Kings of Leon, I hope I never get sick of you.

Dad and I cut our adventure short and came back to Dublin a day early to see museums and such. Friday we caught the bus to Galway, Sat we went into Headford and rode to Cong. Sunday from Cong to Clifden and Monday, Clifden to Inis Mor the Aran Island. Its good to be back and not on the road. I am incredibly sunburned.

The us from Galway last night gave me lots to think about. It was three hours of memories from this semester. I keep telling dad I'm going to live here and as we note differences between here and home, it makes me want to stay more. I told him how I smoked hookah and he told of the hookah bar that opened down the street from my high school. Its just different. When Hookah is on the south side of Indianapolis, consumed by a bunch of Manual High School kids thinking they're real cool and somewhat different or rebelious and you compare it to a bunch of Spanish, German, French and Americans college students sitting on a green lawn in Dublin smoking Hookah...its just different. It isnt trashy it is was it is with no connotation good or bad associated with it.

I've not been in that Hookah bar so I shouldnt say its trashy because I dont know. I imagine the Kmart across the street, its giant parking lot. That doesnt exist here, wasted space. I guess it isnt wasted space its for the cars that everyone drives filled with the fuel everyone uses. That doesnt exist here. Theres is a conciousness for what is right that doesnt exist at home. Everyone recycles, people use public transit or bikes more than cars. People have a general respect for eachother and I think it shows. Granted, I'm in south County Dublin, were I north of the river I may have a different opinion.

I Dont Do Goodbye

I really cant do goodbye. Cant we pretend its see you later even though we may never see eachother again? Its sad for sure but I just cant handle goodbye, I cant accept them. I cant bring myself to cry, but I feel like crying. My heart hurts saying goodbye to Irish kids I cant stand it. To think of all the memories we made and all that they have done for me, all they have been..okay now I cry, like a baby.

Elaine Dempsey-Oh i cant even do this. I mean to blog about each one of them and give short description of who they are and how they will be remembered, but I dont know that I'm strong enough. Elaine, Bev, PJ, Cormac, Rob the Pirate, Pa, Daryl, and Erika, you mean more than ya know, and I'll miss you. And Kate Megarry who gets a shout out all her own because if I return, it will be for her, we may be soul sisters-I have to pursue her.

I left the Black Hole (their apartment) this morning, Bevs' mom was up to move her out and as we packed the car and they left, I thought of Purdue and how it feels when everyone is leaving for the summer. And I walked to the bus stop, and walked home and I realize...this is theirs. I've been blessed, absolutely blessed to experience it and meet all those that I've met...but I have my own...my own world...this is theirs, mine is elsewhere.

Its goodbye for everyone. It sounds way stupid but it is the closing of a chapter and thats the best way to look at it. Theres something more coming.

I walk alone and I pray blessings on those that have come to mean so much to me. At camp-and this is cheesey I know but its true and I love it. At camp, at the end of the week the night before everyone leaves we tell the kids, people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. And on that note, I cant even be sad to leave them. I just feel so good for meeting them. I've met you, we've had great times and its been a dream of a semester that I will often OFTEN day dream of when I sit in lecture this fall. But I have to go back to my life now.

Two weeks and two days from this moment I will be in a wheat field in northern Indiana, living in West Lafayette, drinking Den Pops and seeing the stars at night. But I will lay down to sleep and think of the Irish.

I made it all the way to Bray today and I'm a little proud I didnt whimp out and bring a bus or train back. On the way home it started pouring but it was all down hill so I kept going, just wanting to get home. Thats when I got a flat tire. You should see the inch long peice of glass I took out of my tire. It was raining! And I couldnt get it out so I had to remove it with my teeth. Gross right? I felt pretty BA. Then I found a tree to sit under to fix it. Ever tried to dry rubber cement in the rain? Its possible.

"Training"

The last couple days I've been preparing for my Ireland Adventure. I've attempted long rides I have but I keep getting lost!! The number one annoyance that you'll find when living in Ireland is that they dont have street signs at intersections. Sometimes you'll get a little sign saying the street name, but instead of being on a pole, its on a wall and usually at waist height and its not even always at the intersection but half way between two intersections. Good luck finding that.

