Nearly six months into experiencing a global pandemic, I finally feel a bit more back on track. I have now lived in Ireland longer with COVID and all the restrictions that it imposes than I did without it impacting life. I have since accepted that my plans for travel and exploration throughout Europe are halted, and the best I can do is settle in Dublin for a bit. I also accepted that I could not return to Bewleys, and I sought alternative employment. Just as I was about to give up hope for a job, a friend reached out with an opportunity to apply to Dig In.
Dig In is Ireland’s first Art Diner. What is an Art Diner? It’s what it sounds like, a restaurant in
a gallery. Currently, there are pieces by Conor Harrington, Chloe Early, Maser, Banksy, and more. Each house cocktail on the menu is inspired and informed by the art on the walls, creating a full sensory experience. The dishes are range from small plates with favorites like salted beef tacos, prawn skewers, and the portobello town mushroom, To mains like classic cheeseburgers, to a dramatic bowl of mussels, to comforting pot pies and corned beef with cabbage, to exotic salads to a creative cauliflower steak. It’s as if you are not only a witness to the art, but you consume it as well.
I’m proud to work at such an establishment. Excited to bring fancy cocktails, decadent 
desserts, scrumptious mains, and a bit of craic to the atmosphere. My new coworkers are lovely and similar to my previous place of employment, we hail from all corners of the world. Mexico, India, Romania, Turkey, Argentina, Bolivia, and of course, me from the USA. We have Irish co-workers as well, and combined we bring a diversity of perspectives to this shared common goal of cultivating a positive experience through a hip place.
Now that I am established in this place, with a steady income and hours that will nicely complement my impending Master’s program I feel comfortable again exploring during the day and finding little adventures. I might wander through a novel park, cycle through the city, or try a new restaurant. One favorite adventure I embarked on was submerging myself into the Irish Sea.
Finding myself in the brilliant blue saltwater, an entirely sensory experience ensues. In reflection, I found that in a lot of ways, this past year was analogous to jumping into the Irish Sea. It would have been more comfortable to stay with what is known, the dry land, the hometown. After taking the plunge and once in the water, the sensation is pleasantly uncomfortable. My body needs adjustment, and though my head is bobbing above, my legs are constantly treading below, to keep me afloat. Though from the surface I may appear to be at rest, beneath the surface I am hard at work to maintain stasis.
The exhilarating piercing sensation reminds me that I am indeed alive. Surrounded by a reassuring discomfort, I exist exactly how I want to at this moment. Though I may appear to have eased my way through this experience, a substantial effort had been exerted. This created a shock to the system but brought a necessary shift in perspective. I am grateful to have had the courage to leap into the unknown, finding myself full of excitement and wonder.
