Hey everyone,

I have finally left Ireland and have just arrived in Italy...and you know what?...I miss Ireland. I miss the friends I've made, the town of Ballyvaughan and it's 250 people, the cows... Well I miss it because I have come to know it so well is all... Rome is so overwhelming compared to my little town in Burren, congrats to Lisa for surviving such a crazy place and for showing us such amazing videos of her travels through Italy. I hate coming to the end of this J.Y.A. project, it's been such a wonderful motivator over these past 4 months, and I can't believe the time is already gone.
At this point, I'm supposed to say that my life has changed; that it was an experience of a lifetime, and it's helped me to find myself...and it has. You go into these situations full knowing that you will be different when you're done...you just don't know how you will change...and sometimes you don't know that you have changed until you get back home to your friends and family. I have had a lot of troubles this semester with teachers, students, and the weather, my photography and with life in general...but I survived and I had some amazing times and made some amazing memories. I will go back to Ireland.... but not for a while...

It has been a pleasure sharing in the journeys of my fellow J.Y.A.er's, and an inspiration. Each of you has done amazing things that you will be able to keep with you forever. Thank you for putting your every effort into getting the most out of your travels and the most from the cultures that surrounded you. I wish you all the best in your futures at home or abroad.

My message to all of you who followed my journey throughout: thank you for your support and I hope that you've not only learned some things, but have been inspired to see the world. Be inspired. Dream. Travel...in that order preferably.

Wish me luck here in Italy and in the rest of my travels around the world.

All the best,

Roger

Posted by Roger at 04:01 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Hey everyone,

I leave tomorrow...but not home like most of my fellow JYAer's....but to Italy. I fly into Rome tomorrow night, my first completely solo trip in another country...very scary. Of coarse everyone in my family is worried, if you know who they are, reasure them I'm going to be just fine. I can't wait to get there...the Forum, the Pantheon, the Colosseum, the Catacombs!!!

I'm happy that I finally broke the mold of my family...not to say the mold wasn't good to begin with....but it's a little different now. Before I started traveling there was no one in my family that would leave the country...we're too comfortable back home I guess. Hopefully I have started a trend amongst my brothers and father that will continue. I had this idea about the world while growing up that the world is just too big and that there's not enough time or money for me out there that will ever let me see anything other than my back yard. Living abroad for the second time has jus taken the world down in scale yet again. When I make it to China and Cape Town I'll probably feel as though I'm on one big playscape we call the world.

A little of background for you...you know that I'm a photography major...but I'm also an art history minor with my focus of studies on Greek and Roman Art...so you can imagine my excitement preparing for this trip. I'll check in with you from the road as soon as I hit a computer and I'll be sure to get some last minute pictures of Italy up for all of you.

Rog

Posted by Roger at 03:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Hey Everyone,

We just had our Final Show here last night at the Burren College of Art. There was 28 students exhibiting work, food & wine, and a generous crowd that showed up. I displayed my new take on landscape with my bubbled images of Ireland countryside along side another artist and friend of mine in a gallery all our own. The Fahy's showed up as well as Bernadette Monks (the woman who cooked me the oysters in the last video...well not cooked....but served). It was a great turn out with many familiar and new faces to see and meet. Now that the show is over that means that the semester is on a countdown...7 days until departure...at least for everyone else. Everyone here will be leaving on the 16th of December while I will be spending the next two weeks doing some traveling...finally! I'm going to have the freedom to do whatever I want...I just have to choose a place to go...I'm thinking Italy for two weeks would be perfect, we'll see. Meanwhile I have to plan on finding a new place to live or at least keep my things while getting around and then anticipate the arrival of my father, girlfriend, twin brother, and friend of mine. I'm not as excited to leave this place as many of the other students...it's sad to leave such a beautiful place. Hopefully when my girlfriend gets here we will make it to all the places that I didn't have the time to get to during the semester...Belfast for one...

Meanwhile I have been just keeping to my work and really trying to get things in order for a departure in one way or another. I'll keep you posted, hopefully from Italy...

~Roger~

Posted by Roger at 06:26 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)