"Fáilte go dtí Baile Átha Cliath," or, Welcome to Dublin.
This was the sign that greeted me in the Emerald Isle last week. For some reason, I wasn't nearly as anxious arriving here like I was when I studied abroad in Paris and Istanbul. Maybe because the Gaelic language was more of a traditional language spoken only by a small minority while English with the charming Irish flair is the norm, or maybe because I was no longer new at traveling abroad. Either way, I was still anxious to see the country that had me anxiously waiting for seven months.
As far as first impressions go, there is a reason it's called the Emerald Isle. As we were landing, I looked out the window only to see miles and miles of green pastures that were in odd shapes and divided by short stone walls. It was beautiful. Even the Airport signs were all green, as was the moss between the cracks in buildings and pavement. The weather is wet and cold, where temperatures are around 40 degrees every day which isn't too shocking because I was just in Breckenridge, Colorado the week before where temperatures were below zero every night. However, it is a change from Florida.
As soon as I landed, I was greeted by Alisha, my roommate from Central Michigan. She, as well as seven others are also on this trip with Global Experiences, and we all seem to get along pretty well. Our apartment is quaint and nothing special. We're situated on Lad Lane, just a few minutes' walk from the city center. I also have two other flatmates, and we all share one bathroom which hasn't been much of a problem. The only time it is, is when the heat pump starts getting weak from us taking showers one after another. We also have radiator heaters and a mini fridge, and our beds are horribly uncomfortable. However, we seem to manage well and are working on making our space home for the next three months.
The first night we were all there, we had our first experience of traditional music and Irish dancing along with traditional Irish food. EVERYONE had bangers and mash, but I was all about the Guinness beef stew and veggies. It. Was. Delicious.
As far as my internship goes, I start this week! I'm working at Comhlamh, a non-governmental organization that focuses on global development and volunteering abroad. Definitely excited for the work and experiencing more of the city :)
