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Irish Countryside:
This past week I have been traveling with my dad before I start my internship. It has been a wonderful week and I would have been completely lost without him there with me. I have been able to ease into being not only on my own, but in a foreign country with the help of him and I am feeling more and more confident about this trip every day.
On June 27th and 28th we went fly fishing and horse back riding. They were wonderful. The 26th we went to Ballyanhinch Castle. It was a beautiful area and the castle was grand. We did a 5 course dinner and was a new experience, I personally like the casual be yourself dining. But as my dad says, "it's nice to do something you don't normally do everyday". So might as well enjoy new and different things when you get the chance.
So back to the 27th of fly fishing. We had a guide named Johnathan. He was great and very chatty. The Ballyanhinch Castle sits on a good amount of property, so we went throughout the area and flished where Johnathan told us to. It rained on us and was windy, but we had a blast. Towards the end of the fishing I ended up catching two fish and had another one but ended up losing it. It was a very fun and relaxing day. The scenery was very pretty, sooooo much green!
On the 28th we went to Mountain View Riding Center for some trail riding. This was my highlight of the week, by far. We went for almost 5 hours of riding, it included canter and the trot. In my expereiences in trail rides at a center, we always had to walk. So it was wonderful to do different things and just have a blast. Our guide was named Rebecca, we was from Germany, she was very friendly and a great guide. My horse was a pig. Everytime we went near a bush he tried to eat it, even when he was trotting! So my arms really got a nice workout by the the time our ride was over. hahah But overall it was a blast, we saw the stone walls, old ruins, just part of the Cliffs of Moher and many cattle , they were EVERYWHERE! A little side note that I think is funny, so the owner of the horse center offered me a job as a tour guide for next summer. It was interesting how he just said hey want a job? Even before he knew how I rode or what, he might have been joking, but Rebecca said he was looking for one more tour guide for next summer. So I guess is I can't find a job, maybe tour guiding on horseback wouldn't be a horrible summer!
The Irish countrside was wonderful to exprience. It seems very calm and peaceful. The hills and old stone walls is beautiful and I can't get enough of them!
First Day Jitters:
First day jitters are always the worst, because I am nervous and worried on one hand and then excited on the other. My first jitters started on the day I was going to my host family. I am not the greatest with new things so any type of change is hard, but the Quinn family is wonderful and they are very warm and welcoming! But then came to learning the bus routes, which gave me a whole other set of jitters. I was thankful of my host family and my dad (who is still here and will be going on a motorcycle ride throughout the island soon) to help me figure out what buses and stops to get on and off at. I am still not the greatest and the bus routes yet and still need some more confidence to just go for it, but I know it is just a matter of doing it often enough until I am comfortable with where I am starting and stopping at.
First day jitters for work. I am starting my work on Tuesday the 2nd and I am just nervous, like anybody would be. All these questions keep running through my mind, what should I wear, when should I leave for the bus, do I need a lunch or is there places around, what will I be doing, is it a big company or a small one. This questions keep rolling though my mind over and over again. I have to keep reminding myself that all the other people in my program have had such great expereiences with their internships so far, there is no reason for me to worry. This expereince will be the best thing for my education by far. Getting to know a different way of work and design that I wouldn't have been able to expereince if I didn't come here. I am very blessed for this time and experience!
So first day jitters are normal and especially being in a different country than what I am used has heightened them even more. But with my family and friends back home and my host family and new friends here will give me the strength and guidance to tackle to head on and with the confidence I know I have deep down inside.
There has been so much that I have done in my first week of being in Ireland and I can't wait to experience even more! But as this trip goes on I know I will be falling in love with this Country more and more. It is a great place, filled with friendly people and great places to explore!
I hope everyone back home is enjoying themselves and are having a wonderful summer! I miss and love you all!
LOVE, Meagan
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