I practically grew up in the Pacific Ocean. I know the sound and the smell better than anything. I know how to identify rip tides and sneaker waves. I know where to dig for clams. I know which pieces of drift wood will burn blue. I thought I knew the Ocean well. But it wasn’t until I studied abroad that I’d see the Atlantic. In some ways, I feel very culturally similar to the people of England. Living on an island, they are connected and surrounded to the water. They built up a city on it. We went to the coast of Ireland in October. I’m the one in the water (the jumping one is my roommate who grew up on the east coast and has yet to see the Pacific). When we chose where to go for our fall break, we chose Ireland, wanting to escape the city and see the greens and browns and blues of the country side. I loved be near the ocean again. It was familiar, but at the same time I didn’t know it. Also, the fish from it taste very different. I wasn’t expecting that.