December 15th, 2015 | Uncategorized
I recently had some time to get away and make a trip to visit some of my stepfamily here in Ireland. I got my £21.00 return ticket from Belfast to the ‘south’, or the Republic of Ireland, and boarded a bus that actually headed north. That’s because parts of Co. Donegal, including where my stepfamily lives, are the most northern points of the island. Technically, I was in ‘the south,’ but I was geographically almost as north as I could get! It was great to get to know my step aunt and step cousins a little better over my short weekend visit. We got a chance to drive around their waterfront neighborhood and it was the first time I got to see the amazing scenery the coastline and beaches of Ireland have to offer. On the way back to Belfast I had the whole back of the bus to myself, but I was glued to the window in order to take in the mountains and valleys visible from the road as the day’s sun expired. I had a newfound understanding of why my cousin Laura told me that there was no place she’d rather live. I was so grateful to my new stepfamily here in Ireland for inviting me up to stay with them. At the same time, I couldn’t help but think of my family back home as well. I wished I could share the experience of seeing the country where we can trace back all of our roots with my family back home. I wished I had the ability to bottle up the view from that bus window to give to my grandparents, who have never gotten the chance to see the country their parents came from. I even tried to snapchat it to my cousin Hanna, but it obviously didn’t do it justice or have nearly the same effect. Despite sitting on the bus alone I felt closer to my family, both new and old, in a whole new way.
Victory Scholar: Clare Sullivan
Present University: Ulster University
US League Partner: Patriot League
Club/Community Partner: Ulster Elks
Alma Mater: The College of the Holy Cross
Sponsored by: Teamwear Ireland
