This weekend, we got to see the cherished Hill of Tara that we learned about in our first few weeks here. I touched the Stone of Destiny and have to sadly announce that I am not the rightful King of Ireland.
Surprising, right?
On the way from the Hill of Tara to Trim Castle, I saw my first cow crossing, which was a delightful surprise during our long and sweaty bus ride. The interior of one of the castle ruins was stunning as flowers were growing out of the cracks.
Our next stop was the Loughcrew Passage Tomb. To get to the monument, we had to hike up a huge, steep hill, which was temporarily very painful but more so on the way down. I may have twisted my ankle a few times. The hike was worth it, as the view from the top was gorgeous. I felt like I could see all of Ireland from up there. There was also a lady playing an instrument in a shallow hole. It was a bit odd, but nonetheless enjoyable.
Our last stop was the Hil of Uisneach, a name I still can’t pronounce to save my life. We learned about the burial mounds and the mythology, which are evident all over the hill. Apparently, the goddess Eriu, the goddess that Ireland is named after, was laid to rest here.
Saturday night proved that I still have a long way to go to before I truly am competent about Dublin’s buses. You would think that after almost seven weeks in Ireland, I would know how to get back to campus from the city. Instead of taking the 39A back to UCD, Tyler, Jordan, and I took the 39A to Ongar. To be fair, there is a running joke that I want—no need—to visit Ongar before I go back to the U.S., but Ongar was the last place I wanted to be at 1 a.m.
That Sunday, I went to church in person for the first time. I found one of the very few Protestant churches in Ireland and talked to many welcoming people! That afternoon, I went shopping and ate at the Ramen Bar with Aliyah, where I got tuna tartar and karage. I did get food poisoning later that day, but it was still delicious.
At work, I started an exciting but challenging project with a different supervisor, Ian Madigan. I am creating a pitch deck using data and research Cat and I have been analyzing for the past two weeks. For the first time during my internship, I feel really valuable, so I am glad to finish on a high note.
I am really sad that I won’t have many days left in Dublin as I am headed to France with Aliyah for four days, but I am super excited to go home and see my family and my dogs!