Ireland (Georgie)

So I’ve finally made it to Ireland, where all the rain is hiding. I’ve been here about a week now. It has been really great so far. I’m staying with family in Galway which is on the west coast. It is a nice change from hostels, and they have been great taking me around to meet all my other distant cousins and lots of sightseeing.

I ended up staying in the Czech Republic for three weeks. I got to visit a few small towns, then I had the International Youth Leadership Conference, which was a political conference with students from all over the world. It was fantastic! Not only was the content really interesting, but the people were amazing. Really intelligent and passionate and enthusiastic and from everywhere! I plan to take advantage of my new friends on my next trip overseas.

After the conference I stayed a week with a Czech family just outside Prague in a town called Kolin. It was really fantastic. The dad spoke fluent english, but the mum only had the basics and the kids could say hello and good night and sing ‘Heads, shoulders, knees and toes’. They were so welcoming and even though there was a bit of a language barrier with the kids, they were so like my little cousins, it was like, kids are kids everywhere. If that makes sense. They got upset over the same sorts of things and found the same things hilarious. So that was nice. And they cooked awesome food! They made their own yoghurt and cheese and butter and made delicious dumplings, which is traditional Czech food.

And, just a little bit of trivia, the Czechs drink the most alcohol out of all other countries. And it showed! Beer was often cheaper than water and everyone’d have a beer when we went down to the pool or just when they were walking around as it’s legal to drink in public. Very weird.

So I really liked the Czech Republic, but was a little relieved when I got to Ireland and could rely on everyone speaking english.

Am just working out whether to go to Cork or Kerry or Limerick for the next few days or stay in Galway.    

And an Irish summer is a myth, it feels very like a Melbourne winter, except more rain.

 And Suzanne, I’m very jealous of your friend.

Until next time…