Anyway I've tried twice to get to Bray, got lost both times. Well I guess it isnt lost as much as it is distracted. The first time by the Dalkey and the pier and the second by Killiney (where Bono lives) and Killiney Hill which is some of the coolest forest I've seen since I've been here. When I walked Killiney Hill yesterday, I honestly wanted to hug a tree it was so cool. Magic. I've never really wanted to hug trees before.

And the view from Killiney? Its worth the incline. And the decent now thats just fun and really fast.

Dalkey was the little town nieghborhood I found the first day and it was so cute. And the houses all along the way are amazing too. And the school thats practically a castle?? Yep, I'm defo having kids here and they're going there. This place, I'd say all along the shoreline from Blackrock to Dun Laoghaire, Dalkey to Killikey and Bray, its some parallel universe where everyone is happy and nice and the shop fronts are painted bright colors. Little girls with bright red ringlets run around green parks with pink ballet tutus. No ones dog has a leash. Its craziness. Its real. I saw it all. Maybe its only like this when the sun shines...

This is the hilliest country I've ever been in and my legs hurt.

Dont You Love America?

Boston Tommy in the kitchen today after I said I wasnt ready to go home.

"Why? Dont you love America?" Kid always gets me because he never smiles, I didnt know if he was serious or being a little silly. He continued,

"America. Home of the free. And the brave."

He cant wait, he wants to be back so bad. And I guess I'm ready to be done here, I've had my time. But I really do want to come back and do it right. I want to play rugby. I dont want to waste time as I have here, the internet being a sole waste of my time.

As I waited for the bus, and granted I'm in a classy neighborhood, the number of people running or cycling, and just in general I feel like they're a healthier people. I want to be here. Its pretty.

Like Tim Tebow

Noticed a certain Purdue football playing, ginger, Found kids facebook today and it inspired me.

Dont go getting the big head ginger, you're simply a symbol in thes piece.

Good, solid christian boys are so hard to find that when I do find one I want to alert the media, so maybe not the media but I'm tempted to call every christian girl I know and tell them. "You'll never believe what I just found."

And it makes me mad that they succumb to stuff that I dont. I can do the right thing. Why cant you? Why cant you be with me on this? Just be good! Dang! It aint that hard! False...but not really! If they'd just get it in their heads what they'd be worth to the good girls, (the girls worth having, can I get an amen?) the item, the statue, the rare metal, the precious stone that they'd be if they were just want you wanted them to be. Dang! Get your shite together (forgive, thats the irish influence).

I recently learned from another American girl that she calls virgins Last Standing Unicorns. They are rare and lets be honest they're practically alone, they are the last standing of their kind. But viginity is not all that I'm talkin here. I'm talkin the genuine artifact, the legit. I am NOT talking about being a preacher, I'm talkin about being a normal person (those preachers, they aint normal) with strong morals. SO STOP SMOKING WEED and I'll consider you. Stop smoking period. And drinking. You dont have to be athletic but it'd be nice. And I'd like you to be smart but as rare as the good christian boy is, he trumps brains, sorry he does. Thats real. Bring the sexy christian back.

I dont want Prince Charming, just a normal person will do.

"The (practicing) chrisitan boy is like the strait man of musical theatre."-Charlie Aber

Wheres Tim Tiebow living these days?

Honestly, asking too much? Smart, cute, not socially akward, not judgemental, not smoker, not drinker, has goals has opinions, can communicate, knows to open doors, knows to walk on the side closest to the street, has attached earlobes and is taller than me, loves Jesus and acts like it. Is this really asking too much? Really?

Look I'm not asking for all that. I just wish you (you christian boy "finding your place in the world") wouldnt get pulled outta church as easy as you do. You dont know what you're worth. You're leaving us weeds to choose from. You're making me settle.

Settleing is my biggest fear in life.

Get on my level.

...Someone, please? Get on my level?

