ATHLONE!!!!! :)

I left from work and Carmel offered to give a ride downtown. Once downtown I still had to navigate my way around and find the correct bus stop as there were probably over 30 (and that is not a hyperbole for dramatic effect) on this one road. After only having to ask some man in a nice bus driver cap for help I was able to find the correct stop and wait for the bus with a number of other soon to be passengers.

I was pretty excited for this weekend as I made plans to see some of the students who had come and done their placement in Canada. I caught Bus Erinn to Athlone where Emily and Michelle were waiting for me. I was so very excited to hangout and see some people who really knew me after two weeks of being around new people all the time. It's funny how that comfort of just having some history and knowing someone already has made some sort of opinion about you so you can relax a bit, can be so comforting in times like this.

I honestly was so crazy excited. I looked out the window the whole time on the bus. Most the people on buses like this are just going home from college for the weekend to see family. I think I might have stuck out a bit with my excitement on the bus trip (even thought I tried to play it cool). As well that trip gave me time to think about how it was for me a couple years ago when I made my first trip to Athlone on a bus just like this and how weird it is to think that at that time me being here again, doing my placement is something I would not have even been able to imagine at that time. As the bus got closer and closer and I started to recognize (or at least imagine I recognized things); it was like I couldn't sit still in my seat. Luckily I had no one next to me.

The bus was running a few minutes late so just as we got into town I received a phone call from Michelle. If people weren't able to tell I was a foreigner before they sure were after that phone conversation. A sheik of excitement explaining I was just at the Athlone Institute of Technology stop and would be with them in 5 min!!

Another important part of this weekend that ended up impacting my trip was something I wouldn't even realize until Sunday when I went to head home. But before that happened I got off the bus and was greeted by Emily and Michelle, and them gave great big hugs like I hadn't seen them in a year (which I hadn't).

After that we made our way to do some shopping for Emily as she had access at the moment to a driver and car; like most of college students understand, even if you have a car, there is not always opportunities for this in the busy weekdays of school, socializing, etc. We then dropped Emily off at home and made plans to meet up with her in a bit.

Michelle was amazing and let me stay at her place for the weekend. The girls had surprised me and made some loose ideas of plans for the weekend. It was so great to have other people kind of come up with the plans instead of deciding everything myself. I met Michelle's mother, brother, and niece at the house. We got ready to go and decided to do supper out as the rest of the family had already eaten.

I can be super shy and awkward at times, depending how you know me this may sound very normal or extremely not, but regardless it is true. I am not always sure what to do or act so I take on the role of just trying to watch and see what I should be doing or try not to get in anyone’s way.. which can come off awkward for sure. Michelle's niece noticed this right away and comment on it to her Aunt. I wish I could remember what it was right now.. but I can't. Anyways.. something about me sitting on the stairs. It was funny anyway, ha.. well maybe not on here.. but for me it was.

We picked up Emily and headed for supper at this amazing little Italian restaurant in Athlone called IL Colosseo. Then headed over to a pub where Michelle's fiance, Colin works. We spent the evening there as Micheal, Deirdre, and one of Michelle's friends joined up. It was so GREAT! So much fun and wonderful to see everyone again.

Streets Of Galway

The next day we (Michelle, Emily, Deirdre, and myself) headed out to Gallway for the day. We played on the beach for a while, got some stellar fish and chips, picked up some post cards, and did some shopping. After I spent to much money on some exciting clothing we headed back to Ahtlone. Such a good day.. and it was really amazing just to be with the girls. It was really wonderful that it even got to happen but this was only due to Colin being so lovely and letting us borrow his hot sports car. ;)

When we got back to Athlone we had talked about going out or something but settled on a nice night in with take away, a brilliant snack spread, a little wine, and a movie at Deirdre's. Deirdre was a great host and went way out of her way with the snacks for a simple night in but it was very nice.

On Sunday, just hung out at Michelle's house. I was lucky enough to get to have Sunday dinner with her family and was heading home on the bus that night. That morning I had realized what all the excitement of the bus trip had made me forget.. my binder I had stuck in the front of my seat on the way down. After losing my jacket I thought I was going to be smart the rest of my trip but that didn't seem to be the case. The worst part was the whole trip I had been reminding myself about it over and over again. Just before I got the phone call from Michelle I had pulled out the binder and then put it back, saying to myself there was no way I would forget it. It wouldn't have been a big deal except for the stuff I had inside it. It had my bus ticket, info from my placement, my interviews from placement, and some personal artwork I had done years ago. So the process of trying to get it back started, which did not go far since the bus service office was closed on Sundays.

Michelle's House

After Sunday supper Michelle and I got a ride from Colin to the mall right by my bus stop. We hung-out a bit, got some groceries, and headed to my bus stop. Over the weekend I had tried to ask several people about how the bus stops worked and where I got picked up so as far as I could tell there was only one I could be at for the Golden Island pick-up. Michelle decided to head home as my bus was suppose to be there in 5 min. As Michelle got in her taxi I had this weird thought about how horrible it would be if I missed my bus after this. As I waited nothing came.. 5 min went by.. I waited, starting to get a bit worried. Then it came.. but on the other side of the road. I followed it but it disappeared around a turn. I looked around and had no idea what to do.

I got a taxis back to Michelle's after talking to her on the phone and she said I could stay another night as I had missed the bus back to Dublin as it was the last one running tonight. This was a super frustrating night.. but taught me a very clear lesson that I needed to talk with my bus driver more and get more information on what was going on. I might be in a country where we speak the same language but if I’m not asking the right questions it really doesn't matter. Anyways.. I spent the night and headed home Monday... a bit flustered and overwhelmed from the whole ordeal and losing my binder.








But a HUGE thank you to Michelle and her Family for letting me stay at her place as well to Colin to let us use his car and make sure I made my bus!