random thoughts

Usually these posts have been connected to stuff I've been doing, places I've been going, just all that stuff. But this isn't going to be one of those.

Before I left for this place all I wanted to do was call my school and cancel everything. Seriously! I was so completely afraid of the unknown, that I just wanted to run away from it.

This was genuinely my mindset until I got here.

Literally in the airport I was hoping that for some reason my flight got cancelled, or they wouldn't let me in the country so I could just go home. I was so shaken, and so afraid, I wanted to run back home.

It is actually insane to me that I leave this place in 19 days.

19 days.

My heart is breaking into a thousand pieces.

Ormskirk, and Edge Hill University, has been the greatest experience of my life so far. I have met so many amazing people, I have done so many amazing things, and I don't want it to end.

If I had it my way I would stay here for as long as I could.

(Annnd I have checked to see if I could stay for the next semester, if you were wondering.)

Sitting, crying, at my computer in Katherine Fletcher Hall room 35, I beg everyone who reads this to go abroad.

Go somewhere completely new and different. Go by yourself. Don't let your fear control you.

Be bigger.

Be bolder.

Be an entirely new person.

I wish I could stay here forever. I know that sounds so entirely cheese-ball-ish, but it is for real. With every single part of my soul I wish I could wrap every person from my hall in a box and just bring them to America. Even the one's I've never talked to, or that I don't really get along with.

These people just have such an important place in my heart, and I will never forget them.

I really don't want to leave, but it's inevitable, and it sucks.

I can't stop crying about it, and I can't stop thinking about how sad I will be without these people.

However, this experience has changed me into a bold, courageous, adventure woman. Someone I never would have become living in my comfort zone.

Before I left I knew traveling alone, and doing this Study Abroad, would make my life different. I was right.

My life won't ever be the same, in the greatest way possible.

I am so beyond grateful for the people that kicked me out of my comfort zone, especially my amazing mother. Without going, this space in my heart filled with so much love for the people here would be empty.

I don't really know who actually reads these posts, and it could really just be my mom (hi Colleen), but regardless I love my life here. I am forever thankful for this experience.

I cannot wait to come back.

<3

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Well jeepers it as almost been a month since I've last posted! Time has just been FLYING and I cannot catch onto it.

A lot has happened in the last almost-month, including my Reading Week Excursion.

In the fall semester here at Edge Hill, most majors get an entire week off for Reading Week. You're supposed to read, and do work, but myself and Erin decided to go to Ireland and London.

(Although now, two weeks later, hibernating in my room writing essays I wish I would have done a little work.)

Nonetheless, I am so incredibly glad we went. It was a life-changing experience, and I am forever blessed to have seen the incredible land of Ireland.

All cheesiness aside, Erin and I flew into Cork, Ireland on November 1st arriving about 9 in the morning. Sooo we had to get up about 4am, to have my crazy-planner brain settled. (Gotta be there at least two hours ahead - OBVI)

Hi from outside our flight to Cork!

After landing in Cork, we knew immidiately how much we were going to love this country. We stepped into the small airport, and were the only ones in the non-EU citizen line. So we had a nice chat with the man at the counter, who told us what to do in Cork and Galway (drink - LOL). We then went to grab some coffee in the airport, and as we were discussing how to get to our hostel, the girl working behind the counter overheard our conversation, asked for the address, and told us how to get there. 

IRISH HOSPITALITY PEOPLE.

Anyway, we hopped on a bus into the city center, and the bus driver also helped us find our way. Only about a ten minute walk later, we found our lovely hostel! 

Scary fake mannequin on the way to Oscar's Hostel - not sure.

Obsessed with these colorful buildings.

Seconds after I almost got Erin and I killed running in front of a bus - super not sure.

Right across from our hostel! LOVE.

Erin casually using her scarf as a blanket in our hostel room!

After getting settled in, we decided to take a stroll into town and see what kind of stuff there was to do, seeing that we had literally no plans for Cork. Funny thing is, the freakin Blarney Castle is in Cork!

Of course we hopped on another bus and made our way to the Castle. However on our way to the castle, we sat in front of a group of boys who had American accents (always making friends.) Mitch, Matt, and Alex are from Connecticut, and Matt & Alex doing their study abroad in Cork. Mitch was visiting from Newcastle England! Anyway we all went to the Castle together, and a pub after!

