8 Moments In Ireland, I Don't Want To Forget

It feels good to be home, but weird to be back. There is definitely such a thing as a 'depressive state' that happens after you get back from a vacation, and it has been hitting me hard this week.

This trip, was simply one of the best. It was filled with experiences to last a lifetime. (I ate so many scones, and brown bread.) Although I'm still processing the details and best bits, I wanted to bring you a post today about some of the littlest moments, that I don't want to forget. In fact, these moments may have been the best, because of their simplicity, or unexpectedness. Most of these interactions are ones I had with people I met or talked to, on planes, busses, or on the street along the way. And some are just simple moments.

You know somewhere along this trip I had said, that I 'hated people.'

It was in the moment, and I didn't even mean it fully. I had said it without even thinking. But once I talked it out, and started to think about it, I realized that is so far from the truth.

I think really, I live for people. For the interactions, the simple conversations, and feelings of connection you can get from being in someone else's company. The things you can learn from just listening to someone, and the things you start to see when you sit back, and observe.

What I learned in Ireland, is that I don't hate people. People are in fact, amazing. Everyone has a uniqueness about them that I'll be forever drawn to. I confused my own shyness and feeling uncomfortable around others, for disliking having to interact with people on a general basis. I've kinda realized over the years I may have a little social anxiety (hehe, like you might not have guessed already). But in all seriousness, the fear of saying something completely stupid, being misunderstood, or laughed at, is something that I know all too well. It is kind of embarrassing and may seem silly, but man it can be a struggle.

Back to the trip. The people I ran into and the small moments that happened, are so warm to me now. Even if at times I was awkward, or completely myself -open and genuine, they're special to me.

I do not want to forget them.

So here we go,

1. The Boy On The Bike

On one of our first days out we went to the Muckross House and Gardens to walk around. They had a little restaurant there and huge garden and farm to walk around. While walking through the gardens, there were families walking and exploring. The ground and pathways there were laid with gravel. I passed by a little boy on his tricycle. He couldn't have been more than four. His wheels kept getting stuck in the gravel. As I passed, I grabbed the front handle and pulled him a few feet forward as he continued to petal. He looked up, studying me, seeming to be okay with the help. I started to walk away, and looked back to see him, stuck again, and now looking at me with desperation as he tried to pedal his way forward.

Muckross House, and Gardens, southern Ireland.

I ended up pulling him three or four times, until he got the pavement successfully and pedaled away. We never actually said anything to each other. But we both had agreed in our minds that that gravel wasn't going to defeat us.

2. The *slightly hungover Farmer

A few days after we had settled in our Air B&B, we drove up the Dingle Peninsula and toured the farm lands and coastal roads. There, you can actually drive and stop at the different farms and pay the farmers or owners a euro or two, and then be allowed to see the buildings, houses, and historic sites that are on their land. One of the stops we did, we walked up to the shed where the head farmer was. He seemed a little out of it, possibly a little hungover. His boots stomping in the wet ground, while he made his way around the car, clutching his cup. His collie ran out and jumped on me. Her paws were muddy, but I didn't mind. "Captain!!" He coughed. "get down you bloody thing." As he swatted her away. While Once paying our fee, he actually forgot to give me my change. He even asked me after we came back down from the road, and I said I was pretty sure that he did. The truth was, I couldn't remember and was too shy to actually check.

And for some reason, really wasn't bothered.

The Dingle peninsula, along the coast in southern ireland.

3. That French girl, who liked my umbrella.

I was sitting by myself, on a bus on our way up to Wicklow (Northern ireland) for the day.

"I like your umbrella." Said a french girl across from me, Pointing to my totoro umbrella. "It's very cute."

"Oh, thank you!" I said.

"My sister, would very much like it. Where you get it from?" Her voice was soft, and her grammar, not perfect.

"It was a gift, I'm not sure where they got it.. You can try looking online for it. Amazon maybe?"

"Oh yes, that's true. But it can be very expensive. For.. for the.." she closed her eyes, and motioned her hand, as searched for her words.

"For the shipping?" I added.

"For delivery, yes"

She smiled. I noticed her hair was really frizzy, and pulled back in a braid that she probably did that morning, in an attempt to keep it together.

At the end of the tour, our tour guide had shared some whiskey for everyone to taste, and put it in these little plastic cups. I immediately noticed he filled mine a little too full, and I was now worried about it spilling.

