Not Dead Yet

 I know I haven't posted in a while, and for that I am sorry. But there isn't much that anyone reading this would really want to know about. A couple of weeks ago we took our final API sponsered trip to East Galway and County Clare to see Bunratty Castle and the Round Tower of Galway. We met up with the API students studying in Dublin, and just let me say how glad I am I chose Galway. They were very rude, and loud and made me realize how much our personalities reflect our location. Galway is very kind, and laid back. Dublin is dirty and unsafe. It's like comparing Burlington to New York City, and the people tend to reflect it. The group of young adults (I have to stop calling my peers 'kids 'seeing as we're all turning 21) who chose Galway with me are all good people. And I'm not just saying that because they've become my good friends. As Brendan put it when asked "Do you all hang out?", the answer is a big NO. I don't see a large portion of my group for weeks at a time, and only hang out with them when forced. It doesn't mean that I wouldn't feel perfectly comfortable running to any one of them if I truly needed something. We're all in the same boat and that has bonded us in a way you wouldn't understand unless you've been abroad.

Sarah took the picture picture above when we went on a nature walk. Her photography amazes me. Honestly, this girl has such an artistic streak in her and I am so happy I've gotten to know her. I love this picture because it reminds me of how I started this experience. There was a path that led to the unknown and I had to force myself to keep walking. Maybe I'm sharing all this because we've got less that a month left and I haven't really told any of you how settled I've gotten. Or maybe it's because there is a ten page paper sitting with only one page written on my desktop behind this and I really don't want to do it.  Anyways, other than that lovely Sarah picture and an amazing Colleen one that will wrap up this post, I figured I'd let you know what I've been up to. 

So, two weeks ago was that API trip (it kinda sucked). We had a late start so we rushed through Bunratty castle, which is a really cool medieval castle that's been turned Tourist like so much in Ireland has. But Megan and I made it over to Durty Nellys for a photo op. Did you know there is also one in Halifax Nova Scotia, where another Costello girl happens to reside?
My favorite part of Bunratty castle was actually the animals on the grounds. They had chickens and ducks and it felt like home. Also pigs, which we should seriously invest in parents...look how cute this one is!
Then we went to the round tower of galway, yet another tower that's round and was used to keep vikings away from monks. I've decided that if you've seen one round tower you've seen them all, and this wasn't that exciting. However, it was an absolutely B-E-A-UTIFUL day outside so all the pictures came out to show Ireland as the beautiful place it is when the sun actually shines.

I really like the grave markings here in Ireland because they're mostly Celtic crosses, which has become my favorite version of the cross. And I'm a little weird and have always liked graveyards...has to do with that spirit/ghost/ ouija board obsession.


The reason you just got so much ramble and like no actual information was because there really wasn't much to say about the day. We went, we saw, we came back.



Then last weekend I went to Dublin on Saturday night to see some of my friends who are studying abroad from Champlain!

It was a really wonderful two days and it made me feel a little more at home because I was around people I knew. I think there is definitely something to be said for having your loved ones come visit while you're abroad, and I'm not saying I don't understand why mine couldn't come, because I do, I just think that having something that is familiar in this world where everything is new would be a good thing.


Thanksgiving is this week, and it's gonna be a hard day for me because my parents are going to be up in Canada with Meghan and almost all of my friends have their families or friends here. Colleen and I will be spending quite a bit of time together this week, and while I'm not glad that her family couldn't make it, I am thankful to not be completely alone.
Next weekend I'll give you a lovely post pertaining to school (this is my last week of classes), and more basic Galway stuff.


Happy Thanksgiving Week, I hope you enjoy your breaks.
Love,
K