Postcards from the Emerald Isle ☘️

When I first arrived in Ireland, one of the biggest things that surprised me was how much history is embedded directly into the landscape. I expected to see historic sites like castles or museums, but I didn’t realize how often history would appear in everyday places. One moment that really stood out was seeing a modern shopping mall that had been built around an old stone tower. Instead of removing the tower, the developers preserved it and built the structure around it. That moment really showed me how Ireland keeps its past visible in the present. Even the streets themselves were made out of historic cobblestone that has been there for centuries, which definitely made walking a little dangerous at times. I almost twisted my ankle more than once.

Another expectation I had before the trip was that traveling with a group would naturally lead to everyone becoming close friends. I thought the social side of the trip would be simple and that everyone would get along easily. While I did meet people and had fun experiences, I also learned that being around the same group of people constantly can bring out a lot of different personalities and tensions. At times it felt like some people talked behind others’ backs or created unnecessary drama. I mostly tried to stay cordial and keep my distance from situations like that while still enjoying the trip. But I guess one can only expect so much from a young group of women…

Even with those challenges, my first impressions of Ireland were still really positive. The cities felt lively, the landscapes were beautiful, and it was exciting to finally see places that I had only read about before. Early in the trip I could already tell that Ireland was a place where history, culture, and everyday life are closely connected.