Today makes the fourth Tuesday in a row that I haven't had class. If you recall, my professor had surgery a while ago, and he was supposed to be back last week and wasn't, and then he was supposed to be back this week, but he isn't back today either. SOOO no class for me. Where a few weeks ago I was frustrated and I little lost about how to kill time, now I am thankful for the extra hours. I'm writing essays, looking for jobs, and pulling things together for when I get home.
I'm still looking for work, but I haven't heard back from anyone yet. There are two Salvation Army jobs I think I'll apply for: one in Ohio as a spiritual coordinator/youth ministries person, and one in MA as the Assistant to CRD Director for donor relations operations. Elyse just sent me one from idealist.org (fantastic site for NGO jobs, by the way) for a Development Coordinator of Marketing and Communication for a non-profit in MA. Ha those are all so different.
If anyone has any suggestions or knows of job openings, please let me know! I'll move just about anywhere in the country! I would LOVE to find a job in the next few weeks. Preferably before I leave here, but that's highly unlikely at this stage in the game. Hohum.
I wish I could fast-forward for a sneak peek of how my life turns out. I don't really want to know how I get there, because life is an adventure, and there are many ways God gets us to our destinations. I just want to know what I'll be doing. Not how, not why, not where, just WHAT. Will I end up proving myself wrong and get married and have kids? Will I ever find a job that suits me? Will I be influential and respected? To get to my end, I have to begin somewhere. And that somewhere is most likely with a full-time job. I am willing to go (both physically and otherwise) wherever I need to go to continue down God's path for me. There are just a lot of blank canvases and question marks at this point. But what's new?
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Belfast Bonanza!
Hello all! About two hours ago, I got off Bus Eireann bus #261 across from GMIT, finally back in the Republic of Ireland after spending the weekend in Belfast, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland. There was a lot of uncertainty surrounding the trip and the unrest in that part of Ireland, and no one was really sure what to expect. I went with seven guys, Stephen and the rest UW-Platteville men. We got there in the evening on Friday, immediately greeted by rain that the forecast didn't predict. Sweet. We walked around and saw all the lights and City Hall, which was all decked out in Christmas decorations, and got our bearings. The town is really quite lovely. One of the Erasmus students went a few weeks ago and didn't bring back a good report of Belfast, but I instantly loved it and knew I would probably like it better than any other big city I had been to here. Our walking around got us a little lost, but we eventually found the hostel.
Hostels are always a huge question mark until you get there. Even though you can get details online and stuff, you're always blind-booking. It could be a nice place, it could have rats crawling around, but you won't know until you get there. I wasn't immediately impressed when we walked in to the Linen House Hostel, but the guy at the counter quickly proved apt, exceeding my expectations. Over the course of the weekend, all the staff were helpful. We paid up, got the key, and made our way upstairs. We got a private room for the 8 of us, so we had a big room with bunk beds and a sink, and we were right next to the bathroom- good move, especially since we stole the showers both mornings.
Anyway, after unloading our stuff, we started walking again, and eventually walked into what I think is the coolest mall ever. It was an indoor/outdoor one. Basically, you came into the complex, and could walk around, but all of the stores were connected by crosslinks that were, for the most part, exposed to the elements. I guess if you took a regular mall and removed all of the entrances, it'd be like that. There's even an observation deck on the top floor, where you can see all of Belfast. I went up twice, once that night and once today. After climbing back down, we immediately spotted our dinner outing- Chili's. Hah! It's been such a long time since I've had Chili's, and we were all so excited. After a few hours, we cleared out and went back to the hostel to sleep.
Saturday, we had booked a tour to the Giant's Causeway and Derry. Giant's Causeway is a World Heritage Site in N. Ireland. It's a huge collection of basalt deposits on the coast, and they create these magnificent shapes and cliffs that are breath-taking and awesome. (I'll let you know when I get pictures posted.) We spent hours climbing up these cliffs and then back down and then walking out onto these deposits. It was absolutely freezing, and crazy windy. In fact, there were advisories to not go up on the cliff paths because of the wind, but did you really expect 8 crazy American college kids to listen?? Of course not. I can't adequately describe how gorgeous this place was, hopefully pictures will help.
Our last stop was in Derry, Co. Ulster-aka the Walled City. All of a sudden, the scary stories we heard about Northern Ireland became true. This place wasn't the friendliest-looking, and some of us were a little creeped out. We didn't stay for long, just enough time to walk around, get a bagel, visit the market, and get back on our bus. When we got back in Belfast, six guys wanted to eat and hang out, and Darin and I went to watch a hockey game. The Coors Belfast Giants played the Edinburgh Capitals. We were a little late, but our tickets were in the second row, and the fun we had that night dissolved any regret for missing the first few minutes. The Giants KILLED the Capitals, 5-2. We had so much fun. We walked back to the hostel and arrived just minutes after the rest of the gang. We attempted to go out to see some live music, but we couldn't find the bar, so 5 of us came back to sleep, while the other three tried again.
This morning we slept in, checked out at 10:30, and then tried to find some breakfast. Being Sunday, it was not the easiest task. We grudgingly settled on McDonald's. Last night we had discussed getting a Black Cab tour, and our guy was picking us up at 12:30. The tour was supposed to take us to some of the places in Belfast you really shouldn't go to on foot. And boy, did it. This was the most somber experience I might have ever had. Our driver took us through the divided Protestant and Catholic communities in Belfast. We saw the murals and peace gardens commemorating those who had died in the struggles since the '20s, some as recent as the past few years. We saw the graffitied "peace wall"- the gated, barb-wired wall that runs in between the two communities to reduce violence. It's called the Berlin Wall of Belfast. And it really is. Our cabbie told us vicious stories of bombs, shootings, terror and the attempts of peace in the past ten years. All of the stories we'd heard about the Republic of Ireland v. Northern Ireland/ Catholics vs. Protestants/ Nationalists vs. Loyalists, materialized in those moments. I was stuck in a period of complete silence. This conflict was something I could loosely identify with, considering my family's history (Armenian genocide). We all hear so much about civil conflicts in other countries and we feel removed and safe, but there I was, I was in it. I fought back fear even though I knew I had nothing to be scared of. I'm still shaking my head now, trying to sober up from the monstrosity of it all. On the other hand, I'm not sure I would have ever been able to "get it" without having been to Belfast; I walked down Bombay street where bombs put 7,000 Nationalists out of their houses, I read pleas of peace painted on the dividing wall, I stood underneath a mural of a gunman who pointed his rifle at my face, meaning to inspire terror in the onlooker. It was unreal.
