Ireland 2008: Day 31--last day in Galway

July 23:

It is hard to write this blog because it is about such a depressing subject--the last day in Galway, the city that stole my heart.

All the roomies slept in because the only thing that we had to do with school today was go in at noon and fill out an evaluation form. I thought this was a really good session with the lead guy who runs the program because they gave us the chance to give verbal input on what we liked, and what we would change, etc.

After we finished up with the evals, a group of us girls headed into town to eat at Couch Potata one last time. This place really was a good idea by who ever started it...good food for not too expensive of a price. I started to feel pretty down during lunch so I didn't say much because I didn't want to start the waterworks at lunch time...

When we finished with lunch we went and looked at the Cathedral because Sarah hadn't been inside yet, then we headed into town for some last minute gift buying. We ended up wandering around town from about 2 till almost 4...it was a long day. I got the hurling sweatshirt that I had been waiting to get...and was really excited about that. Then it was time to head home to rest up for going out that night and to finish up packing.

Grace and Teagan came over while all of me and my roomies were getting ready, and they came bearing pre-party gifts. We sat outside my window (I should have taken a picture, but it's like a half balcony...you have to climb out the window and im not sure we were supposed to, but it was fun nevertheless) and talked and took some pictures before we headed out to dinner at McSwiggins. We decided that we would forgo our bugets and price limitations for one last hurrah the night before we left. We had a REALLY good meal, and I'm sure that it was so good because none of us had had an actual meal since we left home. We had a few drinks, did a shot, ate some good food...and got some good pictures. It's probably one of the things I will remember most about the trip...how the group of friends that I made at that dinner just got along so well and felt like we had been friends since we were kids.

So now that our tummys were full it was time for one last pub crawl. Well, not so much a crawl because we only went to Taaffes..but you know what I mean. It was about 10 or so when we got there, so the music was already starting, and it was the band that I am not really all that fond of. We all had another drink, but the night didn't last too long. After our drink, Sarah, Teagan and Michelle said they were going home...so it was time for the first goodbye. It wouldn't have been bad if it was just Sarah and Michelle leaving, but I wouldn't get to see Teagan again before we left...so it was a real goodbye. I started crying, so Michelle started crying, and it was just a big mess.

So they left and I semi-regained my composure and then it all fell apart when the band started playing Galway Girl. This was our song, and I fell apart when they started playing. I was sitting in front of the band and so I'm sitting there crying and they all were looking at me like, "what is wrong with her?" I had had my fun so I decided to leave Kelsey, Grace and Katie and go home because I really wanted to spend my last night with sarah and michelle and they weren't there so...I got my taaffes shirt and went home.

When I got home Sarah and Michelle were out on our porch talking to our next door neighbors so I went and joined them and it was fun standing out there talking to them. They are fun guys. Then they left to go out and we went back inside as, "party poopers" as they said. We all stayed up till 1 or so just talking and hanging out, and it was a really nice end to the night.

It was really hard to say goodbye, and I'm tearing up now at the memory of it...as I'm sure will be the case for a while to come now...but I'll get to see Sarah and Katie again the night before I leave, so that will be nice. Like I have said before, I never expected to make friends when I came here, I almost wish I hadn't because it made it all the more harder to leave. I know that we will all meet up again, and maybe we may even meet back up in Ireland, but it's just really hard to make such good friends and have to leave them a month after you meet. It was really one of the best experiences I have ever, and probably will ever, have in my life...

The Pavoratti at couch potata, only 7 euro for that...so cheap