Hellogoodbye Blackrock

The blink of an eye. That’s what the past four months have felt like looking back. I’m not yet leaving Ireland yet, but here is the first of my goodbyes on this isle. For the past week, some of the most fascinating, hilarious, and interesting people that I have met in my life, have left Blackrock en masse. I dedicate this to them and with that, an open letter to the Blackrock crew:

Dear fellow ERASMUS, UCD, study abroad, and Irish students (all 3 of you),

You are quite possibly the drunkest, rowdiest, craziest, and most ridiculous group of people I have ever met and I love all of you. This semester was by far the most unhealthy, liver/other vital organ-destroying times of my life but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Over the past four months, I have developed great friendships with you that I will cherish for the rest of my life. It has been one of the hardest things in my life having to see all of you depart. The walks to the Aircoach stop have been devastating, accurately described as “like funeral processions.”

Never when I applied to this Ireland program at BU could I have imagined the friendships that I would make with such a diverse group of people from Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, and other assorted European countries. (I think I learned more Spanish, German, and Italian curses at Blackrock than I will during the rest of my life. Thanks guys.)

I hope I have made an impression all of you and that you remember something about our time together – be it the ridiculous nicknames (Strikeout/Fa Tay Tay Click Click), my constant drunken antics, my vocabulary, doing “work”, or the “legen-wait for it-dary” nights out.

With that said, I just want to tell you all about a few things I learned and some of the memories that I have had this semester:

To Team Spain: You guys come from literally the loudest country in the world. The dining room (read: echo chamber) just wasn’t the same after you left. Without the countless Spanish expletives, chanting, and general loudness, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I loved walking into the kitchen every day and seeing Beatriz/Clara/Isabel with a big smile on their face greet me with “Tayyylorrr.”

To Team Germany: Thanks for teaching me two phrases in German that I can most assuredly never use to pick up a German girl (I am horny/I want to f###). You guys have proved to me me time and time again that I should never challenge a German to a drinking contest unless I want to forget my own name several hours later. And Sushi – I will never forget smoking shisha (hookah for the Americans out there) and playing soccer/football (badly).

To Team Italy: Thank God I actually had a couple people who appreciated my obscure movie references (definitely send me some Italian film rec’s – my knowledge of foreign films is pathetic). You guys are literally the happiest people I’ve ever met. I don’t think I ever saw any of you without a smile on your face except at Brazen Head on the last night.

To Team Ireland: I think you’ve imparted on all of us a word that will forever have a new meaning: “craic”. Going out certainly won’t be the same in the future without the Eilis and Laura pair and their hilarious antics. Dylan, you’re almost as big of a shit-talker as I am, keep working at it. Eunan, I don’t think I know anyone else who can launch an open, deadpan insult at someone and have them smile back like you can. You guys have proven to me even more than Model UN has that some of your best friends can be younger.

I’ll never forget the “Barbeque at Blackrock”, Paddy’s Day 2010 (falling off a bar stool, kicked out of Sub Lounge – and Ed climbing over the fence with stolen beer glasses), and the entire final week with you guys. The last two weeks have been a blur – going out seven nights in a row does a number on you.

The experiences from the past week alone will be engrained in my soul forever (well, those that I remember at least): the final ERASMUS party at Break for the Border, our last night with Tom at Messrs Maguire, our near-bar fight at Copper Face Jacks, the Blackrock invasion of QBar (Mike’s dancing), the Brazen Head and our last night with the Spanish, one final time with everyone at Wicked Wolf (Mike’s dancing again, me singing I’m on a Boat on the table, and the ensuing devastation), The Temple Bar Pub and boozing until 9AM, and saying goodbye on move-out day.

At the risk of being long-winded (like my toast on Thursday night), I’m going to sign off with that. I will remember you guys for the rest of my life. If any of you come to Boston/wherever I get a job next year, you have a place to stay. I miss you guys.

Cheers,

Fa Tay Tay (Click Click)

Sláinte!