When I left Ireland two months ago, I was on top of the world — filled with the experiences of a lifetime and high on new relationships I'd formed with some amazing people. Of course, when separated by an ocean and a busy schedule, it's hard to keep those relationships alive and well. People who you talked to everyday, shared some of your deepest thoughts and craziest experiences with are no longer accessible every day. Sure there's Facebook and Skype, but it doesn't seem the same.
So it was reassuring and refreshing to see some of my favorite people from Ireland last weekend, a boost in confidence that these new friendships really are the kind that will last for a while. My French friend Clem, his good friend Miles and Jess all visited my hometown Erie for some good ol' American fun! Clem and Miles are about half way through their North American get away, stopping in Erie after seeing Washington, D.C., Philly, Boston, Montreal, Toronto and Niagara Falls. Jess got the weekend off from work, so we decided to meet up for an Ireland reunion — one that will not soon be forgotten.
It started with a majestic lightning storm like none of us had seen before. Pair that with a night of cheap drinking at Sullivan's, a once Irish pub turned urban dance bar, and stop at the tikki bar with a shooter girl running around, and you have an unforgettable night of laughter and new memories to go along with the old ones. We dance and sang our asses off, compared cultures and heard about Clem and Mile's amazing journey through America thus far. My boyfriend and friends from home also came out with us and meshed SO well with everyone, it was like we'd all known each other forever. It was nice to know that I'd picked a good group of people that my old friends approved of and loved.
The next morning, I woke up determined to show my friends all the great things my city had to offer, so we headed out the best place in Erie, Presque Isle. We lounged on the beach as Clem and Miles splashed in the warm, fresh water like young boys. We tossed the frisbee and sat on the beach and watched a storm roll in over the lake, soaking us to the bone, but showcasing our adventurous side. We didn't run for the car or pack up our stuff when the rain fell, just smiled up and the sky and watched the clouds swirl. After the beach we stopped for diner food complete with hot dogs, milk shakes, fries and ice cream. The boys laughed at how "American" Sara's Diner was, red checked tile and all. Our next stop was the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, which was a more educational take on the history of the region. We checked out the view from the top of the TREC tower, an amazing panoramic of the water.
We had a cookout dinner, courtesy of my amazing parents, who welcomed everyone with open arms, smiles and fantastic conversation. The seven of us sat out on my back deck and visited for hours, chatting about travel, life and culture. My parents hit it off with everyone right away, and it was good to see everyone from two different parts of my life coming together. After dinner, my friends and I went up to Family First, a sports recreation center, where we rode the go-karts, squirted each other on bumper boats, watch the French boys struggle in vain to hit a fast-pitch baseball, and play a pathetic round of putt-putt golf. We had such an amazing time, goofing around and laughing like there was no tomorrow.
I was sad to see the weekend end as the Frenchmen boarded the Greyhound to their next stop, Chicago, but I was so grateful to reunite with some of my Irish comrades. It was nice to know that even outside the little bubble of utopia that was Ireland, we still had lost in common, lots to talk about and lots to do. It just proves that everything that I felt abroad was real, and that it can continue in my life back in America...and for that I'm so happy!
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