We were dropped off in City Center, and the only way we could all get out of our collective slump was to get some food and burn off energy before getting back on the bus to go home. The Christmas Market just started in Belfast this week, but it was in full swing today. We bought cups of mulled wine and hot chocolate and browsed stall after stall of candies, meats, crafts, and gifts. I bought some black licorice from Holland and shortbread cookies to share on the road. OH! And a kangaroo burger, which is.. exactly what you think it is. A burger made from kangaroo meat. It was impressively good. :)
We boarded the bus around 4, not expecting to get back in Galway until 10:30 tonight. But no one expected the events of the trip home. Leg #1, from Belfast to Eniskillen, was sleep time for everyone. Leg #2, Eniskillen to Sligo, was short and was perfect for reading and light conversation. But Leg #3, from Sligo to Galway, was... well... I can't think of an adjective. Brett came to the back of the bus to talk to me about philosophy. All of a sudden, half of our group came to listen to me talk about the basics of good, truth, and beauty, three of the most debated concepts in philosophy. Then, of course, it got into God talk. I was a little uncomfortable, because I knew something potentially crazy could happen with our varied backgrounds. But the problem wasn't with anyone I knew, but with the older man who jumped in! Haha, he was sitting nearby, and I could see him shifting in his seat a little before he turned around to contribute to our discussion. His intention was to get me riled up, I think, but I kept a level head and tossed ideas back and forth like I did everyday in my philosophy classes. (I was later congratulated by my friends, I guess they were impressed with what I had to say.) It was a regular hot-potato debate for a while, before he trailed off into something I couldn't hear. Then Brett finished off the conversation by changing the topic. I never mind when people hop in, but his input (and rebuke of our "Christian American" beliefs) sparked way more talk after he got off the bus. The next couple of hours contained nonstop discussion of religion, philosophy, psychology, evolution, theology, time travel and everything in between. I, the philosophy major, was considered to be the answer box for most of the posed questions, and I did my best to field what I could. It didn't take long before all the guys moved from their seats in the middle of the bus to where I was in the back. We all deep-thought together and expressed opinions and saw sides of each other we didn't know existed. They posed some of the hardest theological questions possible, and the discourse that followed was intelligent and well-spoken. Before we got off the bus, I thanked all of these guys for taking part. Seeing their confusion, I added that I had been feeling so lost without someone to TALK to, and I had been lamenting to God about it. Well, he heard my heart murmurs, and used these guys- all of them tough athletes who talk mainly about drinking and women, studying to be businessmen, engineers, and contractors, rarely showing any passionate emotion for anything other than sports or the political race- to directly answer my prayer. What was even better was the satisfaction all of them got out of it, as well. I got off that bus, the happiest I'd been since I got here. And seeing how well we all talk together, there is suddenly interest in having "Philosophy Night" where we can all just hang out and 'philosophize'. Ha. I am surprised and so honored to be a part of all of this, but I was also struck tonight with a deep sadness of having to leave them all so soon.
This was my last trip with that group of guys. Stephen and I are going to Germany next weekend, but I won't be traveling anymore with the WI guys. Not in Ireland at least. However sad I will be to part ways with them, I will forever be grateful for how these friends have enriched my life. I really hope I can figure out how to see them again. I might call my uncle and see if I can get a beach house for their Spring Break- they said they would come down. Hmm. Anyway, the whole point is that Belfast was great, and I loved it all. This may have been my favorite trip so far, but there's always Germany next weekend!
Hostels are always a huge question mark until you get there. Even though you can get details online and stuff, you're always blind-booking. It could be a nice place, it could have rats crawling around, but you won't know until you get there. I wasn't immediately impressed when we walked in to the Linen House Hostel, but the guy at the counter quickly proved apt, exceeding my expectations. Over the course of the weekend, all the staff were helpful. We paid up, got the key, and made our way upstairs. We got a private room for the 8 of us, so we had a big room with bunk beds and a sink, and we were right next to the bathroom- good move, especially since we stole the showers both mornings.
Anyway, after unloading our stuff, we started walking again, and eventually walked into what I think is the coolest mall ever. It was an indoor/outdoor one. Basically, you came into the complex, and could walk around, but all of the stores were connected by crosslinks that were, for the most part, exposed to the elements. I guess if you took a regular mall and removed all of the entrances, it'd be like that. There's even an observation deck on the top floor, where you can see all of Belfast. I went up twice, once that night and once today. After climbing back down, we immediately spotted our dinner outing- Chili's. Hah! It's been such a long time since I've had Chili's, and we were all so excited. After a few hours, we cleared out and went back to the hostel to sleep.
Saturday, we had booked a tour to the Giant's Causeway and Derry. Giant's Causeway is a World Heritage Site in N. Ireland. It's a huge collection of basalt deposits on the coast, and they create these magnificent shapes and cliffs that are breath-taking and awesome. (I'll let you know when I get pictures posted.) We spent hours climbing up these cliffs and then back down and then walking out onto these deposits. It was absolutely freezing, and crazy windy. In fact, there were advisories to not go up on the cliff paths because of the wind, but did you really expect 8 crazy American college kids to listen?? Of course not. I can't adequately describe how gorgeous this place was, hopefully pictures will help.
