First Few Days and First Impressions

Traveling and settling into living in Ireland has been a whirlwind. The first day I was so tired from flying to Dublin and riding the bus for three hours to Waterford that I could barely comprehend I was actually halfway across the world. However, after getting a full night's sleep and being able to see straight, I couldn't believe my eyes. I knew that Ireland is a beautiful country, but nothing compares to actually experiencing it. On June 22, we were led on a tour of downtown Waterford and I sighed and smiled at the beauty of the buildings alone. Waterford is the oldest city in Ireland, and the Irish people do not erase the evidence like some people would in America. In one shopping mall I visited, there was a section of the historic Waterford City Wall that cut through the store. They built the store around it. That's how important it is to them, and I am so thankful. Their complex history makes them who they are.

 

It is hard to decide which sights I liked best, because I honestly loved everything I saw. On the tour of Waterford, we explored and admired The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (also known as Christ Church Cathedral) which I thought was really beautiful.

Such a beautiful view.

The ceiling designs were so intricate!

Who doesn't awe at stain glass?

 

It was originally built in the 11th century, but changed a lot over time throughout the many reformations of the church. This current Cathedral was redesigned and built by John Roberts in the 18th century. Inside and outside, I thought that it was an amazing architecture and great representation of the honor that a Holy God deserves. I could see that the people who invested time into this church were devout believers.

Although we visited many other great places on the 22nd, it were the sites on the 23rd of June that really blew me away. Early that morning we boarded the buses and made the trek to New Moss to pick up a wonderful tour guide and Irish History guru, Walter O'Leary. Then we headed to county Kilkenny to grab another wonderful tour guide, Olivia, who walked us through the history of the Woodstock Estate.

 





The decaying ruins of the once grand estate.

A peek into a lovely gazebo in the gardens.

A glimpse of a fountain, also amongst the stretch of the impressive gardens.

 

In 1737, this estate was inherited by Sir William Fownes and belonged to his family for many generations following him (they became known as the Tighe family). He commisioned the house (the first photo) to be built for him and it was completed in 1745. All of the many beautiful gardens were laid out and cultivated over many long years, really starting in 1840. Eventually though, during the Irish Civil War in 1922, the house was captured and burned down. All that remains now are overgrown ruins and the expansive gardens.

At the end of the day, our large group of students and professors took a trip to the coast in County Wexford to see the Hook Lighthouse. I have never experienced so much wind in my hair in one day. Nor so many breath-taking sights.

 

Those pictures don't really compare to the actual experience of seeing the cliffs, waving grains of barley, and the majestic light house looking out to the rough (and unpredictable) waves of the sea. This is one of the oldest lighthouses in the world, and currently the oldest operating one in Ireland. It has been standing for almost 800 years... I did not discover who exactly built this structure, but according to my research it is believed that either William Marshall built it in 1245 (although he died many years before that...) or it was constructed by Raymond LeGros in 1172. Either way, it is a beautiful structure that still stands today for many to see and enjoy.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my first few days in Ireland and I am excited to see what is next in store!

 

Before Departing for Ireland...

Hello, my name is Casey Cox and believe it or not, this is my first official blog although I am a writer. I am majoring in English--Creative Writing at Berry College and next year will be my senior year. I have never traveled outside of the United States but I have always wanted to. I figured that college would be the best time in my life to go abroad since it may be the only time in my life when I don't have a full-time job. (Not to mention the great learning experience that studying abroad offers with a pretty good price and well-planned schedule of what to do and where to stay.) I am taking World Literature II and Art in Life: Ireland while I am studying in Waterford, because both subjects really appeal to me. I love to read and write, as well as draw and paint in my free time. I thought it would be a great opportunity to be able to survey remarkable pieces of art in another country that is rich in culture.
I chose to study abroad this summer because I knew it would be my last chance before graduating college. This program stood out to me because I have always been interested in traveling to Europe, and Ireland is so beautiful. I took one look at the lush green hills and knew... this is where I wanted to travel first. Ireland is also home to many famous authors and award-winning poets. As an aspiring writer myself, I wanted to see where these writers were inspired and composed some of the most well-known works of literature in the world. The Waterford program also offered great opportunities to travel across the country during class field trips and long weekends, and I can never pass up an offer to learn new things while experiencing new sights and places. This country also appealed to my parents as being to most friendly to Americans... which can't hurt either. Also, as a side note, I am a Spanish minor but have learned that in college it is difficult to really learn the language fully (even if you are a minor) and that speaking it in class is not the same as in real life, and I really didn't want to go to a Spanish-speaking country without the confidence that I knew what I was saying in their native language. So, an English-speaking country was definitely favored.
I am so excited to go to Ireland. I cannot wait to set foot on another country, on another continent, breathe in the new air, and realize that I am thousands of miles away from home. I can't wait to stand in awe of the beauty of Ireland and know that I will never forget my experiences there. I will probably not want to leave. I love nature and anything green and beautiful, so I have no doubts that I will fall in love with Ireland at first sight. Also, the accents really intrigue me. And I love to explore, especially romantic places like castles and museums, so this class will be really great. But more than anything, I am so excited to write about everything!  
Although the trip is going to be great, I am nervous about a few small things. I am a pretty agreeable person, so I am not worried that I won't make friends or I won't get along with roommates, but at this point I do not have any current friends going on the trip and I know that many people do. I am slightly worried that people will stick to those that they know and it will be difficult for me to "join" their group, (which I would prefer not to do, I like making a new group of friends) and I will feel left out. I like to make everyone feel included, so I hope that everyone can become friends with each other and no one will feel lonely. I am also nervous that there will be somewhere that I want to visit but no one will want to visit with me. I know we need at least three people in a group, so I hope that I can find other fellow adventurers who want to travel with me. Lastly, I have never flown on a plane without my family, so I worry that I will be stuck next to someone that smells or drools or talks when I'm trying to take a nap... But besides those little worries, I am ready to pack, get on the plane, and start my adventure through the Irish country.