December has been a busy month for me, as it is for everyone. The start of the month meant studying for finals and continuing to play for the UL Huskies. Basketball has been a great escape from the stress of studying for me, and I have really enjoyed spending more time with my teammates. On December 7th we played the NUIG Mystics and spent earlier in the day walking through Galway’s Christmas markets. I have never been to a Christmas market before so I had a great time experiencing all of the different stand filled with clothes, food treats, and hand made crafts. Some of my favorite stands sold custom made ornaments, bath bombs and beauty products, and of course a chocolate fountain with strawberries to dip. I also went on a ferris wheel that offered a beautiful view which overlooked the beautiful city and the ocean. It was my first time on a ferris wheel and I had such a fun time before the game with my team.
With finals approaching, I have been looking forward to heading home for Christmas. However, I have also been reflecting on the amazing first semester that I had in Limerick. I loved living so close to the city where I could experience the amazing food, activities, and views. I also met so many wonderful people who I could not have made it this far without. My huskies family has made my international transition so easy and fun that I can not imagine spending the year anywhere else. The outreach that I have done throughout the semester was also such a great opportunity to meat new people and learn about different experiences. I have truly been so lucky to be able to spend time with such great kids. It is beautiful to see how universal sports are, and the lessons that come out of participating in sport. For the semester ahead my one wish is to do more traveling outside of Ireland. My travel has been pretty minimal this semester and I would love to see what the rest of Europe is like!
