Student Bloggers

By Hannah K., University of Stirling Summer, Scotland

Time is flying by here! I can’t believe I only have a few weeks left. At the conclusion of my first “block” of classes, I decided to venture to Ireland for 5 ½ days. Along the way, I befriended an elderly Scottish woman on the train to the airport and had a lovely dinner with her once we reached our terminals. My flight landed very late at night and I was fortunate enough to be picked up by a bus my hostel sent to collect me. The next morning I headed out of Dublin on to a tour of the Southwest of the Emerald Isle. My first day I got to spend roaming the streets of Galway: a place that holds importance to my family. One of my Aunts grew up in Galway and it was also the site of her wedding to my Uncle. Getting to see where she grew up and the places my family hung out during the week of the wedding was one of the highlights of my trip.

My other favourite place I visted in Ireland had to be Dingle. Quite simply, it was gorgeous. Even on the very rainy day I spent wandering around, I could feel myself falling in love with the tiny town. It’s a coastal town that boasts its own dolphin and was the epitome of a picturesque seaside vacation spot. I also had the chance to visit the Cliffs of Moher. I went on a boat cruise around them first and then made the trek to the highest cliff. Our tour guide warned us not to get close to the edge as the wind is so strong coming off the water that it could easily blow you over. It’s hard to describe the experience of being at the Cliffs but should you ever find yourself in Ireland, you absolutely have to go. The rest of my Ireland trip went by in a blur. I kissed the Blarney Stone, learned how to pour a perfect Guinness at the Guinness Factory, collected seashells and seaglasses from hidden beaches, took a horse carriage ride around Killarney National Park, and most importantly, met and bonded with people from all over the world.

Unfortunately for me, I contracted a cold from my week-long adventures in Ireland. This, however, didn’t stop me from traveling to Saint Andrew’s to watch a day at the Open. I went on Sunday but due to the high winds and intense weather conditions on Saturday, the winner was crowned on Monday instead of Sunday. Regardless, I had a great time following around Jordan Speith. I didn’t know much about golf but was able to pick up some of the finer aspects. Sunday was interesting for another reason as well. Just when you think you finally know Scotland, it throws a curveball at you. I finally experienced all four seasons of weather in a single day. It was by far the strangest mix of weather circumstances I’ve ever gone through. I was being drenched one hour, got sunburn another, and frostbite the next. I learned a valuable lesson to pack excess layers and prepare for everything.

Next up: a trip to the Highlands!

Hannah King is a student at the Trinity College, Connecticut and is blogging from her summer abroad at the University of Stirling Summer in Stirling, Scotland.