Arriving in Ireland

I have now been in Ireland for three days. It took a bit of adjusting, but I can tell that this is going to be an amazing experience and adventure for me!

For days before I left I was incredibly nervous about flying over here and living so far from home for a full FIVE MONTHS! I avoided packing, and I ignored the fact that I was leaving in so few days. To make matters worse, I made a mistake in booking my flight (well actually two BIG mistakes). Instead of flying into Shannon Airport on Tuesday, January 5th (which requires leaving on the 4th), I flew into DUBLIN on JANUARY 6TH! In essence, I booked the entire flight incorrectly. At least I flew into Ireland! Dublin, Ireland is on the east coast, and Galway (where I am staying) is on the west coast.

The idea of having to fly to Ireland by myself made me very nervous, but the idea that somehow I would have to get to the apartment in which I am staying by some mode of transportation that I was unsure of terrified me! Needless to say, it was very difficult for me to leave the people I love to get on that plane, but I did it.

The trip went much more smoothly than I had ever imagined it would. The plane ride was long-- about 7 hours, but it was well worth it when I landed in Dublin just in time to see the sun rise in the distance over the airport with the hilly landscape in the background. It certainly was a sight to behold, and it made me feel much better.

I took a bus over to Galway which took about four hours. Luckily for me, Ireland is a MUCH smaller country than the United States. It would have taken days to drive across the entire USA. Ireland does not have big highways like the U.S. does so it actually took much longer than I thought it would (also the bus had a lot of stops to make). I was completely exhausted from my plane ride, so I slept most of the time on the bus. I did wake up periodically though; I was able to see the quaint countryside with the stereotypical Irish dwellings and the fields of sheep and cows. The cities are nothing like what we have in the U.S. either (the smaller cities anyway). They have rows of adorable shops on small streets with the most homey, country feel to them.

I finally arrived in Galway and took a cab to the place that I am staying. I did not know what to tell the cab driver though since I did not quite understand the address myself:

Menlo Park Apartments
Terryland,
Headford Road,
Galway, Ireland

I found it very strange that there was a complete lack of numbers in this address. Actually, now I do have a number to add to the address. I can now say:

Jamie Blanchard
Menlo Park Apartments #33
Terryland,
Headford Road,
Galway, Ireland

But still, the complete lack of a zip code is strange to me. I do not think that their houses are numbered here. Apparently in their own communities, they just know where everyone lives. After getting a good night's rest last night (unlike the freezing cold, homesick, restless first night), I have been enjoying my new city much more. I have begun to explore the campus and the city center, and I am getting to know lots of new people. I can tell this is going to be a great semester for me!

Here are pictures of my walk to school: