Grace O'Rourke

1. "What nationality are you?" 

2. "Where have you been in the last year?" 

3. "Where have you lived for the majority of the last year?"

4. "How many planes have you been on in the last year?"

5. "Is Dublin the end of your journey?" 

Such simple questions to the innocent young lady trying to fill out surveys for the airport...I think she regrets choosing me to answer those. At least I still know my nationality? I'm on the flight to my last country of this incredible journey I've been on. I guess I haven't checked in since Morocco which has been 3 years ago, I mean 3 weeks ago. Since then, I took all of my finals and became a junior in college, attended the alumni ball since I'm now a Semester at Sea alum, packed, cried, packed, cried, said "see you later" to a ship ton of new friends, walked off the gangway for the final time, and stopped in to say "Hi" to 3 countries. My first 2 days, post ship, were spent in Hamburg with Alexis, Courtney, and Jessica (and Afi for a short bit). We explored the interesting red light district and tried to plan the next couple weeks that would be spent in Europe. After a couple more "see you laters", I flew to Paris to relax by myself for 3 days. Couldn't have asked for a better birthday present from my mom and dad ❤️ thank you guys! For everything really....you just supported a daughter circumnavigating the globe, entering new countries full of uncertainty, and have kept up listening to a lot of the stories that go with it. I couldn't have done it without you two, literally. Thank you for bringing me into this wholesome world 20 years ago. You've successfully raised your third teenager. I'm sure we're all slightly shocked that it was a success, but I always believed in you guys 😜😘 After a little bit of bread, the Eiffel Tower, Norte Dame Cathedral, The Louvre, wine, fondue, Frenglish, bus tours, and endless amounts of miles walked through Parisian streets, and I headed south to Aix en Provence to see the notorious Melissa Bucholz. We figured out that we've only seen each other about 3 times in the past year even though we go to the same university ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ It was great getting to just hang out and see where she's been living for the past couple months. 3 days in Aix and I flew up to see my long lost roommate...Amanda ❤️ I'm not sure if I really mentioned that my roommate on the ship was American but grew up/lived in Belgium. 

Side note: has anyone ever noticed how weird planes are? I've been on hundreds of planes but apparently right now, as we go through turbulence and I thought I just heard the engine shut off, I'm just realizing that it's just a bunch of metal flying through the sky....like how? Hopefully I make it so I can post this blog. 

Anyway, Amanda and I spent the first day in Brugge: one of Maddie's new favorite cities. It was just so cute and beautiful and full of character (and Belgian chocolate and beer) We had to get back on the water together so we found a little canal boat cruise which was stunning. Our time omg lasted so long before we had to get back to Mons to pick up Jessica from the train station. A night out in Mons and we were on to the 2nd/last full day. We went to the American base(Amanda's parents work for NATO) and she showed us around where she went to high school and went bowling. We found Belgian waffles and other interesting things back in Mons before we got pizza and had a movie night for the last time for awhile ❤️ We all went to train station in Brussels this morning to drop off Jessica, play cards, eat more waffles, and I caught my train to the airport. You know the rest. Now to the O'Rourke's in Ireland! It's been 3 years since I was junior in high school, living and studying in Waterford with them. Maybe I'll have to go back for a 4th semester abroad 😉