I'm sitting writing this in my new apartment in my Nashville home. Yes, I am beyond excited about my senior year at Belmont but I found myself at the airport in Dublin not wanting to leave. I had been abroad for three months. The question I got a lot was, "Well aren't you homesick?" I never knew how to answer that question. I never had a moment where I missed back home. Sure, I missed my family and friends but I never had that tummy turning feeling of wanting to go home.

When I went to my last stop on my trip, Ireland, I completely fell in love. I know, I know if you've read my posts you know I loved Paris too, but this was different. It wasn't just an infatuation with a building that twinkled, or french accents....it was the feeling of being home. You all probably think I'm crazy but I did not want to leave Ireland and go back home for a lot of reasons.

1. Freedom. If you've noticed lately, our president is wanting Transgenders to be banned from joining the military. I remember sitting at breakfast hearing the news and being so disgusted and saddened. The amount of times I went into a cab and they noticed I was American they would frown, or laugh about our situation. It was humiliating. Countries I've been too this summer accept people in all shapes, sizes, genders, and identities. We are all one, and I am ashamed that our president is dividing us into sections of who can and can not do things because he says so.

2. History. It was insane to think about how old some of these countries are compared to America. We have NOT been around long. Think about it! I've seen cathedrals thousands and thousands of years old, popes bodies that have been saved in glass cases from a hundred years ago, castles from roylaty or Irish families that are just ruins, tombs that the Catholics in rome have somehow managed to save...the list can go on and on. There isn't even a way to wrap your head around all the history in different countries.

3. The Music. Yes, we have music, trust me, I know. I live in Nashville. Something that I fell in love with Ireland for is the fact that every single person I met played an instrument, sang, danced, or did something involving music. It was like a country made of prodigies! Not only that, but they embrace and love music more than anyone I've seen. I want to be surrounded by that every single day.

4. The Food. Even the Starbucks in different countries is better, and we were the ones to create Starbucks. Their food is so fresh, organic and delicious. I've had butter that was probably made that morning, soda bread that probably took hours to rise, hand made pizza and pasta that outstands every box of pasta back home you will ever have, coffee that tasted like it was just grinded, milk just taken from the cow and beef so amazing that no burger could compare back home. Our food in America is so insanely processed that to be honest, my body is having a hard time adjusting to.

5. I Wanted To Feel Free. Sounds cliche, right? Ireland made me feel like I belonged somewhere. I sang my own songs in public and was never scared. I got to run in fields and laugh in the fresh air that I could never smell at home. I got to be me, simple enough.

I didn't want to return home to a President who makes me want to crawl in a ball and cry for humanity. I didn't want to return to a place that I feel confined in, wanting to roam free. I didn't want to eat food that has been wrapped in a package for months.

So, I guess you could say that this girl will be back in Ireland soon.