Summing it all up...

Our fellowship took us many places we never dreamed of. Kim is now an avid blogger, Brian has grown to love Irish literature in new ways, and I have learned how to do a great deal with the media tools at my disposal. But even more than these small things, our fellowship showed us that people are people. We all have the same hopes, fears, wants and desires. The wonderful people we met in Ireland, Dana, Stephanie, Katrina, Lynn, and Megan (those infamus Dublin Girls); Jayo and his mates (yes, they did make it to the rave to which they were headed); Ian Steppe, the former headmaster-head coach of the Irish football team-all around Irish man; Justin Colvin, the bartender with an interesting story and interesting tattoos; Gerard Donavan, who was once the Artist-in-residence at Arkansas State U and stated that he'd been to Tulsa multiple times(mostly to experience the nightlife); Our Arctic Monkey comrades who did us a favor of talking for what seemed like hours about the differences between America and Ireland and the state of education, healthcare, and roadtrips (Fioan, that invite still holds true if you decide to tour route 66!): These are all of the things that made our fellowship worth the many days of 4 adults living in 1 small room, multiple travel delays, countless fish and chips (some good, some very bad--it was Beshoff's), and sometimes not being the best of companions. Through it all, we understand that the places we go, the people we meet, the things we do, all teach us what is it to be human. We are enriched as people because we know where we've been, and despite all of the stress of travel, we are still companions and we look for a brighter future.