So I am clearly not good at keeping this thing updated, and never got to tell you about Berlin. Bottom line it was awesome. We stayed with my friend Ina and it was so nice to be in a home, with pets, and being shown around. I definitely look forward to going back there when Alina is there. Maybe a destination for a summer internship in the future? :)
I am now home after the hardest semester of my life. It wasn't the material that was hard, but the way it was taught, and how we were tested on it. Finals week was miserable and I am not confident I did too well in any of my classes. I'll honestly be happy to pass them, I can't even be picky about grades. Whatever. I had the most amazing 4 months of my life. Ireland will always have a spot in my heart, and I am without a doubt going back someday. Hopefully with my Mom and Dad so I can show them around. It's definitely a place like no other, with a very different culture, and some of the nicest people in the world. The last semester has helped me grow as a person in a way that I can't describe. I don't really feel different, no one has told me I have changed, but I am definitely a better person than I was last August. I met the most amazing people, Irish and American. These friendships will last forever no matter how often I see these people for the rest of my life. The American's bonded in a way that no one but those who have studies abroad would understand. They're your family more than anything.
I hope next summer is filled with visits from my American Ireland friends, and my Irish friends. If not in Rhode Island, maybe in South Carolina once I'm back at school.
I can't emphasize enough how thankful I am to have been able to travel as much as I have, and meet all the people that I did. I don't take any of this for granted for a second. I know how lucky and blessed I am to have been able to do this. Thank goodness for my amazing parents! It's so cool to see movies, or pictures in restaurants and be like "I've been there!" For the rest of my life these memories will trickle back when I hear certain songs we danced to at Irish pubs, eat gelato like we did in Italy, or any other random things that remind me of the best semester of my life.
Next I'm off to Stellenbosh, South Africa for my last semester abroad. I'll start a whole new blog and hopefully keep up with it better than I did this one :)
