New Look

I don't know why I changed by blog.
I started fiddling with my banner again, finally figured it out, and decided on a different picture.
One thing led to another...
And I was really tired of my old template. It was time for a change.
So here we are.
PJ looks more mature now I think, which is fitting as it has passed the one year mark.
Also I am in a very "melancholic" mood. Not sad or anything. Just...hmmm...I don't know. But I feel more at home in this toned down color-scheme. It fits me better right now.
So that's that.

This 'n That...

Here is my "mobile"--

My knitting project--And the update on my latest exploration--

A Taste of Ireland

Haha...that is totally misleading.
These cookies are probably eaten everywhere. You may have created them already at some point. However...
The other day I baked some "biscuits" (the supply was running low, since we each have at least one a day when we have tea). Its a nice recipe that I got from a local lady. Nothing fancy, but good for dipping in a hot drink.

Irish Tea Biscuits
2 oz butter
2 oz margarine
2 tbl Golden Syrup
1 tsp bread soda (dissolved in 1 tsp water)

1 cup plain flour (I usually add more)
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup granulated sugar
The recipe calls for a tsp of salt, but I would recommend only a pinch of salt.

Melt butter, margarine, golden syrup, and bread soda in a saucepan (NOT in the microwave!). In a bowl mix dry ingredients. (The breadsoda has a very strong flavor so I find I like it better with only a very, very, very little bit of salt, or none at all if you prefer). Add melted ingredients and stir until mixed. If it is really goopy, add more flour. That's what I did. Roll into into balls about the size of a loonie and place on greased pan. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. When cooled, serve with tea, and dip!

Three Reasons I Shouldn't Be Allowed...

To live on my own:

1. Eating out at places called "The Humble Spud" sounds SOO much more appealing than cooking for myself!
2. I might have died, cold and wet, trapped in my shower when the door sealed shut and no matter how much I pushed it wouldn't open.
3. I lost my house key within 48 hours of receiving it.

I'm surprised really, that anyone has ever taken me seriously after all the ditzy-ness I come up with! After all the embarrassing and stupid things I've done, its a wonder that I've survived to be 19. Much less that I've somehow managed to travel across the world, and live on my own...

That's right folks...this weekend I moved out!

I'm living in a little boarding house on the main stretch of road through Fermoy (I'll put a picture up later...for now, here is my room). I have a nice bedroom & ensuite to myself, and I share a living room and kitchen with the other boarders. There are 3 single boarders upstairs, and a Polish couple living in the suite down the hall from me. I haven't seen any of them yet, as I am home most mornings, and out most nights...the opposite of their hours I guess. I've heard evidence of the Poles though...loud Polish techno, and some Nelly Furtado :P
It sounds like people are always coming and going, and they are all "foreign" like me, so who knows- if I ever meet them face-to-face I might make some travel buddies!
So far independence suits me pretty well, even dealing with the little disasters like getting trapped in the shower! :P
I did my first big Grocery Shop today, and it was kind of fun. I tried to get practical, healthy things, but I did succumb to buying nacho chips and hummus. It could be worse.
Also I FINALLY got my whole laptop fiasco sorted. I think/hope. First I had the wrong converter. So I bought a new one. Then it was no internet, and I got my wireless thing. Then my converter died. So I bought a new one. Then that one died. So I returned it. That was last week. Today I went to the computer place and a nice Canadian guy (ahhh, the sweet North American accent....never thought I'd say that.) told me all I needed was this wire with a different plug end on it. So that is what I have now, and it seems to be working just fine. So hopefully my technology troubles are over!!! I'm back in action :) So hopefully I can catch up on emails/facebook this week!!

I'll be working on my huge Sunday School projects as well, and doing the usual stuff...also going on some more walks, hopefully to a place called Glenabough Forest. Sounds nice. So that's me.

