We’re here: Ireland, Dublin, and on a
coach to our campsite. Earlier we packed our 85 enormous backpacks
in one coach (bus) and one mini-coach. Now, we’re watching Ireland
go by. It’s underwhelming. Sure there’s lots of green, but any
interesting scenery is hidden from the highway we’re driving on. The
conversation, on the other hand, is overwhelming. Everyone is full of energy, despite our collective lack of sleep, and the bus hums with silliness.
coach to our campsite. Earlier we packed our 85 enormous backpacks
in one coach (bus) and one mini-coach. Now, we’re watching Ireland
go by. It’s underwhelming. Sure there’s lots of green, but any
interesting scenery is hidden from the highway we’re driving on. The
conversation, on the other hand, is overwhelming. Everyone is full of energy, despite our collective lack of sleep, and the bus hums with silliness.
“God must have a sarcastic side,”
says Liz. “He invented the naked mole rat! Honestly?!”
says Liz. “He invented the naked mole rat! Honestly?!”
The littlest things excite us; internet, however,
is not a little thing: “In case you’re curious, there’s WiFi on the
bus,” says Drea.
is not a little thing: “In case you’re curious, there’s WiFi on the
bus,” says Drea.
“Are you serious?!”
“THERE’S WIFIIIII!!!!!” says Lauren
M.
M.
One group was talking about how it was
leaving: “…and my brother said, ‘Are you really going to cry in
the middle of Best Buy?!”
leaving: “…and my brother said, ‘Are you really going to cry in
the middle of Best Buy?!”
A girl says, “I would have said, ‘Are
you really going to be a smart-ass in the middle of Best Buy?
Because I’m crying!”
you really going to be a smart-ass in the middle of Best Buy?
Because I’m crying!”
Leaving hobbies: “Ice Skating,” I
read from a sign.
read from a sign.
“I WANT TO GO!” one girl says. “I
almost cried when I put away my hockey stick!”
almost cried when I put away my hockey stick!”
Or about Irish scenery: “Yellow
grass! Unacceptable!” said Joel.
grass! Unacceptable!” said Joel.
“It’s a field!” someone argued.
“That field should be painted GREEN!
Yellow factory! That factory should be painted GREEN!”
Yellow factory! That factory should be painted GREEN!”
Irish everything: “Irish
thing-a-majiggie. Oh, it’s a statue.”
thing-a-majiggie. Oh, it’s a statue.”
“Irish art!”
“Irish boat!”
“She’ll be in Cambodia and she’ll
still be saying, ‘Irish boat!'” Joel says. “No. This is
Cambodia. And it’s a truck. Close though.”
still be saying, ‘Irish boat!'” Joel says. “No. This is
Cambodia. And it’s a truck. Close though.”
“Irish traffic circles!”
“Irish taxi!”
“Irish farm!”
“Irish birdwatcher!”
“Irish rock!”
“How many times can you say ‘Irish?'”
“IRISH IRISH IRISH IRISH IRISH (times
10)!”
10)!”
“Oh I hate my life,” says Joel.
Telling Irish jokes: “Hey Joe, I’ve
got another joke for you. It’s short,” David says. “An Irish guy
walks out of a bar.” He closes his mouth and looks at us.
got another joke for you. It’s short,” David says. “An Irish guy
walks out of a bar.” He closes his mouth and looks at us.
“Oh haha!” someone laughs.
“Ohhhhh….” I get it.”
“What?!” says Drea.
“An Irish guy walks OUT of a bar,”
I explain to her.
I explain to her.
She laughs.
We pull into our campsite. The squad
and team leaders surround the coaches, waving to us, clapping on the
windows of the coaches, big smiles on their faces. This is a family
reunion.
and team leaders surround the coaches, waving to us, clapping on the
windows of the coaches, big smiles on their faces. This is a family
reunion.
“Awww… leaders,” a few girls say.
“Irish leaders!”
We get off the bus. I hug people I haven’t hugged in months. Where is Tamica? I search for her amongst the rush of people and packs. There she is with her dark hair and bright eyes.
“JOE!”
“TAMICA!”
It is exciting. It is reunion. And yet, I am not as excited as I should be. Maybe it is the sleeplessness, but this feels too normal. Or maybe not normal but just natural, maybe this is so right that it felt more wrong to be at home in Santa Barbara than to be here, in Ireland, camping amongst 85 strangers who are also brothers and sisters and mothers. Maybe this is home.
I don’t know. It doesn’t matter really. I grab my pack and begin setting up my tent.
