Christmas is my favorite holiday, and this one definitely did not disappoint. I decided to go back home to the U.S. over Christmas to catch up with family and friends. Being over in Ireland has really made me realize how much my family and friends back home mean to me. I have an incredible support system back home, and I was very excited to tell them about Ireland and catch up with them.
I spent a lot of time eating food when I was at home. As a true Illinois native, I missed Chicago style pizza and took full advantage of all opportunities to eat pizza over break. I had to make up for 4 months with no deep dish pizza, and I think I may have come close. There were also several plates of Christmas cookies in the house, so it’s a good thing I didn’t stop working out over the break!
I got the chance to take a quick trip to Moline, Illinois to reunite with my best friends from college. We went to a minor league hockey game and witnessed a full on brawl between the two teams. Safe to say, I’m happy to be playing a sport where brawling is not a part of the culture! Other than that little trip, I spent a lot of time at home and a lot of time with family. The big Morrissey Christmas Eve party was a big hit, and all the new kids in the family had a blast when Santa came and delivered their toys.
When you see people everyday or close to it, you can start to take them for granted. Being in Ireland has taught me not to take people for granted and to cherish any time spent with family and friends. Going home and seeing my parents, brother, friends, and extended family was better than any Christmas gift I could have gotten. At the end of my trip, I was sad to leave my family again but equally excited for another semester in Ireland! Bring it on 2019!