Here's the rest of the stories:

1. The Humble Spud has appealed to me from the moment I laid eyes on its vintage little sign. Today I stopped in after grocery shopping, and I did eat a chicken burger there. It was good. But the cashier was grumpy...so its a toss-up. I might go back, or I might make myself some rice with sweet n' sour chicken.
2. After about 10 minutes of alternate hysterical laughing and panic, wondering if I was ever going to get out, or if I would be found dead, sprawled on the shower floor in a week, I pulled at the rubbery siding thing in the middle of the shower door, and it popped open. I don't think I will ever be brave enough to close it all the way again...
3. There I was standing at my door with a huge bag of groceries, my shoulder bag of misc. items, and my purse, going through them all a million times thinking "OH NO! How am I going to tell her that I lost my keys already?!", and after standing around like a fool for 5 minutes, I remembered I had put it in my wallet. Yay.

"Cultured"

I went to a ballet tonight.
I now consider myself very sophisticated.
Except, to be honest, I was nearly bored to tears.
If I hadn't had a crinkly bag of crinkly individually wrapped toffees to keep me company, I would have been in a sad state indeed...
I don't know if that is very sophisticated of me.

I was kindly invited to enjoy this evening at the Cork Opera House by one of the ladies in the church and her daughter, who is an aspiring ballerina. The production was called "Giselle", and as far as I could tell it was about a young girl who fell in love with a prince who was masquerading as a commoner. He wooed her until a rival exposed him, and it was discovered he was already betrothed to be married to a wealthy noblewoman. Giselle died of a broken heart, and that was the end of Part I.
Part II was all white-clad spirit girls dancing, and Handsome Prince having a final dance with Spirit Giselle.
It was about 2 1/2 hours including the intermission.
The dancing was impressive for sure, but I guess I'm just not "cultured" enough to fully appreciate ballet for that length of time!
Though I do think I would like to see The Nutcracker...at least then I would enjoy the music, if nothing else!
Anyway, now I can say I've been to a ballet.
Opera is next on my list :)



EDIT: can anyone tell me the significance of today's date? I'll be very impressed...

Separated by a Common Language

I made the unforgivable mistake of calling many departments stores combined in one building a "mall" today.
My wee Irish friend Miryam severely corrected me, after laughing incredulously at my ignorant American-ness, and letting her whole family in on the joke.
Apparently there are no MALLS in Ireland. There are SHOPPING CENTERS.
A MALL is "Very American".

(I've probably already listed these, but bear with me...)

I now call cookies "Biscuits", french fries are "chips", potato chips are "crisps", highways are "motorways", line-ups are "queues", garbage is "rubbish", hoodies are "jumpers", pants are "trousers", a pick-up truck is a "lorry", mail is "post", a cell phone is a "mobile"...the list is endless, and I have to give constant thought to my sentences so that I can communicate efficiently! (And they wonder why I'm so quiet...)

Today's Accomplishments

While you all are probably just opening your sleepy little eyelids, it is 3:30PM here and I have already accomplished much.
1. I went for a 2 hour walk around the town, exploring and buying things.
2. I went to a little Irish "delicatessen" thing and saw that they sold "homemade croquettes" and though *YUM!*, so I bought them. I should have guessed that they would not be the scrumptious meaty (and salty haha) Dutch-style croquettes I know and love...they are instead filled with mashed potato!! They were actually really good, but the first bite WAS a little disapointing because I was expecting something else.
3. I bought a little wireless thingy for my computer as my big brother Paul advised last night, and now I have the internet on my laptop! Hurrah!!!
4. I have put up a bunch of pictures on my facebook! So hurry and go look 'cause there's a few gooders.
I accomplished more than that too, of course... :P

I Got it Up!

A Rainy Walk Through Irish Countryside...

Narrow country roads...seaside villages...rolling green hills...misty cliffs...
Nothing quite like telephone lines to ruin magical scenery :P

Caught in torrential rain!

Experimenting with the focus on my camera.

Soaked.
Beautiful sunset.

Nearly back.


It took me the better part of an hour to get these up. So you'd better appreciate them :P

A Few Pictures

Yay! I got some pictures on here...see, I'm stubborn and I tried again, even though the internet is being mean to me and frequently disconnecting. Unfortunately I don't have my Giant's Causeway pictures on this computer (Sam's), which is really too bad because they are my favorites. But I will do my best to put them up when I get settled into my own place.

Ahh, the rugged beauty of Northern Ireland!!
This was taken in Portrush.

This picture was taken in Portrush too...its not very interesting...I thought it was a different one! haha!

