Around mid October, I had the absolute privilege of having my two favorite people in the world come visit me in Northern Ireland. My parents are my best friends, and having them here was very much needed.
A little about our trip: my mom and dad arrived on a Thursday in Dublin, so I took a bus there to meet them. That night we did a ghost tour around different parts of Dublin, which was really cool. On Friday, we went to the Guinness Store House as well as the Book of Kells tour at Trinity College. We then drove back to Belfast in their rental car, where we ate at Nando’s for dinner and stayed at an air b&b near my campus that night. Saturday morning, we got up and went to the Titanic Museum in Belfast, which we toured for a few hours. I had been there before, but really enjoyed going again with my parents. I could probably go there 10 more times and still not get tired of it.
After that, we went to Ulster University at Jordanstown for my basketball club game, which we won. I have to note… it was a really cool experience for my parents to watch me play overseas. I have 3 older sisters who all played college basketball, so my parents have been traveling all over the East Coast of the United States for the past 20+ years watching the four of us play. For them to cross the ocean to watch me play was such a surreal experience for me. They have put so much effort and sacrifice into giving me the opportunity to play this game that I love, and for that I will always be grateful.
After my game, we went into Cathedral Quarter to get dinner and a few pints. On Sunday, we drove out to the Giant’s Causeway, the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, and the Dark Hedges. It was a windy day, so we did not get to cross the bridge, but it was still really neat for them to see these prime spots of Northern Ireland before they went back home on Monday. I think they really enjoyed it!
Overall, it was an incredible experience for my parents to get to see my home away from home, experience the culture, and meet my new friends. My mom and dad are the most important people to me, and I am so grateful that they have helped me get to this point in my life. So thank you mom and dad, for giving me the world! I miss you both so much everyday. And thank you to Sport Changes Life and the Rory Foundation for making these moments with my family be able to happen. I feel so lucky to be a part of this program. Cheers!!!
