Scary Wind and finished essay

So I have not even changed out of my pjs today. I was really regretting not going for a run when I saw that the sun was out. But, at a second glance and more attentive listen, I realize it was sunny but actually raining hard, on and off, and that noise I heard wasn't just the buzzing of my laptop adapter but of the wind.

As I sit here alone in my room, sorry, that wasn't meant to sound as sad as I think it does now, I hear the wind beating away furiously at all obstacles in its path. I'm really glad to be inside, in my sweats, away from the cold and wet.

Although I have done a lot of unproductive nothingness today, I am quite proud to announce that I have indeed finished my Ivory Trade paper! So what if I meant to finish it yesterday and have already started on paper two by today. I still got one thing done and am content with that. Oy, it took a lot longer to do all my fact/reference checking, but it's done.

I've managed to check facebook and email more today than usual, if you can believe it, waiting to hear from possible couch surfer hosts. So far nothing, so, please continue to wish me luck.

Is it weird that as soon as I finished and started my "I finished my pa-per" song and dance I was kind of saddened not to have anyone to celebrate with? Irene is at the library, she's been working so hard and long all week! But I was kind of really wanting my Wendilla, Jen, Kevin and Justin to go to. I just wanted to walk away from my computer, hop on Kevin's bed and let my brain breathe (of course with all of the procrastination I've done I don't need quite an unwind as I normally do) and be entertained by silly antics in room 1509. The weather even kept Mandy and I from getting together tonight, grrr. Ok, random nostalgia, just gotta shake it off I guess and send those loves happy thoughts. I could really go for a skype chat now, this damn time difference can be quite the pain in the butt, oh well I guess.

Ok, I didn't mean to leave that sounding all sad. I'm not sad or homesick. I don't really get homesick, however I do miss people and right now was just one of those, wish you were here, moments. All is well, especially now that that paper is done!
I'm done, ttfn

Oh how time flies

So I ought to have finished my paper last night, as far as my plan goes. Well, needless to say I didn't, although I am 2/3 done, yay! I WILL finish it today and have begun at least researching for a 1200 essay due on Monday in Globalization.

So what exactly have I been doing with my time? Well, I have been figuring out flights, transport and couch surfing for this upcoming trip to Spain. Sadly, Morocco is out. Here is the plan

Fly into Barcelona on April 6, Anna will do likewise but not until around 8 pm whereas I arrive around 12. Explore Barcelona until the 10th, fly out late on the 10th to Sevilla (or Seville ;) ). Stay there for 3 days. Make our way to Granada by bus on 14th and 15th. Rachel has a friend in Granada who wont be back until the 15th but maybe I can meet up with him on his first day back. On the 16th, make our way to Madrid, fly back on the 17th.

Since the flights were set in stone, had I pursued Morocco and only done 2 days in Sevilla, one in Granada and one in Madrid, I would've only had 3 days for Morocco, not enough considering how long it would take me to get there and back, especially considering cost. So, sadly, Morocco will have to wait. I'm kind of really bummed but Spain will still be awesome.

Now I'm just anxious as I wait for couch surfers to respond to me. I'm going to send out multiple requests so as to not, as Rachel just helped me remember the saying, "put all my eggs in one basket." So, wish me luck there! Hostels are terribly expensive and are running out, so I'm playing at a bit of a risk here.

Oh, and I also managed to not spend time on my paper by worrying over registration. About half of the classes I'd written into my IDS major to take aren't being offered. So i was kind of freaking out. Turns out that it'll be ok, even grand! I'll get some last minute requirements out of the way (English lit... after all of my Spanish lit classes I now have to do one in English) and have enough free time to take a beginner language course. I'm going to learn ITALIAN in the fall! And hopefully have free time in the spring so that I can follow up. I'm excited. Which is operating quite interestingly in my system when you place it next to my anxiety of the couch surfing, which oddly enough outweighs my anxieties for all of these papers and tests I have coming up. My odd calmness before this flood of school assignments is sort of scaring me.

Must begin on this paper

I've successfully bought some tickets, made an inquiry about couch surfing and have procrastinated paper writing with other homework. Now to writing about Ivory Trade. Once I get started it'll be smooth sailing, I've just got to start

Sunday (sad) and today

Sunday morning I woke both not wanting the day to ever begin and trying to hide from it as well as not wanting to miss out on more Rachel time so I went ahead and woke and woke her up. We spent that morn talking away and such. We'd packed the night before. I sent her home with some things, but she definitely left probably weighing half of what it was coming here. Thanks again for hauling all of that stuff, it's much appreciated!

