Caitlin's gone...

Which means even though my room is cleaner and my bed is now my own, I am pretty bummed. Luckily I get to see her next week as well, but what am I going to do after that???

Sister!

Caitlin's here! It has been great. I met her at the airport, so we had an hour long reunion on the way to Galway, which was perfect. A few highlights have been:
1. Her umbrella dying within 3 minutes of being opened. Picture a thrashing umbrella, wind and rain, and both of us doubled up laughing while people stare. Welcome to Ireland.
2. Mac and Cheese - yumm!
3. Ordering vanilla milkshakes from McDonalds.
4. Surviving the Cliffs of Moher (we survived, despite Caitlin's conviction that we wouldn't).
5. A leprachaun-like tour guide who specialized in inappropriate jokes...which was uncomfortable.
6. Cuddling up to watch the new Grey's Anatomy episode. Now if it will only load!

A Day in the Life

Since Caitlin keeps talking about writing a "day in the life" post, I thought I would beat her to it. Today was an average, but nice, day. I didn't have class until noon, so I decided to give our a apartment a much-needed cleaning. I then trekked to class (Problems in Ireland) to listen to my Jude Law look-a-like professor for an hour. Not so bad. After one more class, I returned back to my freshly cleaned home, which is always a good fealing, called Mom and Dad, and took a walk with Colleen to admire the fall scenery. To top it off, we just finished baking some crumb topping to put on the ice cream that we are hoping to get when the ice cream guy comes by tonight. Cross your fingers, he drives fast!
Oh, and on a totally different (but much more exciting) note, Caitlin comes in two days!!!

Kerry

I fell in love with Kerry this weekend. Kerry is a county in southern Ireland that is absolutely gorgeous. CEA had organized a weekend away for us, so early Friday morning we all traipsed down to the bus stop to begin yet another adventure. Six hours and three buses later, we were at our destination. Kerry was beautiful. We were on a bus tour, so a lot of our time was spent on the bus driving the famous route the "Ring of Kerry", but it was worth it. Not only was the scenery amazing, but the little towns we passed through were perfect as well. Our tour guide was from the area, and since the towns are so small she was able to tell us everything about everyone. She passed the time by telling anecdotes about her family and pointing out which house belonged to who. The night time entertainment was pretty good as well. The first night they taught us how to do traditional Irish dances at a ceidlidh, which was interesting to say the least. Let's just say that Americans aren't quite cut out for it. The second night we got to meet members of the local Gaelic football team (coolest sport ever, coming from a non-sport girl) and compete in a table quiz (which is a popular game here in pubs, and is a type of trivia game). To top it off, for the majority of the weekend we had perfect weather and beautiful fall colors. It was great!

Warm and Fuzzy

Today was such a good day. Not only has it managed to feel like a perfect fall day and remain sunny, but I got a care package, or a "warm and fuzzy" package as Stephanie would say, from Laura and Stephanie. I felt so loved! It was full of American goodies like funfetti cake, reeses cups, macaroni and cheese, chocolate chips (which they sell in tiny bags that cost 2 euros!!), and chocolate pudding. In addition, they put in some pictures of themselves, which might have been my favorite part. I miss you guys!

Blessings

I love it here. I love that they say "glam" and "class." I love that the leaves are turning color, that I can duck into cozy, cute pubs, that I have a funny, kind room mate. But I also miss home. I miss big hugs from Stephanie and Laura, I miss Amy and Sarah making me laugh out loud. I miss Cal Poly's sunsets, and the beautiful backdrop of Bishop's peak. I love the brothers and sisters in Christ I have met here, but I miss Grace Church, Wednesday morning meetings, and Sunday lunches. I miss the coziness of home, and fireplaces, and parents, and sisters. It's not that I want to go home yet, or am homesick. It's just that being gone has made me realize what I have at home, and I am so thankful for it!

Rainy Day

I love rainy days. I love waking up and staying in my pajamas and slippers instead of rushing to get dressed for class. I love catching up on my favorite tv shows and feeling guilt free because it's too wet outside to venture to the library. And I love curling up with a good book and joining the heroine in falling in love with the dashing Lord Orville. Best of all about this rainy day though was a stolen half hour of sun, during which I was able to take a beautiful walk, meet friendly little Irish dogs, and have a much-needed talk with God. Still to come: Mac and Cheese (thanks Mom and Dad!), chocolate chip cookies, and a couple more chapters with Lord Orville.

Is it winter yet?

Although it's only the beginning of October, I feel like it is December. This is probably because living in SLO has made me a wimp when it comes to bad weather. For example, last year I was wearing flip flops only days before I left for Christmas break. So now, when my breath comes out in white puffs and I need my scarf and gloves in order to venture outdoors at night, I feel like we have skipped right over fall and am in the middle of winter. Fortunately, I have a hardened New Jerseyan as a roommate who is used to freezing weather who reminds me that it really is fall and I shouldn't start feeling sorry for myself...yet.

Paris

Parlez vous Anglais? I don't know how many times I said that this weekend, but it was a lot. Besides my atrocious French accent though, the weekend was a huge success. We got to Paris in the early evening, and over two hours of trying to navigate public transportation later, we arrived at our hotel. Since Colleen had never been there before we were determined to see all the major sights. So in the morning we set off to work our way through the major landmarks : The Arc d'Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Couer, and the Moulin Rouge (unfortunately Ewan McGregor wasn't there). On the way I had the most delicious pastry I have ever tasted. It was like a thick doughnut bar filled with chocolate. SO GOOD! If you every see one (I think it's called a Beignet) you have to get it. We then left the city and went to the palace of Versailles, which is where Louis XIV lived, as well as Marie Antoinette and Louis XV (French Revolution anyone?). It was gorgeous and has convinced me that I was born in the wrong century. I think I would do very well there. Once we left Versailles we made our way back to Paris and revisited the Eiffel Tour so that we could go the top at night. It was beautiful! Sunday was equally packed with mass at Notre Dame, a visit to the Louvre, and one more beignet squeezed in at the airport. Although I loved Paris, it was so nice to get back to Galway. Not only do they speak English here, but it is so much more homey than big, glamorous Paris. I'm starting to get attached to this friendly, rainy little island.

Ups and Downs

It has been one of those weeks. You know, the week where my last two euros get eaten by the laundry machine, immigration turns me away, it rains during my hour-long walk to church, and I cry out of frustration multiple times. A week where everything seems to be a little more difficult than necessary.
But it has also had some good points. Like neopolitan ice cream, meeting new friends, and long conversations over coffee and tea. Like seeing God come through in the immigration office, wearing tights and a dress, and throwing a surprise birthday party. And best of all? At this time tomorrow Colleen and I will be in Paris!