Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland)

We left Jordan. Our last week was bittersweet; sad to leave, happy to head home. We were invited to lunches and dinners and spent hours with friends reliving our funniest and fondest moments. We will never forget Jordan, the beautiful country of generous people who welcomed us so warmly. We flew to Paris, France, then to Dublin, Ireland. Terry's final Fulbright activity at Trinity College lasted longer than expected but was very successful and a happy way to end (especially since they, too, discussed a visiting professorship). While Terry was at Trinity I had a pint at Doyle's Pub, drawn there by the name of my late father. The owner, an Irishman who happened to be a fan of FDR and (of course) President Kennedy, spent over an hour with me discussing history and politics of Ireland and the USA. Our discussion began with the question I got everywhere: "What do you think of Donald Trump?" During Terry's Fulbright we saw the (indescribably extreme) wealth of oil-rich Gulf countries, saw shocking poverty up close, and experienced a range from old Europe grandeur to the pyramids; distinct places with unique customs, languages, religions, clothing, foods. Interestingly, all countries had in common...Adele on the radio. We loved Ireland's deep green vegetation and cheery people whose good-byes invariably included "may God bless you!" We walked Dublin for hours and because we liked our driver Niall Ward so much, hired him for more private touring of surrounding mountains and fishing villages. We explored beautiful parks (St. Stephen's Green, Phoenix, Fairview) and churches (Trinity, Christ, St. Patrick's, St. Catherine's, St. George's) and castles (Clontarf, Howth, Malahide) and walked the shopper's Mecca (Grafton Street). We strolled Trinity College with its beautiful library housing the Book of Kells. The Book of Kells, a national treasure, is an illuminated manuscript of 4 Gospels in Latin dated (approximately) to the year 800. I filled an important life goal: experience an Irish pub. The servers were friendly and welcoming, the food hearty and delicious. Terry and I tried a "full Irish breakfast" and later a "real Irish stew" (cooked in Guiness). We spent happy hours walking the beautiful city of Dublin, including the Temple Bar area, crossing the Ha'Penny Bridge traversing the Liffey River. The weather was pleasant until the end when the remnants of Jonas, the storm that buried the eastern USA in snow, brought wind gusts and rain. During our 6 months, Ireland was the last of the 16 countries in which Terry taught or we toured (Denmark, Norway, Estonia, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt, Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, and Ireland). And now we head home.