This was the house we stayed in during the MAD weekend, with all the youth. It was out in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by farms, and sheep, and rolling green hills....

I went out for a long walk and took a lot of pictures, and even got caught in some intense rain!

This is the little town of Ballycastle, in Northern Ireland. A lot of Sam's family live here, so we visited them during my time in Antrim. It was absolutely gorgeous there! I loved how the houses were built right to the edge of the peninsula. The scenery was gorgeous, because you could see misty cliffs in the distance in one direction, and Raithlin Island in another. The waves were huge that day, and it was windy. We would be walking along the beach and suddenly a wave would crash and sweep right in and I would be doing a little dance to keep just ahead of it so that my feet wouldn't get soaked!

There was this cool rock that had a face in it too, but I can't get any more pictures up right now. I don't even know if this post will work.

Three Weeks In

Three week anniversary today!
Haha...
So...
Here I am...
In many ways it feels a LOT longer than 3 weeks.
I was going to say it feels like I haven't been here long at all too, but then I thought about it and No...to be honest it does just feel like I've been here a lot longer than 3 weeks.
And I am happy to be here. I know this is where I am supposed to be. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now.
So therefore I am not homesick.
BUT...
I am really lonely.
Dear Wise Mother always told me I would enjoy travelling more if I went with someone, and now I know it is true...however, I also know that I am supposed to be here by myself (this time around!) and I know that when I look back on this it will be a fantastic "growing experience" and it will "build character" or something :P
But it's been hard since I haven't made any real friends yet, and I'm missing all of you.

*cue for sympathy...but please no tea. I have to pee enough as it is*

Boring Newsy Stuff

(Originally written for Facebook...please forgive any repitition)

Lately I have been volunteering a lot at the Operation Christmas Child shoebox check-in centre. It is just a tiny little warehouse (and I mean TINY) with no heat, and just one bare lightbulb! But the women who are running the whole thing work very hard and long hours, giving talks at local schools, talking on the radio, accepting and tallying boxes from groups and individuals and all sorts of other things! All I do is check each box individually, taking out "taboo" items, or adding in things that weren't put in. Each box should have "2 W's, 2 T's, 2 S's". I have the little mantra running over and over in my head now: "Warm, Wash, Toy, Teddy, Stationary, Sweets...Warm, Wash, Toy...." And then tape 'em up, carton them in big cardboard boxes and mark them. It is tiring and a lot of work, but very cool. Its so nice when you get the nicely wrapped boxes with each item so obviously put in with a lot of love and care. It just makes you think how happy the kid that gets it will be!!
As for sight-seeing, since my big bout of it in Northern Ireland I've been to Cahir castle (which was cool, but hard to take good pictures of), a beach near Cork, and now I've been to Cork city twice. Its really neat to see a city that is so old and has so much history, and how it retains that old-ish flavor even as modern day things are built around and inside of it. Shopping in Cork was cool because of all its neat little shops and alleyways. Restraunts and coffee shops are tucked into the upper floors and nooks and crannies. I could spend days there, I'm sure.
OH YEAH!My visa...Well we went to the local police station and talked to the emmigration officer there, and he got me all set up for a special little card thing that I have to have with me "at all times". That comes on Thursday. But I'm in the all clear to stay until July! So that is good! Everything has worked out really well.
Anyway, that's all I can think of right now...its good to hear from you all :)

I've Always Said its the Worst Month

What is it about November that is so depressing in every way?!?!
I remember doing a post on it last year, and in the past day or so, myself and 2 other bloggers have posted about our pet peeves. November really brings out the worst.

I Have Succumbed!!!

