Dear Ireland, 

Half of me comes from you. Although I am only 50% Irish, I felt 100% Irish when I visited you, because I felt home. Growing up, I always heard stories about Ireland and my relatives were lucky enough to visit the ‘motherland’, but for most of my life, I could only dream of the beautiful green island covered in sheep. 

The first time I ever left the country will always be memorable, as it is for everyone, but leaving it for you made it more special, more meaningful. Even though I was technically leaving home, in a way, I was also going home. Moving on from the fact that I’m Irish, which I don’t want this entire letter to be about, I can assure you that you are special without respect to my heritage. 

After excitedly exiting the plane, the first stop we made was Trinity College in Dublin, where I was able to admire the amazingly historical Book of Kells. St. Patrick’s Cathedral, even with all of the high expectations in my head, did not disappoint me. We were lucky enough to spend an entire day on a farm and experience the cultural aspects that most people miss out on during ‘luxury’ vacations. At the farm, we made bread from scratch, played with lambs, learned traditional Irish dances and how to play Irish drums, rode around on a tractor, and milked a cow—all experiences that I will never be able to replicate. After leaving Dublin, we headed to Galway, where we walked around the beautiful streets and met many local Irish people, whose accents I adore. On the way to Kylemore Abbey, we stopped to admire a fairy tree, a tree garnished with cloth, which was said to grant health to sick family members. Kylemore Abbey, a beautiful old castle, made for amazing adventures around the gardens and castle property, including the Tea House and the Chapel. Ireland is the home to the famous Cannamarra Marble, which we were lucky enough to see in production. If you were to ask anyone what a must-see in Ireland is, odds are they would say the Cliffs of Moher, and now I see why, because they are the most picturesque place I have ever seen. Our trip to the Dingle Peninsula, once named National Geographic Most Beautiful Place on Earth, was obviously an amazing, underrated town in Ireland, boasting a beautiful coast with perfect blue waves. In Killarney, a carriage ride took us around the parks and beautiful old streets of the town, all while telling us amazing and shocking facts about the town, including that they don’t have mosquitos! Another Irish vacaction stop is the Blarney Castle, and more importantly, the Blarney Stone, a beautiful, complex castle whose grounds are amazing to explore. 

Through many nights of walking around, we witnessed the thing that Irish people are most known for—pubs. I loved the pubs, drinks, people, and the famous song, No Nay Never, which I played on repeat on my way home. 

Thank you, Ireland, for an amazing first trip out of the country, along with many other firsts—first time making bread, first time milking a cow, first time drinking famous European tea, first time receiving ‘the gift of the gab’, first time holding the People’s Choice Award, and first time falling in love with a country other than my own. 

Until we meet again, thank you for an amazing experience and for providing the world with the amazing culture, food, traditions, and beauty that you have to offer.