My Japanese friends jokingly called me sararimanppoi (サラリーマンっぽい), or “like a salaryman.” Supposedly, I fit the salaryman image fairly well. I had a tendency to wear button-up shirts instead of something more casual from Hollister or GU. I carried my things in a satchel bag instead of a backpack, at least until the clasp shattered and I had to carry it like a suitcase. Perhaps most surprising for my friends, I knew how to sing several older Japanese songs that their parents listened to. And to complete the image, I was always busy.

Rome has been great, but I can honestly say that I started planning trips during my time abroad as soon as I could.

And you should to!

Here’s how:

Obviously, one of the best parts about studying abroad in Europe is the weekend travel – it's fairly easy and cheap to travel around France and the surrounding countries. Arles is amazing, but it was really exciting to spend two weekends in other cool cities.

This last weekend I went to Killarney with a few of my friends. It was a rushed last minutes decision but it was so worth it. We rode the train in on Saturday, ate dinner, got to our hotel and slept. Sunday we had booked a tour for the gap of dunloe.

The Barcelona Transport Authority, TMB, has a slogan that appears on its ads in metro stations and on buses: “Tot Torna”, which roughly translates to “Everything Returns”. The TMB uses the expression as a way of reminding its passengers to “travel with karma.” That is, if you give up seat for an elderly passenger on the subway, maybe the next day the bus will wait for you, and things of that nature. I saw this expression every day on the metro while I was in Barcelona.

It’s been a little over a week since I sleepily dragged myself through the customs lines and out of the airport in New York, making my way home to my excited cat, family, and friends. Just like that, my two-month adventure in Europe is already a memory, and all the people I spent nearly every day with are its shadows. I have spent my first week home laying with my cat as she happily licks my face, claiming me so that I never leave again, and reconnecting with my home friends. Everything is back to normal.

I have always been very proud of my Irish roots. Having grown up with the culture and people all around me, I was so exctited to have the chance to come Dublin. However, I knew that while I was here, I would have to go to where my roots really are: Killarney. My grandmother was born and raised there, until she came to American all on her own at the age of 17. I grew up listening to her tell stories from her childhood there and about life on the family farm. I had always pictured it in my head and seen photos, but I always was eager to visit.

Another few weeks have come and gone and it feels as though a year’s worth of experiences has been crammed into it. Two weekends ago, I spent the weekend in Barcelona, Spain. Finally, I got to put my 8 years worth of Spanish classes to use (sort of). I loved being in Spain, beautiful country, with so much to do and see. We ended up walking over 13 miles on Saturday just exploring and getting around the city.