Let's Catch Up

It's been a quite a busy few weeks. Let me do a quick catch up.

Last weekend Coastwatch had a table at the Dublin Rose Festival. I helped out teaching kids, and even parents, about seashells and marine life. We also launched a poster with all the seashells found around the Dublin area. I got to meet the Lord Mayor of Dublin which was pretty exciting!

This past weekend I went out to Galway with Coastwatch to launch results for a marine litter survey in 2014. The survey is done all around Ireland by volunteers and looks at the marine litter and biodiversity of the shores. Our trip was short, only for the day, but it was nice to be out on the west coast and be able to share our data with others.

photo by Jacky

Going on 4 weeks and I feel like I've been here forever. The past few weeks I've sadly had to say bye to some friends I only just met. It's weird that their time here is over when mine has only just begun but I guess that's just the nature of the program we are in. Though it does make me think about what it's going to be like when I have to leave come October. Saying goodbye to Ireland again is going to be heartbreaking that's for sure. Thankfully I still have a little more than 2 months here.

The Best Kind of Multi-tasking

One thing I was looking forward to doing when I got to Dublin was the Howth Cliff Walk a little north of Dublin City. This wednesday my boss asked if I could go up to Howth to check out an info fair on the new Dublin Drainage system, and I jumped at the chance. 

Half an hour train journey later, I was standing in a colorful fishing town showered in sun rays and warm weather. I first went in search of the event I was there for, which happened to be in the Howth Yacht Club. The club house was swanky, and I felt incredibly out of place knowing nothing about boating. I'm pretty sure everyone that passed by me knew I did not belong in there, but I persevered. I found the conference hall and learned about the drainage system which was a bit more interesting than it sounds. 

I left the building and wandered the marina for a bit before heading up on the cliff walk. I didn't really know what to expect on the walk, I just knew there was a light house some where along the way that I wanted to check out. The path wound its way up past some residential houses and onto a dirt path. There was a lookout point quite close to the beginning of the path that gave a great view of Ireland's Eye, the little island you can see out there. The path led around the mountain so close to the edge I was thankful it wasn't windy. About half way I came upon Baily Light House. The day was so warm and perfect, I overheard a tour guide saying that way way in the distance that dark blue stretch of land was in actually Wales. 

I thoroughly enjoyed my little day trip to Howth. It was everything I expected and made even better by the sunshine- it's still weird to me that it's only rained maybe 4 of the 12 days so far. I think I'm going to have to get used to doing a little traveling on my own for work. Although, it does get a bit lonely walking in such a nice place and not having someone to share it with other than your thoughts. But for a day trip it was nice to be alone for a little while. I love being able to go to places I want to see and combine it with a little bit of work. I can't think of a better job than traveling and hanging out on the coasts. It's safe to say that I'm really enjoying my time here... it feels like I've been here for a lot longer than just barely two weeks already. 

Feels Like Coming Home

This past weekend, I headed back down to my beloved Cork with 3 of my housemates.

It was a bit of a mission to get down there though. We left on Friday afternoon, when everyone else in Dublin seemed to have decided Cork for the weekend was a good idea. The bus stop was a mad house waiting for the AirCoach to arrive. When it finally did, it was completely full up, none of us could get on. So we waited 15 minutes for the next, and only 2 of us were able to get on board. Finally an hour later me and a lot of patience, the last two of us were able to get one with only 5 seats available. 

The drive down to Cork didn't feel as long as I remembered. I think my excitement got the best of me and made it go quicker. Arriving in Cork was like coming home for me. We dropped our bags and practically ran to the Franciscan Well to meet my other 2 friends who arrived before us, and made it just in time for Pompeii Pizza (my favorite). Being back to one of my favorite places felt so good, and the atmosphere was even better than it was two years ago. The Rebel Red was just as good as I remembered!

Rebel Red. The pizza was too good to take a picture first.

Saturday I met my boss at the National Maritime College of Ireland in Haulbowline for a SeaFest. The SeaFest was actually really cool, there were tons of presentations ranging from science research, ocean technologies, seafood and fishing industry, sailing and water activities, and the navy. I learned so much more about the sea and marine life at that fair, I was glad I was able to go. It was also nice to see how many families came out to encourage their kids to learn about the sea and marine life. 

Learning how to measure a lobster

I was able to spend a little time out on the town that night. It was a bittersweet return to the city though. It felt like I never left Cork at all that's how fresh the memories still are. But being out and visiting all the old places my friends and I used to go to really hit home. Not only were they not with me but things changed. The city changed. Places I used to go to were no longer the same or they were just plain gone. I knew when I left two years ago it wouldn't feel the same the first time I returned, but I wasn't expecting such a bittersweet feeling. Next time I go back, I know what to expect so hopefully I won't feel so unsettled. At least I still knew my way around the city, not all was lost at least! 