Our last stop was in Derry, Co. Ulster-aka the Walled City. All of a sudden, the scary stories we heard about Northern Ireland became true. This place wasn't the friendliest-looking, and some of us were a little creeped out. We didn't stay for long, just enough time to walk around, get a bagel, visit the market, and get back on our bus. When we got back in Belfast, six guys wanted to eat and hang out, and Darin and I went to watch a hockey game. The Coors Belfast Giants played the Edinburgh Capitals. We were a little late, but our tickets were in the second row, and the fun we had that night dissolved any regret for missing the first few minutes. The Giants KILLED the Capitals, 5-2. We had so much fun. We walked back to the hostel and arrived just minutes after the rest of the gang. We attempted to go out to see some live music, but we couldn't find the bar, so 5 of us came back to sleep, while the other three tried again.
This morning we slept in, checked out at 10:30, and then tried to find some breakfast. Being Sunday, it was not the easiest task. We grudgingly settled on McDonald's. Last night we had discussed getting a Black Cab tour, and our guy was picking us up at 12:30. The tour was supposed to take us to some of the places in Belfast you really shouldn't go to on foot. And boy, did it. This was the most somber experience I might have ever had. Our driver took us through the divided Protestant and Catholic communities in Belfast. We saw the murals and peace gardens commemorating those who had died in the struggles since the '20s, some as recent as the past few years. We saw the graffitied "peace wall"- the gated, barb-wired wall that runs in between the two communities to reduce violence. It's called the Berlin Wall of Belfast. And it really is. Our cabbie told us vicious stories of bombs, shootings, terror and the attempts of peace in the past ten years. All of the stories we'd heard about the Republic of Ireland v. Northern Ireland/ Catholics vs. Protestants/ Nationalists vs. Loyalists, materialized in those moments. I was stuck in a period of complete silence. This conflict was something I could loosely identify with, considering my family's history (Armenian genocide). We all hear so much about civil conflicts in other countries and we feel removed and safe, but there I was, I was in it. I fought back fear even though I knew I had nothing to be scared of. I'm still shaking my head now, trying to sober up from the monstrosity of it all. On the other hand, I'm not sure I would have ever been able to "get it" without having been to Belfast; I walked down Bombay street where bombs put 7,000 Nationalists out of their houses, I read pleas of peace painted on the dividing wall, I stood underneath a mural of a gunman who pointed his rifle at my face, meaning to inspire terror in the onlooker. It was unreal.
We were dropped off in City Center, and the only way we could all get out of our collective slump was to get some food and burn off energy before getting back on the bus to go home. The Christmas Market just started in Belfast this week, but it was in full swing today. We bought cups of mulled wine and hot chocolate and browsed stall after stall of candies, meats, crafts, and gifts. I bought some black licorice from Holland and shortbread cookies to share on the road. OH! And a kangaroo burger, which is.. exactly what you think it is. A burger made from kangaroo meat. It was impressively good. :)
We boarded the bus around 4, not expecting to get back in Galway until 10:30 tonight. But no one expected the events of the trip home. Leg #1, from Belfast to Eniskillen, was sleep time for everyone. Leg #2, Eniskillen to Sligo, was short and was perfect for reading and light conversation. But Leg #3, from Sligo to Galway, was... well... I can't think of an adjective. Brett came to the back of the bus to talk to me about philosophy. All of a sudden, half of our group came to listen to me talk about the basics of good, truth, and beauty, three of the most debated concepts in philosophy. Then, of course, it got into God talk. I was a little uncomfortable, because I knew something potentially crazy could happen with our varied backgrounds. But the problem wasn't with anyone I knew, but with the older man who jumped in! Haha, he was sitting nearby, and I could see him shifting in his seat a little before he turned around to contribute to our discussion. His intention was to get me riled up, I think, but I kept a level head and tossed ideas back and forth like I did everyday in my philosophy classes. (I was later congratulated by my friends, I guess they were impressed with what I had to say.) It was a regular hot-potato debate for a while, before he trailed off into something I couldn't hear. Then Brett finished off the conversation by changing the topic. I never mind when people hop in, but his input (and rebuke of our "Christian American" beliefs) sparked way more talk after he got off the bus. The next couple of hours contained nonstop discussion of religion, philosophy, psychology, evolution, theology, time travel and everything in between. I, the philosophy major, was considered to be the answer box for most of the posed questions, and I did my best to field what I could. It didn't take long before all the guys moved from their seats in the middle of the bus to where I was in the back. We all deep-thought together and expressed opinions and saw sides of each other we didn't know existed. They posed some of the hardest theological questions possible, and the discourse that followed was intelligent and well-spoken. Before we got off the bus, I thanked all of these guys for taking part. Seeing their confusion, I added that I had been feeling so lost without someone to TALK to, and I had been lamenting to God about it. Well, he heard my heart murmurs, and used these guys- all of them tough athletes who talk mainly about drinking and women, studying to be businessmen, engineers, and contractors, rarely showing any passionate emotion for anything other than sports or the political race- to directly answer my prayer. What was even better was the satisfaction all of them got out of it, as well. I got off that bus, the happiest I'd been since I got here. And seeing how well we all talk together, there is suddenly interest in having "Philosophy Night" where we can all just hang out and 'philosophize'. Ha. I am surprised and so honored to be a part of all of this, but I was also struck tonight with a deep sadness of having to leave them all so soon.
This was my last trip with that group of guys. Stephen and I are going to Germany next weekend, but I won't be traveling anymore with the WI guys. Not in Ireland at least. However sad I will be to part ways with them, I will forever be grateful for how these friends have enriched my life. I really hope I can figure out how to see them again. I might call my uncle and see if I can get a beach house for their Spring Break- they said they would come down. Hmm. Anyway, the whole point is that Belfast was great, and I loved it all. This may have been my favorite trip so far, but there's always Germany next weekend!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
It finally happened...
