Just a little bit further

Today I wrote my scholarship essay. Thank you to the many who helped me with all sorts of useful advice!

I also caught Mom and Dad on skype call and Rachel on skype chat, not a bad way to start off... the afternoon?

I got a text from Mandy around 3 and we met up at 4 to go exploring in search of this castle that you can see from her side of the river but that is actually on my side of the river. None of her Irish friends actually knew how to get there, so it was quite the adventure. As we walked down the road that we figured might lead over there, we asked a man entering his house if he had any idea. He told us to keep along this street until you reach a T in the road and then go left, about a mile and a half total. I think the distance was a lie.

First off, the road that we were to follow was the windiest road, lacking in a sidewalk. So we kept switching what side we were walking on depending if it was a straight part or a curvy part. We were also fighting sundown because we didn't want to risk the walk back on that road in the dark. Honestly, each corner we kept thinking, well, just one more, maybe our T and castle are around the next corner. We almost gave up at one point and then the "just a little bit further" voice kicked in again. Once we reached a ruin like archway we knew the castle had to be nearby but could not, for the life of us see it! Luckily, we did go just a little bit further and lo and behold, we found the castle! Half of the joy was in finding it.

It probably wasn't even a "castle" but it was definitely a huge estate now a ruin and overrun with ivy up the walls and hollowed out inside. It was so cool to step inside of it and feel so insignificant against the size and age of it. It's amazing that things humans make can be around for so long. It's sad when even there you find remains from other humans, like beer cans. Mandy said the world will really wind up like in Wall-E... I'll do my best to keep that from being any time soon...

Anyways, I took a looong video while in it so that way you could get the feel, but for some reason my camera is not connecting well to my computer, lame, and I only could download a couple of images. My camera, while awesome, isn't so fun when trying to upload photos to the computer, I have to turn it off and start again a couple of times. Anyways, I'll get that video up, but for now these photos will have to suffice.

Damn that margarita was expensive!

First, thanks Ellen, I think I now have a direction with that essay, and an intro paragraph or two.

Thursday, nothing special.
Friday, no class, did some hw. I finally worked out. I had a book to return to the library so I incorporated a run into that book return. I also tried to buy the reading packet for my Cooperation and Conflict class. I got there, all rosy cheeked from running only to find out that office was closed for the day. I was so glad that I did it for exercise and to return the book, otherwise I might've been pissed.

Running to the grocery store, let's just say I'm amazed that the "Mexican" section is dominated by Old El Paso products and that they have no beans... what has this world come to?

I didn't get much done for the rest of the day, watched some Office and Bones. Damn, the Office is hilarious! Online searching at different NGOs and Non-profits makes me think I might have to get a masters later on.... but definitely no Grad School right away.

I finally went out last night! I met up with Mandy and her room/flatmates and we went to the Skeff. There, one of their Irish and Italian friends met up with us. The craic was quite mighty. I decided, after two hours there, I was thirsty and would try their cocktail of the day, a Vanilla Margarita. Holy crap, "cocktail of the day" made it sound like it was at a discounted price. I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach when he said 7.50!!! Let's just say the drink was indeed good, but that is probably going to be the ONLY drink I buy myself here. Shoot, that's part of a week's worth of groceries, or two Saturday's worth of food at the Farmer's market... yeah, drinking might have to wait until I get home. No way will I "acquire" the taste here, not that those prices!

Sadly the tattoo wasn't magic

Oh, so the balance tattoo I got back in December was meant to symbolize the balance I am striving to find in my life. I thought coming to Ireland would be easy balance. Well, instead of being on the work too hard play too little, I'm not on the waste time doing who knows what work too little side of things.

That needs to change. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm gonna go out and have fun. Actually, I think I might be going out tonight. But I need to start getting on track with the scholastic part of studying abroad. Ugh.

Sadly, that's not the only area where I'm lacking balance. I think, maybe if I let go of the watch, I'll be able to see the constant reminder more and get back on track. If anything, for my own sanity. If not for that, at least to be ready so that way I can be free to truly enjoy my travels with no worries in the back of my mind.

Ok, so, that's settled. I'll start working on hw, an essay for Developmental Geography and a scholarship essay (oh, that one is killing me), and I will find a way to work out and get some endorphins and clarity back.

Ok, I will make my own magic, the tat will just be pretty decoration and a reminder like it's supposed to.

P.S. Any ideas on a future career and three goals I have for the first five years at that job?<<< scholarship essay

Sat and Sunday

Oh yeah, and to finish Friday off: I feel like we talk about food a lot here. So much in fact that Mandy, Chelsea and I decided to do a girls pig out night. We bought two heat up in the oven pizzas and ice cream, snickers and peanut butter. Let's just say the pizzas were eh but the ice cream combo was divine! We tried to watch Get Smart online but the link wouldn't work. We wound up watching HP5 instead, critiquing it the whole way and enjoying it. (Can't wait for Platform 9 3/4 haha!).

