Salve!
Goodness, what a whirlwind this study abroad journey has been! Today marks the beginning of the final 30 days I have here and I am already feeling so sentimental and sad as I watch the weeks fly by so quickly. A bit of advice: if you ever find yourself on this study abroad trip or on another similar experience, do NOT let your mind begin imagining what the last night on the trip will be like. It is actually one of the most depressing thoughts I can conjure up right now! The best thing to do is to really make the most of each and every magical moment here… and luckily, there are many of them!
One of my very favorite places I have visited so far was the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland on my personal travel time during spring break. The day I went there did not start out or even finish as planned and many mishaps occurred that day, but they were all worth it because I still got to see one of the most frightening, yet beautiful scenes in creation. Frightening because I was standing on the edge of some of the tallest, most treacherous, deadly cliffs. Beautiful because, well, if you have not been to these cliffs, just take a look at the photo attached and you will see!
I truly appreciate Ireland for its green grass and beauty. Its colors are so vivid and its views are incredible. Even the city of Dublin was beautiful and visually pleasing. However, right before walking away from the Cliffs of Moher to go back to the bus, I looked back and saw the most beautiful, vibrant rainbow stretching from behind the cliffs and diving straight into the waters before the cliffs so that I could see exactly where it ended. I don’t think I had ever been able to see the end of a rainbow, but there’s a first time for everything, and it is no disappointment of mine to have seen such a sight and at such a breathtaking place. It was an experience like no other and I was thankful to have had the chance to experience the beauty and the miracles of creation on a different level than before.
I will always be grateful for my time abroad and the opportunities for personal travel that allow me to see the coolest of places, like the Cliffs of Moher. I recommend for anyone who hasn’t visited those cliffs to visit them, but if you find yourself standing close to the edge at the same time a huge gust of wind is coming through, back up and sit down immediately or may the Lord have mercy on your soul!
-Carrie Johnson

Cliffs of Moher, Ireland