Sunday was a much better day than the rainy, emotional Saturday. We were graced with the perfect day for a road trip. Sunny skies and warm weather. My housemate, Mary, and I stayed with a friend that night who thankfully had a car. We were able to see places I've been wanting to go to since I left. We headed down to Kinsale for lunch (which hasn't changed a bit) then made our way to the beach. 

Garretstown Beach has been a place I've heard quite a bit of but never got to see while I was there. And my God, was it beautiful! The beach was nice, but the walk along the wheat field and cliffs was breathtaking. It was the perfect escape from the hectic busy Dublin city. I could have happily walked that trail all day, but unfortunately all trails come to an end and we had to turn back. 

Our last stop on our road trip was just a bit further up from Garretstown called Sandy Cove. Our friend led us out to a really beautiful and secluded spot along a trail and we just sat there for an hour and enjoyed the peace and quiet. It's places like this that make me fall more in love with Ireland, with Cork even. I love the green that spreads as far as the eye can see, and the ragged edges of the cliffs falling into the ocean. I can't quite describe how much a place like this means to me, but what I do know is that the reason I'm here interning is because I want to protect this kind of beauty.

A new favorite spot

An Unexpected Meeting

I've been here for four days now. I'm starting to settle in alright, everything came right back to me once I got here thankfully. I even remembered to go to the WRONG side of the car when I was picked up at the airport.

Arriving in Ireland

Yesterday, I finally met my mentor/boss in the morning at a hotel. I talked with her for about two minutes then she got called to go upstairs. She told me to come with so I did and found myself smack dab in the middle of a meeting. There were about 15 people sitting at a table in the conference hall and already started the meeting... of what I had no idea. So we take our place at the table and for about and hour I was lost, confused, and felt terribly out of place but slowly learned the lingo. I soon realized it was a meeting for environmental policies, which I've never dealt with so it was quite interesting to learn more about it.

After lunch, I headed back home for a nap due to jet lag making me delirious. I met up with my mentor again around 5:30 that night to watch her presentation at the Dáil, the House of Parliament. Going into the Parliament, you have to pass through security about 3 or 4 times. I felt so official but incredibly out of place. I didn't really know what the presentation was about, I just knew it was on aquaculture. We were led into a room with a round circular desk for the deputies to sit at as well as the presenters and one large one at the head for the chairman of Agriculture, food, and water. The meeting lasted about 2.5 hours, and I feel as though I followed along fairly well. It was such a long day of learning new things, I was glad when the day was done.

House of Parliament

Going Back

I write this with two weeks left before I leave for Dublin. It's been so quick in coming, I can't quite believe my departure date is almost here!

Let me catch you up to speed. I started this blog two years ago when I studied abroad in Cork, Ireland. I blogged about what I got up to in the five months I was there. This time, I am going back to Ireland, however, I will be interning at an organization called Coastwatch Europe thanks to STINT Ireland setting it up. In short the organization's goal is to maintain a clean coastland in Ireland. 

This post is short and sweet, but I just wanted to let you all know where to find me and keep up with what I'll be getting up to in Dublin. I'll post more about my internship and everything else you may want to know after I get there. You can also check out my instagram where i'll be sure to be posting more pictures. 

Let me 'Take You with Me" on my journey back to Ireland. 

The Need To Travel

-I wrote this a little while ago but I feel like it belongs here-

Have you ever had that feeling before? You know the one...

The one where being at home for too long almost feels suffocating? The one where your mind is constantly wandering... wondering what it would be like to be snorkeling in the waters of Australia instead of stuck in 3 feet of snow, or hiking to the top of a mountain in South America just to see the breath taking view instead of sitting in traffic during rush hour, or purposely getting lost in a foreign city because the feeling of finding new things down a side street is too intriguing not to follow instead of constantly going to the same bar in town because its too cold and too far to go anywhere else.

If you've felt that, then you know just how claustrophobic I feel being at home these past few months after school ended. Don't get me wrong, I love home. I love being around my family and friends, and not having to live out of a suitcase. I like being in a place I have known since I was born. But I need to see more of this world. It's an aching feeling I can never shake. The want to see places I've only seen pictures of in text books just to prove to myself it really does exist. That feeling of achievement when you turn an unknown city into one you now have unforgettable memories of is one I will never get used to.

It's for this reason I have an aching desire to travel- To see places, to learn things I would never have dreamed about, and whilst traveling meet inspiring people who all have amazing stories of adventure and wisdom to share.

Views like this will never cease to amaze me.
-Highlands in Scotland-