Travel Log

The Flight to London

April 2, 2023

The flight to London left at around 8:40 at night. Ruby and I sat next to each other towards the back of the plane and we got lucky because no one sat in the third seat next to us.  I watched Bodies, Bodies, Bodies and had dinner on the plane. I ate chicken, potatoes, cooked veggies, a dinner roll, and blueberry cheesecake. I started watching another movie, but I fell asleep for a few hours. I was in and out of sleep for most of the eight hour flight, but I stayed awake for the last hour. We landed in London at the Heathrow airport around 10:30 in the morning.

London to Belfast

April 3, 2023

When the plane landed in London, Ruby and I piled into a shuttle on the tarmac and arrived at terminal five in Heathrow. We had to scan our boarding passes, scan our passports, and go through security. Then, we found a place to sit for a while because we had a five hour layover for our connecting flight to Belfast. We sat near some of the shops and people-watched to pass the time. At around 4:00 in the evening, we had boarded our flight to Belfast and were expecting to take off, but a Cyprus soccer team and paperwork issues delayed our flight for over an hour. We ended up getting into Belfast around 6:00, got our luggage, and got a ticket at the bus stop. We rode to the Belfast Bus Centre Station and walked to our hostel, Botanical Backpackers. Belfast is so cool and our hostel is right by Queen's University, so there are a lot of young people walking around the city. After checking into the hostel, Ruby and I put some of our stuff into our locker and a few other things in our dorm. We met our roommate, Lizzy, who was from Cornwall on business for a conference. Ruby and I took a small walk after getting situated at the hostel and saw the main university building on Queen's campus. We also walked into Tesco, a British convenience store. Since it was getting late, Ruby and I headed back to the hostel to get ready for bed. While we are both so exhausted, it is so good to finally be here!

Travel Day to Dublin

April 5, 2023

I got up very early and showered around 5:40 in the morning. I fell back asleep after my shower and Ruby woke me up around 8:00. We both got ready and checked out of the hostel around 9:10. We walked to the Botanic stop at the train station and got off at Lanyon Belfast. We got some help from one of the train station workers about where to board the train to Dublin. We had to wait in a queue for a bit, but we were some of the first people on the train. We had to lift our 70 liter backpacks onto the shelf above us, which was exhausting because they are heavy and I was too short to reach the shelf. We sat at a table and two Germans sat across from us. In the aisle next to us sat a group of British boys, who had very entertaining conversations about partying and hangovers. The ride through the contryside was beautiful and we even got to see parts of the coast. We got off the train a little after noon and walked a mile to our hotel. We saw several different shops, restaurants, and bars. When we got to the hotel, it was too early to check-in, so we dropped our bags off and decided to explore the city. We started off by walking through the cemetery at St. Michans and got to take a tour of the crypts. The tour guide was so funny and asked where everyone was from. There people from Britain, Spain, Germany, and Cork, Ireland on our tour. After seeing the crypts, we walked to St. Michael's and the Liberties of Christ Church. Then, we walked to Dublin Castle. We looked at some art and architecture on the second floor of Dublin castle and decided to get tickets for one of the tours at 3:30. All of the tours were sold out, except for a tour spoken in Italian. Ruby and I decided with some years of Spanish under our belt and Google Translates speech to text feature, we would have no problems on the Italian tour—and we were right! No one questioned us until the end of the tour when we asked the tour guide questions about some of the things he spoke about. The only question he had for us was, "If you speak English, why did you take the Italian tour?" He was a super nice guy and we made sure to tell him how much we enjoyed his tour of Dublin Castle. It was raining by the time we left the castle and we wanted to get dinner, so we went to a restaurant called Lundy Foot's. Our waiter was so incredibly nice and he helped me decided what draught beer to try—I got a Five Lamps! Ruby and I split chili chicken fries and a Beef and Guinness Pie. Everything was so good! After dinner, Ruby and I walked past Temple Bar and headed back to the hotel. We checked in, got our bags, and took the elevator up to our room. The hotel is so nice and we were able to watch some Irish television and local news stations. It was such an exciting day and there are so many things Ruby and I have planned for tomorrow!

