Hi everyone, it’s Rachael with my last check-in from Queen’s University Belfast, where I’ve been studying abroad this semester. I can’t believe the semester has already come to an end and that I fly back to Philly this week! It’s been a jam-packed semester, and I think it’ll take a while for me to fully process everything I got to experience this fall. I learned so much, both in my classes and outside of them. I successfully submitted all my final assignments last week, and I’m eager to find out what my “marks” will be. Somewhat surprisingly, I think one of my biggest takeaways from my classes is getting to experience a European perspective on the US. The US actually came up pretty frequently in my classes, especially my history one. Having lived in Europe for 3 months, I will definitely be seeing the US through a new perspective when I return.

Now that my schoolwork is completed, I’ve been taking this last week to do some day trips around Ireland before I head home. Since it’s December, Christmas markets are starting to pop up. Belfast has a fun Christmas market with lots of food and craft stalls set up outside city hall. I’ve been enjoying going to check these out to grab some last souvenirs and start getting into the holiday spirit. 

I’m focusing my travels this week on places within Ireland. Although I’ve been studying in Northern Ireland for months, I haven’t had the chance to see much of the Republic yet. I’m so glad I have this week to see it before I leave! I began this trip in Dublin, which has a great atmosphere, especially around Christmas time. I really enjoyed visiting the Irish Immigration Museum and seeing how Irish culture has spread throughout the world. My family likely traces back to emigrants with similar experiences to the ones portrayed through the exhibits, so I was glad to learn more about them. Another museum I enjoyed was the archaeology building of the National Museum of Ireland. This museum had so many artifacts that were directly related to what I learned in my Europe in Prehistory class, so it was very cool to see those things in person. 

There was so much more to see and do in Dublin that I’d definitely like to come back. But after a few days in the city, I took some bus trips to other attractions in Ireland. The many sites I got to visit include Blarney Castle, Cork, Kilkenny, and Glendalough. One of the coolest places I got to visit was Bunratty Castle in County Clare. It turns out that this site has connections to William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. I had no idea! Finding out amazing bits of history like this is one of the main reasons why I love travelling. There are so many more things I’ve gained from immersing myself in this culture for months, and I will always be grateful for this opportunity! But for now, I have to say goodbye to Ireland – Slán!