The Gift of The Gab

"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure."

-Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild

It's absolutely crazy to think that I only have a total of 43 days left abroad. I honestly feel like it was just December and I was at Gustavus, getting everything ready to move to Ireland! Jenni and I have been talking about this a lot lately, and how we still have a lot of things that we want to see in Ireland. At the end of last week, we were having this conversation and spur of the moment decided that we should visit Cork and kiss the Blarney Stone - two things that I have been wanting to check off my "Irish Bucket List."

We woke up early and hopped on an 8:30am bus to Cork. It was about a 3 hour ride so we arrived in Cork around half-past eleven. Molly, my friend Caitlin's best friend from high school, read my Facebook status about our venture to Cork and kindly offered to show us around! Molly is an awesome girl and a great tour guide. She brought us around the main streets and to an English food Market. Cork is a huge city and really beautiful.. a river runs through the center of it and there are many large hills with houses on them surrounding the city. Molly then took us to her favorite specialty hot chocolate place. She wasn't lying when she told us it was the best hot chocolate in the world! The menu  consisted of "classic" hot chocolates (milk, white, dark, espresso, etc.), and "specialty" which were infused with all kinds of flavors; fruity, spicy, exotic, and just plain weird. We all got classic cocoas and they were SO good. After chatting for a while, Molly walked with us to the bus stop where she explained how to get to Blarney. It was only $6 round trip to Blarney and the bus ride was about 15 minutes. We hugged Molly and thanked her for spending time with us, and then caught our bus to Blarney. 

The town of Blarney is an adorable, touristy town that is obviously centered around the Blarney Castle. We followed some signs that led us straight to the entrance of the castle, and went inside the gates. Immediately, we were greeted by lush, green gardens, lovely walkways, and an enormous castle. We walked to the castle, admiring the picturesque scenery and were surprised by how huge the castle actually was! In order to get to the Blarney Stone, one must climb up and through the castle. The winding stone staircase got smaller and smaller as we neared the top of the castle and I felt like I had to use both hands to make sure I didn't fall back down! When we got to the top, we entered the "roof" area where the Blarney Stone is located. According to legend, if one kisses the Blarney Stone, they will be given "the gift of the gab" (great eloquence/skill at flattery). You have to walk around a large rectangular shaped roof with an open center and railings to get to the stone on the opposite side of the stairs. There was no line when Jenni and I reached the top and excitedly ran over to the men working at the stone. One helped you kiss it, and one took your picture. I have talked to people who have kissed the stone before, so I was expecting that you had to lay on your back and bend your head over to kiss the stone, but I was not expecting to be able to see hundreds of feet below me or feel like I would fall right through the skinny metal bars if the man helping me dropped me! The stone itself is a couple feet long and about a foot wide and a different color from the rest of the castle. I gave it a quick kiss and although I didn't immediately feel "gabbier," it was exhilarating and I was so happy we got to do it!

Jenni and I climbed back down the stairs and left the castle. 

We weren't in any rush, so we meandered around a few of the many beautiful gardens surrounded the castle. Each garden had a different theme which was so cool! We started to get hungry on our walk and decided to grab lunch at a pub before heading back to Cork. The rest of the day, we shopped around Cork and walked around the crowded streets until we caught our 7pm bus. It was a wonderful day and I'm so thankful that we are able to take exciting day trips like this one!

The English Market

Molly and I!

Best Hot Chocolate EVER

Streets of Cork

Inside the Castle

Jenni Climbing the Stairs to the Top!

Almost to the Blarney Stone!

Kissing the Stone!

View from the Top of the Castle

Touring the Gardens

St. Paddy's and Other Festivities

I did it! I experienced St. Patrick's day in Ireland. It was definitely as much of an achievement as it was a festive day out in Galway; not only because I was able to mentally check it off of my bucket list, but because spending the full day out on St. Paddy's day takes a lot of energy. Jenni and I hosted the pre-parade party at our apartment Sunday morning at 10am. 10(ish) friends came over for green pancakes and we left for the Galway St. Patrick's Day Parade around 11. Being in the city center was exactly what I expected and definitely lived up to (and surpassed) my expectations. It seemed as if the entire population was out in Galway, celebrating no matter how old they were. The parade was great - lots of community groups, Irish dancers, musicians, and people dressed up in costumes, stilts, and on floats.
After the parade, we all went to Kennedy's, a small pub where we were able to watch the matches. Some of our friends' parents were here and it was fun to talk to them about their plans for Ireland! We spent the day exploring the different pubs, listening to music, drinking beer, and enjoying the positive, cheery atmosphere of St. Patrick's day.
On Tuesday of this week, our Service Learning and Literacy class threw an Easter fair/party for the primary school children in the homework club that we volunteer for at Scoil Bhride. We've been preparing for the fair for the past month or so. We set up tables in the gym of the school with crafts, games, snacks and activities and the children absolutely loved it. One little boy ran up to a girl, beaming, and exclaimed that it was the best day of his life. The kids were so hyper and most were running around, covered in chocolate, like crazy people, but I loved every second of the chaotic afternoon. I haven't had the chance to hang out with young kids here since I've been volunteering with the secondary school teenagers, so it was a great change and reminded me how much I love working with kids and how excited I am to return to camp this summer. I attended my last homework club last Thursday. It was sad to say goodbye to the secondary schools students that I have gotten to know over the course of the semester. I can only hope that they continue to attend the club and that they are able to remove themselves from the "at risk" category because I know how talented and intelligent they are!

