To be honest, this week was a bit of a blur. As our trip winds down, I’ve felt various pressures of trying to see and do everything in Dublin, spend as much time with new friends as possible, tie up any loose internship ends, and get our (long!) assignments in on time, all while managing ever-piling exhaustion. That said though, I wouldn’t change a thing; I feel so lucky to be overwhelmed by fun, exciting things day after day, and I know I will miss it all the second I step on the plane next Saturday.
Deadlines that I naively assumed far away came up rather quickly, and I found myself in a mad dash trying to get everything down on paper in time. I’m proud to say that after an intense (read: manic) writing session last Thursday, I can now pretty much recite any part of Ireland’s history – that is, as long as it’s on Professor Wilck’s outline in the course syllabus. I’m kind of kicking myself for not doing the brunt of the research earlier in the program, as it was cool to connect the dots and compare what I was writing about to our experiences this summer.
Speaking of kicking myself (and going a little out of order here), I took advantage of our free Sunday this weekend and ventured to Dalkey, just outside of the city. One of my best friends from home’s mom is from there, so I had been meaning to go since I first got here. And of course, the second I got off the train and took in the quaint, charming town, I regretted not getting out there sooner. The town was so perfect it almost felt fictional – families were fishing or strolling by the water, friends were swimming, kids were running around the park, and couples were enjoying pints at the main pub. I walked the long loop my friend recommended, then sat and read my book for about an hour and a half while looking out at the water and watching the hang gliders fly overhead. Minus said hang gliders, parts of Dalkey reminded me of my hometown in Connecticut, which I think is maybe why I loved it so much. On a list of places I need to revisit in Ireland, Dalkey is for sure towards the top.
Back to Saturday: for our final organized outing as a group, we visited the Celtic Boyne Valley. The bus’s broken A/C and the driver’s adventurous speeds down narrow, winding roads put a bit of a damper on the trip – especially coupled with more walking/hiking than we were told and the highest temperatures we’ve seen here this summer. Regardless, it was cool to see yet another part of the country and learn more about Irish traditions.
The Howth Cliff Walk on Monday was also an adventure. I definitely didn’t know what I was getting myself into, especially when our guide introduced himself and his many Coast Guard and wilderness accolades. When at one point we found ourselves knee-deep in brush, scaling a little mountain before making our way over to the cliffs, I knew I needed a distraction. And if there’s one thing this group is good for, it’s entertaining each other. We passed the time by telling funny stories and playing stupid games until we eventually stumbled upon the gorgeous views. In general, the various trips we’ve taken have allowed us to see Ireland in ways I never would have imagined. We’ve seen it from all compass directions, up in the mountains and down at sea level, but week after week, the landscape never ceases to amaze me.
Later, we said a sad goodbye to the Wilck family, once again serving as a reminder that the people truly are what make the trip. For our final weekend abroad, a bunch of us will head to Amsterdam to mix it up and trade Guinness for Heineken. And until next week, I am keeping myself (and my emotions) together by plugging along and pretending I’ll always be able to hop between O’Donoghue’s and Foley’s anytime I want.
Margaret! Dalkey looks incredible, I’m so glad you loved your excursion. The town looks so quaint and picturesque. We should try to go swimming there after our internships before we leave.