"Did you get any good pictures?" I leaned over the seat, and asked her.

"Oh, yes! None of me in them, but very good photos."

"Yes! me too" I exclaimed.

Then it must have been time to embarrass myself (good job toria) because I noticed a sudden wet feeling seeping through my jacket. I looked down quickly, and had saw that I had been spilling my whiskey, as I was talking (like a fool). There was still a generous amount in the cup, so there really must have been a lot. I looked back up at her with a wide eyed look, and started to smile as I tried to wipe away the mess. She looked away quickly, pretending not to notice. We never talked again after that. I don't know if she was being kind, or was just embarrassed for me. Either way, Lol?

4. That Italian guy, with the glasses?

It was during our last day in Ireland, on one of the bus tours we took to see the Wicklow mountains. We had stopped at a viewing point, and everyone got out to see and to take photos. After looking down the cliff side to take it all in, I turned and asked the guy next to me if he could take my picture. "Sure, yes, okay." He had a thick accent, and glasses that were maybe, too big for his face. He takes a second, squinting and tries to holds my phone steady in the wind. "Okay.. come on now, smileee!"

Wicklow Mountains, northern Ireland. "The Guniess Lake"

"where are you from?" He asked.

"Southern California."

"ahh." He nodded.

"..where are you from?" I asked.

"Uhh..Florence, Italy."

"Oh, cool!.." I said.

"..You've been?" He asked.

"I haven't.."

"Oh.. well, I never been to USA." He smiled, and squinted. And shoved his hands nervously in his pockets.

And that's all that was said. Haha! I could have been more polite, and asked him his name, how long he was traveling for, if he liked Ireland, or about his family back home. But once again, social anxiety got the better of me. You literally could have said anything toria. Lol. Be nicer next time? I did take a picture for him though, as a courtesy, for taking mine. Anyways, thanks for the picture whoever you were? I hope your trip was good too.

5. That first sip of tea

Before we went to our first Airbnb in Dingle, we stopped at a small grocery store to pick up a few essentials. I bought the biggest box of tea I could get my hands on (it wasn't that big). When we got home I brewed a cup, stirred in some brown sugar, and sat down on the window seat. That was the best first sip of tea I had ever experienced. It was after 24+ hours of travel, and maybe that is why, but it didn't matter. The atmosphere around me was perfect in that moment, and that cup was gold.

6. Everyone who smiled at me, in passing on the street.

We walked by a lot of people. Everywhere. And I saw all of you. Some of you were nice. Thank you to all the people who smiled back at me in passing. It made me simply happy.

7. The Australian guy, on the bus.

One of the bus tours we did, I sat next to a Australian guy, who must have been in his forties? This guy.. Lol. I don't think I've laughed so much at one person's jokes, and certainly not on a eight hour bus ride. We ended up talking about music, the differences in our countries, sharks, movies, food, favorite places, etc.

We got on so well, my sister even asked me, "That guy isn't bothering you is he?"

(Lol. It was not like that at all).

There isn't much to do on an eight hour bus ride, over miles and miles of farmland. After a while, you get bored of listening to your headphones, and you actually start talking to other people.

"Are you American?" He asked.

"Yes, and you.. Australian?"

"Yeah.."

*Silence

"What part of the States are you from?"

"Southern California."

"Ahh. I've been to California."

"You have? Oh, I bet you're beaches in Australia are better than ours."

"Yeah..They are. Your guy's beaches are not all that great. No offence. I've been to Venice beach."

"Oh"

*Silence

"You know, Venice is nasty man.. why did you go there??"

"I don't know.. It was the place to go." He laughed.

"You've been to Australia?"

"I haven't"

"Is it on your list?"

"...Maybe"

*Laughs

"I'm just afraid of getting eaten by a shark." I said.

"Yeah, I mean, We've got sharks, but they only really come out in the early morning, and late at night.. otherwise, they don't bite." He laughed.

"You've totally convinced me.."

*Silence

"So, are you afraid of Donald Trump?"

"wow" I said, laughing, "Um, more annoyed than afraid. Things are kinda crazy right now huh?"

"Yeah.. In Australia, we've got a lot of freedom. No one really gives a f*** what you do."

And It just went on from there. We had talked about everything. This guy was hilarious. After deep into conversation he asked;

One of the stops we made during this bus ride. A natural rock formation called "The Giant's Causeway" In Northern Ireland.

