This semester, we had to perform services projects with some people in the community of Spiddal in order to help strengthen ties in the town. I was lucky enough to spend some time talking with Jon Paul who runs the Park Lodge Hotel and Cabins, where we are staying.
What we did for JP was help him move around tables and chairs for the main event room in the Hotel, generally for banquets, parties and weddings. We usually spent around an hour moving things around and covering chairs. While the work was a little fun, the real experience came in talking to Jon Paul about all of his different experiences.
JP was a little hard for me to understand at first, admittedly, because of his thicker Irish accent, but once I got to the point where I knew what he was getting at whenever he talked, we had some really great conversations. The most memorable thing we had talked about was right after we had our spring break, and we talked about where all JP had traveled. Little known to myself at the time, Jon Paul is the most traveled person I have ever met. Hearing him talk about traveling to Japan and South Africa like it was nothing kind of rocked my world, and makes me a little envious of him honestly.
Looking back to my conversations of JP, it makes me realize just how small the world can be, and just how many connections people can make. Hearing about how Jon Paul would just make a call and make stuff happen all around Ireland makes me think a lot about the scenes from The Grand Budapest Hotel, where he makes calls all over the world to make just one thing happen. Jon Paul seems to be a man who knows exactly what he wants in life, and does not live beyond the means to achieve that. It does not seem to be about money to him, but the experiences. He seems to live just within the means to be comfortable, and I find that very respectable.
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As a note, this is my last graded blog. I may write more after this, but I am still undecided. I may start a new blog about all of my experiences and thought in the world, but that is also yet to remain undecided. Looking back at the trip, I am very glad to have met the people I have, had the conversations I did, and got the opportunities that presented themselves to me. It's weird to think that in less than two weeks I will be back in the States, something that should but won't be familiar to me.
Monday, April 11, 2016
Croagh Patrick and Westport
This past weekend I spent a lot of time doing a lot of physical activity, in the place of climbing a mountain and biking nearly 15 miles. Croagh Patrick nearly killed me while I was walking up it, just because it was such a hike. Walking up Croagh Patrick, you start at nearly sea level, right along the West Irish coast, and climb to an elevation of 764 meters, or roughly 2506.56 feet. The climb was rough for me, I was on the mountain for nearly 2 1/2 hours, and I didn't quite make it all the way to the top, about 90% from what the people in front of me said. The view though, was absolutely stunning.
This trip came at a weird time for me. It was right after spring break, and the week right before was rough on me for a few reasons which I will not divulge in this particular media. Walking up this mountain, and having the time and the physical work to myself really let me think things through, and feel better about everything. It also gave me a huge opportunity to think about life in general, and all the things that I have experienced. I honestly kind of wish this was our last field trip, in reality, because having the time to think and reflect about the entire trip right before we left off would have been really beneficial to myself.
In all, this trip had the most impact on how I saw the world, and gave me the most to think about. Part of that is being where we were, and part of it was what had happened to me the week before. Writing this now though, and realizing just how I have changed and how everyone here on this trip has affected me, though, amazes me. I knew studying abroad would affect me, and change me in unpredictable ways, but looking back makes it so much different.
In all, this trip had the most impact on how I saw the world, and gave me the most to think about. Part of that is being where we were, and part of it was what had happened to me the week before. Writing this now though, and realizing just how I have changed and how everyone here on this trip has affected me, though, amazes me. I knew studying abroad would affect me, and change me in unpredictable ways, but looking back makes it so much different.
Monday, April 4, 2016
Social Life
In Ireland, I have found myself a part of a different kind of social life. Just being in a foreign country in general will change the kind of social life you have, but there is more to it than that here.
Constantly, I find myself surrounded by sixteen people who are almost all living a very different life than I am. While these people are different than myself, in all different ways, I have come to find myself among some of the best of friends. Whether it is complaining about classes, playing monopoly, or going out to the pubs, we always seem to have a good time, even despite the sarcasm and sass.
I am surprised just how close I have come to these people in Ireland. I don't think I will ever forget the time I have spent with these people here. I have spent a lot of time talking and getting to know these people, and learning about the lives they lead. I have learned a lot about how they lead their life, and how they want to live their life in the future.
It almost blows my mind just how similar everyone is, even though we are all from different backgrounds. Talking to Michael, I realize that even though we have completely different backgrounds and lead different lives, we want a lot of the same things out of life. Michael may not be the only person, but his conversations with me seem to be the most distinct in my mind.
It actually gives me more faith in humanity, learning about all of the people that I am here with. They have become my social life, and I am really grateful for all of them. We have all become so close, and have learned so much from each other. I am really grateful, in light of everything that happened before and during this trip, for everyone that is here. They may be different from the normal spectrum of people that I hang out with, but I am still utterly grateful for each and everyone of them here with me on my journey's.
Constantly, I find myself surrounded by sixteen people who are almost all living a very different life than I am. While these people are different than myself, in all different ways, I have come to find myself among some of the best of friends. Whether it is complaining about classes, playing monopoly, or going out to the pubs, we always seem to have a good time, even despite the sarcasm and sass.
I am surprised just how close I have come to these people in Ireland. I don't think I will ever forget the time I have spent with these people here. I have spent a lot of time talking and getting to know these people, and learning about the lives they lead. I have learned a lot about how they lead their life, and how they want to live their life in the future.
It almost blows my mind just how similar everyone is, even though we are all from different backgrounds. Talking to Michael, I realize that even though we have completely different backgrounds and lead different lives, we want a lot of the same things out of life. Michael may not be the only person, but his conversations with me seem to be the most distinct in my mind.
It actually gives me more faith in humanity, learning about all of the people that I am here with. They have become my social life, and I am really grateful for all of them. We have all become so close, and have learned so much from each other. I am really grateful, in light of everything that happened before and during this trip, for everyone that is here. They may be different from the normal spectrum of people that I hang out with, but I am still utterly grateful for each and everyone of them here with me on my journey's.
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