You know, I started to have my doubts, but while I was running today, I suddenly looked around me, and what did I notice? All of the leaves have fallen off the trees. Ok, maybe not ALL, but most of them. So that means what I was told is true- the leaves don't turn pretty colors and float off the trees for weeks. No, one day, they just all die and fall off. So there you have it. I had to admit, it was completely and utterly depressing.
Going to Belfast this weekend with some friends. Since it's farther north, I KNOW all the leaves will be dead there. Sad times.
Going to Belfast this weekend with some friends. Since it's farther north, I KNOW all the leaves will be dead there. Sad times.
Monday, November 17, 2008
What a dismal day!
All day, we were plagued with rain, wind, and cold. Seriously, it was dreadful. But what can you do? I hiked to classes in it, and hiked back. And then took a nap, because what else is there to do on a day like today? I should be used to it by now, haha. I am over my previous cold, but I'm now afraid that I'll get sick again. Better bulk up on echinecea.
Recently, I've been talking with people about how much we don't like Ireland. Haha. There are only a handful of exchange students that actually like living here. We're all taking advantage of this great opportunity to learn everything we can, but...I'm just going to let the cat out of the bag- I don't like it here. I'm not sure I ever really did. There were nice points, sure, you've read about a lot of them. But when we strip away the occasional weekend retreats or the few fun city outings, I'm left feeling absolutely stranded in this country. I just don't like it. And I have a suspicion that Ireland doesn't like me either. It's been rather hostile towards me in the past three months, and I'm frankly tired of putting up with it. I can push through for another 22 days, of course I can. But I will be so glad to return home, to normalcy.
Perhaps you find it sad and a little strange that I am rejecting this adventure. It's certainly not in my character to turn down a good challenge, to admit defeat, to come home with my tail between my legs. But the first of many lessons I've learned here is that there's a place for everyone. Ireland is not my place. The second of many lessons is that I can create an adventure anywhere I am, it's up to me to determine how and where. There is nothing extraordinarily interesting or exciting about living in this green country. I thought this would be a great way to kick around before graduation. I'm afraid Disillusionment has been a bitter friend. I'm not going to rant and rave about it. As I've told many people who have witnessed my gruelling journey here (emotional, psychological, and physical), there is only so much you can complain about, I might as well just suck it up and get through it. So that is exactly what I will do, I'll continue to wade through all the crap until I reach my final destination: Clemmons, NC. Or really, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, where my lovely parents will hug me and welcome me home.
I'm looking forward to seeing all of this through hindsight.
Recently, I've been talking with people about how much we don't like Ireland. Haha. There are only a handful of exchange students that actually like living here. We're all taking advantage of this great opportunity to learn everything we can, but...I'm just going to let the cat out of the bag- I don't like it here. I'm not sure I ever really did. There were nice points, sure, you've read about a lot of them. But when we strip away the occasional weekend retreats or the few fun city outings, I'm left feeling absolutely stranded in this country. I just don't like it. And I have a suspicion that Ireland doesn't like me either. It's been rather hostile towards me in the past three months, and I'm frankly tired of putting up with it. I can push through for another 22 days, of course I can. But I will be so glad to return home, to normalcy.
Perhaps you find it sad and a little strange that I am rejecting this adventure. It's certainly not in my character to turn down a good challenge, to admit defeat, to come home with my tail between my legs. But the first of many lessons I've learned here is that there's a place for everyone. Ireland is not my place. The second of many lessons is that I can create an adventure anywhere I am, it's up to me to determine how and where. There is nothing extraordinarily interesting or exciting about living in this green country. I thought this would be a great way to kick around before graduation. I'm afraid Disillusionment has been a bitter friend. I'm not going to rant and rave about it. As I've told many people who have witnessed my gruelling journey here (emotional, psychological, and physical), there is only so much you can complain about, I might as well just suck it up and get through it. So that is exactly what I will do, I'll continue to wade through all the crap until I reach my final destination: Clemmons, NC. Or really, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, where my lovely parents will hug me and welcome me home.
I'm looking forward to seeing all of this through hindsight.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Visit from Elyse
I know my posts have been lacking recently, but I had the pleasure of hosting my friend Elyse on her visit to Galway. She rounded out her European excursion in Ireland. She was in Galway from Wednesday night until this morning, and she caught a bus to Dublin, where she will stay until Tuesday morning. And then she flies back home! I have to admit, I'm a little jealous. I am so sad I'm missing Thanksgiving with my family. Fortunately, we'll be celebrating it here, so hopefully it will be a nice stand-in.
I've got lots of homework to take care of this week; the plan is to go to Belfast over the weekend. Hopefully we get to go, and hopefully I can finish my stuff! I'm pretty sure I'll be fine, I'm good with managing my time. It's the motivation that's a little lacking.
I can't believe I'll be home in less than a month. At one point it seemed like this trip was never going to end. According to my paper chain, I have 23 days left! Wow. Elyse said something interesting to me when she was getting ready to board the bus today, she said that she thinks there's still something in store for me here, like everything I'm supposed to get out of this trip hasn't happened yet. Maybe in Belfast, maybe in Germany, maybe on my last day here... that's an interesting thought. I can't let myself get too anxious for home that I forget to soak up everything I can here. Whatever it is, I'll get there, in due time.
I've got lots of homework to take care of this week; the plan is to go to Belfast over the weekend. Hopefully we get to go, and hopefully I can finish my stuff! I'm pretty sure I'll be fine, I'm good with managing my time. It's the motivation that's a little lacking.
