Rome, Sweet Rome

Upon returning from Dublin to Rome, I began trying to plan out my last month in the Eternal City. I thought maybe I could stretch my last dollar for an excursion to Prague, and I was getting so excited that my parents were coming in less than two weeks.

Suddenly my whole perspective changed. I hadn't spoken to my parents in a few days which is normal, but the fact that I had been actively trying to get in touch to plan their trip, and hadn't heard back was strange. I called my mom on Skype and finally got in touch. I started ragging on her about not answering my calls, and what would she do if I wasn't an only child etc., the usual teasing I give my busy working mother, when I could tell something was wrong. She laughed but sounded tired and upset. I had to go to class, but I knew something bad was coming and we made a date to talk later that night.

A few hours later I learned my Nana was in Kidney failure, and would probably not make it through the holidays. After having a good family friend pass away while I was gone in October, I had a weird paranoia that something bad was going to happen while I was gone. Hearing this was like getting hit and not knowing how to react. I was stuck in a foreign country with no way to easily communicate with my family, and no way to see my Nana.

I will spare you all the details, but I ended up on a flight home on December 4th landing in JFK. My parents cancelled their trip, and I made emergency plans to leave. I needed to be home, the stress of everything was too much for me to handle being away.

I got to say goodbye two days before my grandmother passed way. December 7th, 2009 was the last day of a long a beautiful life that touched everyone who was a part of it. When I went to see her even as sick as she already was she asked about my trip and told me how lucky I was to be such a "world traveler".

Therefore I would like to dedicate my blog, and my experience as a whole to my Nana. I still have a whole in my chest from losing her, and it's something that won't be filled for a long time. I know how proud of me she was for expanding my outlook, and doing things that she wished she could have done in her lifetime. Her light and amazing sweetness is with me everyday.

Packing my bags and leaving Rome was bittersweet, and I wish I could have left under different circumstances. I gained so much from my experience and wouldn't trade my time abroad for anything. The amazing people, places, and experiences are things I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Anne M. McCabe

July 17th 1925- December 7th 2009

"Grieve not...nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk of me as though I were beside you. I loved you so...'twas Heaven here with you"

Back to the Motherland

The last trip I had planned during my semester abroad was to visit my best friend, and Boston roommate Emma at University College Dublin where she was studying abroad for the semester. I thought that I may make another quick foreign excursion while I was still in Europe, but it turns out fate had another plan.

I got into Dublin on Thursday night and Emma came to meet me at the airport. Since Ryan Air is the main airline of Ireland besides Aer Lingus, I was taken right into the major Dublin airport and didn't have to take the usual crazy shuttle. I got in late and since Emma had class in the morning we crashed for the night in her dorm.

UCD was so much different than AUR. For lack of a better way to describe it I'll just say it felt like a "real" school. I often described AUR as a building that someone just decided one day could be a school, put a bunch of desks in and called it a day. UCD was very similar to Northeastern and it was interesting seeing how different my educational experience would have been if I had chosen to study there.

I'll quickly some up the weekend as a best of Dublin tour. We walked around the center city in the beautiful weather and saw the great pubs and shops that make the city so unique. The Guinness and Jameson factories were must sees for any (college age) tourist, and were actually really put together experiences that had more to do with the culture than the alcohol. A bus trip up the North Coast stopping at the amazing powerscourt gardens topped of the trip Sunday The last day was great because I got to see some of more rural Ireland where my Great-Grandparents were originally from.

Ireland's economy is currently struggling and this was apparent during my visit. Along with much of the rest of the world there was unfinished construction and for sale signs littering the country. I hope to come back again someday, and that the natural beauty of the country will allow it to flourish again.

Just touched down in Londontown

On my second to last adventure I made one of the trips I was looking forward to the most. I went to London to visit my good friend Keily who is a resident student at Richmond University. I decided to extend my weekend here and stayed for four nights Thursday- Monday.

Landing at the airport it was so exciting to hear everyone speaking English. There is so much less stigma associated with being American when there is no barrier to understanding and communicating (minus the green street hooligan slang).

Thursday night after I landed that afternoon we went to the local pub "The Bull". It was a really entertaining night and nice to have that built in group of friends that comes from visiting someone you know. I was about six inches taller than everyone there which is always a good conversation starter especially after they hear that I'm not British.

Friday we slept in and while Keily went to classes I walked around Kensington and High Street. Even window shopping here I felt guilty, considering most of the clothing and materials are worth more than I spent during my entire time abroad. I shopped as is one of my favorite things to do and lounged around coffee shops...one of the things I missed most in Italy.

Saturday was my major tourist day in London. I went to the Tower, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the London Eye. The weather was AWFUL...cold and rainy but I guess part of trying to be a true Englishwoman is dealing with the inclement climate. The sights were amazing especially the Tower of London. It has been brilliantly restored, and also modernized to be entertaining and interesting without becoming cheesy or historically inaccurate. That night we went to a club with a friend of Keily's and his "Uni" mates which was hysterical and such a great evening.

Sunday we relaxed and walked around the city, as well as made a trip to Harrods. During the holiday season their window displays could rival even the Macy's on 5th Avenue. The store was a mix of retail and theme park and was for me like a kid in a candy store. This relaxing day ended at the pub for a pint, and a good night sleep for my Monday flight.