Posts

Dublin Blog

Dublin was our final stop on our adventure and I think it wrapped everything up perfectly. Seeing St. Patrick’s Cathedral was so captivating because of the amazing archways throughout the entire building. Many of you know that my boyfriend David and his mom were in Ireland at the same time and that made my experience so fun. We ended up seeing each other at the popular Temple Bar where we got to listen to live music again and sing along. We also experienced a casino which took a little getting used to, unfortunately I didn’t win a single euro. Then we joined in on going to the comedy club which was very much needed. I think comedy is a great way to see the insights to a culture and perspectives of people so honestly I think it could be said it was a learning experience (kind of). Overall this trip was a great way for me to gain experience of other counties and cultures, but also for my future now that I am officially an adult! I really enjoyed meeting everyone on this trip with me. I ...

London Blog

London was an experience for sure. It took a little adjusting to after being in Scotland, but it was a great experience. Seeing the Tower of London was my favorite part because of the interesting stories that lie within it. The story of the two lost princes bodies being found in the bloody tower is one of the stories that caught my attention the most. I also really enjoyed going to Regents park where we brought a sandwich and a drink and we able to enjoy the nature side of the city. Lastly, I enjoyed the bar down the street from our hotel where we got to listen to live music and enjoy each others company. The bouncer working gave us each a free glass so we could remember our good times there!

Edinburgh Blog

I was looking forward to seeing and exploring Edinbrugh the most on this trip. It mostly stems from my love for the show Outlander so I really fell into the love of the culture and the history. When we went on our guided tour and our tour guide called out the famous spots that Outlander was filmed in, I was so excited to see it in person. I really enjoyed seeing the Edinburgh Castle since it’s like a little town inside. I also really enjoyed seeing Calton Hill where I saw the national monument and you could oversee the whole city from above. Lastly, I was able to go on a ghost tour where we learned of some of the long ago hauntings that have occurred throughout the city that add to the interesting aspects that make up Edinburgh.

General Post

We are less than a week away from being in Scotland! I am very excited to finally be traveling after talking so much about it. I remember when I was still in high school I always said I wanted to study abroad when I go to college. Well covid hit freshman year. Then covid was still impacting us sophomore year. Then it was my junior year and I finally decided to sign up for a trip! Now senior year is just about over and the trip is days away! It ended up working out perfectly that I could sign up for the Scotland/England/Ireland trip in the summer of 2023 as I will soon be starting a full time position when we return home. I cannot believe that time is finally here (or almost here). I honestly am most excited about trying out all the different foods and local cafes and pubs. I think dining is one of the best ways to connect with people and the culture because who doesn’t love food and good company. There is nothing specific to my “bucket list” I really like to go with the flow and see wh...

Dubliners

I am a little behind on my Dubliners blog, but it’s still worth posting about. I really liked reading the short stories within Dubliners . I think I can find myself getting bored of the same story sometimes, especially when there is nothing new happening so reading stories that were captivating and quick make it easy and enjoyable. I especially enjoyed "A Mother". I think Joyce did a nice job of highlighting the issue of the social injustices women faced during that time. He did it in a way that was subtle enough, but also out in the open that as readers we could understand that was a point he was trying to get across. I liked the storyline of a mother and her daughter trying to get in the show business and seeing what they had to face because as a woman it is something I could relate to. Having a mother wanting what’s best for me and pushing me along the way and ultimately standing up for what's right if things weren't as they were meant to be. Overall, this was a n...

Reflections Blog

As we finished reading Mrs. Dalloway I can positively say I enjoyed it much more than Waverly. The plot in general is more appealing to me with the imagery of the city along with the relationships of characters. I enjoyed the fact that the point of view was written within one particular day. I have never read a book like this before so it was interesting to see how the story would develop. The relationships between characters were interesting as we learn there was a bit of a love triangle (like in Waverly) between Clarissa, her husband Richard, and Peter. Deep down she truly loves Peter, but she justifies her decision for marrying Richard as she needed a man to depend and rely on in her life and Richard was able to do that for her. I think it’s scary how relatable that feeling is to a lot of women. People make choices on what they think is better for them even if they feel something stronger for someone else. I think this a poor way to live your life as you might never truly be happy i...

Mrs. Dalloway Blog #1

After learning about Virginia Woolfs life history and her upbringing I was very intrigued at it was easy to make comparisons between her and the characters she writes about in Mrs. Dalloway. We were told about her depression and moods that resulted in multiple suicide attempts along with the tragic events that ultimately lead to her feeling that way. We also learned that she was married even though it was supposed that she had multiple affairs with women. These two facts about her life relate to two characters in her book. Septimus is a World War 1 veteran who essentially suffers from PTSD, experiences hallucinations and has sucicidal thoughts and tendencies. Since Virginia herself attempted suicide multiple times and ultimatly ended her life on her 4th attempt a conclusion can be drawn that she’s using this character in a way to express her inner thoughts or struggles. Then the main character, Clarissa Dalloway can also be considered a portrayal of Virginia as she has a female love i...