November 29th, 2015 | Uncategorized
Although I could not be at home this Thanksgiving, there was one commonality between the holiday in the States and in Ireland… and that would be a little bit of chaos. However, it wasn’t the wonderful event that Sport Changes Life organized that was chaotic, it was the time leading up to it. After all, what’s a holiday without a little bit of chaos?
After arriving in Belfast, and realizing I was technically in a different country with a currency other than the Euro, I needed to take money out of the ATM. Usually a pretty simple task, right? Not this time…
I put my debit card into the ATM and selected the amount of money I wanted to withdraw, when the machine started beeping uncontrollably; as if it were about to explode. I look to Kelsey, Rita, and Cory with a terrified look on my face, only to see them mirroring the face back at me.
After a solid minute of beeping, the ATM finally stopped, unfortunately eating my card, and the money that was suppose to come out with it. I think it’s safe to say, I was not the only hungry one this Thanksgiving…
Instantly, I began panicking, none of us had ever seen something like this happen before! Once we realized my card was gone for good, we took off in a dead sprint, running down the streets of Belfast, as Rita shouted, “We’re in crisis!” as we attempted to find the nearest bank branch that could hopefully help me. Unfortunately, there was no such luck; my card was forever going to sit in the belly of that ATM.
At this point, instead of stressing and panicking, I looked at Rita, Cory, and Kelsey, and the lit up streets of Belfast all decorated for Christmas. I was in a beautiful city with some really great people that just ran all over the city to try and help me. I couldn’t help but laugh and smile at the situation. I was not going to let this little bit of chaos affect the great Thanksgiving event with my Sport Changes Life family; instead, it only made me even more thankful for all the wonderful scholars I have with me on this yearlong journey.
Victory Scholar: Sarah Benedetti
Present University: University of Limerick
US League: NEC
Club/Community Partner: UL Huskies
Alma Mater: St. Francis College
Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland
