London Town :)

Two weekends ago, April 29th, I went to London! Now, yes, it was during this weekend of the Royal Wedding, but the main reason I went was to see my good friends Kaylee and Keith, both go to school with me at Drake. Kaylee is in my sorority and Keith and I have the same life (Psychology majors with a behavior analysis of developmental disabilities minor and a business minor).  They are both amazing people and it was incredible seeing them. I spent Friday night and Saturday day with Keith.  We did the usual sight seeing ( I have already been to London so it was fun to just walk around the city).  He lives right in the city and is surrounded by beautiful, expensive homes.  The park behind his dorm, is where Princess Diana used to go with William and Harry when they were young, pretty crazy I know.  Spending the day with him, talking about our experiences and the things we will need to do to prepare for next fall was so great.  While being in Ireland I have my friends here who I talk with about my exeperience, but being able to talk to someone else abroad, not in the same place as I am, really helped me to understand how life changing studying abroad truly is.  After going to the market, seeing Peter Pan :) and spending the day wondering and walking through 5 different beautiful parks in the sun, I was back on the tube and off to spend the next two nights with Kaylee.  Seeing here was one of the greatest moments, it brought back all of those feelings about home.  We sat and talked for hours about delta gamma, going home and feeling unsure about life, wondering how we will adapt and if we will feel different.  I felt so happy, relieved that she was feeling everything i was feeling.  I met her new friends that have shared this experience with her and I felt her pain for when she had to say goodbye to them. She is truly incredible and so loving, I am so blessed to have her back at Drake with me as my friend and as my sister as we both adapt back to our real lives.  My time in London was perfect, I realized how truly amazing being away for 4 months has been and how it has allowed me and my friends to grow and understanding the world a little bit better. 

What What?? Kennelly Family Comes to Visit :)

WOW! I cannot believe my family was here already a month ago! Time just flies here. Well, the lovely Kennelly family ventured over to the Grand ol' country of Ireland March 25-April 2 to visit their wonderful ginger :). While I was in Barcelona Thursday-Monday, they flew into London, stayed there for two days then flew to Dublin, spent a day there then finally to Limerick Monday! Seeing my family in my new world was so strange. Ireland is a place where I have begun to call my new home,  it is a place that no one else can understand or relate to back at home.  When I first saw them, I was overwhelmed with emotions; exictement, surprised, releaved, happy.. just about everything!  I showed them my apartment and around my campus, where we ate lunch with a few of my friends at the campus pub and where I shared my first 'legal' drink with my family. After leaving campus, I stayed with them at their hotel. The next day we took the Cliffs of Moher tour. Seeing this magnificant sight with my family was honestly the greatest feeling ever.  I was able to share my experiences and emotions while livng In Ireland with them and they were able to connect with me how I felt about the beautifulness that Ireland has to offer.  Throughout the tour, we had a blast just laughing and sharing silly jokes and finally being together as a family.  That night, we took the bus to our B&B in Killarney.  This little town filled with shops and restaurants was soo cute and our room was lovely.  The next day, we did the Ring of Kerry tour which was also breathtaking and beautiful :).  Spending time with my family is always fun, but spending quality time with my family in Ireland, the country that has allowed me to grow as a person, building my character and confidence was something truly special.  I have never felt so close with my family, constantly laughing and making fun of each other, almost peeing our pants everyday, made me realize how much I have grown even more, truly appreciating ever second I had with them, wishing it would never end.  Charlie and I also grew so much closer.  Sitting with him and being able to talk, made me realize that we have  become so much more than brother and sister in this past year, we have become good friends. Friday morning, we took a ride in a buggie throuhg the Killarney National park.  A park that is 25,000 acres,  surrounded by a huge lake and beautiful hill landscapes.  The man driving the buggie was quite the Irish man.  He was older and soo funny, singing and talking to his pony, named Suzie.  He kept saying 'What, What? Oh, Suzie she gets afraid of the puddles on the road, she thinks she will drown' Once we left Killarney, we stayed at another B&B in Blarney, by the Blarney Castle.  Their last night in Ireland made the week completely perfect.  After dinner, we sat in the cozy dinning area and talked about my parents time while being together; how they met, their wedding, the million trips they have been on together.  It really made me realize how incredibly in love they are and how strong their friendship is.  This trip significanlty brought us all closer together as a family, but also, as friends.  When they left saturday morning, I felt lost, lonely, unsure, for the first time in Ireland. I was in a daze, filled with mixed feelings and not sure what to do with myself.  Having them come visit, was such a life changing experience for all of us, something that we will never forget. 

I cannot wait to see them in two weeks!
<3