I cruelly left you in suspense of my mysterious "second item"!
Well yesterday I gave in and bought it...
And quite truthfully I only got it because its necessary for my work here...
Sigh.
Yes, I now own a cell phone (or "mobile" as they call them..but maybe Canadian people do to, and I just live under a rock, which is entirely possible).
It is my first cell phone ever, and I've put it off as long as I could.
I have always professed a great hatred for the cell phone.
Ok, well maybe not really the phone itself. More the culture around it.
I fully realize its convenience and practicality, which is the reason I have one now. But I absolutely despise the phone that has some poor soul sucked into its orbit; where the fingers are glued to the buttons, constantly texting, playing games, downloading...whatever.
If you want to know one way to really, really, really get under my skin, and is quite possibly one of my biggest pet peeves EVER, just text someone in the middle of your conversation with me! Maybe that sounds selfish, but I hate it when someone is so attached to their phone that they tune out the rest of the world.
(I have a similar beef with iPods, you might recall...)
So while I will enjoy the convenience of my phone, I will be very strict with myself about all the gimmicks and stuff. I might allow myself a funny ringtone, but it shall remain a dutiful "strictly business" phone.
And I won't care that it takes me 10 minutes to text a short sentence.
I will wear that as a badge of honor... :P



ps. On a side note-- I went and replied to each of your comments...

Monday Meeting

So my "work" here in Fermoy begins officially today! And it is very part-time...which is perhaps why I have been blogging and facebooking everyday :P
Sam and I sat down and talked about what my role looks like, and all that kind of thing, this morning. Pretty much I'm out most nights doing teens club, or children's club, or bible studies...Friday I have off completely, but the rest of my week doesn't look too strenuous either. Of course there will be other events that I will be helping with, but they aren't on a weekly basis or anything. And I'm hoping to hang out with the teens lots, but they are in school during the day when I have nothing to do...I guess that's when I'll do my exploring :)
Today we also talked about getting me my "own place"...as in a room somwhere nearby. We both think its best that way, and I think I'll feel more comfortable and settled if I'm not living right in their house. There is one place that is being talked about right now, and I think we will go to see it sometime soon.
We will also go to get my visa sorted out this week. Pray that that will go smoothly and quickly, as tomorrow I will be down to officially two weeks left on my current visa! I'm really not too worried about it, but it is an issue that is holding me back from doing a lot of things that are necessary to be really settled in.
Karen and Sam have been wonderful, and continue to go above and beyond normal levels of hospitality! Karen was even getting excited today about going to Cork and buying me bed linen and things for my room when I move out! She told me I can do all my laundry at their house, and come over for dinner any time...Haha...she is great.
Tomorrow I go to Cahir with Sam and I will be going to see the famed castle that is the main tourist attraction in that town. Pretty excited about that!
After that I go to dinner at one of the teen's houses, and then there is a Bible study later on. So tomorrow is busy, but most days won't be like that.
The weather is gray, but not very cold. I actually get colder sitting around inside than when I am outside. (now I know why they wear shoes in the house...the laminate floors are FREEZING)
I'm looking around at buying a watch because I am always clueless as to what time it is, and its kind of necessary to be on time around here....and I am also going to get a-
well the second item I will save for a special post all it's own.
Cheerio :)

Sunday (As It Is Over Here)

I attended my first Sunday service at Fermoy Fellowship today.

As I mentioned before, it is a tiny little stone building, on the corner of "Allen's Walk" (I have a picture for later...when I figure out how to get it on here). It is surrounded by a little black iron fence and creaky gate, with a flagstone walkway and bright purple arched door. The foyer is just a tiny little windowed room, with two doors into the auditoriom (is that the right word??). Inside there is a sort of boxed podium to the right and the two rows of chairs are against the opposite wall with a NIV Bible and a songbook on each. At the very end of the room are two steps up to the kitchen doors. The kitchen is TINY and very cute, and very much made of stone! The washroom is tucked into a corner, and there is no lock on the door!!! To the right of the kitchen is another door to outside, where there is a little portable building used for Sunday School.

The service starts at 10AM (that would be about 2-3AM your time I think!). One man in the church alternates between playing keyboard and acoustic guitar (not during the same song though :P) during the worship, and we sing from songbooks and I don't know hardly any of the songs...they are quite slow and mellow. Not all hymns though. I think "I Will Worship" was probably the most lively! That will be quite an adjusment for me who likes a good rousing worship service. (Though Mark, the guy who does the music, did talk to me about playing keyboard somtimes...maybe I will lead a revolution :D)

I did "The Reading", and the sermon was quite structured, which was different for me because a lot of the preaching I have heard is more conversational and rabbit-trail-y (which I do enjoy), but it was good.

