Over and Out

The final week of the internship for many in my house was a time of relief. They are almost done, never to go back to their employers or fellow interns; they were excited to be done. My reaction however was quite different. I was dreading this week. I knew the weeks would pass by too quickly, just as my whole experience in Ireland as done, but I was just not ready for Monday to come. I woke up and knew it was the last week I would have to be up at 8:15 only to make tea and biscuits, shower, hurriedly get ready, and hope to be out the door by 9:30 while rushing out with my hair still wet. The last few times I would run down the stoop of 92 Grove Park and throw in my iPod headphones and walk down Camden St. hoping not to be run over as I crossed all of the different roads. The last few times I would turn at the Bleeding Horse and then walk up to Harcourt St., making my way past others trying to get to work as hurriedly as they can. The last few times I would walk through Stephen’s Green past the gardeners and the old men strolling through on their morning walk. The last few times dodging the hundreds of Spanish schoolkids at the stop lights and making my way down Kildare St. to the gates of the Leinster House. I miss it all far too immensely already.





Monday was a fine day and filled with spurts of rain. I had to spend my lunch inside instead of my usual time spent outside on a bench in Stephen’s Green. After work, I foolishly realized at the foot of my door that I had locked myself out and since no one else was home yet, I had to patiently wait for someone to rescue me. Monday was also one of my roommate’s birthdays. Coffey, who is from China and goes to school at Wisconsin-Madison, was turning 20 and wanted us all to go to dinner. We walked around to different places and wanted to try somewhere new. We made our way to the Temple Bar area and went to the Porterhouse and had traditional Irish food. Realizing we were down to less than two weeks together, we enjoyed each other’s company and had fun celebrating Coffey’s day. We all had to finish up our history papers which are due Friday so everyone stayed in and tried to get as much work as much we could on our essays.



Tuesday was another day of intermittent rain. At work Margaret took me to tea and I enjoyed one of my last scones here, which I can only describe as the best in the world. We joined the “ladies” and gossip ensued about the recent issues in politics and what their kids were doing. For lunch, the skies had lifted and I was able to join my roommate in the green for our lunch. Everyday there are a group of four people, we assume related, who come to the park with their three dogs-Toby, Sandy, and Sunday. We know we’ve spent too much time in the park when we know the names of these dogs. These people love their dogs as one guy, Gerry, always picks up one of the dogs and holds him like a baby while singing “Rock a-bye baby”. It’s fairly nauseating, but entertaining while also reminding me of my Dad with Guinness. Even though I have never actually talked to the people of the park, I am going to miss them greatly for all of the entertainment they provide. Tuesdays mean the Bachelorette in 92 Grove Park. So we were all excited to watch it and learn Frank’s secret. We also were ecstatic to see Chris move on to the final two. Unfortunately, the excitement had to be scaled down as I sought to finish my paper on Michael Collins. Thankfully it is over and done with, but I still have another to work…





Wednesday, again, saw rain here and there. However, the rain lifted during lunch and I was able to make it out to the green again. Also, during tea time I walked down to the coffee dock to get tea for Margaret and I and was able to make eye contact a few times with Enda Kenny, the leader of the Fine Gael party. Earlier that day I also did the same with the leader of the Labour Party, Eamon Gilmore. Ahhhh something I will certainly miss doing on a regular basis, running into politicians. Melissa and I sat by Gerry and the dogs and enjoyed their entertainment for one of the last times. After work, I walked around for a bit and then made my way back to the house. Thankfully I made it just in time before the rain and thunder hit. Strangely since I have been here, I have never heard or seen thunder and lightning so it was a new experience. That night my friend, Niamh, who stayed my family in Peoria last summer came over since she studies in Dublin and the two of us and Kat and Marissa went out to a place we had heard about near our house. There was a combination of three venues in one, I’m not quite sure why they don’t just call the whole place one thing, but nevertheless they have three different venues in one building. All summer we had wondered where all of the people our age were hanging out. Well it turns out this was the spot. Everyone there looked as though they were college age and some even a little younger. Quite honestly by the end of the night, I was bored of it. I realized I would much rather be in the company of those who might be older, rather than those who are obnoxious and still younger. We said good-bye to Niamh and headed home. I knew tomorrow was the last day and I did not know how to handle it all.

When I woke up this morning, I knew it was going to be hard. I had a knot in my stomach and all I wanted to do was ask to keep working. However, today my time had come to see the end. When I received the information that I would be interning in the Dáil back in May, I was beyond excited and ready to start then and there. I could not have been more excited, especially to work for someone from Mayo, who turned out to have several connections to my relatives. I would have never dreamed to have had the opportunity to work in a foreign government, but here I am. My day started out just like all of the rest, tea and biscuits, shower, hurriedly get ready, routine commute. However, when I walked up to the Leinster House I nearly lost it when I presented my letter at the gate for the last time and the last time I would get my visitor badge and the post. Things were weighing on me and it was hard to take in. Maybe I am being a bit overdramatic, but I think this summer has had the biggest impact on me than any other experience I have had---even more than my semester in Maynooth. I feel as though I have changed in different ways and have grown more independent. However, when Margaret walked through the door of the office, I wanted to blubber and cry—the last good morning we would exchange. Since it was my last day, she took me down to the canteen for tea and scones, since she knows how much I love them. Some companies give their interns a cash gift at the end of their time, although I am not likely to receive one, however the gift of these scones which Margaret has given me over the weeks has been far better than any comfort a hundred euro could provide. We joined two of the ladies and chatted a bit about a few things that were going on in the office and then had to go back to work. The last bite of the scone may have been one of the top 10 saddest moments of my life. The day continued on just as it normally does, Margaret makes some phone calls and fills me in on the different cases and how they are approaching them. I then went to lunch in Stephen’s Green and couldn’t believe it would be the last time I would be sitting there during work and would watch all of the regulars. I shall miss the man named Jerry who sounds like a pirate with his three dogs: Toby, Sandy, and Sully. The gardener in the bright blue overalls will also be a favorite.









The rain began to start spitting so I headed inside for my last trek into the Dail. As soon as I went back in, my stomach dropped and I got the same feeling I always do before I have to say good-bye to someone…the awful nauseated sensation when I jut want to get it over with. Eventually the time came to say good-bye and with a nice firm handshake and a walk to the door of LH2000, I said good-bye to Margaret. It was so strange walking away from the woman who had been a complete stranger only six weeks ago and then was someone I was around for several hours a day. In a typical manner, I began tearing up and had to compose myself until I made it past the gate and the let it out. Surely I looked ridiculous welling up down the street so I made a beeline for Merrion Square and the park in the middle, which has come to be my favorite spot in Dublin. The park has so many trees, you feel secluded and almost out of the reaches of the city. The walk helped me to calm down and then led me to walk around for a bit, past the row of Georgian buildings to the Old Canal and back to home at Grove Park.