I am not the same person I was a year and seven months ago.
My body has gotten a year and seven months older, my brain has gone through a barrage of changes and transitions, my spirit has grown, all of me has traveled.
This blog was started a year and seven months ago just before I arrived in Ireland.
The day that I flew into Dublin was a pretty mild and overcast day. I had to go to campus right away for registration which took place in the "Public Theatre" building. It's over 200 years old and I remember being in awe when I saw the place. I thought the pictures on the walls were going to start moving like they do in Hogwarts. There is an organ loft above the entrance with a beautifully pristine gold-trimmed organ. At the time I wondered if it still worked. This building was one of the first things I took pictures of when I arrived.
Yesterday morning I went back into this building that I had registered for college in, except this time was different. This time, chairs were set-up in rows. A big table stretched across the front, and a wooden podium was off to the stage left side. It was a beautifully sunny spring day and the green of the leaves and grass popped against the deep blue of the sky, and the large windows framed the trees and let in the sunlight. The organ had a person playing Barber's Adagio for Strings on it.
The commencement ceremony was all in Latin, a tradition that has maintained since the school came into being in the 1600's. We were called up to the stage by our names 5 or 6 at a time. We stood in front of the panel of proctors and they spoke to us in Latin before we were then awarded our degrees. As I was handed the parchment, I felt a great deal of pride and excitement. Officially I am a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.). I became the first person in my family to have one, and I couldn't have done it without the love and support of so many people. I thought about my family and how much I missed them, but I also thought how amazing this whole experience has been. As we exited the stage, we signed a book to document that we were officially graduates. We took our seats again and they called up the next 5 or 6 people.
My two incredibly good friends, Melaine and Jasmin, were there supporting me, and my entire class was there as well. Those who had moved back to the states flew in for this occasion and we all were able to celebrate and close this chapter together. 
We had a wine reception in a tent by the campanille in Trinity's square, and then we roamed the campus and took lots of pictures.
Jasmin, Myself, Melaine
My classmates Dianne and Eric
Afterward, we had lunch and went out for celebratory drinks last night. It was a really wonderful day. I don't know exactly what comes next. There are a few possibilities out there and I am now reassessing what I want and where I want to go. This experience is the greatest and craziest thing I've ever done, but it's also taught me that I love doing great and crazy things. I am actively thinking about the next adventure...
If you're reading this, Thank You. At some point in time you helped me get to this place in my life, and I couldn't have done it without every experience leading up to this point. I am forever grateful for you, and I love you.
