Galway, Ireland — One of the highlights of the last couple weeks was a trip to the Aran Islands, one of the most famous areas of Ireland. These three islands off the west coast are legendary for their harsh environment and stalwart residents. For centuries, a small group of courageous Celts have lived on these barren islands, making a living from farming and more recently tourism, as the popularity of their woolen crafts has grown internationally. We hiked up to magnificent cliffs, which had no guardrails, and we walked directly to the edge of a 700-foot drop!

The last week in Galway was the busiest one. I had papers and finals for my literature and theater classes, which I enjoyed, and a group of us attended the internationally famous Galway Horse Races. Even though we knew nothing about horses, the enthusiastic atmosphere was contagious. We went out every evening, enjoying the night life of Galway and each others’ company. Everyone was beginning to realize that soon most of us would never see each other again. This hits hard when you realize that the 30 people, whom you have gotten to know so well over the last few weeks, will soon be scattered across the country, connected only by Facebook and perhaps an occasional visit. Since it takes quite awhile for me to “warm up” to people and to get to know them, I was surprised how much I genuinely enjoyed getting to know everyone during the trip. I connected with people and discovered things about them that I think I would not have had the privilege to in another situation.

The month I spent in Ireland this summer was, without a doubt, the best of my life. I know that everyone says that, but all the clichéd praises about studying abroad are true. It does change you, challenge you and, inevitably, impoverish you. But when all the bills are finally paid off, the benefits far outweigh the downfalls of traveling abroad. Many of my friends felt homesick by the end of the trip, and they were ready to go home, but I only felt disappointed that the time had gone so fast. Five weeks was just enough time for most of us to get settled and really feel at home in Galway, before it was time to leave. Studying abroad for the summer session means that I will graduate on time, but I do wish I had more time abroad. I feel like I barely scratched the surface of the Experience. As the Irish say, I had plenty of “craic,” or good times, brilliant craic indeed.

I found myself in various situations that I would have avoided at home, but I embraced them as a chance to challenge myself. I surprised myself with my ability to cope with the unknown and deal with problems by myself. Basically, I learned that I can rely on myself to make good decisions and that I can handle myself in unfamiliar situations. Arriving home felt great. I had missed my friends and family but, as they say in corny movies, I left part of my part of my heart in Ireland.

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