I can't believe I'll be home in less than a month. At one point it seemed like this trip was never going to end. According to my paper chain, I have 23 days left! Wow. Elyse said something interesting to me when she was getting ready to board the bus today, she said that she thinks there's still something in store for me here, like everything I'm supposed to get out of this trip hasn't happened yet. Maybe in Belfast, maybe in Germany, maybe on my last day here... that's an interesting thought. I can't let myself get too anxious for home that I forget to soak up everything I can here. Whatever it is, I'll get there, in due time.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Job Application #1
After much searching and consideration, I applied for what I see as my first choice for job opportunities- a writer/editor position at the Habitat for Humanity, Inc office in Americus, GA. I feel confident that I am qualified for this job, and we'll just have to see what happens! A major bummer is that my internet connection screwed up and wouldn't let me get through the entire online application. I guess if they want more information, they'll contact me. I THINK my resume, cover letter, and contact details were submitted, but if I don't hear from anyone in the next week or so, I'll email to make sure everything went through.
I will obviously be applying to other jobs than this one; stay tuned for updates!
I will obviously be applying to other jobs than this one; stay tuned for updates!
Oops
So, I locked myself out of my room last night. At our apartment, we have key cards to get into the buildings (which are never locked) and our apartments (always locked unless you prop the door open). I ran across the hall to give Mike his stickers from London (and propped our door open), and I guess Ruben left the apartment and closed the door behind him, because when I walked back the door was locked. I didn't have anything with me, no shoes, no jacket, and no key. The guys were really nice and just let me hang out with them until Anne-Sophie got back a while later. Carolin even tried calling security for me, but I would have to meet him at the front office with my ID. That wasn't going to happen- no ID and no shoes, remember? And it was wicked cold last night. Eventually I got back into my room when Darin heard someone call my name; Anne-Sophie and Stephen had come to find me. Life lesson: always carry your key, even if your roommates are home, because they are quite obviously unreliable.
Elyse flies into Galway late tonight! That means I need groceries.
Elyse flies into Galway late tonight! That means I need groceries.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
I'm back from London!
Hello all! It's a beautiful sun-shiny day here in Galway, Ireland. Which is appropriate because the sun was nonexistent in London. Let me tell you about it.
I was supposed to have a morning class on Friday, and then I was going to catch my bus to Shannon after that. I showed up for class, but no one else was there. My assumption is cancellation due to graduation ceremonies. I guess I missed the memo about not having class; you would understand my confusion if you too saw the posted sign all week that read "Heritage students will have classes as normal on Thursday and Friday". Whatever. So I caught a bus downtown to kill some time before my bus left at noon. When I finally got to Shannon airport, I was antsy. I so badly just wanted to already be in London. My flight arrived around 5:30. It took me a slightly stressful shuttle ride and 40-minute train to the appointed meeting spot, but it was all worth it when I finally found Elyse. We were both absolutely thrilled to see each other. Friday night was chill, we walked around for a while before stopping to get dinner and then heading back to our hotel. We caught up and exchanged traveling stories. I heard fireworks outside, and Elyse told me it was Prince Charles' 60th birthday.
We ate breakfast on Saturday and then got ready for the day. There were no set plans, but we eventually decided to go to the Tower of London and London Bridge. We knew it wasn't far from us, a few miles. The underground was helplessly crowded, so Elyse suggested we walk, and I was fine with that. Well, I was fine with it until it started to pour rain. Already wet, we just kept at it, finally reaching our destination an hour and a half and about 4 or 5 miles later. On the way we saw St. Paul's Cathedral, a circus, a Remembrance Day parade, and lots of fun buildings and statues. Once at the Tower, it stopped raining for a little while, and we happily spent the rest of the afternoon in that part of London. When the sun went down, though, we quickly became cold and miserable, two deterrents to staying out much longer. We caught the underground back to our hotel, took hot showers, and I went out to find dinner and bring it back. We were exhausted, and neither of us felt like going 'out on the town', so we stayed in again, talking and goofing off and loading pictures on her computer.
Sunday was our only planned excursion. We got up early, grabbed food from the breakfast buffet, and walked to the pick-up spot for our guided tour to Windsor, Stonehenge and Oxford. Windsor castle was huge, and gorgeous, and slightly grotesque in its opulence. We grabbed sandwiches before getting back on the bus for the long ride to the middle of nowhere and Stonehenge. I had been there before, but it was cool to be there while Elyse experienced it for the first time. It was literally cool, or should I say cold, due to the whipping winds and the clouds rolling in. The rain didn't hold off much longer, and our tour group walked around Oxford with umbrellas and rainjackets. But what an experience! Oxford! THE Oxford! I bought a shirt-I'm wearing it right now- haha. I was totally thrilled. I know that makes me a nerd, but I don't care. Like I told Elyse, I appreciate everything academic. What I mean by appreciate is 'drool over'. Yeah, oh well. The day had been so long, and so once again, we got back to the hotel late that night and just sat. Eventually, we ate fish and chips for a late dinner, but then more hanging out. There was no pressure to go out and do anything; Elyse and I used to entertaining ourselves, just the two of us; we've been doing it for years.
Monday morning we took our time, getting breakfast, taking showers, repacking all of our madness, checking the train times, searching for a sticker to bring to my friend Mike. (By the way, stickers don't exist in London. In such a touristy town, you would THINK that you could easily find a sticker. Not true- not even at the airport!) To avoid more rain, we sat in Starbucks for a while, sipping coffee and talking about college, our future plans, our travels, and the lessons we'd learned from it all. More than London itself, the whole weekend was such a comfort to me just because I was with one of my best friends. She knows me, she gets me, and she loves me anyway. She knows how stubborn I can be (she is too, after all), she knows my habits, and how I view life. We can laugh together and be stupid and evaluate the world around us. It would have been hard to leave her at the airport yesterday, but I'll see her again very soon when she comes here to Galway!
