Three Months

All of my US friends are quite jealous of the three week Easter/spring break I just came back from, but I’m now having to figure out how to get back into the groove of doing school after not having looked at a book or an essay for a couple of weeks straight. That said, the time off gave me the chance to do some exploring.  

I had the opportunity to go to Ireland and stay with some friends over Easter. They were very generous to me and I felt incredibly blessed to be, once again, in a comfortable bed being fed, taken care of, and downright spoiled. My dad will tell you I returned to the Skiles roots, although I think the details of the three Irish brothers, by the name of Skiles, who came over to America, are somewhat in question. It’s so incredible to be able to say I’ve stood at the birthplace of the Titanic and driven by the home of C. S. Lewis. The countryside is just as one imagines in the pictures with the rolling green hills, the pastures of grazing sheep, and the occasional 16^th century ruin just off to the side. I was far too excited to see baby lambs and a badger. My hosts found this odd seeing as I come from a place with bears, wolves, and moose, but I kept saying it was like Mr. Badger from The Wind in the Willows (anyone who is under the impression I’ve grown up is incredibly mistaken). I saw the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. The sea in Ireland is more green and grey than what I’ve seen before; it’s absolutely stunning.

I also was given the opportunity to visit Spain over break; something completely unexpected and not a part of the original plan, but far too amazing to pass up. I spent a day in Santiago de Compostela and a day in A Coruña staying with my roommate’s family, and experiencing Spanish hospitality and generosity at its finest, although the most I could do in return was smile and say “gracias” since my Spanish is restricted to that of what one sees in toddler word books.  The countryside was gorgeous; everything was green and full of life. The people were also lively and colorful, and I haven’t quite decided if they ever sleep. One night we decided to go out on the town a bit after dinner which, seeing as they eat around 10pm, had us starting at around midnight (which made getting up at 6am for our flight the next day pretty exciting). We experienced the late night Spanish bar with people playing on Spanish bagpipes, tambourines, and seashells, as well as a number of other bizarre instruments. We went to an after Easter street fair where the stands had many treats to offer including cotton candy, doughnuts, and their speciality, Octopus. I went on a ride that I was really enjoying until it held me upside down for a solid three seconds, and we watched a band play some Spanish pop music for a very exuberant crowd. All in all, exploring the culture first hand, being in the homes and smaller towns, visiting the markets and street fairs, gave me a taste of Spain that I wouldn't have had the opportunity to experience otherwise, and it was a true delight.

But, of course, as all travellers in Spain must do, my group ended up in Barcelona for a few days. My favorite thing about Barcelona is that, in a way, there’s not actually much to see. What I mean by this is that, in so much of my travelling around the UK, I could barely catch my breath as I jumped from famous museum to monument. In Barcelona we merely ate and walked all day long, taking our time doing so. We saw some of the main city sights as well as explored the small, picturesque alleyways, and enjoyed more churros and chocolate than one probably should in a single week.

Of course, nothing was perfect about either of these trips. The castle in Ireland was too full and we couldn't go in, and I was separated from my group and became horribly lost in Spain, but I’m starting to come to the conclusion that at least one thing has to go wrong per place you travel. Those are the things which actually get remembered and shared around the dinner table for a good laugh later on.

I can’t believe I only have a couple more months left here. It’s rather a stressful thought considering the essays I have left to write, and the places I have yet to visit. It’s hard to think I may never be able to come back here, but that only makes me want to enjoy the time I have here more thoroughly. With only a couple months left on my grand adventure, I'm determined to appreciate it as best I can.