I always knew that I wanted to study abroad; the question was just where would I go. As someone who was bitten by the travel bug early in life, the possibilities seemed endless. Ultimately, I chose to come to Ireland, based solely on the brochures that I was given. My family is of Irish ancestry, but that did not have much of an influence on my decision. I initially expected to miss everything about the United States. Boy, was I wrong!
I never expected to fall in love while I was here. This love is not felt for a person, but for a place. On my first full day in Dublin, I looked around and realized how at home I felt, even though I had been in Ireland for less than 48 hours. It was at that point when I realized I would not want to go home when this semester was over.
As the days went on, my bond with Dublin only grew. When we would take weekend trips to places like Cork or Galway, I would become homesick not for Philadelphia, but for Dublin. Dublin has everything I could ever want in a city. It is near the beach, but also the mountains. There is always something different to do in the city on any given night. Contrary to popular belief, the nightlife here is not limited to the pub scene. You can go to the theater, go on one of the various walking tours, or simply wander the city with friends.
Dublin is also a very historic city, much like my hometown of Philadelphia. It played a large part in the revolution of Ireland, much like Philadelphia did in the American Revolution. Strangely, I do not feel a connection with Philadelphia the way I do with Dublin.
I will be graduating in May, and have been struggling to find a city that I could start a life in. I was born and raised in Philadelphia, and have been desperately trying to leave for the last five years. New York is way too expensive, Washington DC is too political. Boston was too cold, and North Carolina didn’t have enough of a city vibe. This is the first time I actually felt passion for a city.
I could leave Philadelphia at any time without looking back. But, I know when I leave Dublin my friends will have to physically drag me on to the plane. The thought of leaving, even for a short while, breaks my heart more than words could even describe. I even went as far to place a lock on the Ha’Penny Bridge, symbolizing me locking my heart to Dublin forever.
Dublin is essentially like any other major city. It is not what it is made of that makes me feel such a love for it, but instead, it is the feeling of the city. There is nothing specific that I can pinpoint that causes me to feel this way. Just walking around the city makes me feel whole, like there was something I never knew I needed before in my life. Dublin is something I never knew I always wanted. Before this trip I would have been content living on the east coast of the United States my entire life.
During my time here, I realized that I would love to live in Dublin for at least a few years. I found that it is actually pretty easy for an American to get a visa to live here. Upon my graduation in May, I will be returning to Dublin. This love affair has been unexpected, but I do not want it to end. My only hope is that when I return, I will still feel the same way. On June 28th, when I get on that plane to go back to Philadelphia, it won’t be goodbye; it will only be see you later.
– Caitlin Reis