Woke myself up with a 3 mile run, but I believe I was still jet-lagged as I ended up in the same spot three separate times (not on purpose). Despite getting a bit lost, I found some beautiful trails that my running shoes will now be calling home. Had the pleasure of recuperating (after a shower of course) with a nice coffee sitting on a bench near a fountain on campus. As I sat and looked around, I once again felt a sense of contentment. It could be the 50-60 degree weather lifting my spirits (so relieved to be away from the humid Indiana summer!), or it could be that despite the struggles I've had and the struggles I'm sure I'll run into, things are just great and I have nothing but gratitude for the life I'm able to live.
After getting a tour around campus from a UCD student who was a fellow Boilermaker for a year, I took a leisurely stroll into the main part of the city where Conner will be living this semester. Enjoyed the afternoon with my best friend introducing ourselves to the city and discovering the beauties it has to offer. Over an espresso and dessert at a small cafe, Conner and I got to talking about how different it is to now be "the foreign exchange student." I've met and befriended several exchange students throughout my college career and tried to understand the struggles the best I could, but now I can truly relate. It is hard to not know what you're doing and where you are going sometimes. It's hard to not know where you can go to get some plastic dishes and pots and pans to cook dinner. It's different to be ordering your food and not be understood. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't struggling, but it's the struggling that starts the learning process, and learning is the fun part! (And one thing for sure I've learned is that you should always listen to your Mother.. all the stuff she made me pack that I didn't think I needed I've used already!)
I'm just so excited to have the opportunity to immerse myself in a culture different than my own once again. Exploring Dublin for two days has shown me so much already. Each building I've seen has it's own unique touch and I can't even put words together to describe the Cathedrals . I'm ecstatic to take a course about the history of Ireland to learn more about what makes this country the way it is. After putting 16 miles beneath my feet, I have called this day a success. I've gotten to see so much already, and although it seems I have so much time left, I know it'll fly by!
After getting a tour around campus from a UCD student who was a fellow Boilermaker for a year, I took a leisurely stroll into the main part of the city where Conner will be living this semester. Enjoyed the afternoon with my best friend introducing ourselves to the city and discovering the beauties it has to offer. Over an espresso and dessert at a small cafe, Conner and I got to talking about how different it is to now be "the foreign exchange student." I've met and befriended several exchange students throughout my college career and tried to understand the struggles the best I could, but now I can truly relate. It is hard to not know what you're doing and where you are going sometimes. It's hard to not know where you can go to get some plastic dishes and pots and pans to cook dinner. It's different to be ordering your food and not be understood. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't struggling, but it's the struggling that starts the learning process, and learning is the fun part! (And one thing for sure I've learned is that you should always listen to your Mother.. all the stuff she made me pack that I didn't think I needed I've used already!)
I'm just so excited to have the opportunity to immerse myself in a culture different than my own once again. Exploring Dublin for two days has shown me so much already. Each building I've seen has it's own unique touch and I can't even put words together to describe the Cathedrals . I'm ecstatic to take a course about the history of Ireland to learn more about what makes this country the way it is. After putting 16 miles beneath my feet, I have called this day a success. I've gotten to see so much already, and although it seems I have so much time left, I know it'll fly by!