Happy (belated) St. Patricks Day

Well this past Saturday was a day to celebrate all things Irish! Most people think of it as a day to wear green and have one too many drinks however, having to work most the day, I did not participate in that particular part.


Guinness Storehouse, learning to pull the perfect pint. Dublin, Ireland.




I did however get to enjoy a few things on behalf of the Emerald Isle this weekend!

I baked chocolate Guinness cupcakes with Baileys cream cheese frosting.
Tried these for the first time 3 years ago and they've become a staple ever since!

Created a print at NotDesign for the occasion. Slainte, meaning cheers in Gaelic, seemed like the perfect greeting for the holiday.

I also spent the weekend constantly reminiscing. After living in Ireland for a few months I feel connected to that country on a level that means way more than just my genealogy. I posted a photo on St. Patrick's Day last year and honestly, even a whole year later and I don't think I could have phrased my love for Ireland any better.

"To the country who taught me to slow down. Where I learned to whistle, drink beer, and dance the ceilli. Where I got to hear folk tales, climb castles, and learned to believe in fairies again. For a country who proved that sometimes even the little guy can stand up for what he believes in no matter the cost. A country where I met some of the most amazing people and fell in love with the countryside. Here's to Ireland! Happy Saint Patrick's Day! Slainte!"

Yesterday was a gorgeous day outside. I enjoyed brunch, worked a few hours, and ended the evening with a Bulmers Irish cider and a pizza with a few good friends. Apart from the green dress I wore, the day wasn't perhaps the crazy Irish holiday others indulged in but, to be honest, I have no complaints. To me St. Patrick's Day isn't about that, it's about remembering the greatest adventure I ever embarked upon in a country that I love. (Though an excuse to drink a few Guinness and listen to Flogging Molly never hurt!) Until next year...La Fhéile Pádraig Shona Duit!

One year later.

It's been one year since I went to Ireland. One year since I got on a plane and left everything familiar and easy. It was the summer following the worst year of my life. After losing my Dad, my junior review, dealing with a break-up (one that didn't end particularly well to say the least) This was something I've always wanted to do and yet, a small part of me couldn't help but be reminded by that nagging feeling beneath it all that I was just running away from everything. Running from school work, Grand Rapids, Downriver, and America entirely.

That last statement perhaps makes it seem like I wasn't super excited, because trust me I was. I could not wait, my friend Mike and I were all smiles and upon meeting everyone else in our group it only got better and better.

Mike and I in one of the national parks.

Once I got there, I experienced the crazy mix of old and new that, in a way, reminded me of myself. The buildings and the city, somehow mixed traditions with the technologies of today , it was perfect. On this trip I met some of the most amazing people, it reminded me just how many people there are in the world. Reinforced the idea that no matter where I end up, I will most likely always be able to meet people I can consider family.

The whole AHA Study Abroad Group

This trip taught me to branch out of my comfort zone. I started to enjoy walks home by myself, stopping to get a Pain Au Chocolate and bitterly strong coffee with The Smiths blaring through my headphones. I learned to open up and talk about my Dad, I met friends who reminded me constantly that I was an awesome person and deserved the best. Of course I learned about an awesome country, got to see the country and the city. Watched some amazing films and read about the legends and heros of old Ireland. The trip taught me to slow down, we as Americans don't think about that sometimes. We live in a society that wakes up, runs around like mad until we pass out at night. We barely sit and talk to each other anymore, much less have a meal and share stories of our day. I was told to unplug. *For the record, I also went out, watched futbol games, danced in the street to traditional music, drank beers on the pier, there was no lapse in busy nights that's for sure.

The gang in Dublin.

Now it's been a year later. I've managed to graduate with a BFA from Grand Valley. I ran my school's AIGA Student Chapter, made numerous projects out of cupcakes, joint-curated a poster show, and survived (barely) my Senior Thesis project. I made (and lost, as life will always have downs to manage the ups) new friends. Now, as I sit in a coffee shop in downtown Grand Rapids with the rain coming down outside, as it has so often lately it seems, I'm thinking about last summer's big adventure. The question I seem to ask myself frequently these days is, what comes next? Now with college over and numerous applications out in the graphic design universe, it's hard to see the horizon. I find myself getting discouraged quickly. Graduation brought with it a lot of concerns. Where should I live? How do I pay for rent? What if I can't find a job? I think the thing I always have to remember is that you can never let yourself stop attempting to do the things you love. If you want to go somewhere, do it, figure the details out later. You're only young once. (Easier said than done it seems) What I must do is look back on my last big adventure with fond memories, but always be looking forward to the exciting thing to come.

To the little land of green: I miss you, thanks for everything.
In good reminiscing fashion, here's some of my favorite Ireland posts!
First day/night in Dun Laoghaire a Trip with the whole group to Connemara
A lot of good food from the World Cultures Festival and drinks from the Guinness factory.
Oh! and can't forget about my London weekend with Mike! We apparently learned we didn't need sleep.
Lastly, a post about small reminders and goodbyes.