Full Day in Dublin

April 6, 2023

After Ruby and I woke up and got ready for the day, we went down to the hotel lobby for breakfast around 9:30. I had eggs, bacon, a hashbrown, and a pain au raisin. We headed out into the city around 10 and went to the General Post Office museum. It had really cool exhibits about modern Irish history and had an excellent video about Easter Rising. After walking through the museum, we went to the gift shop and bough some postcards. Then, we walked to Trinity College. It was such a nice university and there were even students in their graduation gowns and caps taking photos. We walked to the natural history museum that is sometimes referred to as the 'dead zoo' because of all the animals that are stuffed and put on display. We went across the street to the Oscar Wilde park and took some photos of ourselves. Then, we looked at beautiful paintings at the Decorative Arts & History musuem and got lunch down the street at a cafe. We bought a vitamin water called 'Vit-Hit' and a sandwich with an Irish relish called Ballymaloe. We took our lunch back to the Oscar Wilde park and had a picnic. It was my favorite part of the day! The weather was perfect, flowers were blooming, everything was green, people were out walking and chatting, kids were playing at the park and laughing, and birds were chirping and flying all around the park. A little further across the park, there were a bunch of food trucks. We walked by the different vendors and headed to the National Museum of Archaeology. We found a cool street with colorful umbrellas hanging from roofs and walked along the river to the famine memorial. It was so interesting to see because it was something I studied during my Irish history class unit on material culture. We went across the street into what looked like an old train station that was converted into a center with offices, businesses, and restaurants. We considered visiting the EPIC Irish Emigration museum, but decided against it because tickets were expensive. We had walked around so much by this point in the day, we decided to take a few minutes to sit at one of the tables in the center and relax. After taking a short break, we walked back towards the GPO and stopped at a donut shop. I got a donut that had Bailey's liquor in it called Bailey's Bliss, and it was so good! We walked down the main strip near the Spire of Dublin and explored some of the stores we don't have in the U.S. For example, we walked into a souvenir shop called 'Carrolls,' a grocery mart called 'Dunnes,' a drug store called 'Boots,' and a toy store. After our shopping excursion, we walked to a restaurant called Madigans. It was a pub that was playing catchy 2000s songs and had a super nice atmosphere. Ruby and I ordered a Gaelic chicken, a side of fries, and I got a Guinness. Then, when we were finishing up our dinner, two Germans at the table across from us asked us what song was playing. We struck up a conversation and got to talking about anything and everything. We talked about American culture, German culture, language, interests, and so many more things. I even got to practice speaking in German since I am learning it on Duolingo. Our new friends, Joulin and Fabian, even made me practice with a German couple sitting across from our table. We learned a lot of cool things from them about Germany, like how they mix Coke and Fanta soda together. Fabian ordered one at the bar and had Ruby and I try it and it was surprisingly good! We talked to them for hours until the pub closed. Ruby and I walked back to the hotel around midnight and had to figure out our transportation to Cork for tomorrow. It was hectic because some of the rail lines were down for maintenance, many of the seats were taken, and some cars were completely sold out. We managed to find tickets on the first-class car; although, they were somewhat expensive and the train leaves at 9:00 in the morning. While our original train plan did not work out, the important thing is we will be making it to Cork tomorrow!

Finally in Cork!

April 7, 2023

Ruby and I woke up very early this morning and we were very tired. We got ready, packed up our backpacks, and got breakfast at the hotel around 7:50. I ate eggs, bacon, a pain au chocolat, and a hashbrown. We checked out of the hotel around 8:15 and had 45 minutes to book it to the railway station for our train that left at 9:00 sharp. We made it to the station around 8:40, printed out our pre-booked tickets at the kiosk, and walked to our platform. We got to ride first class and it was a bit more roomy than the seats in the other cars. We got to see the city turn into green rolling hills and saw lots of sheep along the way. We arrived to the Cork station around 11:45 and messaged our Airbnb host, Eileen. We got onto one of the buses, got off at the nearest stop to Lancaster Lodge, and walked a block to where we are staying. Eileen met us out front, gave us the spare key to her place, and let us drop off our bags while she finished up getting our room together. Ruby and I walked to the English Market, an 18th-century covered market that has local produce and places to eat. Ruby and I ate at Café Marius and split a sandwich with ham from a local farm and cheese. Then, we walked to a Tesco to get some snacks. We wanted to try candy we don't have in the States and got some drinks. We left the store and walked to the National Monument. Next, we headed to Fort Elizabeth that was used as a military barracks and a prison, and got to see one of the best views of the city. Getting to gaze out at the river and all of the colorful houses stacked up the mountains was stunning! Then we walked to Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral, another amazing site to see in Cork! After seeing the cathedral, Ruby and I walked to University Cork College and found a bench to sit on to try some of the snacks we bought at Tesco. We explored a few areas of the campus and then walked through a suburb to Fitzgerald's Park. Ruby and I sat by the fountain at the park and watched the ducks swim in the water. We looked at some of the art installations around the outskirts of the park and walked back to our Airbnb around 5:00. When we got back, we both took a small nap. We were exhausted from a lack of sleep and traveling earlier than we had expected in the morning. We got up around 6:45 and went out to get dinner around 7:15. Eileen recommended some of the pizza restaurants close by and we decided to go to one called Oak Fire Pizza. We split a magherita pizza and dough balls that were so good! After dinner, we walked to another small grocery called 'Centre' and got some vanilla ice cream in a square box. We walked back to our Airbnb and relaxed before getting ready for bed. I love everything about Cork and I cannot wait to explore more tomorrow!

