Readjustment

It's already been over a week since I returned from Ireland. Readjustment hasn't been too bad. My sleeping patterns are still pretty wacky, I think it's been harder readjusting my sleep pattern this time than when I came back from China. Otherwise readjusting has been fine, I've had some moments when I slip and say "sorry" instead of "excuse me" or I start to walk fast and leave others in the dust. I feel my biggest readjustment is more socially oriented. I have gotten used to eating with my friends every night or going out now and then which was a huge change for me in the first place. Now I feel reclusive again, this wouldn't have bothered me before the trip, but now I feel kind of antsy. By the time break is over I'm sure I'll be used to my old schedule. For now, I'm just going to stay busy visitng Eddie, working on projects around the house, working out (finally), and spending some much needed time with my horse.

Slainte,
Roni

Reflections

Although I am still here in Ireland I think it's probably important that I start writing down some of the thoughts I've got going on. I've definitely been reflecting over this semester a lot. The semester went by faster than I had imagined it could; it's probably been the fastest semester for me in my college career. It's crazy to think that I have a less than three weeks left. So have I integrated? What do I feel about the Irish culture? Will I come back? To the first question, I feel that I have integrated to a small extent, the to the extent I had wished at the beginning of the semester. I feel that I have picked up certain phrases well and that I can blend well into the crowd when it comes to how I move through it and what I say to get through it (i.e. push and shove while saying 'sorry!'). But I know I wouldn't be able to fully integrate unless I had stayed for a full year, which I know I am not ready for. The Irish culture was truly interesting because it was so much like american culture with a few twists here and there. I am giong to miss the night life here. It will be an adjustment not being to up and walk to a pub for a drink. I feel I might catch myself saying "hey let's go to a bar" and realizing that I can't just up and go. It has been the easiest semester of my career and next semester will be an adjustment back to better work and study habits. So, will I come back to the Green Isle? I would love to come back in the future to travel around and maybe do more of a backpacking experience, but I feel that Ireland will be on hold for a while. There are warmer and cheaper places that I would like to see next. I really want to start exploring South America! Hearing so many of the Irish tell me that I look Spanish made me appreciate my hispanic heritage more than ever and I want to start exploring that now that I know I probably will never be able to fully integrate into Irish culture.

So what kind of adjustments will I have to make back in the US? Well, drinking is one, duh. My alcohol tolerance has definitely gone up, more than I've truly realized. I can't wait to have more of a selection when it comes to drinks though and they will be so much cheaper! One thing I have learned well here is to budget. I thought I knew well back in the states, but I have learned much more here. I will also have to adjust back to American prices. I feel that I will probably spend my first few weeks exchanging back to euro just to feel how cheap the price really is. I will probably say 'sorry' a lot so please be patient and remind me that I don't need to say it for everything! One great thing is that I'll be used to walking a lot, I'm used to walking at least 2 miles every day, they dont' even phase me, but now I'm used to walking fast. Now I can walk to campus in about 10 minutes whereas it used to take around 16-17 before.

At the farewell dinner we were told to say something about Ireland, but I hadn't even started to reflect upon the trip. It has been a great cultural experience that many students don't take and I don't regret coming here even though there were many ups and downs, it was expensive, and the academic experience was far from impressive. It was a great experience that I know I will always look back to.

Slainte!