Ireland brings thoughts of home

Wow. I cannot believe this semester has flown by so quickly. Hopefully you're on the other end of this thinking the same thing. It really is incredible to imagine that only four short months ago I was awaiting and anticipating what Ireland would be like.\nIf I would have anticipated correctly, I would have expected the fries to be called chips and the chips to be called crisps. I would have known there were three pubs per city block. The Irish wouldn't have surprised me when they said "three" without pronouncing the "h" to come up with something that sounds like "tree." I'm going to miss peppering my vocabulary with words like lovely, bollocks, grand and thanks a million. Although there are some things that I'll be glad to escape, the little luxuries back in the States will be much more appreciated.\nExperiencing Dublin during the holiday season has been a delight, to say the least. Grafton Street, the street around which the shopping district centers itself, has wreaths and lights strung from top to bottom. At night, Brown Thomas, the main store on Grafton, plays holiday music, and it is fantastic to see people's faces light up when they catch an uplifting note.\nIt really puts me in my place, though. I have come to a keen realization about the significance of my family and my friends at IU. Not to get sentimental, but before I left, a friend said to me that the opportunity to go abroad and get away from everything that screams normalcy is grand because it teaches you who and what in life are really important.\nIt is not just the Irish way of life that has opened my eyes. The lifestyles and views of the people I've met in the places I've visited, including the Germans, the Danish and the French, have made me appreciate my American heritage. I have learned that Norwegians are crazy when it comes to partying; the Germans are serious, but work for the weekend; and the Irish ... well the Irish are hard core no matter what they're doing.\nI can tell you some myths that I came over believing that were soon busted. First of all, a shamrock only has three leaves. Four leaf clovers are just that ... clovers. Leprechauns are fairies, and the word actually means "shoe-maker." So when you see one shoe by itself, supposedly a Leprechaun has been around. I've yet to see a rainbow, but the grass is greener than any green you've ever seen. There are no snakes, and the Irish enjoy a political chat, especially if it involves Bill Clinton. Oh and there is a special way to pour a Guinness; you have to let it settle. \nIt really is hard for me to write down what I've learned in a column that is limited to 500 words. I hope the adventures I've taken have given you some insight into the culture abroad. When my parents phoned this weekend and I told them about my excitement to come home, my dad gave me some wisdom that he is so good at giving. He said, "Stephanie, there are probably 10 million people that would be willing to switch places with you, so enjoy it while you've got it."\nMy dad is right -- the only "Irish" pub I'll be frequenting after this is the Irish Lion, where the Guinness probably tastes like water and where there most likely won't be an authentic traditional Irish band playing. I won't be able to cross the street and grab fish and chips from the take-away. So here's to Ireland, the ups and downs, the friendships, the legends, the sights seen and the memories made. It will be hard for me to approach life like I did before after an experience like this. Happy Holidays, and I'll see you in Bloomington next semester, Slainté! (Cheers!)