Easter in Cork

April 9, 2023

Happy Easter from Cork! I slept in this morning since most things were closed today for Easter. I got up around 10:00 a.m. and got ready. Ruby and I left the Airbnb around noon and walked to Fitzgerald Park. We laid my pink rain poncho on the ground as a makeshift picnic blanket and had lunch in the park. I ate a double cheddar sandwich with ballymaloe relish, salt and vinegar chipsticks, an orange fanta, and gummies from Tesco. We relaxed in the park until 3:00 and decided to go explore what was on the otherside of the river. We walked across the bridge and walked up a steep street to the Cork City Gaol. he Cork City Gaol was a 19th-century prison that housed prisoners several years ago.We were surprised to find out the gaol was open and bought tickets to take a tour. We got to step inside old cells and discover what daily life was like for prisoners. The gaol also had an exhibit about radio broadcasting, since the top floor of the governors house was used for broadcasting between the 1920s-1950s. When we finished the tour, it was raining and we decided to walk back to our Airbnb. We packed our backpacks, said goodbye to our Airbnb host, and got picked up by Bridgeen and Kevin. Bridgeen is Ruby's mom's Boss's sister, and the pair is letting us stay with them for two nights. We talked to them about Ireland, our teaching program, and loads more on the drive to Raheen, Limerick. When we got to their house, we got to meet their children, Siobhan and Jack. Siobahn is Ruby and I's age and Jack is about two years younger. We had curry and rice for dinner, and chocolate eclairs for dessert. After our delicious meal, we got settled in Siobahn's room where we are staying and talked to her for a little bit about music and traveling. At around 11:30, Ruby and I started getting ready for bed. Bridgeen and her family are lovely and I cannot wait to spend more time with them tomorrow!

Full Day in Limerick 

April 10, 2023

I slept in this morning and started getting ready around 10:00. Ruby and I went downstairs around 11:00. Bridgeen made us breakfast and it was so good. We had Irish bacon, sausage, eggs, toast, hot cross buns, black pudding, and orange juice. We went back upstairs after breakfast to get a few things together and then headed to Jack's Gaelic Football game around noon. Jack found extra jumpers for us to wear so we got to represent Limerick colors for the game! We got to the field and the game started around 1:00 in the afternoon. It was such an interesting sport and I really enjoyed learning about the game. The positioning of the players and how they played reminded me of soccer, but there is also an element of American football or rugby to it as well. Limerick won 2-06 to 0-06 against Waterford! We drove back to the house and Ruby and I talked to Kevin and Bridgeen for a bit. We also talked to Jack about the game before taking some time to get ready to go out to dinner. Kevin dropped me, Ruby, Siobhan, and Jack off downtown and we got to see the Treaty Stone and King John's Castle. Then, we went to a pub called 'The Locke.' We ordered Buffalo Chicken Wings and Fish and Chips. They were so good! I also ordered a Bulmers and loved it! We all talked to one another for a couple hours and finally got to hear some live music. I had such a great time and loved the pub we went to. Bridgeen picked us up around 10:30 and we got back to the house and watched the end of 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.' Ruby and I went upstairs to get ready for bed after it ended. Today was so much fun and I cannot even begin to express how much i appreciate what the McCarthy family has done for Ruby and I throughout our stay the past two days. I'll be sad to say goodbye tomorrow, but I am so excited for Doolin!

