This Way to Enchantment

Welp,

It's my final blog post whilst on the isle.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for reading and for the endless love and support I have gotten while I've been here. I am so grateful for everything and this experience has been the biggest blessing and life changer I could have ever asked for. I need to thank my family for loving me unconditionally and for understanding why I've been away for two years. I need to thank my friends who are stateside for encouraging me to go on this journey. I cannot wait to hug them all again. I need to thank my friends that I met on my travels. Without them, I would not have gained the global scope that I feel I have (and I still have a long ways to go!) I will hopefully see them all again in the not-so-distant future.

I have to thank the Irish. They have taught me what it means to be unapologetically social. I hope I never lose the wit, the craic, and the ability to befriend a stranger.

And finally, I have to thank the hostess, Eire. The auld sod. The Emerald Isle, the island, good Mother Ireland. She has shown me beauty beyond comprehension. The greenest green that has e'er been seen. My second home. She's been good to me, and I will return someday.

I was able to make one last trip to the country this week. I went back to my favourite spot: Glendalough.

I went with Jasmin and Adam, and we had a beautiful time. We went to St. Saviour's Church (the secret garden chapel), basked in the sun, got caught in the rain, skipped stones, went swimming in the lake, lit off some paper lanterns, looked for stars, climbed a mountain, threw stones at a post on top of said mountain (it was actually a lot of fun), and returned to Dub.

While I was walking down the streets of Dublin for the last time tonight, I started to ponder what my life would be like back in the states. The way it would smell and feel compared to Ireland.  I had a pang of fear that perhaps I wasn't doing the right thing. I began to wonder if going back to live in the states was the right choice. Then I saw this, and I knew that going back to the states was the PERFECT choice. The Universe is always giving us affirmation if we look for it.

So back to the States I go. The next enchanting adventure awaits. 

I love you all. Thank you for literally EVERYTHING.

The Next Chapter

Well.

I cannot believe it's been nearly two years since I first arrived in Ireland. A lot has happened, and my global and self perceptions have changed dramatically. But this chapter will end very soon and I will start a new one once again.

On the 27th of August, 2012 I will be on a flight back to Chicago. I don't have too much of a plan but it does consist of classes in sketch comedy and work in an Irish pub. It's going to be a great adventure to be back in the states, and I cannot WAIT to see my family and friends. We'll see what happens from there. At this stage, I will keep all doors open to possibility.

Small things in Ireland that I love:
Eggs are not refrigerated
I walk everywhere or take public transport
All of the light switches for the bathrooms are on the outside of the door
There are no screens on windows
Snails are everywhere when it's damp
It's often damp
Pay-as-you-go phone plans are a standard
The smell of turf is unsurpassed awesomeness
A few coins in your pocket can equal 20 euros
There are no guns - not even the cops carry them


Anyway, I am in love with this country. No matter how you slice it, this has been the most amazing experience of my life. There is a small part of me that has a bit of trepidation about returning to the states because I am not returning the same person that left. I philosophise more. I spell things with S's instead of Z's. I've put the U back in colour and humour. A lot of the time I sound sort of American, sort of Irish, and sort of Canadian. I love myself differently. I care about things differently. And if you can believe it, I am more liberal than when I left. I rediscovered my creativity out here, and I've become creative in ways that I never even imagined.

To end this post, I will leave you with the link to the short film I worked on. I hope you enjoy:

http://youtu.be/0qazryy0DFQ

Much love to you all, and I will see some of you soon.