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I HAVE ARRIVED!
The plane ride wasn't so bad! It took 3 hours from Chicago to Newark, and then 7 hours from Newark to Shannon, Ireland. I was so lucky to have an empty seat by me, and I actually slept a few hours!
As I was sitting in the Newark airport, I saw many students who were also studying abroad in Ireland. I asked a group of students right behind me if they were on my program but turns out they were on another one from the school James Madison.
On the plane I watched the movie beastly (not as good as I thought it would be), a ton of episodes of Glee, and the movie Just Go with It.
When I arrived in Ireland, I got my luggage and met one of the CEA directors. His name is Brian and he is a 24-year-old student completing his PhD at NUIG (National University Ireland Galway). He is so friendly and such a funny guy. He brought me to a table in the airport that was at a café where I met my first 6 friends on the trip. We sat around the table with Brian as he told us our plans for the day. He told us tomorrow we are going to meet near the reception office at "half ten". The girls around the table looked just as confused as I was. Did that mean 9:30? Or 10:30? Turns out half ten means 10:30 and we all got a good laugh… Thank god he cleared that up for all of us!
He then put us on a bus that took us from Shannon Ireland, to Galway Ireland. It was an hour and 45-minute drive. I sat by a girl named Jordan who is a junior at the University of Florida. We hit it off right away. The whole time her and I were talking up a storm. We even talked about boys and our past relationships.
It was so crazy to see cars drive on the other side of the road, and the driver to drive on the other side in the car. I would freak out time to time, thinking the cars were coming at us!
The 6 girls and I seemed to have much of the same goals for this experience. We all agreed we wanted to find some cute boys, check out the pubs, castles, meet families, and go to the beach. One girl Rachel said she loved music festivals as much as I, so we planned to go to one called Oxygen Music Festival! And Jordan and I discussed going to London one of the weekends to see the opening of the final Harry Potter movie.
When we got off the bus we met Brian's friend Rachael. She was gorgeous! She is only 22 and is also getting her PhD in psychology. Her fashion was so hip, and I told her I wanted to go shopping with her!
Then she took us to our apartment complex. Kristen, a girl from North Carolina, and I are staying in apartment number 87, along with a girl named Kathleen who arrived much later then us. I am on the second floor with my own bathroom! My room is a cute little sac with a twin bed and a nice window! The showers seem very complicated. I have to turn on a water heater well before I jump in the shower. It makes me thankful for the simplicity of the showers in America haha. We have our own kitchen stocked with silverware, plates, bowls, and all sorts of accessories. We even have a cute little fireplace right by a couch and TV (I know I will barley be sitting in this room!)
After we all unpacked we headed to a little shopping area right across the street from where we are staying. It has a huge grocery store, pharmacy, and a cute cheap clothing store… which of course I was loving! As a group of 6 we went up and down the aisles, grabbing few snacks and treats to enjoy in our apartment.
So far I have felt so comfortable. I love my room, the people, my roommates, and of course the convenient shopping area right across the street.
Tomorrows plan consists of signing up for classes, a tour of the university we are attending, and a tour of the areas around our apartment complex. It is going to be a long day but defiantly a fun one!
I miss all of you back at home, but this is already such a blast!
Funny thing... I HAVENT SEEN ONE RED HEAD YET! So … maybe that is just a stereotype? But everyone here is so happy and pleasant to talk too! I cannot wait to meet more people!
Here is a joke for all of you to enjoy that I heard on the plane:" Guess what I am going to eat for breakfast?!" Lucky Charms :) hahah hope you enjoyed!
Also Please Enjoy the pictures I posted… they are of the apartment I am living in "Gort na Coiribe"
"The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are." - Samuel Johnson
- comments
Marla Sanderson Glad you are safe and sound. I'll be reading the blog to learn of your many adventures. Love you, Honey!
mom so far so good sweetie....take lots of pictures. miss you already. love you xxxxxxxxx mom
cher Love love love that you're doing a blog! Have fun! Sha'
Genevieve You literally made me laugh out loud in the middle of class with the comment -- "we even talked about boys and our past relationships." haha...have fun hal!
Uncle Jr. Havefundipstick Have fun dipstick.uncle jr
kim einhorn So great so far and its just the beginning. Yay!!!!!
Genna Katz Halle- so glad you are loving Ireland. Drink lots and lots of Balmers, meet a leprechaun, learn to river dance and find a four leaf clover. SKYPE ME SOON. love you and will be reading this religiously ;)