A Day in Doolin

April 11, 2023

Ruby and I got up and packed our stuff. We went downstairs for breakfast and had Irish bacon, toast, juice, and sausage. I also had some cookie crisp cereal. We talked to Bridgeen for a few minutes in the kitchen and stuffed our backpacks into the trunk. We said goodbye to Kevin and Bridgeen took us to the train station. I was sad to leave this morning because I really enjoyed my time in Limerick, but I was so excited to head to Doolin! We picked up our train tickets from the kiosk and left the station around 9:20. Along the way, we got to see more green pastures and lots of sheep. We rode the train to Ennis Station and waited at the next stop to take the bus to the Hotel Doolin stop. It was raining a lot outside and the weather was chilly because of the wind, but thankfully the bus was warm. It was a short walk to the Aille River Hostel, but we couldn't check in because it was too early. Ruby and I decided to sit by the heater and dry off. At one point, one of the employees allowed us to put our bags in one of the hall closets so we were able to go grab lunch. We went to a pub called 'Fitz's Pub' and split a burger and fries. We went back to the hostel and still had more time to waste until check-in, so we played a board game called 'Discovering Europe.' I hate board games, but it definitely helped pass the time. We were able to check-in around 2:15 and were shown our private room. Ruby and I threw on all our waterproof clothing and walked back to the bus stop. It was pouring rain and the wind was blowing rainwater all over the place. There was no awning to stand under so we took turns standing under the entrance to Hotel Doolin and watched for the bus. We got on the bus around 3:05 and rode to the Cliffs of Moher! I was so excited walking up the stairs to the Cliffs, even though Ruby and I were being blown every which way in the wind. The views were gorgeous and I still managed to take some really good pictures despite not being able to feel my fingers! Ruby and I tried to walk on one of the trails but it was way too muddy and there were so many deep puddles. We headed to the visitor center and bought some postcards and magnets. We went to one of the cafés and got hot tea to warm up. We visited the Cliffs of Moher exhibit and spent an hour watching videos and looking at information about the landmark. When it was about time to catch the bus back to our hostel, we noticed the sun was coming out, so we practically ran back up to the Cliffs to take photos and then ran back down to the bus stop in the wind. While we were waiting for the bus, we met a woman named Kelly from Seattle and we talked to her about Ireland and what she did for work in the States. She was so kind and she gave us 50 Euros she found on one of the trails the day before. She said she was looking for someone nice to give it to because she didn't need it and felt guilty for taking it. Some more people showed up at the bus stop and we spoke to another girl from Boston. We eventually got on the bus and we stopped at our hostel to drop off some stuff. At this point in the evening, it was sunny so we decided to walked up the road and visit an old cemetery. It was unlike anything I had seen before. We saw some cows and took photos of the Cliffs in the distance. It was so beautiful and today was the first day it finally hit that I was in Ireland. We walked to a pub and got dinner using the 50 Euros from Kelly. Ruby and I split chicken wings, chicken tagliatelle, and a chocolate brownie with ice cream. I also tried Orchard Thieves. There was live music and the atmosphere in the pub was amazing! We left around 10:00 at night and walked back to our hostel in the dark. We got ready for bed and packed our bags a little for the morning. Today was incredible and a day I will never forget!

A Day in Galway

April 13, 2023

I got up this morning around 9:00 and got ready in the hostel bathroom. I went downstairs to the lobby and sat at one of the book nooks and worked on my website and wrote in my journal. I went back upstairs to the room around 11:30 and waited for Ruby to finish getting ready. We left the hostel around noon and went to a restaurant called 'Esquires Coffee.' I got a toasted sandwich with ballymaloe relish and fries. It was so good! Ruby and I went walking around the city after lunch and did some shopping. We walked around an indoor mall and then went into Carroll's to get postcards and magnets. Then, we walked to one of the jewelry shops that sold Claddagh rings. A Claddagh ring is a traditional Irish ring that features two hands holding a heart, topped with a crown. It is often given to someone to represent a token of love or friendship, or it can be worn as a symbol of Irish heritage. The ring I chose has Connemara marble in the center and is silver. After picking out rings, Ruby and I walked to the Spanish Arches and then popped into a bookstore. I bought the novel A Single Man and got a cool bookmark from the bookshop for my purchase. We walked through the Latin quarter and then to the Galway Cathedral. We went inside the church and saw the stained glass and mosaics. It was really pretty! Then, we walked to Tesco to get something to drink along with some snacks. We took our stuff to the University of Galway campus and ate at one of the picnic tables. We stopped at another store and then headed back to the hostel around 5:30 in the evening. Closer to 7:30, we met up with Francesca and Sveva in the hostel lobby. We got dinner with them and some of their friends at a pub. There were two girls from Germany, a boy from Belgium, and a boy from Italy that we met. After dinner, Ruby and I split off from the group and got crepes. We walked through the city and went to one of the pubs we had gone to the previous night that had live music outside. We walked back to the hostel around 11:00 at night and got ready for bed.

