No, thank you.

I don't want to go. Plain and simple I don't want to go home. No, thank you, I'd rather stay here. My true home resides in Weston, Wisconsin but Galway has been home for the past 5 month and it's now familiar. The men sit outside the pubs for hours drinking their pints, smoking like chimneys. Women have beautiful high heels steadily walking along the cobble stones as if it's no big deal. Little children wander shop street throwing change into musicians hats and guitar cases given to them by their parents. Nothing opens early, not even the bakery. It's quiet. Yesterday in Salthill I heard music leak out of an open car window. This is only the 2nd or 3rd time I've heard this since living in Ireland. Bumping, pounding beats aren't blasted from car sound systems like back home. Diversity is everywhere even in small Galway with a population of 70,000 races of all shapes and color splash up and down the streets. Bus drivers are quite possibly the friendliest men you'll meet, until you try to bring a bike on their bus. Even after giving you an evil eye and disgruntled comments, they still return back to their jolly selves wishing you all the best as you exit their bus. No one exercises. Looks of disgust and disbelief consume their faces upon hearing you miss weight lifting. Seagulls swoop up and down squawking all over the city. Some drop unpleasant gifts as others pose seemingly knowing you're wanting a cute photo. Life on the prom never dies, buggies, walkers, bicyclists and runners commute up and down all along the beautiful coast taking in the wonder of Galway Bay. No matter how cold Galwegians are willing to take a dip in the water, just because. Especially the elderly bob up and down, waves gently crashing over them as their brightly colored swim caps appear as polka dots in the ocean. Mocha Beans alarm sounds nightly well into the morning. Tight security? I should think not, considering no one ever comes to check the situation or shut off the alarm.

The sweet smell of cigarette smoke lingers in the air everywhere you go. It's quite odd how used to it I've become. I truly dislike smoking as it is terrible for ones health. Smoke used to irritate me so, however it's become part of everyday life as a very large percentage of the population smokes. Communication is slow. Sending an e-mail a full week before a response is needed. Whether it's professors, students or anyone Irish at all, they take their sweet time when it comes to responding. They don't sweat the small stuff. You called and they didn't call you back? That's okay they were probably busy. They arrived 10 minutes late? 25 minutes late? 40 minutes late? That's fine, no one runs on time. They're just happy to see you. Things are spelled funny, organisation, centre, colour are all words I'll have a bit of difficulty remembering to revert back to U.S. spelling.  Listening to small children sing the abc's you'll hear "f...g...hatch..i..j..k.......x..y...zed" The Irish believe people freeze to death at any temperature below -20 Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit). Explaining Wisconsin weather will captivate any Irish audience. Tea cannot be poured into a cold teacup...it just isn't right. Irish households always have milk, sugar, tea and biscuits. Not offering a guest the aforementioned is rude. Pouring, sprinkling, side ways, it doesn't matter how the rain is falling it doesn't stop the Irish. Nothing is waterproof in Ireland. You cannot escape mold. Green pasture, stone fences and sheep spotted hills can be seen for miles. It's not worth counting the number of sheep or castles you see, there are simply too many. Inefficiency runs rampant and friendship runs deep. Signage is sparse, but smiles are everywhere. Flamming red hair and freckles can be seen in both the old and young. Ireland has become home and no thank you, I'd rather stay.