On the plane listening to Bon Iver's cover of "I Can't Make You Love Me" on repeat and staring out over the water of the Atlantic the whole situation felt surreal. In the weeks and months leading up to that day I had obsessed about every detail of my travel arrangements. But by this time I had already made it to the airport on time, I hadn't missed any connections and there would be a van waiting when we landed in Shannon to take me and the rest of the Willamette students to Galway. I was left to picture myself LIVING in Ireland.
After living here for only five days I am already certain that nothing I pictured on that plane even came close to what Ireland is actually like. I live in a flat near the heart of Galway, positioned directly next to a canal and adjacent path that leads to downtown one way and the the university the other. From my kitchen window I have the most breath-taking views of the Galway Cathedral and the grass and rooftops in-between.
Downtown, every other storefront is a pub, many of which I am quickly becoming acquainted with. Shop Street is busy and fascinating. People who know where they're going walk quickly down the center of the cobblestone street while people like me stand and gawk at every shop and restaurant. On our first night here we all went to Tig Cóilí, a pub that looks exactly how I hoped and Irish pub would. It is small and croweded with musicians playing trad music in the corner and everyone else talking and laughing loudly while drinking pints of Guinness and Bulmers. After one sip of Guinness I knew that there was at least one thing about Ireland I don't enjoy.
We have been going a hundred miles an hour since we got here so when I got a spare moment today I ran to the beach along the windy pier that leads to the lighthouse. As I turned to make my way back the sun broke through the clouds and everyone including me stopped in our tracks to watch it push its way to sparkle on water and prove how green the grass along the bank really is. I can easily say it was one of the most beautiful and humbling experiences I have ever had.
So many small moments I have had in the past few days have confirmed that Ireland may not be what I pictured on the plane but it is exactly where I am supposed to be.