"Okay, I've got a question. What's the last song you played on your phone?"

"...This might be really embarrassing, because I listen to a lot of different music." I answered.

"That's alright, I've probably got Taylor Swift in here somewhere."

"Alright.." I said. "Ahh. It's 'Shark'. By Oh Wonder... not Australian shark, mind you...just shark."

*Laughs. "Right."

"What type of music do you listen to?"

"Everything." I answered.

"The weekend?" He asked.

Oh my gosh, I couldn't believe this guy.

"Yeah!" I said. "And Drake.. Ellie Goulding-"

"Ellie Goulding, the blonde chick right?"

"Yeah, that's her" I said.

"Coldplay?"

"Of course." He looked down at me, like it was the dumbest question.

"Okay. Just making sure."

Lol.

"Okay.. I've got it." He looks over. "SNOW PATROL."

This was going to be a great bus ride, I thought.

We named so many different artists, George Michael, Whitney Houston, James Arthur, Ed Sheeran, Calvin Harris, Mumford & Sons, Van Morrison, Duke Dumont, Michael Buble, Diana Ross, Tove Lo, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Broods, Purity Ring, ODESZA, Nat King Cole, Jackson Browne, Hall and Oates.

"You like NSYNC? They're easy. I mean, who doesn't love the boybands-"

"Me." I interrupted.

"Ohhh! Well, we've got one person!" He laughed.

"Not hate them" I said, "but you know."

" Bing Crosby?" He added.

"Ahh! Now you can't forget him, I love him. And NOT just for the Christmas stuff." I said.

"Ella Fitzgerald?"

He turned towards me in surprise.

"Yeah.. That's cool." He said. "I'm surprised you even know who she is."

"Haha, well who ever doesn't, is missing out."

"Keane?"

"...You know Keane??" He looked even more surprised.

"Of course" I looked at him like it was the dumbest question.

"One Republic?" I then asked casually.

"....who?"

This bus ride just took a turn.

"What??...You don't know who One Republic is??"

"Nope. Never heard of them."

I spent the next few minutes explaining all the reasons, he needed them in his life. Thinking back now, I wonder if he will remember to give them a listen.

"Okay.. So what about Vanilla Ic-" *Starts laughing, and puts his hand over his face.

"...wait..what?" I asked, chuckling.

"You know.. Vanilla Ic-" *laughs again. "I can't even say it without laughing."

"Why is that so funny?" I laughed.

"I don't know.. I might be a bit delirious right now."

"Vanilla Ice!" He finally got it out.

"...I don't think I know-"

"Yeah, you do." He said. "It's the one that goes, 'Do do do, do do do do..Ice, ice, Baby"

He laughed.

"...Are you kidding me?" I asked.

"That's a great song, you've gotta admit.." He said.

I will admit now, since I've been back, I've listened to that song a few times. I won't ever listen to it first of all without laughing, and secondly, without remembering this weird guy.

I never even asked his name. Damn it toria, you did it again. Don't be so afraid of people.

8. Basically everything I did, with Laura and William

These two.. They can be such a witty duo. It really was a pleasure spending time with them. Thanks for putting up with me, and for letting me tag along. You guys, were my favorite people to learn about, talk to, and hang around -you guys are what made Ireland great.

Love you.

On our walk back to our flat, on our last night. After a few drinks, in the rain, laughing about some old joke, only funny if you've been with the same people for 10 days.. I really loved every minute with them. *Trying not to trip while laughing, a… — On our walk back to our flat, on our last night. After a few drinks, in the rain, laughing about some old joke, only funny if you've been with the same people for 10 days.. I really loved every minute with them. *Trying not to trip while laughing, and taking this picture. Otherwise, I would have been soaked and just might have peed my pants from the laughing fit that would have ensued shortly after.

There were so many moments, so many small memorable conversations. Those are just some I wanted to share. I will make another post really soon, that focuses more on pictures, and details about what we did. Meanwhile-

What I've learned from this trip, and while making this post:

I love people. I really do.

And making a post like this, will help me to remember the moments I shared with them.

I really don't like meeting people, getting to know them, but never seeing them again. That part is weird, and bittersweet?

Don't get me wrong though, not all of my interactions were so great... some moments I'm kind of okay with not remembering...