last day.

It is my very last day in Ireland. It has been an amazing experience, and I am thankful to be taking home so many life lessons and Ireland knowledge.

I have been so excited thinking about returning to the States, but today I have felt a sadness about leaving that I never had before. I guess there are moments of both. I'm sad to leave the place that I have considered my home for the past three months, and I'm even more sad to leave the people that I have lived with. At the same time, I am happy. Happy to be moving on to the next chapter of my life.

Today I finished packing, ate my last meal here at the Y, and hung out in Dunleary, Sandycove, and of course our lovely town of Greystones. I made a final purchase of hot chocolate at the Happy Pear, and I bought 5 books for 1 euro at the local "charity store." I went out with one of our leaders, Laura, and three other girls from our group, Emily, Gueb, and Alyssa. We went to the coolest pub I have been into yet, where, lucky for us - it was 70's, 80's, and 90's music night. I wouldn't have spent the day any other way.












Tomorrow I leave for my 12:00 flight, where I will enjoy my ipod and movies on the plane for 6 hours.

The jet lag and reverse culture shock I'll be facing when I get back is worth hugging my parents at the airport and sleeping in my own bed again.

Goodbye Ireland, hello home.

Morning Meal

This is where we go to get free porridge from 9-11am, always hoping that we might catch Damien Rice (he is a frequent customer apparently).












The Happy Pear is a hot spot in Greystones. With organic food, produce, and the most divine dark hot chocolate I have ever experienced.

Kyle and Kelsey took Jordan and I out for breakfast, and as you can see, we had plenty of food to keep us there for a few hours. We are thankful that they are willing to talk with us about the joys and struggles of marriage. What an encouragement it has been to spend time with people full of advice, wisdom, and great stories to share.

Meaningful conversation in the most cheerful environment.
I wish I could take this little place home with me.

Toil & Glitter

This Scandinavian style boutique is right down the street from where I live in Greystones.

When I first walked in, I was delighted to meet the owner, Jill Barron, and ask her a few questions about her shop. She told me that some of her inspiration came from Anthropologie, one of my favorite stores. Jill has also opened another Toil & Glitter in a nearby town, Dalkey, which is only a few minutes away on the Dart station.

It's quirky and unique flavor is shown in not only the clothing and accessories, but also the interior design, all done by the owner herself. Toil and Glitter offers labels like Odd Molly, Feber, American Vintage, Hunky Dory, Free People, Desigual, and Orla Kiely.
















Would you shop here? I certainly would.

Flowers by Lynda

After I received my beautiful flowers from Jordan on Valentines day, I was curious about the little shop around the corner where he bought them from. Instead of my usual routine of passing the florist while walking into the main center of town, I stopped in to say hello to Lynda and see what her place was all about.

It was a pleasant and welcoming shop, with just the right personality for my taste. I guess I haven't been into many floral shops before, maybe not any in my life, but I knew right away that this one has something special. I think it might be Lynda's passion for her business that makes it so wonderful.

She greeted my friend Emily and I with a smile and a hello. We chatted with her for a few minutes, explaining who we were and why we were here in Ireland. We quickly learned that Lynda is from that States as well! Pennsylvania actually, although you would never be able to tell with her great Irish accent. Her shop has been open since September, and it has been such a hit in the community of Greystones.

I think if I had a flower shop, this is just the way I could only dream it would be.















You can visit the website HERE (Flowers by Lynda delivers internationally as well)



"I love flowers and have an eye for design and color. I believe beauty makes people happy and I’ve seen what happens when a client is surrounded by the things and the people they love most. It’s magic!" - Lynda

A Whole New World

I have been staying busy here, and already I have experienced things that still seem like a dream. I really cannot believe I am actually in Ireland! It hits me in a new way every time I wake up.

It helps me to process the things that happen here by taking photos, writing things down on paper, talking with the people here, and obviously, blogging. With this I am able to grasp the deeper meaning that I am usually not searching for in my day to day routine in the states.

One practice I have been disciplined enough to do is journaling daily. If not daily, then often. I save my receipts, newspaper clippings, plane stubs, and anything else that falls into my fingertips. I paste these things in my journal, and then I write. At this point it seems silly and forgettable, but ten years from now I will cherish those small pieces of paper and words in a notebook from one of the most memorable times of my life.

This week has been constant with new experiences to write about.


I have visited Dublin. It was nothing like what I expected. It's very compact, yet big and busy. I loved it.



I have been to the famous Temple Bar!



I have started some great relationships, and I have experienced community in a whole new way.



I have been hit with differences in culture, like pureed soups, which is the most common in Ireland. This right here is vegetable soup, but it is definitely not the kind of vegetable soup I was expecting. Very delicious though.

I have received the largest collection of textbooks in one semester that I have ever had. The difference is, I would probably thoroughly enjoy reading all of these.

I have studied Irish History, realizing that the places I was reading about would be places I will be visiting in a few weeks.

I have visited several Cafes in the neighboring towns of Greystones


I have experienced the Dart Train, learning how to do public transportation in a different country.


I have ordered tea, surprised to find that the standard is actually to get your own cute little pot which holds three servings of tea.

Oh yeah, and I visited Bono's house, (actually, the gate in front of his house). The neighborhood is one of the more beautiful places I have been to yet.

My first day in Greystones, Ireland

We made it! The six hour flight was rough, but worth it. When I stepped out of the plane into 50 degree weather, I knew I was not in Michigan anymore.

Our small group of 20 was greeted at the Dublin airport by the Resident Directors, Laura and Kyle (and Kyle's wife Kelsey). We rode the bus to our new home in Greystones, which is actually a YMCA center called Coolnagreina. We have our own kitchen, classroom, bedrooms, two living rooms, a small library, and free laundry!

Here is the main house:




my bedroom that I share with Audrey and Emily.


The upstairs hall




the sunroom that connects the kitchen area to the coffee room


kitchen, where all our meals are provided for us (except when we cook on weekends)



"The Coffee Room"



"The Red Room"




The main lobby



walkway by the sea



some of our group


beautiful scenery of Ireland


shops in Greystones


very popular cafe called The Happy Pear




After a day of getting to know everyone, eating, drinking tea, and touring Greystones, we finally went to bed at 8:00pm. The entire day was a struggle, because we had been up for about 33 hours, so by the time I crawled under the covers and put my head on the pillow, I was out.


Waking up today in Ireland this morning was a wonderful feeling. Now it has finally hit me that I am here for good.