Da castle

Erin in a hole

Explorin and stuff - cool cat.

Too cool to not take a pic.

We met up later with the boys at a pub, just after Erin and I had a delicious meal at this gourmet burger place!

FREAKIN YUM

Our friends!!

Waking up early to catch a train into Galway, we were excited! We got into Galway around noon, and were expecting a nice short walk to our Bed & Breakfast. NOPE. About twenty-five minutes later, we arrived to St. Jude's!

Gorgeous place though.

Fancy old-fashioned key.

After our long walk, we were feeling like we needed some serious afternoon tea. We walked to a fancy tea place, and were very happy! We then got ready to go out, and met our friend JJ in the sitting room at St. Judes. JJ is from New Hampshire who was visiting Ireland with his Aunt Kathy. He told us about a place to go to, and so we decided to check it out.

Craft beer place in Galway

Galway Bay Ale - SO PERFECT.

I wish I would have taken this glass home.

The next morning we got up and decided to head into town to get our hair done - girl squad. We had planned for Monday to be our Cliffs of Moher day, but we missed the last bus. HOWEVER! Erin and I got a lot of shopping done. 

That evening, JJ and Aunt Kathy were heading to a pub crawl, and invited us to join. We declined, mostly because of money, but they invited us to go with them the next day on a tour of the Cliffs of Moher! 

Just changing our plans slightly (I was only a little stressed) we went on this incredible tour of Galway and the Cliffs of Moher. It was only myself, Erin, Aunt Kathy, JJ, and another woman, Barbara from the Canary Islands. We all piled into a van, with our tour-guide George, who was just so fun and so Irish.

JJ was a leeeetle tired (LOL!)

Incredible

Amen!!

Made a stop at a museum, which was not open, but the women let us come in and have some tea and biscuits. They wouldn't even let us pay! 

Cows are scary sometimes

No words.

It was truly just so incredible, and such a blessing that Aunt Kathy invited us on this tour. We wouldn't have seen the Cliffs of Moher otherwise! 

We caught the train to Dublin with JJ and Aunt Kathy that evening, and took a taxi to our Bed & Breakfast. We arrived late, around 10:45pm and our caretaker was not super happy - WHOOPS!

The next day we had to get up early for breakfast - literally the only downside to a B&B - and ate breakfast with an Australian police officer, and a couple from West Africa. They told us to budget the entire day for the Guinness Factory, and they were so completely right!

9,000 year contract

Hops!

This is just so cool: like thirty artists from all over the world were commissioned to create a Guinness pint with aspects from Guinness throughout time. There's just so much intricate stuff put into this I couldn't begin to explain, but really such a cool part of the tour!

Part 1 of the taste rooms

So little!!

Where we learned how to properly drink a Guinness!

Advertisements throughout the decades!

Guinness professionals!

We really honestly planned to go to the Temple Bar that evening, seeing that we really were only in Dublin for a day, but both fell asleep around 9pm. That's what you get when you both have upper respiratory infections in a different country!

Leaving early again, we got into London around 2:30pm, and met up with the wonderfully generous Lea Hitchcock! Lea let Erin and I stay in her dorm (so a free stay) for the next three nights. 

On Friday, Erin, myself, and Erin's friend from home - Emily - all went on the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio Tour. 

Amazing.

Our tickets - Fawkes was mine <3

"Take it away Earnie!"

Some Butterbeer outside Privet Drive

Quick drive in the sky - BRB.

Obsessed.

Genuinely one of the coolest experiences I've had here. 

That night we went to Wetherspoons, which is kind of like a chain restauraunt thing but not really? Anyway, we got up early on Saturday to meet up with our friends. Erin spent the day with Emily, and I got to meet up with Sarah Robison! It was honestly such a wonderful day. We went to a few markets, but also just talked a whole bunch about God, and the struggles of this world, and it was just so necessary and such a blessing.

Love my sista in Christ!

Sunday we got up early, and being masters of the tube, got to our coach station early to get Starbucks (obviously) and got on our bus back to Ormskirk!

It truly was an adventure, and I am so glad we made it happen. Hoping for a few more before I leave here, in less than a month. WHICH BREAKS MY HEART.

Wanting to stay here forever.

<3