Being back in the United States is definitely a disappointment. As I arrived in JFK and watched my compatriots being ushered away by their parents, there was an undeniable feeling of ending. The remnants of the group waited for the bus, made jokes: we laughed to keep from crying. It was hard to remember that this was not the end of our partnership; this was just the beginning of this collaboration, which would culminate in a performance. Everything is New York seemed grey in comparison to the vibrant greenness that enlivens everything in Ireland. When we got on the bus, it was raining, and, unlike in Dublin, the rain continued. Even now as I sit on my couch in Pennsylvania two days later, it rains. In Ireland, the sun no doubt would have shown itself a multitude of times since that moment on the bus, but not here where feet of snow still cover dead grass.

This is not to say that I’m not happy to be home. I’ve had a fantastic time showing off all my pictures, drinking tea my mother makes for me, watching TV, and sleeping in my own bed, but the other side is that now I have to come back to reality. In Ireland, I could only focus on what I was doing; I was living in the moment. Now that I’m back at home, all of the worry associated with being me has crept back. I have an ACT in less than two weeks; I have schoolwork, plays to memorize, and all the worries of junior year hanging over my head. But even though this is all true, this is all present in my mind, I learnt a lot about myself in Ireland, including that I do need to relax and take time off and sometimes I need to go out and see the sights instead of doing my homework. There is so much to be seen and done everyday, in Ireland and in the United States. Despite this realization, I still miss Ireland dearly, but I promise myself, I will return to the green isle again, once you visit Ireland, I believe you have no choice.