The Best Group

I'm just devoting this post to the friend group that I spent nearly all of my time here with in Ireland. As far as friends to spend my study abroad with, I could not have found any that were better. As a joke, (mostly) I decided that we were "The Best Group," because we are all so very cool. The name has sort of stuck, and I love it.

Sebastian and Cass, half of Hannah's face

Jeroen and Cassandra at Fibbers

We went to Karaoke at a pub in town, Fibber Magees, every Tuesday. There were free shots if you sang, and 1 euro beers. We sang our hearts out, I must say. 

Special thanks to Frank, the karaoke announcer, who knew us and where we were from by heart and would call us up to perform anytime the night was getting slow. He knew the songs we liked and would start them and call us up. I got to be first up nearly every Tuesday! 

Zach, Frank the Announcer, and me

We also hung out almost every day, if not close to it. Different combinations of us and always having a good time playing games or watching shows or exploring Galway.

Me and the blue shirt boys

The Best Group

Everyone is heading home this week, Jeroen to the Netherlands, Alex to Germany, Sebastian to Sweden, and Zach, Hannah, Cassandra, and I back to our different states in the US.

It's been an AWESOME semester with you guys, I'm really going to miss you. 

Amsterdam

From December 9 through December 12 Cassandra, Zach and I visited Amsterdam in the Netherlands. 

Zach, Cass, and I are in the letter "d!"

This trip was awesome! We took a "Canal Cruise" on the waterways of the city.

The orange boat is ours!

On the boat!

View on the cruise

We also spent a lot of time walking around different museums and art shows, including the Van Gogh Museum, which was just amazing.

Van Gogh and I chillin

The culture of Amsterdam was so cool. There was more bike traffic than cars and the public transportation goes everywhere, making it way more environmentally sound.

It felt really rad to just up and head to another country for a few days, I'm so glad that we took the chance while we were still here in Ireland.

'Enzo' the soup place by our hostel

Such an AWESOME trip!

Thanksgiving in Ireland

It may not come as a surprise that Thanksgiving is not customary in Ireland. With that, on the actual day of Thanksgiving I had a class trip with my Heritage Studies program. So, my friends and I decided to have Thanksgiving a week later, and invite friends from all over so they could understand what we celebrate back home every year.

Shout out to these guys for hosting at their house!
Zach, Solène, Adrian, Cass

The meal was a success! Hannah is a culinary student, so we were able to pull off a real turkey and all the delicious side dishes we know and love.

Hannah's prize turkey

Mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, mac and cheese, stuffing, and too many desserts to count!

It was a ton of fun including people from all over, we had Swedish friends, French, German, Brazilian join us in the American tradition of sharing foods, talking about what we are thankful for, and playing games together.


Lany and Maria

Sebastian, Sam, Ally

Sligo

Two weekends ago I had the pleasure of joining Zach and Cassandra, along with their professor, Paul, on another WATER SAMPLING ADVENTURE!

They were kind enough to let me tag along for the two night trip to Sligo and the areas nearby. We stayed with the lovely Maggie and Sean, who gave all four of us our own rooms with a king sized bed in each. They also provided us with every meal (home cooked!) and refilled our wine glasses whenever they were empty. Their Irish hospitality was amazing!

Zach, Sean, Cass, Me, Maggie

Cass and I tried kangaroo meat at the restaurant in town, I would recommend the "hoppy" flavor with a pint of Guinness ;)

We saw Sligo and also the outside county where they lived, right on the water shore.

Action shot of Zach and Cass

Stones on the shore, no sand, just very smooth rocks.

 

We stopped at many different burial sites, both ancient and recent enough to hold the grave of the famous W.B. Yeats.

Ancient Grave

Resting place of William Butler Yeats

Along with this I got to visit a water fall, which was a surprise and a spontaneous treat.

 

Zach, Cass, and their professor, Paul

I also got to make friends with some sheep! (I was very excited about seeing them in person)

Some of Sean and Maggie's sheep

After the trip, Paul took the scenic route home, which was so breathtaking. It was a reminder of how very lucky I am to be here in Ireland.

Awesome sight with Cass on the right

 

 
 
I have made some amazing friends, and I will cherish these times for years to come. I'm so happy I have been given the opportunity to be here.

So pretty!

Another new friend from the drive home!