I haven't unpacked yet, and I'm pretty sure I need groceries and to do homework. There are a few London pictures on the slideshow to the left, but check out all of them at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2068884&l=49955&id=44104357
I was supposed to have a morning class on Friday, and then I was going to catch my bus to Shannon after that. I showed up for class, but no one else was there. My assumption is cancellation due to graduation ceremonies. I guess I missed the memo about not having class; you would understand my confusion if you too saw the posted sign all week that read "Heritage students will have classes as normal on Thursday and Friday". Whatever. So I caught a bus downtown to kill some time before my bus left at noon. When I finally got to Shannon airport, I was antsy. I so badly just wanted to already be in London. My flight arrived around 5:30. It took me a slightly stressful shuttle ride and 40-minute train to the appointed meeting spot, but it was all worth it when I finally found Elyse. We were both absolutely thrilled to see each other. Friday night was chill, we walked around for a while before stopping to get dinner and then heading back to our hotel. We caught up and exchanged traveling stories. I heard fireworks outside, and Elyse told me it was Prince Charles' 60th birthday.
We ate breakfast on Saturday and then got ready for the day. There were no set plans, but we eventually decided to go to the Tower of London and London Bridge. We knew it wasn't far from us, a few miles. The underground was helplessly crowded, so Elyse suggested we walk, and I was fine with that. Well, I was fine with it until it started to pour rain. Already wet, we just kept at it, finally reaching our destination an hour and a half and about 4 or 5 miles later. On the way we saw St. Paul's Cathedral, a circus, a Remembrance Day parade, and lots of fun buildings and statues. Once at the Tower, it stopped raining for a little while, and we happily spent the rest of the afternoon in that part of London. When the sun went down, though, we quickly became cold and miserable, two deterrents to staying out much longer. We caught the underground back to our hotel, took hot showers, and I went out to find dinner and bring it back. We were exhausted, and neither of us felt like going 'out on the town', so we stayed in again, talking and goofing off and loading pictures on her computer.
Sunday was our only planned excursion. We got up early, grabbed food from the breakfast buffet, and walked to the pick-up spot for our guided tour to Windsor, Stonehenge and Oxford. Windsor castle was huge, and gorgeous, and slightly grotesque in its opulence. We grabbed sandwiches before getting back on the bus for the long ride to the middle of nowhere and Stonehenge. I had been there before, but it was cool to be there while Elyse experienced it for the first time. It was literally cool, or should I say cold, due to the whipping winds and the clouds rolling in. The rain didn't hold off much longer, and our tour group walked around Oxford with umbrellas and rainjackets. But what an experience! Oxford! THE Oxford! I bought a shirt-I'm wearing it right now- haha. I was totally thrilled. I know that makes me a nerd, but I don't care. Like I told Elyse, I appreciate everything academic. What I mean by appreciate is 'drool over'. Yeah, oh well. The day had been so long, and so once again, we got back to the hotel late that night and just sat. Eventually, we ate fish and chips for a late dinner, but then more hanging out. There was no pressure to go out and do anything; Elyse and I used to entertaining ourselves, just the two of us; we've been doing it for years.
Monday morning we took our time, getting breakfast, taking showers, repacking all of our madness, checking the train times, searching for a sticker to bring to my friend Mike. (By the way, stickers don't exist in London. In such a touristy town, you would THINK that you could easily find a sticker. Not true- not even at the airport!) To avoid more rain, we sat in Starbucks for a while, sipping coffee and talking about college, our future plans, our travels, and the lessons we'd learned from it all. More than London itself, the whole weekend was such a comfort to me just because I was with one of my best friends. She knows me, she gets me, and she loves me anyway. She knows how stubborn I can be (she is too, after all), she knows my habits, and how I view life. We can laugh together and be stupid and evaluate the world around us. It would have been hard to leave her at the airport yesterday, but I'll see her again very soon when she comes here to Galway!
I haven't unpacked yet, and I'm pretty sure I need groceries and to do homework. There are a few London pictures on the slideshow to the left, but check out all of them at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2068884&l=49955&id=44104357
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Taking a break...
I won't be posting for a few days while I'm in London. Have a great weekend, and I'll let you know how my trip goes! Don't worry, I'll be safe and I won't die.
PS. I never went on my run part 2 because it rained awfully all evening. Sad.
PS. I never went on my run part 2 because it rained awfully all evening. Sad.
What a strange day
Today started out awfully strange. First of all, the dreams are back. I went about a week and a half without having a single strange dream or nightmare, but last night and the night before marked the return of my restless sleeps. Pretty bad timing, if you ask me, considering how busy I'll be in the next month and a half (Why? I'll discuss that later in this post). Even though I wasn't really asleep, I was rudely awoken this morning by a maintenance man who came to check ALL of our smoke detectors (we have 6). So there was no going back to sleep after that mess. I ate breakfast, watched a little TV, and then geared up to go run. As soon as I stepped outside, I knew it was going to be a great run. Perfect temperature, the sun was vaguely shining through the thick cloud cover, a nice breeze. My body was feeling good despite my bad night's sleep and I was eager to get going, seeing as how I haven't run in a few days. I get moving, and after about the first mile of my 3-mile run, I know I need to stop. I walked a little, eventually sitting down on a little stone step, and then it hit me. This wave of nausea washed over me, my head began to pound, and I start seeing black spots. I'm going to pass out or throw up, maybe both, but definitely one of them. I probably sat there for 8 minutes ( I know it seems strange that I know exactly how long without looking at a watch, but when I'm running, my body can feel time. ) before I finally got up. My run was over. I knew it. My brain was so angry; I knew I should be able to keep running, but my body refused. Dejected and a little embarrassed, I turned around to walk/jog the mile back to my apartment.
