All posts by Karissa Skarpias

My Lovely Derry, Oh Fare-the-Well~ by Karissa Skarpias

Ireland, Study Abroad

Though the cold wind was on our backs, the warmth of this foreign beauty was engraved into our hearts.
Though the cold wind was on our backs, the warmth of this foreign beauty was engraved into our hearts.

What an amazing day!

Today is the last FULL day in Derry, and I must say that it was a day well spent. Today was the first day that class wasn’t all mixed up with the rooms for exam taking and everyone found their way safely to warmth up on the 6th floor of North West Regional College. We talked about attitudes and racism for Social Psychology and then got into groups to act as powerful country leaders for International Relations. It was full of great debate and deep thinking that we would later get to see demonstrations of (at least for the topic of attitudes).

After class, everyone met up at the Flying Clipper, a fancy restaurant at the college that makes some of the most marvelous food I have ever tasted in my short life-span, thus far! For our “Farewell Lunch,” I got to listen to conversations between the professors and their Irish Colleagues, while I had spicy tomato soup, a leg of lamb with potato mash (mashed potatoes), veggies, and then a special dessert. It was pretty cool thinking about how long we’ve been here. Sarah and I started to talk about how we were excited to go home, but also torn to leave such a beautiful place such as Ireland.

In the afternoon, the class went for a walk and found a candy shop. We were literally and unmistakably the happiest people in town, acting like little children that were so easily fascinated with the world around them. I finally got to complete my Willy Wonka dream: I WENT TO A CANDY STORE! My first time ever, and it was in IRELAND! I also had my first bonbons too! We all agreed that today was a fantastic day and we shared candy (for those that got some) and agreed that it was one of the best decisions we’ve made since we came here.

Oh, how beautiful the hills of Derry are...
Oh, how beautiful the hills of Derry are…

Now, it is much later and almost 9pm here in Derry, Ireland.  T’is a sorrowful evening because my roommate Sarah and I are packing to get ready for when we leave Derry tomorrow and head to Belfast, Ireland. We are less than 3 days from home and it feels absolutely exhilarating. I’m ready to go home, but I feel torn because I feel like my most favorite place in the world now is Donegal, Ireland. If you ever dream of seeing more vivid colors than you ever dreamed, beyond American Lands and beyond all the riff-raff of the world, you must visit that blessed place.

Ireland, though I am truly unaccustomed to your weather and hills, I love you.

This was definitely an amazing chance of a lifetime.

I will also miss Michael Slevin, the owner of the Clarence House, when we leave. I think I’m going to do my best to keep in contact with him. Yes: there is no doubt about it!

To Ireland!

A cheerful thought that will always be engraved in my heart, soul, and mind.

On Top of the Hill! by Karissa Skarpias

Ireland, Study Abroad

Today is Wednesday, May 8th, and I can’t believe the adventure I’ve had. Even though it feels like I’ve been cursed with bad things happening to me every day since I left, I’ve found relief before I fall asleep each night and awaken to the new culture around me.

As we ventured out of the Clarence House today with new jokes and smiles, we headed off to class down the steep hill (which Ireland is known for having quite a diverse sort of these!), walked into the college where our classes are held, counted each flight of stairs, then sat down and got ready for the lecture. Our classes got into a deep discussion about world views, narcissism, how different cultures view others, the psyche, and many things that tie it all together.

After that, we were to meet again in the office area of the college by NO LATER than 2pm. Now guys, if you’re traveling abroad: DON’T, and I mean DON’T, just show up at any random time if you have a specific time and destination to be!

We boarded the bus with a few other exchange students that were from Spain, sat down, and as the engine revved up, terror struck my face: I noticed my diary was gone! I started to cry a little bit because of how personally valuable it is to me (and because it also had the sweetest letter that I never imagined ANYONE would ever even dream of writing me in it). So I took a deep breath, talked to the lovely Spaniard lady I was sitting next to, and looked out the window.

My brain was whipped to spark of a synapse.

As we left Derry and traveled to Donegal and other places, I finally got to witness the most gorgeous sights of Ireland. Places that you would think gave the idea to the creators of Photoshop because you WOULDN’T think anything so wonderful could exist. I gasped inside and out at the scenery and though I was fighting some depression about past things and current tests that have kept arising (like discovering my new phone from Tesco didn’t work and I couldn’t call home-lovely) . I managed to finally giggle a moment when no one was looking. As everyone talked in their own little world, gaze in awe moments later, then talked some more: my mind was busy processing the new stimuli in front of me and trying to record it forever as a treasured movie that would always be a part of my life story. A story that would sound something cooler than, “She Came, She Conquered.” More like, “She Dreamed, Then Awoke.”

Nothing feels as great as yelling out your emotions and then looking at gorgeous scenery.

When we finally reached one place that was almost like a mountain, I had kept my promise to myself to finally scream out all my frustration. I literally yelled out into the beautiful, open country side and gratefully smiled after Ireland’s gorgeous nature took the abuse of my pent up emotions. I felt freer than ever, though, I didn’t want to show it much more than doing just that one thing. I instantly remembered everyone I loved back at home and started to feel a tad sad that those few people I hold dear couldn’t all take a group picture with me at my new personal spot that I lashed out on. Maybe one day I will find that spot again and I will come back to set things in balance again.

Up n down, Up n down, was the exact process and course of our journey today. I saw a wishing well at a place that sounded something like “Uris” and the back of driver for the bus told me that the well was considered to have Holy Water and some was in the cups just above the well. When no one was looking, I rubbed some on my heart and forehead, prayed a moment, and continued on. The man said I could if I wanted to, and I knew everyone else was busy enjoying the sights, so I completed one of my goals that I’ve always had in mind.

Anyways, I swear to goodness that Ireland is the closest country to Florida in this aspect: to one side you will see rain clouds and to the other you will see the blue sky and sun. I joked about it during the way back on the bus and everyone laughed in agreement. Gosh. Even though I’ve been emotional lately, I have to say that seeing what I saw today was the first time that SEEING something made me feel better. I’m so beyond grateful for this journey and can’t wait for tomorrow to go across the rope bridge! Thank you, angels everywhere, for helping me persevere to this point in time!