during my remaining time in Ireland. I will not spend too much time speculating as to what my future in Ireland beholds, but I have to admit that the next few months promise to be exciting. I think that I am really going to enjoy my elective classes at the university (international macroeconomics, local and rural development, and the economics of education), while my compulsory courses do not seem too terrible (econometrics and policy planning). In addition, I have many Rotary events slated for this semester to include trips to Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England - all of which promise to be a grand mix of business and pleasure. Most importantly, I will have the good fortune to share my upcoming Irish experiences with some amazing people to include incredible flat mates, classmates, Rotarians, family, and friends. Best conclude now as it is getting late. The sun has long set over Galway Bay, and now only a crescent moon illuminates the water. Of course I do not really know what awaits me beyond the horizon, but I hope that the rest of my time in Ireland will include more clear skies and magnificent sunsets. Return to Journal |
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