Day Pubbin' After the Parade

At the Parade

Jenni and I

Irish Dancers

The flags of the 14 Tribes of Galway

Bailey and I!

Lindsay, Gracie, and I at the parade

Shannon's Visit!

“Travel is like love, mostly because it’s a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful, receptive, undimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed. That is why the best trips, like the best love affairs, never really end.” -Pico Iyer

Last week, I had the absolute pleasure of hosting one of my good friends from high school. Shannon arrived Wednesday evening around 6:30pm. I picked her up at the bus station and was so happy to see a familiar face. I had seen Shannon in London but it was so exciting to have her in Galway. We walked back to my apartment and dropped off her bag, then went to dinner at The Cellar, a restaurant/bar with a modern, warm atmosphere. I wanted Shannon to experience some traditional Irish music on her first night so after dinner we met Krissy and Jenni at Taaffes, our favorite location for live music. There was a group of three men that played all of our favorite pub tunes and I was glad that Shannon was able to hear this special part of Irish culture.Thursday, I had class all afternoon, but Krissy, Shannon, and I walked to Elle's (an adorable coffee shop) for coffee and scones so that we'd be able to plan our Spring Break trip that the three of us are taking in a few weeks. Shannon explored and shopped around the city with Jenni while I was in class, and when I returned from volunteering at the homework club, it was already dinner time. Shannon and I quickly ate and got ready and met up with a large group of our friends for our first pub crawl in Ireland! It was a fun night, but I don't know if I would do another one. I prefer to go out with no schedule. A great part of the pub crawl, however, was that we got to visit a couple of the smaller pubs off of Shop Street that I hadn't been to yet! We ended the night at Karma, a club, and had lots of fun dancing with the girls. 
Friday morning, Shannon, Krissy and I got up early to catch our tour bus to the Cliffs of Moher. I had the pleasure of visiting one of the most beautiful places in the whole world for a second time this month. The Cliffs of Moher captured me just as much, if not more, upon my second visit. Shannon, Krissy and I were able to spend time slowly walking up the winding path over the cliffs, but also, time sitting and just being there, which was an amazing experience. Sitting on the edge of the Cliffs of Moher, I was hit with an array of feelings. I felt calm, sitting and observing creation. All of my worries about finals and travel plans left me and in that moment, nothing seemed to matter but the sound of the waves splashing on the cliffs, the feeling of the soft grass beneath us, and the unique moment the three of us shared, sitting in silence but experiencing the sight together, each of us lost in our own thoughts. I felt the magnitude of how large and magnificent the world is, and how deeply humbling it can feel to be human, staring out onto the huge jagged rocks and the vast ocean before me. I felt God in every part of my being, radiating through the natural beauty surrounding me. I felt a deep, intense love for Ireland, the country that I've chosen to spend my semester in. I thought about how I have no doubt in my mind that I have chosen the right place for myself. At this time in my life, I truly feel like I belong here. Most of all, I felt blessed beyond all measure to be able to witness this magical place. We sat in silence for a while, taking in the view, and at that moment, more than any other I've had so far studying abroad, I felt completely at peace. Friday night, Shannon, Krissy and I made a beautiful dinner (Shannon's idea) of boiled red potatoes with sea salt and thyme, shrimp sauteed in garlic and lemon, good bread, and a fancy salad. Jenni came over after dinner and we watched 500 Days of Summer. It was a perfect day.
Saturday morning, Shannon and I finally got to have a lie-in (sleep in). We woke up, made breakfast, and headed into town to visit the Saturday market. I love the Galway market. It's filled with stands selling all kinds of food, jewelry, antiques, paintings, pottery, and other handmade goods. Anyway, it was an absolutely gorgeous day. It was sunny and warm and we barely needed the light coats we brought with us! What a blessing. We shopped in the market for a while then decided to walk past the pier to the ocean by Salthill. I've only gone as far as the lighthouse, which isn't quite in Salthill, but Shannon and I decided to keep walking all the way into town, and I'm so glad we did! We stumbled upon white sandy beaches, and it was hard to believe that we were still in Galway because the beaches looked so different from the city scene I'd grown accustomed to. Being on the beach made me even more excited for Spring Break. We found a cute little cafe that looked out onto the water and got sandwiches there before walking back to my apartment around 6. When we got back, we relaxed for a bit, made dinner, and Shannon and I decided to go out for Shannon's last night. We went to a few pubs and got a pint at the Front Door, where we made some new friends and enjoyed ourselves. We came back around 12 because Shannon had to catch an early bus the next morning.
It was sad to say goodbye to my friend, but I'm so glad that she was able to visit me and cannot wait to see her in Barcelona for break!