Traveling to Wesport!

April 14, 2023

Ruby and I woke up around 8:00 this morning and packed our backpacks. We went down to the hostel lobby for breakfast around 9:30. I tried Irish Soda-bread and had hazelnut spread on toast. Ruby and I hung out in the hostel lobby for an hour and headed to the bus station for our bus that left around noon. We saw so many sheep on our bus ride and got off at Millstreet in Westport. We headed to Broadlands and it started raining heavily halfway through our walk. Although we were soaked, we got to the B&B and said hi to all the girls from WKU. Ruby and I dried off, put our stuff in the room that we are sharing with Alex, and had lunch. I made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. After lunch, we talked to Louise and Tasha and then I took a shower. I met two other girls, Maddie and Sarah, and we had dinner around 7:00. The cook, Henry, made us pea soup, curry over white rice, and bombay potatoes. It was such an amazing meal! We played just dance in the living room, watched early 2000s music videos, played with Louise's dog Fraya, and made a Guinness Cake. It was such a fun and easy going day!

First Full Day in Westport

April 15, 2023

I woke up early around 6:00 a.m. and went on a run with Kaylee. We ran through town, went on a path, and watched the sunrise over Croagh Patrick. It was so beautiful! We walked back to Broadlands and made coffee with the French Press. We journaled and then talked to more of the girls as they woke up. After lunch, Ruby and I walked into town and went to one of the thrift stores to buy professional clothes. I bought two pairs of pants and we went to another shop and I bought cheap shoes. We went to some of the other shops and walked back to the bed and breakfast. We put outfits together for Monday and ate leftovers from dinner last night. It was rainy and we mostly chilled out for the rest of the night. It was rainy and we mostly chilled out for the rest of the day. All of the girls hung out in the living room and we listened to T-Pain and Nicki Minaj.  The two other girls staying at the B&B got back from their weekend trip and I got to meet them! Their names are Morgan and Sarah and they are so nice! Me, Ruby, Kaylee, Claire, Morgan, Sarah, Alex, and Maddie went out to one of the pubs called McGing's, played cards, and got drinks. We also played cards with some Irish guys named Francis, Rory, and Milo! We went to another pub and danced for while and it was so much fun. We went and got fries at a kebab shop and then walked back to our bed and breakfast to get ready for bed. 

First Day at Scoil Muire Agus Padriag

April 17, 2023

I got up at 5:00 in the morning and took a shower. I got ready, made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and walked to the end of the drive with Ruby around 7:30. The school principal Pat, and his son (who is a teacher at the school) came and picked us up. We drove about 40 minutes to Scoil Muire Agus Padriag and talked about our travels in Ireland along the way. We arrived to the school around 8:20, met several of the teachers in the hall, and got our schedules from the assistant principal. We learned that the secondary school was 1st through 6th year, which is the equivalent of middle and high school grades in the States. I started out in a 1st year math class and the kids were so sweet. The students were learning about proportions and I got to walk around and see what they were working on. Next, I went to a history class with 3rd years and attended a study hall class with more third years. I worked one-on-one with a student named Sinéad. I went to the staff room and met up with Ruby. The school schedule has a fifteen minute break for students and teachers after the first three classes, which are each 40 minutes long. After the break, I walked downstairs to a 3rd year science class. I observed the students work in groups and complete an activity about how many items they would bring if they had to leave home abruptly. I went to a 5th year english class, talked to a few of the students, and learned about their Classroom Based Assignments (CBA's). The last class I attended was a 2nd year history class. I went to the staff room with Ruby to meet for lunch and we walked to the bus stop around 2:00 with Pat. Along the way, he introduced us to two shop owners who provide the students uniforms. We left Swinford around 2:20 and got back to Westport around 3:00. We stopped in the Supervalue in town and got snacks. Ruby and I walked back to the bed and breakfast and I hung out in the living room with Claire, Kaylee, and Louise. Louise asked me about my first day and eventually more people joined us in the living room. We had dinner around 6:00 and it was pretty good. Henry made us sweet potato soup, salad with vinaigrette, cabbage, and garlic naan with hummus. I did some work in the living room and then a group of us played charades. I talked to Sarah before getting ready for bed around 11:00. Today was a great first day in the schools and I cannot wait for the rest of the week. 

