Update!

There was no Friday field trip on the 21st. So instead Alicia and I went to Dublin with Sister Mary, to go see where Sr. Catherine McAuley was buried. We also got the full tower of the convent there as well. While there we got to see a wall that had plates, that had places/people who donate to them.

Then I spent the whole weekend by myself because they either went home or on a trip. So, I got no sleep at all.. it also rained for three days straight so I didn't do much but sit around go to class and watch it rain. 

 this the river in town after it stopped raining. 

Thursday night we decided to carve pumpkins trying to keep our culture well alive here. 

Alicia's is the one that looks amazing while mine looks like a four year old did it. then we ate the pumpkin seeds after baking them. 

Now it is Friday and our field trip was back to Dublin, to visit the jail, the book of kells and sometime type of museum that I don't remember what it is called. Then we came home sat around and ate pizza and I tried to learn how to open a glass bottle with a knife, I failed every time. 

Now we are on Sunday which is PJ PARTY DAY!!! and maybe ordering out..uploading photos and playing video games today. 

47 more dayz!!

Kilkenny

The fourth excursion happened last Friday on the 14th we went to KilKenny. I got to see a really old castle that was in the Bulter family for centuries until the last family to live in it went bankrupted and sold everything away. Then in about the 1900's the family gave it to the government to fix up and have it shown to the public. But we weren't allowed to take a pictures so I have none of the castle. The next stop was a brewery called Smithswix and again wasn't allowed to take photos of everything just somethings, after the tour we got a free drink. Then we went to a Cathedral  that was so beautiful. I also got to climb up a round tower, I was scared going up and then I was terrified when I go to the top because I was soo high and the rocks were uneven that it felt like you were falling which I didn't like at all. But here is a picture of the view. 

Last Friday

Last Friday we took a trip to Glendalough which is one of the most spiritual places here. It was cold but it was beautiful at the same time. But it was always really breath taking on how much which is where the post before came from.
I got to see a round tower that was still standing and let me tell you the thing made you dizzy when you looked straight up it because the clouds where moving. I got to see another church that was still standing along with some special places where people worshiped. Also, got to climb a tree that nearly ripped my ACL in my knee or maybe some groin muscle but I did successfully get up on the tree.

(successfully on the tree)

After that we climbed up this mountain to see a waterfall that was beautiful. After that we went to see the other lake which had swans in it. Also, there was this puppy that ran in the water trying to catch a duck which was pretty funny. Oh on our way to this place I got to see wild sheep that were not scared of anything and didn't move if a car drove past either which was different for me to see. However, the only downfall in these excursions is that I wish we could take a slower past I don't see why we have to rush to see everything before a certain time. That way I could enjoy more things and taken in more as well. 

The feeling inside

There is one thing that I have learned from this experience, it is how much I actually appreciate the people around me even if they don't know that much about me because I shut myself off to them because i thought i wasn't going to fit in with them. Being here in another country has made me realize how much i do fit in with my dysfunctional family and how much I love having family dinners and everyone sitting around the table talking about their day.

 I also realized how much I depend on my cell phone to communicate with them. Since, it is the only way besides the internet that I can stay in touch with friends when I am always on the go.  It is really hard to stay in touch with people when you are five hours ahead of them and you are used to talking to them every second of the day. I’m even finding myself wanting to talk to people I haven’t talked to in a long time.

I guess I'm trying to say is that I'm happy with my decision on coming to Ireland because of the fact it has made me realize that even though you give them a hard time, you fight with them a lot, or you can't forgive them about something. You do forgive them in the long run because that is what you do when you love someone and care for them.

Also, I’m beginning to find myself in all of this and who I am now and maybe what I want out of this experience in the long run. Going to all these different places where churches use to be actually has made me realize how much I am out of touch with the Lord, and I’m actually finding myself wanting to learn more and rekindle that flame. When I get home I am planning on going to a mission trip to Alaska with my family and I hope it goes through because I’m really excited for it.

P.S. about 9 weeks left, 69 days to be exacted and about 78 days until Christmas. 

Field Trip 2

Last Friday I went on another excursion with my mates from America and we went to Wexford and where they shot Saving Private Ryan beach scene. Personally I tried my best to enjoy the trip to Wexford national historic but I honestly didn't like it. I think the reason I didn't like it because it wasn't the actual real places it was just rebuilt to have a museum; and there will not be any pictures this week because I only took a couple.

I did enjoy the view at the beach but it just felt like another beach because I live by one so, it wasn't that great besides the weather sucked to be at the beach it was raining and windy.

Hopefully Glandalough will be a lot better and Sister Mary is planning on doing a retreat just like back at home so I'm kind of looking forward to it.

Until next time,
Andie

Thursday Night

Once again we went on our Friday field trips but this time we went to Wexford and to where Hollywood shot the beach scene in Saving Private Ryan. But before all of this on Thursday night instead of going out to watch the local traditional Irish band play, I decided to stay in. I'm kind of glad I chose to stay in because I noticed more on how Irish college students away from parents act, they act just the same as American college students. But on that particular night students were jumping off of the mini roof onto box springs mattresses and then after getting a little more drunk. They decided that it would be a good idea to get rid of them by lighting them on fire instead of just throwing them back into the trash bin where they originally found them. Once they started lighting it on fire people started to disappear so they wouldn't get into trouble and one of the neighbors called the local fire department. So, I got to see how the operate and it felt just like home were it was all volunteer and that they take just as long as over in America. Other Irish students started to gather just like bystanders also when the fire department showed up.  The next thing I know the Garda (police men) are showing up to investigate and the lady who owns it was with them. So, I also got to see how the police operate here too. The only thing I noticed differently from home is that they don't break down the doors and they don't carry guns which I thought was odd but I guess they have a way that they handle things here with out guns. While all of this was going on normally people disband and keep going on their little marry way not these college students someone made a pot of tea and passed it out to everyone who wanted it that stuck around to see if the guys who set it on fire got arrested. However, nobody got taken away in handcuff that night but they did get kicked out and fined pretty bad. So, much better than going out to an Irish pub.