Hello everybody, and happy New Year!
December flew by, and now a new year has begun! But before we dive into 2024, let’s take a moment to reflect on December.
Getting into the Christmas Spirit
I absolutely love Christmas, so on the first of December, I decorated my room, and it turned out beautifully! Unfortunately, December is also a month filled with exams, so a lot of my time was spent studying. Luckily, my friends were just as nervous about the Christmas exams as I was, so we organized plenty of “study dates” to make the studying a bit more enjoyable.
Christmas Shopping and Dublin’s Festive Spirit
Amidst all the studying, I still had to do some Christmas shopping. My friends and I made trips to the city centre almost every weekend. The Christmas decorations around town were stunning, and the stores were packed all month long!
Just look at how lovely Trinity College looked all lit up—doesn’t it look amazing?
A Night at the Stella Theatre
I also went to the Stella Theatre in Rathmines with my friend Nina. The Stella is a gorgeous cinema, and we went to see the new Christmas movie Last Christmas. While the movie itself wasn’t particularly memorable, the theatre was absolutely stunning. We had our own couch with tables on either side and sat on a balcony—such a unique cinema experience!
Surviving Christmas Exams
Then came the dreaded week of exams. We had six exams in one week, which was a totally new experience for me. I even had three exams in one day! I think they all went okay, though. The day after our last exam was the final day of school before Christmas, and we were allowed to dress up for the occasion. It was a relaxed day at school, filled with games, Christmas songs, and classroom clean-ups.
After school, Nina and I made one last trip to the city centre for 2019. Sadly, it was also Nina’s last day in Ireland, as she won’t be returning after Christmas. I’m really sad about that, but I’m already planning to visit her in Italy soon!
Christmas at Home and New Year Reflections
On the 21st of December, it was time to head home! I spent Christmas at home in Norway, celebrating with my family, friends, and dogs. It was wonderful to see everyone again, and being home made me realize how much I appreciate the people I have in my life.
Here’s a picture of how happy I was to be reunited with my friends!
As much as I loved being home, I’m a little anxious about returning to Ireland. But at the same time, I know that this Christmas wouldn’t have been as special if I hadn’t gone on exchange. Being away for a while has given me a new appreciation for my loved ones back home.
There’s so much to look forward to in the next five months in Ireland, and I’m hopeful that this term will be even better than the first one!
Thank you for reading, and I wish you all a fantastic start to the new year!
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