Day Two in the Schools

April 18, 2023

I woke up around 5:30 in the morning and got ready for school. Pat picked Ruby and I up and we talked about books and movies on the way to school. When we got to the school, I went to a 3rd year graphics class and saw how the students worked with tools to create different shapes. My next class was with Pat! On top of being the school principal, Pat also teaches 5th year English. The students in his class were reading Yeats and wrote poems resembling The Lake Isle of Innisfree. I spoke to the students during the last ten minutes of class about American schools and then went to the staff room for break. I went to a 2nd year CSPE class, which stands for Civic, Social, and Political Education. The teacher informed the students about a tree planting project and a garden initiative. I went to a 1st year history class and then attended a 3rd year math class. Ruby and I went to lunch in the staff room and then left a little early to go to the uniform store to buy football jerseys with the Mayo County Crest. We caught the bus around 2:20 and walked back to the bed and breakfast. I took a nap until 4:30 and met with Louise's client Eleanora to help her study. For dinner, Henry made potatoes, sausages with glazed onions, and turnips. We had ice cream with berries for dessert. Everything was so good! After dinner, me, Morgan, Alex, Sarah S., and Maddie went to McGings for drinks. Later, me, Alex, and Maddie went to Matt Malloys to listen to trad music. We walked back to the bed and breakfast and looked at the stars and tried to find satellites. I took a shower and got ready for bed. 

Day Three at the School of Saint Patrick

April 19, 2023

I woke up around 6:00 this morning and got ready. Pat picked us up and we went to the school. I went to a 3rd year geography class and stayed in the same class to observe a 1st year geography class. Afterwards, I went to a 2nd history class with Ruby. We had a fifteen minute break in the staff room and then I went to a 6th period history class that was back-to-back. My last class of the day was a 6th year geography class. Ruby and I went to Tesco and bough snacks after school and then went to the bus stop. We got back to Westport around 3:30, walked home, and then worked on homework until dinner. Henry made us a beef stew and brown bread. After dinner, me, Maddie, Ruby, Kaylee, Alex and Morgan walked down to Centra and bought snacks. We walked down to the Quay, watched the sunset, and walked back to Broadlands. We hung out in the living room for a bit and I started getting ready for bed around 9:30. 

Week One Complete

April 21, 2023

I woke up around 5:30 and took a shower. I got ready for school and Pat picked Ruby and I up around 7:45. We drove to school and I went to a 1st year history class and then a 3rd year history class. The third class I observed was a religion class with 1st years. I went to the staff room for break and then had two free class periods. I talked with teachers who shared a break and they told me more about the school and education in Ireland. The last class of the day was called Friends For Life and was about self-confidence and building student's self-esteem among their peers. We left school around 1:00 in the afternoon and went to Tesco to buy snacks. We caught the bus around 2:30 and got back to Westport around 3:45. I took a nap as soon as I got back and slept until 6:15. I hung out with some of the other girls in the living room and worked on my website. Henry put dinner in the oven and me, Morgan, Kaylee, and Alex played cards while we waited. At around 7:40, we ate lasagna and potatoes. Both were so good, but I was so full. I took about 30 minutes after to dinner to get ready and then waited in the living room for some of the other girls. I watched a tv show with Kaylee, Sarah S., and Morgan, and we found out Claire was offered a teaching job! We went out to McGings to celebrate and ran into my school principal. He bought me, Alex, Maddie, Ruby, Sarah W., and Claire a round. We played cards for a few and then went to Henahans. Me, Maddie, Ruby, and Alex went out to dance and then walked to back to the bed and breakfast later in the night! It was such a great way to start the weekend and I cannot wait for Connemara tomorrow. 

A Day in Connemara!

April 22, 2023

I woke up around 8:00 this morning and took a shower. I got ready, put my hiking shoes on, and got into Tasha's car with Ruby, Maddie, and Kaylee to go to Glen Keen Farm. We walked around the gift shop, met the owner, Catherine, and her three generations of border collies, Holly, Jill, and Phoebe. We had tea in the cafeteria and listened to Catherine talk about the history of the land her farm was on. We put plastic bags over our shoes so they wouldn't get muddy and walked to the pasture where the sheep were grazing. We got to watch Jill and Holly herd the sheep and then walked around the pasture to look at a fairy circle. We saw baby lambs and old houses that were built years ago. After our tour of the farm, we went back in to the café to have a scone with cream. I bought some postcards from the gift shop and then we got in the car and drove to Connemara! We stopped to take photos by Maweelrea Mountain and then drove to a waterfall. We stopped inside an old church and then went to Connemara Abbey. Louise bought us lunch in the café and I had a ham, cheese, & onion quiche with a side of brown bread. Morgan split some potatoes with me and everything was so delicious! We walked around the gift shop for a while and then drove back around 4:00. I took a short nap until 5:50 and then got ready to go with the girls to Cobblers Bar for Morgan's birthday dinner! I sat next to Kaylee and ordered a Mojito and loaded fries. We left the restaurant around 8:00 and went to Matt Malloys Bar. We ordered drinks, played cards, and listened to trad music. We went to McGings and sat with two Irish girls and asked them to play cards with us. We ended the night at Henahans and went to the kebab shop to get chips when it closed. Me, Morgan, and Kaylee took a taxi back to the bed and breakfast and Morgan and I stayed up late talking in the kitchen. Today was such an amazing day! 

