Backpacking Adventures: Europe Part I

4. Dublin

When you drive through Ireland, you notice how green the grass is. When we got off the plane and left the airport, we needed to take a bus from the airport to the area we were staying. The bus ride was about an hour and took us through some of the countryside to Dublin. I'll always remember peering out the windows on that bus ride and seeing a new shade of green, unrecognizable from the grass back home.

It's almost as if the grass brings the iconic Irish character to its people. The green of Ireland brings life to the country and its citizens. It has one of the most energetic cultures I have ever experienced. Admittedly, there may not be as much to do in Dublin compared to other major European cities. But what it lacks in attractions, it makes up for in energy. The citizens power their country's uniqueness more than any other place I visited.

As soon as you walk into an Irish pub, you learn what the people of Ireland are like. It's a carefree culture that prioritizes enjoying life, not stressing about things they can't control. It's the kind of culture that would rather enjoy a pint with friends than worry about tomorrow's problems. We could all learn a lot by adopting some Irish culture in North America. From my experience, everything in North America is about tomorrow. Our tendency to always look at what's next impairs our ability to enjoy the present.

I agree that we need to think about the future, and I do it subconsciously every day. But being in Ireland taught me the importance of enjoying the moments as they pass. We're lucky if we get 85 years on this planet, so let's live and laugh with those we cherish while we still can.

Giant Jenga

Josh and I stayed in a hostel in Dublin known as Generator. Little did we know it was part of a network of European hostels. We later discovered this as we planned our travels to Rome and Barcelona. Here we found other Generators belonging to the same company.

One night, the hostel hosts a party in its main lobby and activity area. Drinks are flowing, people are dancing, and songs are being sung. Josh and I join in on the dance floor, and that's when we notice a giant set of Jenga lying neglected in the corner. Who would want to play board games when the party is in full swing just a few feet away?

Being more observers than drinkers, Josh and I set up the giant Jenga game. And when I say "giant," I mean it - the blocks are nearly five feet tall! It takes us a while to stack the blocks. As we do, we start to attract a crowd of onlookers. The other guests were from all walks of life - an elderly Chinese couple, a middle-aged German man, college students from Seattle, and more.

The game is impossible to ignore, as the towering Jenga blocks sway precariously with each move. The crowd grows larger as people can't resist the thrill of seeing the blocks stay upright. Soon, half the people there are cheering for Josh, while the other half root for me. As the game progresses, every time Josh or I remove a block without the structure collapsing, there is a collective sigh of relief from the spectators.

The game's climax is a moment of pure excitement - Josh is facing certain defeat. Looking at the structure, there is no way he can remove another block.

He seeks advice from his new coaches and friends before identifying a target. Little by little, Josh slides the block ever so slightly as he wiggles the wood. It starts to seem possible. As he approaches the crucial point, the crowd is watching in disbelief. As the block is almost out, he pulls swiftly, risking it all on one maneuver... but lo and behold, the tower stands tall. It's an incredible feat. Alas, on my next turn, with virtually no options left, I try to remove a block that has no business being removed, and the whole thing comes crashing down.

The best part about that story is its simplicity. It was just a game of Jenga. And yet, it brought people together who might never have talked or interacted otherwise. For that brief moment, we weren't at a crowded party. We were friends, teammates, and competitors. And, most importantly, we all had fun as a group. Although, I do wish I found a way to beat Josh. I have no idea how we pulled that last block.