We also took communion today which was an experience in itself. After reading the bit about the last supper in the Bible, and praying over the emblems, Sam offered each person a cube of bread individually, which you then ate right away. Once everyone had taken one, he took around the single goblet of...port*...I think it was!!! Yowzers! It was a good thing I had been warned beforehand, because I probably would have choked on it if I wasn't prepared! It burned down my throat.

After you take a sip, he would wipe the rim with a little cloth and pass it to the next person. So that was definitely not quite the communion service I am used to!

Afterwards there was another prayer and song, and then everyone was dismissed, and Sam left to lead another service in a little town nearby called Cahir (pronounced "Care").

Nearly both rows of seats were filled and apparently that is a good turnout but I wouldn't be able to say how many people were there...maybe 40? Maybe less. (I met a lot of them, but I probably won't remember all their names :S)

I would be inclined not to think much of that, because in Kamloops there are plenty of smaller church plants. Different denominations maybe, but most believe in the basic foundations of Christianity...

Here, I'm learning, is a bit different.

This isn't one "Protestant" church of many...this is the only church in the area that really teaches salvation through Grace.

There are plenty of elaborate Catholic churches around, and a big fancy Church of Ireland just down the road here. But from what I hear its very much "religion", and all about doing the right things to earn your salvation...if they believe in salvation at all.
Catholicism is huge here...most of the schools are Catholic, and there are Catholic pilgrimage things (can't remember what they are called...whoops :S), and there are bells that toll at 12 & 6 PM to call the Catholics to prayer.
What I would be inclined to think of as basic Christian principles is all relatively new to people here.
So that is pretty weird for me.
Back in Kamloops I've always been immersed in Christianity. Christian family, Christian friends, Christian...things. You know. Pretty much everyone I knew believed in the same thing my family and I do.
Here, most of the teens in the youth group aren't Believers...socially, that is a totally new scenario for me.
Which is cool with me. It'll be a challenge I think. And it will also help me to really think out my own faith, which is all too easy to take for granted when you are surrounded in a secure Christian enviroment.
I have met one Christian girl around my age, a little older, who comes to help out with the youth now and then, that lives in the area. She seems pretty awesome, so hopefully we will get to hang out sometimes. But I expect that most of the people I meet my age will not be what I am used to! On one hand that is exciting to me, on the other I am totally freaked out!!!
So if you think of it, please pray for me while I am entering this Zone of the Unknown!



*for the record, that is the first taste of alchoholic beverage I have tried since landing in Ireland!

Finally in Fermoy!

