Transporting a Thought

"American students this is your stop.  This is O'Connelly Street.  American students this is your stop."

I am used to being watched.  I am used to being started at, scrutinized, and gazed down upon.  I'm used to sticking out.  It's something I've come to expect from my journey to London.  But, once again, as the bus driver calls attention to our group,  I feel my cheeks turn a little pink as all the eyes on the bus turn our way.  We all awkwardly stand up and shuffle off the bus, embarassed of not knowing our way.  The humiliation only lasts a minute, luckily, because as soon as I step off the large double-decker bus onto the gray and tan cobblestone path it hits me that I'm here- I'm in Dublin, Ireland- and who knows if I'll ever be back?  I only know that if I am ever fortunate enough to come back, it's not going to be for a long, long time.  So I better make the most of it. 

Busy streets, cars, hustling people.  All cities have these things.  The Guinness Factory, castles, Temple Bar.  These things are definitely unique.  Walking through the streets of Dublin, it's easy to separate the ordinary from the extraordinary-  and there's definitely not enough time to explore the extraordinary.  Starting out at the "Rod to God", "Stiletto in the Ghetto", or "Erection at the Intersection"- as our Irish tour guide would like to say- also know as the tall, silver, needle- like Millenium tribute located just a few blocks from our hostel, we work our way through the massive city.

I'm from the city- I'm from busy streets and gas stations on every block.  Perhaps this is why I'm fascinated with things not from the city.  I'm fascinated by the Irish coastline, small farms, and gorgeous rolling countrysides.  I'm fascinated by the serene feeling, the calm, the overwhelming sense of peace present once you travel outside the city limits.  I'm fascinated by the color green and anything and everything it entails. 

Green is the color of the grass, trees, and bushes.  Green is the color used to describe the effort of preserving it all.  Green is the color of flowers, leaves in the spring, and four leaf clovers.  Green is the color of Ireland.  Perhaps that is one of the reasons I loved it.  I loved the color, the history, the sense of nationality.  I loved the music,  I loved the dancing, I loved the accents.

I love to be at home.  I love having all my things around me, and I love sleeping in my own bed.  With all these things on my mind, however, I have to say that I love traveling the most.  I like seeing things that others deem important to view at least once in your life,  and I like seeing things that I deem important for others to view at least once in their lives.  I like experiencing different cultures and different lifestyles,  it makes me learn more about myself.  I'm so thankful to England and, now Ireland, for providing me with this opportunity.

So, as I begin my exploration of Dublin and myself,  I have to snicker a little bit at the bus driver's announcement at our stop.  I have to snicker as we all shuffle off the bus.  And, lastly, I have to snicker at those staring at me.