Oh, The Places I've Been!
If you have never read Dr. Seuss’ book Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, seriously stop whatever you are doing (after reading this blog) and go satisfy your inner child. The words, “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose,” have never been more correct. I walked 4,032,620 steps in 148 days across Europe. In that time I visited 27 cities across 12 countries; I spent 4,892 minutes in 15 airports, and created countless memories with some of the best people I have ever met. I hiked up the Corrán Tuathail, the tallest mountain in Ireland, witnessed the changing of the guard at Buckingham palace, visited the Anne Frank House, explored the place where Karl Marx wrote The Communist Manifesto, indulged in endless flavors of gelato, swam with the dolphins off the shores of Innis Orr, saw castles that are better than the designers of Disney could create, and this is only the first few weeks of my time abroad.
I attended the University of Limerick in Ireland and studies Irish Language and Culture, Historiography, Marketing Communications, Social Psychology and Sensibility and Romanticism. The professors challenged me to really understand the material and its relation to your everyday life. The Irish are definitely some of the nicest people I have ever met. I had a lot of craic with them. Now, before you start assuming that I am talking about drugs, "craic" is Irish slang for 'fun' or 'a great time'. They also really, really, really enjoy their beer. They not only drink it by the pints, they also make Guinness bread, ice cream, jam, and chocolate. If you aren't a fan of Guinness, no worries, they also make all these products with Irish whiskey, and you can slip some in your morning coffee to really put an extra spring in ye step.
I am entirely grateful for the wonderful opportunity to study abroad through Pfeiffer University. Now that I am back on campus, I can express the beauty, excitement, adventure, and tranquility I experienced during my time away. I haven't been everywhere, but it is most definitely on my list.
“The MORE that you Read. The more THINGS you will KNOW. The MORE you LEARN, the more PLACES you’ll GO!”- Dr. Seuss
I will never be completely at home again, because part of my heart will always be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of knowing and loving people across the world. I thank everyone who travelled this journey of a lifetime with me, and I cannot wait to hear about the journey others will have.
No matter what you do in life, live with no regrets, take every opportunity, and do not go where the path may lead, instead go where there is no path and leave a trail.
Beir bua! (Irish for “May you seize victory and blessings”)
