#sjulimerick

I was sitting in a plane on my second solo-trip abroad just starting out on the book that I’d picked out for the trip, and the perfect line jumped out at me: “Her colleagues at school thought it odd that she loved to travel solo, but for Lily, making her own way and answer to no one were her favorite parts of the adventure.” It couldn’t have been more fitting for the trip I was embarking on and the topic I’d decided my next post to be on. Especially at a young age in new countries where you might not necessarily know the language, travelling alone seems like a daunting task.

 However, in the modern age of technology I think that it is easier than ever before to have a safe and fun adventure on your own. Not sure how to order a hot chocolate in the native language? Have Google Translate up on your phone. If you or a loved one is worried about you being alone, there’s a variety of different services that allow you to share your location. For the entirety of my trip abroad, my entire family has had my location 24/7 in case something happens, even when I’m safely in my dorm. Even more, there are apps that can help you when you feel unsafe, ratings on cab drivers and Airbnb hosts that ensure their credibility, and more.

 I am not someone who tends feel comfortable going out to do things alone, such as sitting at a proper restaurant or taking a flight. My first trip alone was a slightly spontaneous one to Switzerland. To avoid paying for somewhere to stay, I took an overnight bus that arrived around 8:30am and then another overnight bus back to Rome leaving at 10:30pm. In the small city of Zürich, there are obviously things I missed out on, but the packed day made me feel like I made the most of my time in the city. I started off with a free tour, went and walked through two museums, and got some food along the way. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel very alone throughout all of it. Walking tours and museum trips aren’t generally places you’d be having a lot of conversation, so I didn’t miss having a friend beside me. Furthermore, I was able to go at my own pace. No one was running into me when I stopped to take pictures or wanting to go slower or faster as I strolled through the museums. Even more so, I didn’t have to compromise where I wanted to go and get food for someone else’s sake. My second trip was to Edinburgh, Scotland, which was different given that rather than a bus-ride, it was now a flight and a weekend rather than day trip. I went to a different airport out of Rome this time, which was a bit overwhelming due to the different set-up of it, but most airports tend to be alike, and I found my way.

 Even though it’s not that big of a deal, it still was a practice in problem-solving and figuring things out on my own. Getting into the Airbnb alone was a bit nerve-wracking, because I have always been in Airbnb’s with a friend. It was actually rather nice to have a host that wasn’t around much when I was. Not being able to figure out the key at first was stressful, but once I was in and got to have the full queen-sized bed to myself, it was quite luxurious to have that space after being combined at the hip with my roommate for the last 3 months. Although I met up with a friend while there, I still had time to myself to do a free walking tour and grab some different food along the way before being shown the city. I am always someone who has liked alone time, but travelling alone is an entirely different experience. It’s something that I would recommend everyone do. 

People say that travelling abroad is all about independence and finding yourself, and while I think that can be dramatic to an extent, I see the benefit in experiencing new cultures in your own way. Being able to do this in different countries also has encouraged me to consider doing similar little weekend trips around America. A bus or airplane from NYC can take you millions of places, and now that I have conquered other countries, other places in America don’t seem so scary. The reality of being in another country with friends is that not everyone’s financial situation is the same. Some people have the ability to travel every weekends, and others don’t, but whatever category you fall into you should make sure to make the most of your time abroad. Short trips alone are the perfect way make the most of your time and see as much of this world as possible while growing individually.

In the words of the Irish, we had great craic these past couple weeks. I felt as though I took a crash course, learning briefly about the different lands that make Ireland so beautiful, big cities and quaint villages alike. We were incredibly lucky to have Breeda, Cepta, Holly and Tomás guiding us through Limerick and advising us on personal trips. With their help and the hospitality of the Pery’s hotel staff, our stay felt a lot like home. It was nice to know that after every excursion, Limerick was waiting to welcome us back from a long day’s end.

The Giant’s Causeway

Belfast was one of my first adventures. A few friends and I took a tour bus, known as a Paddy Wagon, along the northern coast. We came by a couple of famous sights, but the stop that truly took my breath away was the Giant’s Causeway. It’s defined as the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. These words do no justice to its monumental beauty. The water crashing into the shore; the mountains scaling great heights; the green pastures that stretched as far the eye can see; everything about the Causeway was gorgeous. We trekked the beginnings of it, walking past grass that swirled every which way, funnily resembling that of Dr. Suess' picture books. Before long, we took a break to soak everything in. It all seemed larger than life. The mere fact that all this beauty was made by nature was so hard to comprehend. When it was time to get back on the bus, I couldn’t help but wish we had more time to explore.

