So far, I have thoroughly enjoyed this trip, and the second week has brought some fascinating stories and adventures that I will not easily forget. The first real excursion of the trip took place this week, with visits to Glendalough and Kilkenny Castle. While I anticipated that Ireland would look quite different compared to New York City, I did not expect the sheer beauty and greenness that greeted us. Glendalough was absolutely stunning, with rolling hills of green grass and trees everywhere you turned. It felt so peaceful and unaltered, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of city life.
Unfortunately, that peace was abruptly interrupted when we boarded the bus. For context, we had boarded a brand new bus for this trip to Glendalough and Kilkenny Castle, and regrettably, it would not stay brand new for long. On our way out of Glendalough, the bus side-swiped an old stone wall, pulling a significant section of it off from the rest. The wall, previously a stately stone gray, now bore a long streak of blue paint, and the brand new bus sported a dent and was missing a tail light. Despite this hiccup, we pressed on to Kilkenny Castle.
The journey to Kilkenny Castle offered us some of the most beautiful countryside views I have ever seen. The castle itself was incredibly fascinating; you could visibly trace the different eras it had survived and see how it had evolved over the years. My favorite part of the castle was the artwork in the great hall, which was filled with a rich collection of portraits and landscapes. It was also inspiring to see how Ireland is working to restore Kilkenny Castle to its former glory. They explained efforts to repurchase old furniture and artifacts that had been sold off when the last family moved to England. Overall, this first excursion was an enjoyable and enlightening experience.
At work, my tasks change every day, which keeps things interesting. One day I’m working on a website, the next day I’m creating a social media post, and the day after that I’m doing background research on a possible partnership. Even though I’ve only been here for a short time, the variety of tasks has helped me figure out what I enjoy working on the most. This diversity in my job responsibilities has been really beneficial, allowing me to explore different aspects of the work and understand my own interests and strengths better. The combination of these enriching excursions and varied work experiences has made this trip an incredible journey of personal and professional growth.