Slainte!

goodbye ireland

for those who say we never take pics in the classroom during study abroad ;)

at long last, 5 weeks later it was time for us "studious americans" to say goodbye to the country we loved. it was an amazing trip, filled with insightful movies, lots of history and mythology lessons, field trips, sight-seeing, weekend tours, and so much more. we learned together, learned from each other, and from the country we called home this past month. i can truly say this was one of the best experiences of my life. between the busyness of the city and the magical countryside, i would go back in a heartbeat. so as our journey came to a close we parted ways for the last time.

we had drinks on the pier for the last time.

we had our last big night out.

we danced in the middle of the street.we ate mystery candy.



we sang, we laughed, we cried.
for some of the best people i have ever met, you will always have a place in my heart.

we embraced a few group hugs.

we shared our last walk home.and around 5 am i walked to the bus stop for the last time.
goodbye foxrock bridge. goodbye dun laoghaire.
goodbye ireland, i will never forget you.

kilmainham gaol

our final excursion as one big class was a visit to the Kilmainham Gaol, an old prison used to house over the years a number of theives during the great potato famine and later the main prison for those who took part in war for independence. this included all of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising. fifteen were executed between may 3rd and may 12th. we got to see the majority of their holding cells while they spent time here.

the entire experience was very eerie. it was very cold and dark and you can just imagine the conditions both men, women, and children would have had to face while in here. i got such a vibe, especially out in the courtyard where you stood right where all of the leaders were shot and killed. these men died for the independence of their country and it is so crazy to me that their is still fighting, for the same reason these men fought so many years ago, going on today in northern ireland.

front entrance, used to be used as a courtyard for public hangings.

catholic chapel (there was a protestant one upstairs as well)

hole used to pass through food or odd job items to keep the prisoners busy.
inside a typical cell.
inside the main corridors.
Eamon D. Valera's cell. one of the few leaders of the rebellion that was not sentenced to death. he later became the first president of the new Republic of Ireland.
commemorating the leaders and the days they were killed.
the spot the leaders were executed.


inside the museum:
cartoons the prisoners drew.

"Its said for me, loved wife, my life is remembered by yours now darling. I am drawing nearer and nearer to god. that good god who died for us, you and I love, and our children, and our children's children. God and his beloved mother again and again. Bless and protect you oh Saviour of mine. If my dear ones could die and enter heaven with me how blessed and happy I would they would be away from the cares and trials of the world. Now, my little one, be a nun. and Joseph my little man, be a priest. If you can James and John to you the care of your mother, make yourselves good strong men for her sake and remember Ireland. Good bye my wife, my darling. Remember me, God again bless and protect yours and our children. I must now prepare the last few hours must be spent with God alone. Your loving husband, Michael Mallin Commander-Stephens Green Command."

inside the museum we got to see many different displays filled with a number of letters and items of the prisoners themselves. one of the leaders, michael mallin, wrote this, his last letter to his wife and children. of all of the things i saw that day this touched me the most, i have never read a more heart-wrenching letter in my life. there was a few more including a marriage proposal and a letter written by a 17 year old boy to his mother. the very last thing he wrote after his signature simply stated "I am to die for Ireland"

Ceile step dancing.

a huge part of irish culture is that of the traditional song and dance. as a social activity one night we decided to partake in an irish step dancing class, known as a ceile. despite not knowing anything about the various steps, we payed attention and in the end it started to catch on! my friend aaron was my faithful partner through the whole night and despite how sweaty and tired we were when it was finished it was so fun to learn!

circle dancing.

our awesome band for the evening.

because of how much fun we had, the group invited us back the next tuesday night to watch one of their performances! the musicians were amazing and the show was a perfect mix of fast, slow, dancing, and music. and once the show ended we had a little one on one session with the group complete with tea and scones afterwards.

the violinists were spectacular.
the hurling dance!


downstairs after the showchosen to volunteer to dance :)

"every girl needs a little black drink"

well i made it back to the states. the land of red, white, and blue. i know there was a huge gap in entries due to final exams, papers, and making the most of my last few days in ireland. there was a few events that i never got the chance to blog about though so even though im home, i plan on wrapping up the trip with a few last pictures and thoughts. so enjoy!

first off...beer, beer, and more beer. we decided as a group that a little trip to the guinness factory while we were here was a necessity. i'm not the biggest fan of the stout but trust me, it is so much better here in ireland than back at home. this exhibit was amazing however! the exhibit design was one of the best i have ever seen. it was a walking tour so a lot of reading on your own but really informative and the storehouse itself was huge! with our ticket price we also recieved either a chance to learn to pour our own perfect pint or get a drink at the sky bar. the majority of us chose the pouring option but we snuck up to the sky bar for a peak around anyway.

tickets.

ingredients:

did you know guinness must be served in a special-shaped glass? there are also two different pours, the first with the tap flipped towards you pouring at a 90 degree angle. then once it has settled you top it off with the tap flipped away from you. it is also served at 6 degrees celsius, give or take a few.

practice makes perfect!

a round!

awesome view.

sticking with the alcoholic beverage theme...a few weeks later, as one of our group excursions, we took a guided tour of the jameson distillery. now i have never had whiskey so this was completely new to me! i must admit, they did a good job making it look quite appetizing. i learned that jameson is distilled 3 times, while most scotch whiskeys are done twice and american whiskeys, such as jack daniels, only once. this was truly a skill, usually kept within a family, to work in one of the jameson factories. we even got to see examples of the way the color changes over time and a few members of the group got to be taste-testers as well.

jameson irish whiskey barells!

in the end, just like with guinness, we all got a complimentary drink. i chose mine with ginger-ale but you could also mix with coke, cranberry juice, or if you were tough enough..straight up!

good friends and good whiskey.

slainte! (aka cheers!)