Fiction of Capital Cities

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 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!

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.

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

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