In the midst of finals season and studying for my last final, I have decided to take a break in order to reflect on the past four months.
I guess I knew my time in Ireland would go by quick, especially given all the fun I've had and new memories I'll be able to keep with me forever. Being in Ireland has not only allowed me to become more independent, but it has demonstrated to me that there is more to life than just work, work, and more work. It has given me a mind set which incorporates hard work and relaxation. In other words, a balance.
In Ireland I was able to make time for making new friends, partaking in different cultures, relaxing on the weekends, all while still managing to take four engineering courses and labs. The work was not easier or less demanding, it was just that having the opportunity to be abroad for four months would not allow me to dwell on the idea of how difficult heat transfer or biomedical signal processing were to understand.
I was able to meet a multitude of different, interesting people, that I hope to stay friends with for the rest of my life. They will forever be a part of a memory which I will never forget. I have seen incredible landscapes and nature, all while learning about so much history my classes back in the states did not teach me. Traveling to Budapest, Prague, and Vienna was not only a fun experience, but one in which I got to learn in as well.
Traveling and being abroad has not only given me more appreciation for being American and living in the states, but I have also learned to appreciate so many more cultures. I would never compare these cultures, given that they all offer unique characteristics which would make it impossible to choose one over the other. They each offer an enthusiasm for life in their own unique ways. Every culture has their own way in enjoying life, something that is indescribable. The Danish describe this feeling and attitude as 'Hygge.' It is the simple pleasures in life that every individual considers worth living for, such as maybe live music at a pub in Ireland or warm cocoa and Christmas movies for a college student at the end of finals.
Speaking of finals, I better get back to studying for my LAST final! Wish me luck!