Exam Dos

So UCD exams are held in what seems to be a large barn. Not kidding, I felt like I was on the State fair grounds. In one giant open barn and there are multiple courses around you. Not like in Elliot where CHEM 110 in on the bottom and 112 in the balcony, the kid next to me was using a calculater and I was taking a Film Studies exam...he may have been confused.

Its strange. I honestly dont think I've ever seen so many desks and chairs in one place, and Purdue facilities are big. These desks spanned, like...kinda like a war zone, you know you're going to die, but slightly more organized. Well imagine the cattle barn at the state fair filled with single desks and chairs, just rows of em.

Today I noted that gingers always look lost. They crack me up. I wish I took a picture of the one today, anything I pull from google would not do them justice.

Also, Dad is coming over here!! And I'm so happy but I really do wish Mom were coming with him but she wont. So Dad takes this opportunity to decide that we're seeing the country on bikes. Brilliant. Certainly a dream, but one to be accomplished when I've been training, or atleast getting some form of exercise in the last month. I'm sure it'll be the death of me but atleast its a worthy death, its not boring.

Hombres!

Tonight, I finally made dinner with the spanish. We made spanish omelets. Tasty. I'm so happy I can cook now! Couple weeks ago I met with Irish boys who will study at Purdue next semester and they asked if I thought they should live in an international hall or a predominate american one. I didnt know what to say, nor would I know what to say were someone to ask about living at Blackrock. The relationships you make and skills and cultures you learn...I think thats priceless and I'd say absolutely do it, so yes, live at Blackrock. Know that you are a half hour cycle away from campus, and when if rains you will be drenched and you will leave wet butt imprints on the seats in G24. AND know that anytime you want to go into the city, it will cost 1:80 one way. BUT we're by the beach and nice park and the people are second to none.

But as for telling kids who're studying at Purdue? I dont know. I've never lived in dorms at Purdue but I think I'd say do the international one, internationals are always easier to make friends with because no one has friends yet.

Tonight Beatriz and I made omelets and Stephano was supposed to be helping and wasnt, (Beatriz would say "Hombres! Men, you know men!") and the two bickered like my grandparents, made for great craic. Throw in the spaniards that came in late and it was one big, loud party. I only catch words here and there but its still entertaining, body language, and tone of voice go a long way.

Magpies

These magpie birds are scavengers, they steal eggs out of nests. But they always play the victim. So often I hear them and they scream as if they're being attacked, they're hysterical and screaming for their lives. Or when there are two of them, they sounds like they're in a fight to the death. Oh the drama.

You make no sense.

He calls me Yankee Doodle...

Every blog written in Ireland from here on out will be written as the Irish talk/text. James Orohoe is a boy I met at our barn dance an e txts like e talks an e talks like a leperchaun.

note

I just stole one of the giant mugs from Starbucks, but I dont really feel bad because its 4 euro for coffee! Thats like 6 dollars! Also, it has a crack where the handle meets the mug so I'm really doing someone a favor, what if it broke and they got hot coffee all over themselves? Its possible that I just saved Starbucks millions. You're welcome.

...and thank you because I really wanted this.

I should be studying

Onto another rant. I'm making up for the weeks of blog neglect.

While talking to these girls I noticed they both had big, beautiful shiny diamonds on their ring fingers. So gorgeous I had to ask if tey were real and they were, they had both gotten engaged in Ireland. They said they kept getting almost disapproving reactions from the Irish, Irish just dont get married that young and had apparently voiced this.

It just kinda made me think. Obviously its great and I'm so glad you found something that makes you so happy, and so many our age are there (five weddings this summer alone). Yet, I dont see where I would fit something like that into my life...I still have grad school and the rest of the world to see and change...or atleast attempt to change...an attempt at something...something...else?

They spoke of what home bodies they were. I remember that. I remember before I left to come, telling myself how great America was and how much I loved it and questioned why I was leaving it all. If my family and my friends are the most important thing to me and life is so short, why would I choose to be away from them? I was so angry for moving to Hawaii and leaving us/me behind as easily as they did.

