In the past six days, we have been taking Dublin by storm. We walk constantly, and are taking the LUAS or DART whenever possible.  All of this constant moving not only allows for great sight-seeing, but also for fantastic group time. However all of this time out and about often means that we are all walking back to the hotel at night. We travel as a big group of sixteen; mostly teenagers who aren’t aware of the immense noise that they make which can get to be a bit much. Although despite the controlled chaos working in this group can be, it is also extremely fun. For instance, Tuesday night, we were walking back from the LUAS tram after seeing a show out in Tallaght with the Irish students we are working with, and the entire trip back was probably one of the most memorable nights of my entire life. Nothing about it was incredibly special, we didn’t see a UFO or find some hidden Viking ruins among the back streets of Temple Bar. We simply had a fantastic time together. We were walking through the streets of Dublin having rap battles, stopping at a Spar, and listening to music from smartphones.  We laughed, and we ate, and we enjoyed each other’s company. We were walking past the Oscar Wilde statue when a moment of both nostalgia and joy embraced me. I turned around to look at the group of people behind me and felt happy, safe, and accepted. I felt, and it’s so cliche, at home. I felt at home in the middle of streets I have only seen for a few days. I felt at home as I carried my bag of snacks back to the hotel, excited to share the (slightly disgusting) food with my roommate. I felt at home listening to Beyonce from an iPhone and singing along. The feeling was confusing because I didn’t know why I felt that way.

I walked a few more long blocks and thought about it. It then occurred to me, that similar to a John Locke quote about homes and how you have to work to make them yours, we had to work to make our project together. We had to work to get to Ireland. We had to work to be close enough to do all of the funny things we do together.  We had to work to feel this comfortable in Ireland. I felt at home in the streets of Dublin because the group had worked together to get here. We all made the trip happen, and that made all the difference. People always say that it’s the little moments you remember the most, which I don’t agree with completely, but what I do know is that it’s “little” moments like these that can seem like big ones. Moments where you are walking through a rainy city with a group of the most random and amazing people and you can’t help but feel happy. I think before we ask ourselves what home in general is, we all need to find the moments in our lives no matter where they are, and say “yes, in this moment, I am home.”