This week we had class Monday through Thursday, like a normal week. On Monday we spent most of the day after class recovering from our long weekend in Dublin. Tuesday, we spent class discussing our trip to Croagh Patrick. After class I procrastinated my readings for literature and binge watched some Netflix. Wednesday was one of my more eventful days! We started the day by going to literature. After making it through this three-hour class that felt like an eternity Emma, Jordyn, and I decided to work on our community connection project. For our community connection project, we found a nursing home near Park Lodge Hotel that we will be volunteering at. We will be going to this nursing home once a week. During our time there we will be hanging out with the residents and getting to know them on a more personal level. I am excited to hear stories from all the residents! After I returned from the nursing home Marissa, Regan, and I helped one of the kitchen ladies prepare for an event that the hotel had on Friday. We had to help her bread chicken and peel carrots. After helping her out she showed us all around the hotel. We went back to the kitchen where she cooked up some of the chicken for us to have for supper. She also made us hot chocolate and talked with us.
On Thursday we had our Gaelic and Irish Culture class. For class we reviewed our previously learned Gaelic words and our professor brought in a lady that taught our class how to play the tin whistle. Needless to say, it sounded like screeching cats half of the class. After class I packed my bags for our weekend trip. After getting my bag packed, I went into Spiddal with Marissa and Regan. We went for a walk around town then had supper at An Crúiscín Lán. After supper we met up with Lex and Kylee at one of pubs in town and had a couple of drinks.
On Friday we left at 8:30 AM to head to Croagh Patrick. On the way there we stopped at Pearse’s Cottage. There was a museum that we walked through then were able to walk to the cottage and look around inside. After visiting Pearse’s Cottages we went to our hostel and dropped our bags off and up the mountain we went. Only a couple of the students made it all the way to the top, I was not one of those students! I went halfway up and called it quits. The day wasn’t exactly ideal for this hike, it was misty and extremely windy. We made the most out of it and I was glad I even made it halfway! After struggling down Croagh Patrick we walked back to the hostel, showered, and got ready for supper. We ate this cute little restaurant called The Tavern. We were all worn out and went straight to bed when we got back.
Pearse’s Cottage 
Croagh Patrick 
On Saturday, we were out of our hostel by 9:30 and on the road to the Country Life Museum. This museum showed what life was like for my ancestors. Emma and I stopped by the café before leaving and got a cup of hot chocolate. After this stop we had to make the decision to get groceries and go straight back to Park Lodge because a storm was moving in and we weren’t supposed to be on the road because of high winds. We made it back around 3:30 PM. After supper John Paul opened the bar at the hotel for locals as well as those of us staying in the cottages. Sunday was spent unpacking from our trip and preparing for class on Monday.
Ireland 2020 