This has happened to me once before, back after I ripped up my ankle and I was swimming a lot. I don't know if it's dehydration or if I just didn't eat enough, but I carried around hard candy with me a long time after that just in case I needed sugar immediately. Well, I didn't have anything this time. So slowly, carefully, hesitantly, I made my way back home. Worse that the confusion my body was feeling was the shame I felt for not being able to make it through my entire route. Seriously? I'm not a walker. Ask my mom, whenever I go walking with her, I'm always 'casually mentioning' that I'd rather be running, much to her annoyance. :) Oh well, I guess I can't win them all. I may try going again tonight after class.
Speaking of class, I haven't had any in the past two days. As I mentioned in a previous post, my professor had surgery and will not be taking his classes for the next two weeks. Rumor has it that John Tunney, resident early Irish history professor at GMIT, is taking over, but because I don't have any other classes with him, I have no idea if this is true. Instead, I just stayed home the past two class periods. Don't worry, I've still been doing work. I knocked out one paper, one HUGE project, and finished reading a book. I only have one paper left to finish in the next two weeks, and a quiz. I think. Unless something else gets assigned. I need to start figuring out how to do my finals. I've talked to my professors and they both assured me we'd get it worked out. Today is the 6th, and I have about 1 month left here. We better start working it out soon!
I have a lot of things taking my free time in the next month. As promised, let me tell you about my Nov/Dec schedule:
I leave tomorrow for London to see Elyse, and we will be there until Monday night. Immediately when I get back to Galway, I'm meeting Anso's parents who are visiting from France until Tuesday morning.
Elyse and I will meet back up when she flies into Galway late Wednesday night (12th), and she will stay until Sunday (16th) or Monday (17th). Also here next weekend is Oliver, Anso's boyfriend.
The next weekend (Nov 21-23) is the semi-planned trip to Belfast.
Wednesday Nov 26 is the American students' observed Thanksgiving Day, for which I'm in charge of a lot of the food. We're celebrating early because...
Nov 27-30 I will be in Germany with Stephan, Stephen, and Derek.
Dec 1-5 is my last week of classes.
Dec 2 is Stephen's birthday and I'm sure we'll do something fun.
Dec 7 is Stephanie's 21st birthday and I KNOW we're doing something fun.
Dec 9 (or maybe the 8th) I'm throwing a big party as my "Going Away/Graduation" party, which means..
Dec 10 I catch an early bus to Dublin, and I fly back to Charlotte!!!
Oh, but it's not over yet. Dec 11 I'm doing a sleepover with the girls back home, Dec 12 I drive to Boone to pick up Chelsea, then will continue on to Cullowhee where I'll reunite and celebrate with WCU friends. Dec 13, graduation morning, I have rehearsal, and then it's GRADUATION! Dec 14 is my party at home, and then I'm possibly getting graduation pictures taken on Dec 16. Ri-dic-u-lous. But you know, I'm so excited about it all. I love feeling like I'm doing something.
I don't have class until 4, and in the meantime I've got a P31 devotional to work on!
This has happened to me once before, back after I ripped up my ankle and I was swimming a lot. I don't know if it's dehydration or if I just didn't eat enough, but I carried around hard candy with me a long time after that just in case I needed sugar immediately. Well, I didn't have anything this time. So slowly, carefully, hesitantly, I made my way back home. Worse that the confusion my body was feeling was the shame I felt for not being able to make it through my entire route. Seriously? I'm not a walker. Ask my mom, whenever I go walking with her, I'm always 'casually mentioning' that I'd rather be running, much to her annoyance. :) Oh well, I guess I can't win them all. I may try going again tonight after class.
Speaking of class, I haven't had any in the past two days. As I mentioned in a previous post, my professor had surgery and will not be taking his classes for the next two weeks. Rumor has it that John Tunney, resident early Irish history professor at GMIT, is taking over, but because I don't have any other classes with him, I have no idea if this is true. Instead, I just stayed home the past two class periods. Don't worry, I've still been doing work. I knocked out one paper, one HUGE project, and finished reading a book. I only have one paper left to finish in the next two weeks, and a quiz. I think. Unless something else gets assigned. I need to start figuring out how to do my finals. I've talked to my professors and they both assured me we'd get it worked out. Today is the 6th, and I have about 1 month left here. We better start working it out soon!
I have a lot of things taking my free time in the next month. As promised, let me tell you about my Nov/Dec schedule:
I leave tomorrow for London to see Elyse, and we will be there until Monday night. Immediately when I get back to Galway, I'm meeting Anso's parents who are visiting from France until Tuesday morning.
Elyse and I will meet back up when she flies into Galway late Wednesday night (12th), and she will stay until Sunday (16th) or Monday (17th). Also here next weekend is Oliver, Anso's boyfriend.
The next weekend (Nov 21-23) is the semi-planned trip to Belfast.
Wednesday Nov 26 is the American students' observed Thanksgiving Day, for which I'm in charge of a lot of the food. We're celebrating early because...
Nov 27-30 I will be in Germany with Stephan, Stephen, and Derek.
Dec 1-5 is my last week of classes.
Dec 2 is Stephen's birthday and I'm sure we'll do something fun.
Dec 7 is Stephanie's 21st birthday and I KNOW we're doing something fun.
Dec 9 (or maybe the 8th) I'm throwing a big party as my "Going Away/Graduation" party, which means..
Dec 10 I catch an early bus to Dublin, and I fly back to Charlotte!!!
Oh, but it's not over yet. Dec 11 I'm doing a sleepover with the girls back home, Dec 12 I drive to Boone to pick up Chelsea, then will continue on to Cullowhee where I'll reunite and celebrate with WCU friends. Dec 13, graduation morning, I have rehearsal, and then it's GRADUATION! Dec 14 is my party at home, and then I'm possibly getting graduation pictures taken on Dec 16. Ri-dic-u-lous. But you know, I'm so excited about it all. I love feeling like I'm doing something.
