{"id":1880,"date":"2013-05-08T08:20:22","date_gmt":"2013-05-08T12:20:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/study-abroad\/?p=1880"},"modified":"2024-01-29T12:16:07","modified_gmt":"2024-01-29T17:16:07","slug":"on-top-of-the-hill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/on-top-of-the-hill\/","title":{"rendered":"On Top of the Hill! by Karissa Skarpias"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today is Wednesday, May 8th<\/sup>, and I can\u2019t believe the adventure I\u2019ve had. Even though it feels like I\u2019ve been cursed with bad things happening to me every day since I left, I\u2019ve found relief before I fall asleep each night and awaken to the new culture around me.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

After that, we were to meet again in the office area of the college by NO LATER than 2pm. Now guys, if you\u2019re traveling abroad: DON\u2019T, and I mean DON\u2019T, just show up at any random time if you have a specific time and destination to be!<\/p>\n

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 <\/em>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.<\/p>\n

My brain was whipped to spark of a synapse.<\/p>\n

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\u2019T 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\u2019t work and I couldn\u2019t 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, \u201cShe Came, She Conquered.\u201d More like, \u201cShe Dreamed, Then Awoke.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Nothing feels as great as yelling out your emotions and then looking at gorgeous scenery.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\u2019s gorgeous nature took the abuse of my pent up emotions. I felt freer than ever, though, I didn\u2019t 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

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 \u201cUris\u201d 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\u2019ve always had in mind.<\/p>\n

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\u2019ve 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\u2019m so beyond grateful for this journey and can\u2019t wait for tomorrow to go across the rope bridge! Thank you, angels everywhere, for helping me persevere to this point in time!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today is Wednesday, May 8th, and I can\u2019t believe the adventure I\u2019ve had. Even though it feels like I\u2019ve been cursed with bad things happening to me every day since I left, I\u2019ve found relief before I fall asleep each night and awaken to the new culture around me. As we ventured out of the … Continue reading On Top of the Hill! by Karissa Skarpias<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":205,"featured_media":1881,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,7],"tags":[14],"coauthors":[568],"class_list":["post-1880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ireland","category-study-abroad","tag-social-psychology-international-relations"],"yoast_head":"\r\nOn Top of the Hill! by Karissa Skarpias - Center for International Programs<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/on-top-of-the-hill\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"On Top of the Hill! by Karissa Skarpias - Center for International Programs\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Today is Wednesday, May 8th, and I can\u2019t believe the adventure I\u2019ve had. 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