Her bus to Dublin left at 11 so we made our trek down to the station around 10 and hung around from 10:30 on. Bittersweet goodbye. Sad to see her go, but the fact that she had to leave meant that she was here which is lovely. It was so fun to share all of those experiences with her and, with all the business at home, it was really nice to have a bit of home here with me to ease the worries and such.

The rest of the day was spent uploading photos, playing catch up online and looking into flights and such for Spain. Goodness I spent FOREVER yesterday looking at flights to Spain, best transportation within spain... blah blah blah. It's ok though b/c today I bought the ticket to Spain (first stop Barcelona) and to Sevilla.

Ok so today I had classes, as usual I loved Globalization, not such a fan of econ. I failed to wake up and work out, Rachel took the weather with her and it was bleh this morning although the sun did come up later, after a nice sprinkle on the way to school. I'll work out tomorrow, I need to make ammends for how I attacked the food sent from home... yeah, still working on that self control. Anywho, after classes I returned, did some hw and then started working on flights again. Lucky for me, Anna caught me on facebook chat and we were able to coordinate dates and we'll get to travel together in Spain! I'm so excited. Not only will it be nice to have a travel buddy, but what an awesome travel buddy to have!

Other highlight of the evening was my Happy Bday phone call to Tori. Oh how I love my nieces and boy do I ever have a hard time realizing how old they're getting! We talked for over a half hour, only saying goodbye b/c she got another call. The Nonakas need to get skype. Tori and I already began planning a future "big girls" road trip. haha, I didn't even have my plane tickets for two weeks from now to Spain but I was ready to talk about a trip to the Grand Canyon (inspired by my jealous looks at Kevin's spring break photos) with Kayla, Dani, Tori and myself for once we're all of driving age, which scarily isn't too far off. Honestly, I'd be fine doing it before then, you up for it girls?

anyways, i'm finally caught up here and need to work on doing the same with homework.
Slan go foil

Saturday to Salthill and Market

Another beautiful day meant an outing! We slept in and lounged about the apartment, just talking for a long while before heading out to the farmer's market. I love the market, the sounds, the smells (oh my goodness how I love the smells), the colors... everything! We bought rolls to eat for lunch, Rachels was fruit and nut, mine was potato and spring onion. A bit too much bread, would've been better had it been multigrainy/wheaty but still yummy.

From there we walked on to Salthill. We walked along the bay for about 3 miles I think, at a nice stroll, enjoying the company, weather and seaside breeze. Others were out enjoying it all too: runners, people walking dogs, pushing strollers, it was lovely. As we got closer to Salthill and the beach, we actually saw people in the water: dogs chasing sticks, kids with shorts splashing around, adults with feet in the shallows. It's crazy here, 50 degrees doesn't scream to me "hot day, let's go swim in the ocean" but I guess here that's hot. I enjoyed it from a warmer distance ;)

We walked until we couldn't really anymore and then just walked on back. Once back to the city center I did my first bit of souvenir shopping. I fail at shopping. I wound up buying myself a white Ireland jacket, really cute. Did I need it? No. Will I wear it all the time? Yes (wore it today and yesterday actually). I found something for my dad, instructions given though that he doesn't get it until I return. Found something for my mom for Mother's Day, found it sort of by chance, i think she'll really like it. Kayla, grr Kayla, I couldn't find anything that really said "I'm for Kayla" so she's still one I need to shop for. I also discovered that I've been shopping produce wrong this whole time. Must always do it at the market. I got 2 zucchini, 2 huge red peppers and a small box of cherry tomatoes for only 5 euros! I know where I'll go next Sat.

That evening we tried to watch a couple different movies, and failed miserably. Fastpass wasn't cooperating. We wound up watching National Treasure 2 (Love it! Especially Riley, ahaha) and an episode of Bones and NCIS. Ah, good times haha. It was one of those, never want the night to end b/c tomorrow means goodbye sort of deals.

Friday to the Aran Islands!

We took a bus from Galway to the port at Rossaveal, an hour away, almost falling asleep on the way. then the ferry to the Islands was also about an hour. We went downstairs/inside to keep warm. It might've been a nice day as far as Irish weather is concerned, but still chilly considering wind and movement.

The Aran Islands greeted us warmly and instead of renting bikes (b/c I fail at life and am incompetent but will be working on it this summer), we took a minibus tour. Our guide was entertaining; horrible jokes, thought he was hilarious, but funny b/c of it at the same time. We also had the cutest older group with us, my favorite was sweet little old Grace. Anywho, he gave us commentary as he drove us to the sights on the island.