The View from atop St. Flannan’s Cathedral

Killaloe came next, astounding us with its picturesque landscapes and charm. After a tour through Thomond Park Rugby Stadium, we took a cruise to our next destination. The view from atop the boat was absolutely beautiful. I met the sweetest girl while I was fighting my way against the winds to the front of the boat. She was from Australia and had traveled all over the world. We delved deep into conversation, albeit shouting over the loud noises of the sea breeze. She told me her home in Melbourne was a bit dry and brown, but that it was beautiful nonetheless. I told her New York wasn’t too bad either. We promised each other that one day, we’d visit each other to judge for ourselves. We finally arrived at St. Flannan’s Cathedral, where they allowed us to ring the bells. They brought us to the top, overlooking the village. Within a moment of enjoying the view, we were sadly whisked away to the bus, sleeping the whole way home.

Grafton Street

During one weekend, a few friends and I took a trip to Dublin. Limerick is somewhat a microcosm of New York City, but Dublin was the closest we came to home. Within the first moments of walking into our hostel, we saw a vast diversity in the people and their choice of fashion. One man walked through the doors, dressed in gaudy chains and a scuba diver’s wetsuit. Another wore a leprechaun costume. I’m not too sure where they were headed, but I regret not coming along. Along the way, we visited the Guinness Warehouse and Grafton Street.

Tower Bridge

The last trip I took was to London and let me tell you, I truly enjoyed every moment I spent there. We tried to cover all the tourist activities within a small span of time: Pedal boating in Hyde Park; striding across Abbey Road; riding the London Eye; walking the Tower Bridge; poking fun at the soldiers at Buckingham Palace. However, what I was most excited about was the Harry Potter Studio Tour. I’ve been a fan for a long time, and to see all the production that took place during the movies was unreal. 

Ireland treated me well and has genuinely been wonderful. I’m thankful for all the people that helped us feel at home while we were so far away from our own. Though it was bittersweet saying goodbye to them, I’m ready to begin a new adventure in Paris. 

You’re thrown into a foreign country with a bunch of strangers and a few familiar faces from school— making friends is inevitable. I’ve spent the last couple of days exploring Ireland with the most wonderful people. Truly. To begin, we were toured around Mary Immaculate College (MIC), St. John’s partner location within Limerick, Ireland. Being led from the hallway to hallway, we learned a few interesting things about the school. Our guide showed us their office, which used to be an orphanage in the early 1900s. She also brought us by the library where the Irish language is spoken exclusively. Overall, it was beautiful. Though the sky was grey, it contrasted beautifully with the greenery around campus. The architecture was impressive. It looked as if a good chunk of Hogwarts was shipped to Ireland and placed within a walking distance of Limerick’s center.

Rest assured, this fear is gone.

The days to follow were full of so many adventures. We walked through King John’s castle, setting foot on a stone that’s been laid for almost 800 years. It was built in order to keep the city safe from Gaelic kingdoms in the west and from Normal lord’s rebellion to the east and south. The view from the towers was breath-taking, overlooking the Shannon River. Trust me when I say you actually feel like Rapunzel peering down from her bedroom.

The next day, we headed out for the Cliffs of Moher. I have never seen anything quite like it. If I could, I would sit on the edge for eternity. Hearing the waves and watching the water crash against the rock was so calming. Later that evening, we went to The Farmyard in Corofin; this must have been my favorite outing. The farmer split us up into teams and gave us a series of challenges, the first being a “Willie Toss” in which we have to throw a rain boot as far as we can behind us. The second challenge was to herd sheep and guide them through a set of tires. We split into 2 groups: the Blockers and the Hunters. I had the chance to be a hunter. Along with my peers, we lead the sheep through the course. They were so adorable and well-behaved! They followed our guidance without hesitance, watching our gestures and moving accordingly. Lastly, we had to milk a cow; each drop mattered. We had to keep Betty the cow calm and relaxed so we could get as much milk as we could from her. In the end, our team points were close. The deciding factor came down to the seconds it took to herd the sheep. My team won! After we headed back to the hotel and most slept the whole ride back.

Over the weekend, we went to the Milk Market. Under a huge tent, tons of vendors gathered fresh goods and homemade products. I wanted to eat everything. As a personal excursion, a few friends and I headed to Galway the next day. The biggest pulling factor for us to go was a song you may know, “Galway Girl” by Ed Sheeran. We weren’t expecting much, but upon exploring, we really underestimated the city. The pedestrian areas offered such a beautiful walk, little shops and street performers drawing in much attention. We caught sight of a cute tourist train chugging through the city, so we found where it began and hopped on. Since it allowed its passengers to hop on and off throughout the day, we left when we found the place Ed Sheeran had filmed his music video. It was by a gorgeous oceanfront, and lucky for us, the weather had cleared up. The view was so beautiful, it seemed photoshopped.

I’m not sure what I expected, but I’m happy this journey is beginning the way it is. I want to experience as much as I can. I’m eager to see where this program will take us, and to see where we’ll venture outside of it. It’s only been a week, but I’ve seen enough sights to confirm that Ireland is truly a beautiful place to be.