Wednesday, June 9, 2010

"He who returns from a journey is not the same as he who left."

That's a Chinese proverb, and I couldn't agree more. I had such an amazing experience studying abroad in Ireland, and I would do it again in a second. I feel like I really grew as a person and learned a lot about myself and other people. I thought it was fitting to wrap up my blog with a short but certainly not comprehensive list of nuggets of new-found knowledge in no particular order...

1) The first two weeks of anything are the hardest...trying to understand foreign accents, adjusting to a new city, getting over homesickness and heartbreak, cooking for oneself without poisoning oneself, figuring out schedules, etc.

2) A pint of Guinness is fantastic. And two are better.

3) I loved volunteering and want to keep it up!

4) Being away from singing was really tough, and I missed it a LOT.

5) I have a new found love of travel and adventure!

6) It's important to go with the flow and not be a control freak. (Read: Eyjafjallajökull)

7) Surfing in February with a wetsuit isn't nearly as cold as you'd think. Also, leaning over a cliff 700ft above the ocean is a total rush.

8) I am a lot more capable of taking care of myself than previously thought.

9) I love love love being independent.

10) Ireland is amazing and will always have a special place in my heart, but I'm so glad to be home!

11) Skype is a God-send.

12) I highly enjoy striking up conversations with strangers in a pub.

13) The friends I made here are so great, and I miss them so much already!

14) Ryanair might be uncomfortable and make me fear for my life, but it's only a 2 hour plane ride to most of Western Europe, holllla. Suck it up and hop on the plane, why don'tcha?

15) Irish sayings: Savage, class, do ya know like, wee (only in Donegal), CRAIC!, saying like at the end of a sentence

16) Sheep are crazy cool, and I'll miss their mad bahhing. And beautiful horses that let me kiss and pet them.

17) Just letting things happen as they will.

18) No doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

So those are just a FEW things I learned whilst living abroad. I also know how to curse you in Irish, so watch out.

Thanks for reading my blog these past few months! Cheers!

-Teal