Given two hours at Fort Aengus, the main attraction on Inis Mor (Inishmore in English; Big Island), we used them to the max. This prehistoric for along the cliff was possibly more entertaining that the Cliffs of Moher. Although not as tall, Rachel and I much appreciated the freedom to walk right up to the edge and lay down and look out at the sea and down below, an experience not allowed at the Cliffs of Moher. We probably laid about, almost napping, along the edge for a good 15 minutes before moving about to other parts of the fort. I absolutely loved it and couldn't have been happier to share it with Rachel.

We then went to the Seven Churches site, named after 7 roman priests. Here old and new tombstones alike filled the grounds. Interestingly enough, it's still used, and the Aran Islands have no caretakers, so bodies have to be sent to the mainland to be embalmed and then sent back to be burried. BTW, when I die, donate my organs and spread my ashes, none of that nasty poison going into my body and then being put into the ground, o-natural for me thanks a million.

We finished off the tour with some other sites and then had time to check out the stores and such before heading back. Fell asleep again on that ferry. Back in Galway we spent another night in, goodness we're exciting. Doesnt matter if I fail as a college student in the party lifestyle, I had a blast talking and hanging out, it was a perfect day!

On thursday we went to Menlo Castle

On Thursday I had to go to class. It was actually sort of awkward in my Social Stratification class when, at least for the first 10 minutes, as the only American I was also distinguished as the only person who had done the readings... I guess, although I've failed to get paper writing done, I've at least managed to stay on top of readings. After social stratification, I had Irish. Here, I found that we'd actually gone ahead in the book and I'd missed out on some non-songs/poems learning, whoops.

After class I rushed back to the apt and Rachel, who had worked all morning long on her papers. After lunch we went on a run to Menlo Castle. Probably not the best idea to eat first but oh well, we survived the run. Again, another gorgeous day, I'm sorry if this is getting old, but it needs to be said. It was 59 and sunny. We went running in tshirts and shorts. This time, we weren't the only ones at the castle, but there were only a few others. We didn't even go into the castle for a good half hour, choosing instead to sit out in the sun along the river and talk about staying there forever, setting up camp and somehow getting a canoe to play across the river. No worries we did actually explore the castle, I mean, it's one sweet ruin and I believe Rachel enjoyed it (she took all the pictures that day so I haven't any new ones to offer). We had fun dancing around, making shadow dancers and being goofy.

We left to be home by 5 in order to catch Mom on skype. I missed her, but as Rachel pointed out, could just call her on her cell phone. I love technology! We caught Mom and, as Rachel pointed out, we could hear the smile in her "Hey!" once she recognized it as me. Love it!

I fear we got too comfy after stretching and showering that when we went out that evening to a pub we just weren't very into it. haha, kind of pathetic college students as far as the partying goes. Since things don't get too exciting til late, we wound up missing the excitement, although we did catch the start of a pub fight before the bouncer took one guy out. Actually, where we'd been sitting, the table was flipped over in an angry push. Kind of scary. Whatever, it might not have been a crazy night out, but just hanging out and talking with Rachel was a blast!

Oh, that castle is gorgeous but all the more so with beautiful weather, I wish I had pictures, but just imagine those lasts ones I had put up, but now add a sense of warmth and spring and you've got what Thursday was, ;)

Last Wed's trip to Cliffs of Moher

Ok, so all last week was beautiful weather: sunny skies, no rain, 50s, perfect! I'm so glad that I waited to see the Cliffs for when Rachel came to visit!

So on Wednesday morning we made our way to the city center to figure out the best deal for the tours. We wound up going with Healy tours and had a fun bus driver and a grand old time! The bus left off around 10 and made it's way first to the Burren and Aillwee Caves. Having already hiked the Burren, I pushed our personal tour towards the caves. Admittedly, not the best caves, but interesting and pretty nonetheless. From there, we stopped at the Poulnabrone portal tomb in the Burren for a photo opt before heading towards the Cliffs themselves.

The Cliffs of Moher, wow. I wish they'd let you explore closer to the edge but wow. We did go to the "don't step beyond this point" sign, but didn't go much further, although now I wish that we had. We just were amazed by it all. The cliffs are so tall (and not even the tallest in Ireland!) and the sea just seemed to go on forever. I mean we had a perfect day for the cliffs! They were beautiful and I am so glad that I got to share the experience with Rachel!

Honestly, almost more than the cliffs, I liked where we went afterwards. I fear that I cannot remember the name of the place but it was a rocky, very Burren, small cliff. Like everywhere else in the Burren, this area had craggy limestone rock. I think I liked this more because we got to walk around a lot more, look out towards the edge and climb around a bit. Don't worry Mom, all was safe, but it was definitely more fun for Rachel and I who like to stray from the path a bit.

After returning from our lovely adventure, we went grocery shopping and then spent the night in. I believe we completed the night with ice cream and the Emperor's New Groove. Ah good times!