Banshees of Inisheerin Day

April 23, 2023

I woke up around 9:00 and made some tea. I went back to sleep for another hour and a half and got up around noon. I went out to the living room and talked with some of the girls. I worked on my website and journaled. At around 2:30, Louise's nephew, Christian, came to the bed and breakfast and is going to stay across the street with his grandparents for the next three days. At 4:30, me, Morgan, Sarah S., Sarah W., and Alex divided up in the cars to go to Achill Island. I rode with Bridgett and Kevin, Louise's parents, and their grandson, Dara. Alex rode with me and we talked to Dara during the car ride. We drove around Achill and stopped occasionally to take photos of the view. The roads were windy and there were sheep spotting the grass everywhere you looked. The sea was beautiful and it was a perfect sunny day. We drove to Keem beach where Banshees of Inisheerin was filmed. I watched Sarah W., Alex, and Morgan jump into the North Atlantic and then we drove back to the bed and breakfast. We ordered 'Yum Yum' takeaway and watched Pitch Perfect! This weekend was one of the most memorable weekends I have ever had. I got to spend time getting closer with the girls staying at the bed and breakfast and got to see some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. I am going to be so sad when I have to leave in a week!

Week One Complete

April 25, 2023

I woke up around 6:00 this morning and got ready for school. I made toast with Nutella for breakfast and got picked up around 7:40. I did not have a class during first block so I went over my lesson in the staff room. Next, I went to 1st year geography and did a lesson over the National Park system in America with Ruby. We talked about the Smoky Mountains, Mammoth Cave, Yellowstone, White Sands, the Grand Canyon, and the Hawai'i Volcanoes. I went to 6th year history afterwards and went to the staff room during the fifteen minute break. I attended a 2nd year CSPE class and then saw some of the 1st years again for history. I co-taught my letter lesson and discussed similarities and differences among American and Irish students. The 1st years seemed to love the letters and were genuinely excited to write back to my students in the States. I had another free period during the last block, so I worked on my website. Ruby and I left the school around 1:30 and walked to the uniform store. I bought a football jersey for my brother and a beanie for my dad. We went to Spar and then waited for the bus. The bus had broken down earlier in the day and so we got to ride a small coach bus back to Westport. I went shopping after getting back into town and bought some souvenirs for my friends. I walked back to the bed and breakfast and then tutored Eleanora with Ruby. For dinner, Henry made tomato soup and rice with taco meat and black beans. We added different toppings and had tortilla chips as well. After dinner, I talked to Alex in our room and then hung out with Louise, Kaylee, Claire, and Sarah W. in the living room. Around 9:00, me, Morgan, Alex, and Sarah S. went to the Helm to hang out with Christian before he leaves tomorrow. I tried an espresso martini for the first time and thought it was really good! We stayed until close and walked back to the bed and breakfast. We hung out in the kitchen and ate pizza and leftovers before getting ready for bed. 

Croagh Patrick

April 26, 2023

I woke up around 6:20 and got ready. Pat picked Ruby and I up and we did our National Parks lesson with the 3rd years. I went to a 3rd year history class afterwards and then went into the staff room to work on my website. After the break, I went to a 6th year history class that was back-to-back and went to a 6th year geography class. Ruby and I went to Tesco after school got done for us and then we got on the bus. We didn't get back to Westport until 3:30 since our bus was running a little late. I ate Henry's leftovers before getting ready to go climb Croagh Patrick. Tasha drove me, Kaylee, and Sarah W. to hike. Fraya came along on the car ride! When we got there, Sarah W. stayed behind since she only wanted to climb halfway and Kaylee and I were off. It was a super tiring, rocky, and steep climb; however, the views were amazing beautiful. Since Kaylee and I were walking later in the evening, it wasn't very busy and we only passed a few hikers. My legs were burning and my ears were popping because of the pressure, but I knew I had to get to the top. Kaylee and I made it up in about an hour and 25 minutes. The view was stunning and we were delirious. Kaylee and I took photos and eventually trekked back down. We played music, saw sheep, and even jogged at some points. I was so happy when we got to the bottom and Sarah W., Louise, and Fraya were all waiting to congratulate us. We drove back to the bed and breakfast, I ate dinner with Kaylee, and then went back to my room. I talked to Ruby, Alex, and Claire, and then fell asleep because I was exhausted. 