I don't have class until 4, and in the meantime I've got a P31 devotional to work on!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
I can feel the patriotism over the ocean...
I can't believe I'm not home for the election. The American students here have already sent in their FWABs, some of us weeks ago. It's a little anticlimatic. Oh well, I'm thrilled so many (young) people Stateside are participating in this election. Today is a day of change. YOU can be a part of it!!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
What a God-filled day..
Like I mentioned last night, we went to church this morning, Nick, Stephanie and I. There's a pretty old church down off Shop Street that we pass all the time, and we decided to go and check it out. Everyone was ready on time, even though we still had to run to catch the bus. We found ourselves EARLY actually (which is an impossible feat for me), so we ate breakfast and then went to service. Turns out that there was a baptism too; I've never seen a Catholic baptism. It was precious, and while I don't agree that a baby should be baptised to cleanse original sin, the symbolism of the dedication was cool. The Church rising up as a whole body, promising to uphold the child in his walk with God. My thoughts at first were confusion and a little bit of shame; who am I to promise to help this child in his faith? I don't know him or his family. But then I realized, I don't have to know him. That child represents my brothers and sisters in Christ, his parents represent every other married couple I know, the kid's godparents represent my elders. When I promised to be a part of that kid's faith, I was promising to participate in the Church, to be a part of the faith lives of everyone I know. If I was being trusted to care about a child that I don't know, then I was also being trusted to care about the people I do know. It was a refreshing point of view.
Today, God was everywhere I looked. Not only in church, but in the conversations afterwards, in having to extend patience and love to people who trust me. I found him in cleaning, in sweeping and taking out the trash. He was in my incense, in the music I've had on all afternoon. He proved himself when Elyse's mom offered to pay for our hotel in London, when I was able to help Elyse figure out her new plans after a scheduling blunder. He surrounded me on a walk with Carolin, in the secret paths we found that wound through the woods behind the hospital, in the conversation that took place during, and in the brisk autumn air. It is so comfortable being enveloped by his presence.
Today, God was everywhere I looked. Not only in church, but in the conversations afterwards, in having to extend patience and love to people who trust me. I found him in cleaning, in sweeping and taking out the trash. He was in my incense, in the music I've had on all afternoon. He proved himself when Elyse's mom offered to pay for our hotel in London, when I was able to help Elyse figure out her new plans after a scheduling blunder. He surrounded me on a walk with Carolin, in the secret paths we found that wound through the woods behind the hospital, in the conversation that took place during, and in the brisk autumn air. It is so comfortable being enveloped by his presence.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Party time!
Last night was insane!! I mean, out of my realm of anticipation insane. I'm not sure if all of the Erasmus students work on the same brainwaves or if we just have a complex communication system that I'm not aware of, but it seemed like every foreign student I know went to The King's Head pub last night for Halloween. After hanging out with my neighbors for a bit, we traveled to the city center to see if we could throw our own Halloween celebration. I knew that a few of my friends were at The King's Head, so I suggested stopping there first to see if they were still there. (I don't have a cell phone, and while I LOVE that, it can be challenging to find people without one.) They ended up being there, and like I said, tons of our other friends were too. The pub was buzzing with activity. There was a costume contest, a very accomplished Lance Armstrong-lookalike DJ was spinning tunes, and lots and lots of dancing! Even the guys danced! We definitely 'cut a rug' (as my WI friend Mike put it). I think we boogied from 11 pm until 3 am. Whew! Oh, and I got a free hat. Ha. Minor detail. Afterwards, we continued tradition with none other than a crepe stop. Most of us agree that last night was one of the best nights we've had here in Galway, and I think a fair amount of that is due to these fantastic people.
Today Mike, Carolin, Nick Bower and I headed down to the Saturday market to buy veggies and hang out. We explored gift shops and I gave an extended tour of the little-known areas of Galway that I have discovered in my wanderings. After watching a movie with Stephanie, I hunkered down and finished a project that's due on Thursday. I have a few papers I need to write too, but I have at least two weeks before I need to turn them in. (They're due whenever my professor returns from leave; he had surgery last week.) I need to finish a book for one of them.
Going down to church in the morning, then I think we're going to try and go on the "Haunted Galway" Ghost Bus Tour, which will be perfect for my nightmares. :)
Oh! I'm so excited! I'm heading to see Elyse this coming weekend! She's making a stop in London on her European adventure, and I'm flying there to meet her for a few days. She will then continue to Edinburgh before heading to Ireland to see me again! She and I have been keeping up quite a bit since we've been gone (both of us since September), and I am stoked to see her smiling face! Hopefully we can provide a sense of normalcy for each other. I fly out after my class on Friday and will be there until Monday night. Yay!!!
Today Mike, Carolin, Nick Bower and I headed down to the Saturday market to buy veggies and hang out. We explored gift shops and I gave an extended tour of the little-known areas of Galway that I have discovered in my wanderings. After watching a movie with Stephanie, I hunkered down and finished a project that's due on Thursday. I have a few papers I need to write too, but I have at least two weeks before I need to turn them in. (They're due whenever my professor returns from leave; he had surgery last week.) I need to finish a book for one of them.
Going down to church in the morning, then I think we're going to try and go on the "Haunted Galway" Ghost Bus Tour, which will be perfect for my nightmares. :)
Oh! I'm so excited! I'm heading to see Elyse this coming weekend! She's making a stop in London on her European adventure, and I'm flying there to meet her for a few days. She will then continue to Edinburgh before heading to Ireland to see me again! She and I have been keeping up quite a bit since we've been gone (both of us since September), and I am stoked to see her smiling face! Hopefully we can provide a sense of normalcy for each other. I fly out after my class on Friday and will be there until Monday night. Yay!!!
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