Saturday I met up with Mandy and Chelsea and Courtney at the Farmer's Market. The falafel was amazing! The other foods there look great too, can't wait to give them all a try! I continue my search for dried beans, no luck. Found lentils and raisins though. I'm too poor to afford the other dried fruit but raisins are something. I stayed in instead of going out with Irene in order to do hw, didn't get much done. But Mandy and I did figure out plane stuff and I got to talk to Mom and Dad for the first time in like 2 weeks and Kayla a bit too!

Sunday, hiked the Maamturks. Did the short walk again. This time there were more people and so it was even more fun! Completely different terrain. This was more marshy. I found some of those "you don't know how deep it is" pits on the way down. My foot fell past ankle into water/mud, yeah gross. I feel like that, plus a good 5 foot slide on the descent was my initiation into the club, that and the bruise I've got to show for it.

It was a horribly windy day. I'm saying it took us twice as long to do anything because at some points you just had to stop and fight to keep from falling whichever way the wind was pushing. Stanley didn't come out much. Nor did the camera, sadly. The view however was amazing! We were on one mountain range and past the lake you could see another, the 12 Bens. It was breathtaking (literally with the wind and exercise too!).

I felt like I was in LOTR again. Especially as we reached the top ridge and walked across it to get to the peak. Coming down is always the hardest part, even if you take out the sink pits and the fall. Don't worry it wasn't a bad fall, just kind of scary at the moment. I felt quite proud for being able to make my way back over to the group though I must say and I wasn't the only one slipping and sliding.

We were exhausted by the end of it! At the pub I got myself a good king sized Twix. I loved the Pub scene. Tommy, an Irish hiker, educated us on how chocolate here is better than at home. I've yet to buy chocolate here, other than the Twix and I couldn't tell a difference. Cadburry's only does milk chocolate and I'm a dark kind of girl. But I'll give some of those other chocolates a try later on (I'm almost out of mine!). Tommy was great fun, as were the others. I think this club was one of the best investments I've made so far!

Monday- school, bleh. Plus side, got the news Rachel is coming, sorry, I'm still so excited about that! Oh, and I definitely feel better about having at least one "friend" in my MON and Tues classes lol.

Friday's trip to Connemara

Thursday, nothing worth noting I don't believe.

Friday I went with a bus full of international students to Connemara. Honestly, the trip was slightly disappointing. We first arrived at this hotel called Peacock's... but on the side it said Peacocke's. I found that amusing, same hotel, different names depending what side you're on. We hopped out and got a lovely view of the hills/mts in Connemara (which I later hiked on Sunday!). Then we went to a bridge. I honestly can't remember the significance of it other than a film was shot there. An American film too I think...

Then we proceeded to Kylemore Abbey. That was the highlight. It was beautiful! We got to explore the estates, which felt right out of a book/LOTR/a dream. Here's all about it http://www.kylemoreabbey.com/ We checked out the abbey as well as the Gothic church, a "cathedral miniature." It was beautiful inside and out, completely made me think of Dad with all of the beautiful and intricate details, cherubs on the outside in place of gargoyles, rose carvings in the stone... it was lovely. Then we checked out the Abbey, used for teaching girls at one point in time, now I think just for the nuns and visitors of course. The cafe in there smelled divine! Mandy got a huge bowl of soup and I found out that if you ask how much the bread is, they'll give you a slice for free. Delicious thick brown bread. Yum!

Then we went on to a Furniture school. Sounds kind of lame, but the display room we saw was actually kind of interesting. Sad part is that a long time ago that place used to be a school for unruly children. In reality, most children sent there were just of poor families unable to care for them. Many children actually died there, between neglect, harsh beatings, and poor care... ok so that was depressing.

Then we went to a little town and were told to walk around for an hour. Lame! I wanted to go 200 m down from the furniture school, take a left and go explore the Connemara national park dammit!

The plus side, I met a bunch of really nice people. One of which I was told by Michael the previous Tuesday at Monroe's that she was my sister. Another instance where I was made relatives with another based on shared glasses/contacts, and brown curly hair. Ah well, Melissa is awesome so it's cool.

All in all I wish the trip had been a little more national park and beautiful sights rather than small town and furniture store, but it was only 11 euro so... whatever.

I'll post soon I promise

Once I get some homework taken care of... and get my face out of the peanut butter jar... seriously, I have a problem... I will write about the ISS trip to Connemara on Friday and the windy hike to the Maamturks on Sunday.

For now, let's just say the hike was more fun, I need to learn how to ration pb, Ireland does not have dried beans anywhere (and thus no Hispanics probably), and Rachel is going to come visit me! And I have a ticket and I'm going to go visit Ellen in Cambridge!