Thanks for reading! 

Maggie

Pub Crawl!

Shannon and I

Cliffs of Moher

We found the beach!

Salthill

Skål!

"Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." -Miriam Beard

I'd say it's time for an update! Finals are quickly approaching so every time I sit down to write something, it's another paper. My official final essays aren't due until mid-April but since I'm leaving for a three-week trip to Italy, Spain, and France on March 31st, I want to get them all finished before then! 

Two weekends ago, Jenni, Krissy, Scott, and I journeyed to Sweden Thursday-Sunday. We left Thursday morning so that we'd be able to take a three hour bus to Dublin, then catch our flight that afternoon. Everything went smoothly at the airport - give or take Scott's backpack getting stuck for a minute in the luggage size restriction box. It was enough to give us all a minor panic attack but he just had to aggressively yank it out and Ryanair let him through with a broken zipper. We landed around 6:30 at Skavsta Airport in Nyköping where we boarded a two-hour train to Uppsala, where our friends from Gustavus, Siana and Annalise met us at the train station. We walked through town to Annalise's apartment and by the time we arrived it was already getting late so we just chatted for a while then went to bed.

The next morning, we woke up to a wonderful surprise - Annalise, Siana, Signe, and Daralia made us breakfast! We had a delicious brunch of Swedish pancakes, brown bread, fruit, and traditional hard bread meat & cheese sandwiches. This was so much more than we were expecting and we all felt lucky to have such amazing hosts. Siana and Annalise had class for a couple of hours so their friend Daralia offered to play tour guide and show us around the city. It was so nice to have her there, she brought us all over their campus, to a few museums, and around a park in the city. Afterwards, we met Annalise and Siana for Fika (a Swedish verb/noun that pretty much means a social time to drink coffee/tea and eat pastries), something I could definitely get used to. After Fika, we went grocery shopping for a few things and got guest passes to their "nations" which are kind of like clubs that the students join. Each nation has its own building and during the week it's a good place to go to eat dinner or study, but on the weekends, there are bars/clubs in them. We ate dinner at Daralia's and went to one of the nations where we had a great time talking and trying Swedish drinks. 

Saturday we left Uppsala after another wonderful brunch made by the girls and boarded our train to Stockholm. It was fun to ride a train and to get to see the landscape. It was very snowy and driving through the woods made me thing of Minnesota's winter scenery. We arrived in Stockholm around one or two and checked into our hostel. We had a six-person room but arrived to find it empty. After we changed into warmer clothes (it was pretty chilly) we set out into the city for our day o' tourism! We made a two mile trek to Skansen open-air museum. I didn't really know what to expect but it was a great museum. There were parts of the museum that were like a zoo, and others that reminded me of Fort Snelling or something - people were dressed up in traditional Swedish garb and taught us about farm life in Sweden many years ago. After walking around for a few hours, we braved the snowstorm and walked to the Vasa Museum - one of the most famous museums in Stockholm and the most visited museum in Scandinavia. The museum was constructed around the only almost fully intact 17th century ship that has ever been salvaged. When we left this museum, the sun was out and it was much warmer than it had been earlier in the day. We enjoyed our slow walk back, pausing to take pictures of the sunset and every beautiful building. When we arrived at the hostel, we were greeted by our hostel mate, a 23-year-old friendly Indian man who had lived in Australia for the past five years. He immediately struck up all kinds of conversation with us and we learned that he was embarking on a 9-week solo trip through Europe because he had just received his Master's degree. He had just come from Copenhagen and was spending a night in Stockholm. His positive attitude and love for new experiences and adventures was inspiring and we invited him to dinner with us to learn more about his travel plans. We found a cute cafe and got Swedish meatballs (a must) which were tasty. We especially appreciated the all-you-can-eat bread and salad bar, since we had been living on peanut butter sandwiches all day. We meandered around town a bit but were all pretty tired so we crashed early.

Sunday, our last day, was spent in the most beautiful city I've seen yet - Old Town in Stockholm. This city, more commonly known as Gamla Stan is on an island, is connected to the main city by bridge. We spent the afternoon walking through the cobblestone streets, visiting old churches, and meandering, awestruck, through the incredible architecture. After Gamla Stan, we shopped around in the plethora of souvenir shops surrounding the city, and went to Fika where we got a variety of pastries, chai, hot chocolate, and coffee. It was a great way to end our time in Sweden. 

Uppsala!

Our wonderful hosts (Minus Signe)

Uppsala

Skansen Open-Air Museum 

Stockholm

Vasa Museum

Stockholm

Ice Skating

Stockholm

Gamla Stan

Old Town

Fika!