And until we meet again...

Today is my last day in Ireland. How did that happen? It seems like just last week that I walked down to the Bay for the first time with a bunch of complete strangers to investigate and enjoy this beautiful place we were lucky enough to call home. Now, it has been three months, these strangers have become close friends, and I am sad to say goodbye to the Emerald Isle. Last night, we gathered as a group (minus 2 who had already left) for one last time. We had a pizza party, Chuck shared a few words of gratitude, and we settled in for a final, quiet night in JP's pub. I am going to miss all of this, but I am grateful for every memory I have.

Right now, my bags are packed (and hopefully less than 50 lbs!), the cottage is almost clean, and I am sitting at my kitchen table for one of the last times, listening to the (naturally) torrential rain pour down on the glass ceiling. This is the weather with which Ireland greeted us, and it is only fitting that this is the weather with which she bids us farewell.

The great thing about this program is that, as much as I am going to miss Ireland and the Park Lodge and the little family that we created here, it isn't really goodbye. Everyone on the program goes to CSBSJU, and I know that I have made friends here that will carry over once we get back on campus. I am looking forward to spending time with them in the real world and reminiscing about this crazy, beautiful trip. I also know that I will be back in Ireland again, and Galway and Spiddal will be a necessary part of the return trip. I can't wait to come back to this place that feels so comfortable.

Classes all ended well. (It's funny that that is what I came here for, and yet my classes have made it into my blog so few times!) I am going to miss Mary Clancy, Jacqui O'Hara, and Gerard O'Brien. I have their e-mail addresses, and I am going to drop them a line when I come back.

I am going to spend a few days in Chicago upon my return to the US. My parents are going to meet me at O'Hare (wish me luck!) as my dad has a conference there for the weekend. My mom, my Miller cousins, and me are going to hit up the city and take in all the Christmas wonder it has to offer! Then, it will be back to Marshall for basketball games, Christmas festivities, and getting this freaking cast off!

Tonight, a few of my cottagemates and I, along with two members of Cottage 2, will be performing a musical that we wrote last week - "Zac Efron as Troy Bolton in Pirates of the Caribbean 4: What Happens after High School...and Before Britain gets a Navy." Needless to say, we have had a lot of free time lately, even with final papers and everything, so this is our send-off to everyone. We combined the High School Musical and Pirates franchises into something that, I think, is really quite special. Stay tuned for video footage.

On that note, thanks to everyone who has followed my journeys. I hope you have received a little glimpse of this enchanted island. The craic was mighty, and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.

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Home Stretch

I have hit the home stretch...literally. In less than a week, I will be back in the United States. I am floored by how quickly this semester has gone. It has been the greatest three months, and as much as I am looking forward to seeing family and friends again, I am not ready to leave this beautiful, magical place.

My last weekend in Galway was a fun one. On Friday night a group of us went into Spiddal. Saturday was spent writing papers. My hard work paid off, because I am now done with all of my schoolwork for the semester. The only thing left to do is show up to class and turn everything in.

Sunday was a fun day. A few of us caught the bus into Galway and attended our last mass in Galway. After that, Katelin, Makenzie and I got our final meal deal at Supermac's - have I told you about that place? It is the Irish equivalent of McDonald's, and for a while, their 3-for-3 deal was the best find in Ireland. I finished up all of my Christmas shopping, got a couple last souvenirs for myself, and went to Charlie Byrne's bookshop once more to peruse the overflowing shelves. Galway is a fantastic city, and if any of you get the chance to come to Ireland, it should make the top of your must-see list.

This morning, being the good Catholic girl that I am, I went to mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Makenzie wheeled me into Spiddal for the Irish-speaking mass. It's a very interesting experience to go to hear mass in a language that does not even remotely resemble your own. Afterward, we ran into Geraldine and her daughters, so she was kind enough to give us a ride back to the Park Lodge. Now, I am gearing up for my last Irish Catholicism class with Mary Clancy. On the docket today? Christmas carols! Let me tell ya...these college classes are tough!

I hope you are all doing well and getting ready for the holidays! I am not sure how many more times I will post here, but I will keep you updated on my return home. Until then, I am going to keep soaking up my last week in Ireland!

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Galway '08 Group by the Bay

Things at the Park Lodge have slowed down considerably. I've been able to spend a lot more time around Spiddal and Galway in order to soak up as much of the west coast before I leave in less than two weeks. How has time flown so quickly? I can't believe it is December.

Lots of people asked if I would be celebrating Thanksgiving this year. Each year, the staff of the Park Lodge, headed by the one and only Geraldine, puts together a spectacular Thanksgiving feast. We had a first course of salad, a second course of potato soup, and a main course turkey, stuffing, vegetables, and three kinds of potatoes (it is Ireland, after all!). For dessert, we got apple and pumpkin pies. While it could never beat my dad's rendition of a Thanksgiving meal, it was absolutely delicious.

The Thanksgiving celebration is also a chance for all of us students to thank everyone who has put so much into making this program successful. We invited all of our professors, our bus driver, our taxi driver, and the entire staff of the Park Lodge. We gave them all gifts thanking them for all of their work this semester. We also presented our directors, Chuck and Suzanne, with a book of "29 Reasons We Are Grateful for Chuck and Suzanne" - one from each of us. The final part of the evening was a slideshow of pictures and a collection of skits from each cottage. We performed the poem "Five Little Turkeys." The highlight was probably a poem that Chuck wrote for us about our semester together. Overall, it was a wonderful evening and a most memorable Thanksgiving.

The semester is wrapping up and I am keeping busy with final papers and making plans for returning home. I am still finding lots of time for day trips to Galway, last-minute souvenir shopping, and even a chance to see "High School Musical 3" (which was awesome!).

Galway decorated for Christmas!

I hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving! Did any of you go Black Friday shopping?

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