craic

I arrived safe and sound only to be invited up into an apartment with the girls to start drinking at 9:30 in the morning. My apartment is really nice along with all my roommates. I live with 4 other people who are all from ireland- 2 boys 2 girls. The only tough situation is having to prepare every meal, but I lucked out and people cook for me and I do the dishes.
We got here on sunday and tuesday went into Dublin just to walk around and explore. We walked for 7 hours just taking everything in. We stopped at the temple bar to have a pint and headed back to campus. Maynooth is beautiful! There is a south and north campus- the south is old and the buildings are castles and the north is newer. There is a huge street that has grocery stores, pubs and shops which just adds to it. I feel like it is straight out of a movie or being in universal studios epcot with the castles.
I started classes yesterday and they are going well.

Saturday the girls and I just decided to take a trip to Dun Laoghaire. It rained for 10 minutes then was beautiful out. I can't even describe how pretty it was on the pier and down by the water. The pictures don't even give it justice either. Sadly my pictures are deleted from that trip because my computer blew up. All my files are gone :( We went to Teddy's icecream which is famous, and for those of you who have seen P.S. I love you the town is mentioned in the movie.

I love my friends for helping meghan put that book together. I was crying yesterday while reading it, it was amazing and I love you all! molly, stacey and meghan did a great job setting up the kitchen with streamers and balloons and stacey made me a delicious cake! Then we went out and it was amazing! I had a huge pin, a balloon and a cake hat just incase someone couldn't tell it was my birthday. It will be good craic tonight too.

I really may not come home. I want to figure out a way to stay and graduate here.

predeparture nerves

Considering I head to the airport Saturday morning, I guess it's a good thing I'm almost done packing but it still doesn't really feel like I'm actually leaving. It hasn't hit me yet that I will be in Ireland all semester. Maybe it will when I'm on the plane and we fly over all the green and I see little leprechauns running around. Maybe it's like getting off the plane for Hawaii but instead of getting lauid by some hula skirt dancer-there is a little leprechaun that hands you a pot of gold.. one can wish. I hope I saved enough money this summer so I can do everything I want to do.

I have to admit leaving everyone is really hard. Visiting JCU last weekend was tough but definitely worth it. I'm glad it was a long weekend because I still didn't have enough time to say bye to everyone. Mehh. I tried seeing everyone and that kinda backfired because then I didn't really spend a lot of time with Kristen. She is who I am going to miss the most (sorry momma) we already have a great plan to keep in touch and I'm glad.

I think I'm most nervous about the living situation. I can't cook unless you count cereal, mac and cheese or eggs. That's your basic 3 food groups right there I should be set, right? Maybe I'll actually miss carrolls dining hall. yummy.

ramble ramble ramble.