I Wish I Had the Luck of the Irish

Lyndsy Hatfield is a student at The College of St. Rose and an ISA Featured Blogger. Lyndsy is currently studying abroad with ISA in Galway, Ireland.

It’s been four days since I arrived in Ireland, and what a whirlwind it has been.

My journey to Galway began in Syracuse. I rode with my mom to Hancock airport and we waited 45 minutes to get my bags checked, a half hour for me to say a tear-filled goodbye to the strongest woman I know, and another hour for my flight to Newark, N.J. to be delayed, first a half hour then 4 hours. Not being a world traveler, I started to get really worried. Was this what my entire trip was going to be like? I soon learned that flying to Ireland during January, as the polar vortex took hold of nearly every flight in the U.S., that I was lucky to even get out of the country. I became grateful for my cramped window seat, because I got to see the Statue of Liberty for the first time, as well as my first view of Ireland.

I brushed off my growing impatience as I watched the last of the 50 or so students go through customs before me, even though I was one of the first students to get off the plane. I also learned, that if two of my three suitcases made it from Syracuse to Shannon, I was doing ok. I was good natured enough to joke with the other Americans I met in line. I subdued my hangry (hungry + angry) nature, as noon approached, and just enjoyed the lush view of the Irish countryside whiz by as I made my way from Shannon to Galway.

Once I settled in I logged onto Skype to call my mom, taking into consideration the 5 hour time difference. But to top the day off I blew a fuse, and took out the power in my entire suite. You could say I’m a special kind of stupid, or downright talented. I prefer the latter. I guess it takes a good cry, and a brighter smile the next morning to get through the coming day. Ever since, I’ve tried my best to adopt the mindset that, “I am in IRELAND! I shouldn’t let ANYTHING get me down.” I’ve been pretty good about sticking to this mantra. Each moment in this beautiful city in the most beautiful country I’ve been dreaming of, I’ll pinch myself, smile, and keep on with my ‘good stretch of the legs.’