As we are nearing the mid-term point here at Maynooth, we are nearing the Study Break which starts next week. Along with studying on this week-long break I have the amazing opportunity to travel with some great friends across Europe. When being abroad, it is an amazing opportunity to travel to surrounding areas of the country, especially in Europe where flying is so affordable! In less than a week I leave for Italy, which is a life-long dream of mine. From visiting the Colosseum, to the mountains of Switzerland this trip is going to help me to truly become a global learner. I have already visited so many beautiful and unique sites in Ireland including Cork, Bray, Mullingar and County Kerry which is known for it’s farmland and is what many think of Ireland as being, rolling hills with sheep and cows on the coastline. Now I have the chance to broaden my scope of travel from inside of Ireland to the entirety of Europe. Below is a picture of the most highly visited national park in Ireland, the Kilarney National Park, which is where I got to go on my first horse drawn carriage ride. The magic of studying abroad is that you discover things that you would never imagine beforehand. Learning new elements of Irish life such as why the sheep are painted different colors truly adds to the experience of the country. As I am writing this blog, I am getting antsy for the new experiences and things that I will learn about myself and the picturesque sights that I have only previously seen on a screen. As with Spring Break back home, I have officially caught the Study Break Fever and am ready for the adventures that await.
As I wrap up this portion of the semester I am also finally getting into some of my academic classes. Irish university classes are conducted differently than American courses. Out of my four courses that I am taking here at Maynooth, I have only had an actual assignment in one of the four courses. However, as we near the midpoint I have my first Spanish assignment later today and my first academic paper due when I come back from my trip. This is the most exciting time of
the semester as well as the most stressful until finals.