This January, instead of heading back to Vermont, I traveled across the pond to Cork, Ireland. I will be studying at the University of College Cork for the semester, located in the southeast of the country. I have only been here for about a month, but my experiences so far have been spectacular and I look forward to my next four months here.
One of the first weekend trips I took was to Blarney, home of the Blarney castle and famous Blarney stone. Legend has it that if you kiss the stone, you develop eloquence and the power of persuasion. Sounds like a good deal, until you learn the stone is at the top of the castle and you have to hang off of it to kiss it! It definitely gave me an adrenaline boost, and hopefully a way with words.
Next, I traveled to a little town on the coast called Kinsale. Here my friends and I explored the history of Ireland at St. Charles Fort. The views were spectacular, and we got to see how the Irish Civil War had damaged some of the buildings. After, we walked around the quaint town and stopped in a local pub for some fish and chips.
I am so grateful to be gallivanting around Ireland with new friends while learning and experiencing European university. All of the planning (financial or otherwise) that went into this experience was well worth it!