I just returned from a week in a very green country. Ireland. I flew through RyanAir and it was a bit of an ordeal to train to Eindhoven and then get a bus to the airport and then a bus to dublin after we flew in, but it was well worth it.

One of the main things that I discovered there was that people are different. I know, that sounds very obvious. The Dutch, compared to the Irish, are like night and day. The Irish are loud, they drink a lot more and I feel like maybe a bit closer to American culture. The Dutch are a little bit more tough, they still certainly know how to have fun, no doubt about that, but the Irish do it louder and drink much more.

I had forgotten about religion since I have been in Amsterdam and could not believe how Catholic the Irish really were. Everyone is raised Catholic there. I have not met one religious person here in Amsterdam. My teachers are all very vocal about how religion is kind of a joke here.

If you are planning on visiting Ireland, I recommend going to Galway and the Aran Islands. Galway is a greener city than Dublin and has a great student life.

The Aran Islands are breathtaking. They have cliffs and old ruins of castles. It is really an experience to go. Try and go after September, though. Otherwise, the tourists really take over.