Western & Miami Girl's Last Night Together

April 27, 2023

I got up this morning at 5:40 and showered since I still felt gross from hiking yesterday. Ruby and I left with Pat and I was in and out of sleep in the car. I didn't have a class first block and went to 3rd year history. I left early to meet up with Pat and Ruby. We left to go to the 1st-3rd year Gaelic football game! It was a semi-finals game and was in Westport! The game was super fun to watch and the Swinford boys won and get to go to the final championship game! Pat dropped us off in town and I did some more sounvenir shopping for my friends and family. At around 2:30, I met with Kaylee, Alex, Sarah S., Morgan, and Ruby at the crepe shop. I ate a really good crepe and then walked back to the bed and breakfast with Sarah S. and Alex. I did some laundry and tried to pack a little. Eleanora's brother came over for a math tutoring session, but none of us knew math except Sarah W. so she took over thankfully! We had soup, roast chicken, potatoes, and green beans for dinner. We played Irish pub songs, danced around the kitchen, and got ready to go out for everyone's last night. We took photos and Maddie's friend Matthew dropped by to come hang out for the night! We walked into town and met up with Tasha at one of the pubs. All of the girls came out and Lousie almost did too, except she was feeling tired from work. We ordered Yum Yum takeaway, picked it up, and went to eat our food at another pub. Me, Alex, Morgan, Maddie, Tasha, Matthew, and Sarah S. decided to go to another pub called 'Cosey Joes' and listened to music and danced. It was so much fun! We left a little after midnight and took a taxi back to broadlands. It was such a fun night and I am so beyond sad that I have to say goodbye to the the girls from Miami tomorrow. 

Travel Day

April 29, 2023

I got up at 7:00 and packed. Louise gave me one of her crystal treatments at 9:00 and then she drove me and Ruby to the train station. Fraya tagged along and I was so sad to say goodbye to her. Louise helped us get to the train and then we said goodbye. I cried a little on the train when it pulled away from Westport because I was so sad to go. Ruby and I rode on the train for two hours, got off at a station, switched trains, and then rode to Dublin on another two hour train ride. We took the Luas line to Connolly Station and got on our train to Belfast around 3:00. Everything was running smoothly until one of the train attendants announced we had to get off eaarly at Portadown and get a bus because an accident happened further down the line. It took forever to get out to one of the buses because people kept running and cutting in line. We got on one of the later buses and drove to several stations to pick up passengers for Belfast. We got off at Botanic and walked to our hotel. It was 8:00 at this point and I was starving so we went to Apaches Pizza. Ruby and I ordered a Buffalo pizza, garlic bread, and potatoe wedges. It was so good! We ate in the hotel room and I re-packed my bag for tomorrow, while we watched local British television. I got ready for bed and could hearing thumping music outside from all the nightlife around us. We officially leave tomorrow and I am so bummed. 

Flying Back to Nashville

April 30, 2023

I got up around 7:45 and I was so tired. I packed the last of my things and Ruby and I checked out of the hotel. There was a marathon going on so many of the streets were closed and the buses weren't running like normal. Ruby and I walked to the train station and were lucky the first train was leaving around 9:30. We got to the stop closest to the airport around 9:45 and booked it to check-in because our plane left at 11:45. We were lucky the airport was small and we had plenty of time to get through security. We waited near our gate and boarded our first flight from Belfast to London around 11:30. We arrived in London at 1:00 and had a two hour layover in Heathrow. We got on our flight to Nashville at 3:00 and it was about nine hours in total. We landed in Nashville at 6:30 p.m. and went through customs. Ruby's parents picked us up and we drove back to her place. It is nice to be back for things like graudation that are coming up, but I still wish I was in Ireland. That was the most exciting month of my life and I made so many amazing memories and met so many wonderful people that I will remember forever. I feel forutnate to have had such an increidble opportunity and I cannot wait to go back to Westport in the future!