And now the only thing bringing me home is my summer internship. I'm not in love with the university I think Purdue is better hands down. But the social side, the people, I love it and dont want to live without it. Despite loving Purdue there is always something present when with Ags, even of my own small major, something that doesnt work, doesnt fit and its me. Theres an awkward separation that I thought would be gone by now, I have friendships but they feel forced and fake. Ireland friendships were instant, (and maybe its because I'm American and they like having someone to adopt). Even though I have such different morals, theres an easy acceptance, no one cares. Back home if you dont drink...well that alone makes you awkward not to mention added judgements, mainly that you're judging them for drinking or that you're some crazy christian (which, well I am lol). Anyway, that was a rant and I wasnt going there but I did.. Everyone is nice and just cool and I cant help but think this was the way it was supposed to be.

I cant live with out my church though. Shame. Everyone is nice here, and they're all christians but few live it and thats what will bring me home in the end. Its not about getting drunk, its not about having sex. Its about wanting to live in a way...a righteous way that no one here has much of an interest in.

They're horny bastards. Their words, not mine. And you have to say it like the Lucky Charms guy. Speaking of, they dont have Lucky Charms here.

I like the culture...and I almost prefer it over ours. I like that there arent Walmarts (this took a while). I like that I always see little kids playing in the streets and I like that they're always in smart looking uniforms. I hate that everything is so expensive and that the produce goes bad really fast...but love that they dont have road ways with fast food on every side for miles. You dont see many over weight people, people just look healthy, normal. And the men age very well, many George Clooney-esq mean, like my film prof.

Starbucks

I've been in my room for the last eight days studying and in my down time I find myself in the kitchens, wandering the halls, in the market when I dont need to buy anything, or at Starbucks.

When I walked into Starbucks today, right off the bat I noticed a girl in a Lady Saints' soccer hoodie and I thought it looked like an Ameican hoodie, I know that sounds weird, but the Irish just dont wear hoodies like that. I didnt think much of it. She began a conversation with her mom on skype as I studied for Film Studies. Deep space-A film utilized deep space when signifigant elements fo an image are postioned both near to and distant from the camera. Ok so maybe I'm lying, maybe I meant to be studying but was really watching Indy 500 commericials and praying I'm home for it. Thats when this girl started naming Indianapolis township schools to her mom. My heart about popped. There were two of them, both from INDY and here we are in a Starbucks in Blackrock Dublin. I waited for her to hang up before I went over.

"Are you from Indy? Because I'm from Indy!!" Told them I was from Purdue and studying here, they were from IU in elementary ed. and were student teaching over here. It was a scream fest of:
"Omg, I'm sure we know so many of the same people, you're in ag, who do we know in Ag? Do you know Ben Forsithe?"
"Yes I know Ben Forsithe!! Hes in bluegrass! *scream giggle*."
"...do you know Bruce Cooley?"
"Yes I know Bruce Cooley! *scream giggle*" We did this for ages, I lost track of time.

We talked of cultural differences, what we missed about home, one being talking to a person who knew things only and Indiana person would know, things like Little 5, Franklin College of Ball State, things that mean nothing to people outside of Indiana.

Exams

In Ireland we get a revision week, then two weeks for finals. I has heard from others who studied abroad and specifically in Ireland that the students here dont take their grades as seriosuly. Its true no one cares about GPA, they just want to pass the course but take it seriously for sure, and I almost feel like they know more about their subjects. Granted I'm in ag and all of them are from farms, but thast no different from Purdue. I find the system harder, I have one multiple choice test and thats in math. I took my European Agriculture and Environment Policy test yesterday, I was allowed to bring in any notes, printed articles or books with me and had a good idea of the subject I'd be writing about. After two hours, I had two solid pages I was pretty happy with until I talked with peers and found that each of them wrote atleast 6 pages. "But I fluffed a lot." I hope you fluffed four pages. And the prof said its quality over quantity but four pages short, I missed something big for sure. My next Ag class final is worth 100 percent of my grade.

I feel like at home I can study hard core the day before, go into the multiple choice test, choose the best answer and come out with a decent grade, generally above average. But its just not the same, I feel like here, you have to KNOW your topic. Its not choose the best answer, its heres a subject, not only do you have to tell me about it, but have an opinion, come to a conclusion and dont forget to cite everything!