Homecoming

If you followed the last blog, you would automatically know what I did the first thing I got back to The States (as the Irish would say). That’s right! I got myself an American-sized portion of food. Fajitas to be exact.

When I landed, my father was at the airport waiting for me. In the parking lot was my automatic car that has the steering wheel on the left side and I drove it home on the left side of the road. As sad as it may sound, one of the things I anticipated most about coming back – besides my loved ones and food – was my menthol cigarettes.

Ireland offered me an insight to the European world. For the short time I was there, I learned so much about their culture, people, lifestyle and politics. Along with this, I learned how they differ from us here in the States. I went to Ireland with a mindset that I would try everything that it had to offer and not complain that it wasn’t what I was used to. I promise I tried very hard. On certain days though, all I wanted was my Chicago life back. My cigarettes, my food, my car, my phone, and dare I say even my job.

10 days in Ireland was the perfect amount of time to be there. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the break from reality at home, but I was starting to get home sick. If I had my family and girlfriend there, I probably wouldn’t care if I ever came back. As much as I missed my family here, what I’ll miss most from Ireland is their friendly people. Ireland is known as the land of a thousand welcomes, and they sure did welcome us. From the Camden Court Hotel staff to the workers at local Tesco that sold me Redbull and Lucky Strike cigarettes daily, and of course the man, the myth, the legend Jack Roche.

From being called a “bloody cunt” (which I think translates to strikingly handsome devil) by a drunk Irishman to almost being arrested for littering my cigarette butt, Ireland will sure leave lasting memories. Whenever anyone asks me how it was, I say you had to be there to experience it. Sure I can tell you about the rainy days and the cold nights, but I can’t explain to you the atmosphere in the air, especially if you have never been to Europe before. It may be eight hours away by plane, but it’s light years away from the United States.

For the sake of my sanity, I won’t sit here and list all the pros and cons of living in either country. Go see for yourself. I can guarantee you will not regret going. To quote Mr. Feeney “Dream. Try. Do Good.” That’s exactly what I did and it was an experience like no other.