What is your Impact?

Yay! Everyone that I know here has finally found an apartment/house and safely moved in as of yesterday. Also, many of the errands that I have needed to do are done and taken care of.

For the past week but, especially the past two days, one word has been circling through my head: impact. What will be my lasting impact here in Dublin? What will be its lasting impact on me?

On Wednesday night, one of my friend's roommate was having a good-bye get-together after being in Dublin for the past 5 months to return to Belgium for school. It started as any get-together where everyone talks and mingle but the entire atmosphere felt different compared to other gatherings.

Throughout the night, I would see the guy get hugged and consoled by different people throughout the night and hearing thanks from them for being there for them and the memories that they had. 

Upon seeing me gaze at it, my fellow American friend simply told me "It is never easy to leave." Wow... I never truly thought about the attachments and the connections that I would make throughout my journey here. Obviously, my focus is first and foremost on school but a close second are the connections and impact that is made during the duration of this trip.

I have only been here a little more than two weeks and I have already had some difficulty saying see you later to some people that I met in my hostel. 

What will my reaction be when I say it to the girls that took me in for a couple of days while I had no home?

What will my reaction be when my core group has to go our separate ways to either the United States or Spain?

Finally, what will the lasting impact and imprint be as a result of our time together?

As of now, I have no idea how to answer that question but I am excited to see how it ends up.

For example, it has only been a couple of weeks but I already can see how much the groups of friends that I have here have impacted me.

The below picture shows a dinner consisting of chicken, pasta, grated cheese, and tomatoes at one of my 'family dinner' on Thursday.

Family dinner with Atlantis crew

During our short time here, we have realized that eating out here every day is REALLY expensive and that it is better to instead make a large meal together. Also, I feel that the environment is more friendly because we are in more control of the environment and pace.

Nevertheless, all I can suggest to everyone here and back home is to strive to learn something new every day, be focused on what you want to accomplish, and express love and understanding to others even when they may not show it to you.

Cheers!