Tag Archives: National University of Ireland Galway

West Coast, Best Coast

It is 7am on a Saturday, and the sleepiness in Galway is infectious. Most students have gone home for the weekend, and those who haven’t have yet to stir from the warmth of their abodes. Resisting the temptation to follow … Continue reading

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“Slagging,” authenticity, and Irish hospitality

An acquaintance of mine, upon learning that I would be living in Ireland for a year, encouraged me to keep a journal of observations about the nation’s culture and institutions—a sort of Toqueville-esqe Democracy in Ireland, as he put it. … Continue reading

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Getting Distance on Galway

It seems hard to believe that the first semester is already over and that we’re all about to stumble into a new year here in Ireland. Currently, I’m officially in exam period, writing final papers and tying up the odds … Continue reading

Posted in Class of 2013, National University of Ireland Galway | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Picture-Perfect White-Washed Red-Trimmed Cottage

I’m looking back at my year in Ireland from a distance of four months and more than 4,000 miles. My friends from the master’s program at NUIG finally celebrated our graduation at the end of November, an event I could … Continue reading

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Break a Leg

When I last wrote, I was traveling home to the US, excited to be be going on tour to Princeton with the Austin theatre company the Rude Mechanicals. Well, on our opening night, I fell off the stage, sprained my … Continue reading

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Surfing in Lahinch

I never understood why so many people loved surfing until last month. Growing up without access to an ocean, I went through the obligatory middle school phase of purchasing my first skateboard, riding around, and jumping off and onto sidewalks. … Continue reading

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Connemarathon

I always have difficulties with “reflections.”  Thoughts and images that seem so bright and flexible in my mind stiffen when I write them down.  On the page, heartfelt feelings become artificial. So instead, I’m going to write about the Connemarathon.  … Continue reading

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Blaze of Glory

So I feel like it has been a small lifetime since we last spoke. The second half of our year in Ireland started with a mid year retreat in Belfast. Earlier in the year, Stephen, Kyle, and I had met … Continue reading

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No Longer a Tourist

Every evening these days, we get a knock at the door a little after dinner.  At the door often stand two people, sometimes older, sometimes younger, and they politely ask for a moment of my time.  Am I by any … Continue reading

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And Away I went

Robert Louis Stevenson said “I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake.  The great affair is to move.”  Those are words I have tried to live by in the second part of my Mitchell adventure. … Continue reading

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June 2010 Reflection

I found him sitting down, occupying the seat I had once occupied: On a couch, off to the side of the room. But this time it was different: there were two of us on the couch, watching the party. As … Continue reading

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June 2010 Reflection

This is it, I thought as I awoke on my last morning of the final Mitchell retreat. My time in Ireland, with the other Mitchell Scholars: over. My year in Ireland: almost over. All morning long, I quietly mourned the … Continue reading

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