Halfway Through Our Adventure, And So Much More to See!

Amidst so many new friends and spontaneous trips across Ireland and Europe, it’s hard to imagine how we could become homesick, but every once and a while, everyone misses home while studying abroad.

             This week, there was a death in my family, so it’s been especially hard to grieve with my family an ocean away. Luckily, my closest friends have been around to give me a hug when I’m feeling sad, or to help me keep my mind off of it for a while, when I need some relief.

            Since I first got here two months ago, and especially this week, I’ve realized that there are plenty of ways to make the best of the semester, even when you’re missing home.

            1. Keeping in touch: Emailing home is helpful when I have a quick thought that I want to dash off to my mom, but Skype is what really keeps me connected to my family. Right now, I’m in Ireland, my sister is in Beijing, and my mom is often all over the U.S. of work trips, but on Sundays, we can usually manage to get together (across 3 different time zones) and do a 3-way Skype call. Since there’s no charge to call, we can all sit around with a cup of tea and just chat as if we were all sitting in the living room at home.

            2. A taste of home: Usually it’s the tiny details of home that we miss the most, but my friends and I have realized that it’s not hard to replicate these snippets of home in Ireland. Last week, my roommate, Hannah, asked her mom to email her favorite corn chowder recipe, so she could make it for dinner. It took us a few weeks to get the hang of Irish grocery shopping, but now we have found the ingredients (or suitable substitutes) to make almost any dish that we would have at home.

           Getting out of the Dublin city center sometimes also makes me feel more at home. Last weekend, Allyson, Darin, and I took a day trip to Kilkenny, which is in southern Ireland. Not only did we tour Kilkenny Castle and the Smithwick’s Brewery, we also got to enjoy leisurely day in a city that moves more at Burlington speed. During the week, St. Stephen’s Green and Phoenix Park can get you through a craving for quiet and grass, as well.
            3. Just say it: It’s easy to feel alone when you’re far away from home, but most likely, if you’re missing home, other people are, too. Just talking about it can make homesickness feel a lot less lonely. My friends have done a great job of looking out for each other, and of course, Claire, Stephen, and Lilly are always around to chat.

            4. Making the most of it: Sometimes people forget that the best thing they can do when they’re missing home is to go out and enjoy where they are. Even though it seems like we’re ages from stepping off the plane back in the states, our time in Ireland is ticking away fast, and we have to take in as much as we can while we’re here. Sometimes it just takes a trip to the Porterhouse for drinks or to Phoenix Park for a game of Frisbee to start an adventure that we’ll remember for years to come.

           Next week, we all head out on our big spring break adventures, to places like Barcelona, Rome, and Lisbon and we’re planning to make the most of it.

            Have fun and safe travels to all study abroad students on spring break next week!

-Rachel