I've arrived as of last night!
Northern Ireland was great, and I loved it a lot, but I am definitely ready to be a little more settled now. I've actually unpacked (!) and dumped all my pictures* onto my laptop.
*I am very very very sad to say that I cannot post pictures right now! I was so excited about it and had sorted some to be put up and I want to show you all these pictures soooo badly!!! BUT I can't get my laptop connected to the internet! I don't have a little cable thing. Or a wireless thing. I am technalogically lost without my dear brother and father. It is very sad. This means I can't Skype you either, Mom. Which I really want to do because I miss you! And also because believe it or not........
I miss a good ol' Canadian accent!!!
Who would've thought I would ever say that?!
The Irish accents are lovely, and not hard to understand for the most part. Sometimes I'm a bit lost, and the way they structure sentences can be confusing, not to mention they have switched a few words on me, like...potato chips are called "crisps" here, and french fries are "chips", and cookies are "biscuits", and a whole whack of other confusing things that are always getting me into trouble!! But sometimes I just want a nice normal Canadian conversation, you know? haha!
The voice in my head, my "thinking voice" I call it, is beginning to speak with a bit of a lilt and a strange turn of phrase. And I don't like it! I want my Canadian thinking voice back!
Fortunately, I am told I have quite a distinct Canadian accent, so I'm not doing so badly as I thought. Though we'll have to see what nine months does to me...
Anyway...
I had a day of rest on Tuesday which was badly, badly, needed (that was the day I last blogged). It did me loads of good, so I was ready when we set out of Ballycastle on the 31st to visit Sam's side of the family there. I think I've pretty much met the whole family on both sides now! Maybe I'll be able to work myself into someone's will, and have a nice Irish cottage by the sea left to me...hmmm....
The aunts, uncles, cousins, and Granny were all very delightful and friendly. We had a good time and I ate SO much. The Irish know how to stuff you beyond your capacity, let me tell you...and I still haven't had to eat anything weird. So that's nice.
Yesterday we drove down. We kind of skirted around Dublin, which was insane. And what I saw was not nearly as nice as everywhere else. It was very modern and plain looking. haha...sort of like Vancouver, but not as flashy. It took us about 7 hours to get from Antrim to Fermoy, because the traffic was so bad.
Co. Cork is quite nice. The scenery is not quite as rugged as Antrim (which I sort of miss) and its definitely warmer. The weather has been very mild. I don't need to wear a coat outside if I don't want to, though I have been wearing a tuque quite often. Hides my frequent bad-hair days very effectively :)
Its been fairly dry as well, so i've only experienced really intense rain a few times.
Fermoy is very interesting! Its quite a small town, and very compact. I could walk pretty much anywhere...which I intend to. The bridge is cool...all stone with the little arches in it, just like in a calendar picture or something, you know? And there is a nice walk along the Blackwater river I want to do sometime.
The shops along the road are very cool! They're all squished together you know, and brightly colored...I'll try and sneak a few pictures without looking too terribly touristy :P
The "Dublin side" of the town where I am living at the moment used to be a big military base, so there are loads of old barracks, and an old hospital, and training grounds, which are now houses and B&B's and soccer and rugby fields (Or "pitches" as they call them). Lots of high stone walls too.
Fermoy Fellowship church is just about the smallest little building I've ever seen, but its very very cool! Its all stone and kind of in that gothic architecture (I think), and it has a bright purple door!!! I can for sure get some shots of that.
I am going to be doing "the Reading" on Sunday...not quite sure what that is. Apparently I just read from the Bible somewhere in front of everyone!! Whatevs...I know they're only making me do it because they want to hear my accent :P
The week after I might be doing a mini interview or something...just giving some facts about me and pointing out on a map where I live...ooo....Canada! So exotic!! haha...
Sam also spoke to me about doing Sunday School a couple times a month, so I'll be doing that, and there is a kid's club on Thursday nights, and the Teens Club on Saturday nights. I helped pack away Operation Christmas Child boxes this morning (I'd just like to humbly mention that I offically hold the record for packing the most shoeboxes in one box! And Karen said I am a superb packer for being able to fit all my stuff in that suitcase Mom!) The church is very busy so I'm sure I will find loads of things to keep me busy! Which is good.
Karen encourages me to explore lots, so I'm sure I will be doing that! The city of Cork is about a 40 minute bus trip away, and it is quite a big city so I hear. So I hope to be going there more than once! Sam also does a ministry in Cahir (pronounced "Care") on Sundays, so I'm hoping to tag along there once or twice. Waterford is also not too far away, and I'd love to see it. Karen has promised to take me to Kilkenny sometime, and I am for sure going to make it out to the Aran Islands sometime while I am here and buy myself a nice big wool Aran sweater (pardon me..."jumper").
I wish you guys could all come over and explore with me!!! Its nice being on your own because you have that freedom to do what you want, but it would be nice to be able to share excitment over little things like the bright red telephone booth!!! Locals just don't understand that :P
Hopefully I will meet some fun people my own age soon, who will want to do things and see things with me. I think everyone I know so far is either 16 and under, or 40+. Haha...
I've met most of the the teens now, but not many of the kids. The teens seem like a great bunch...a few wild cards for sure, but aren't there always?? There are two sisters (redheads :D) who are quite a delight, and I was invited to their house for supper (pardon me...I was invited for "tea") for tomorrow night. (We discovered an equal interest in the tv show "LOST"...so I'm sure we'll have lots to talk about!!!)
Its funny because I think of how much has happened in the last two weeks, and really...I'm just getting started! The busyness, the challenges, and the changes are just beginning.
Its a bit overwhelming at times, and I do get a bit lonely for old friends :)
Reading your comments last time got me all sentimental, so congratulations...cuz that's actually pretty hard to do :P
It was very good to hear from you all. I miss you loads. Thanks so much for your prayers! It has made so much of a difference.
I will do my very best to find a way to put up pictures very soon. I want you all to see what I've been seeing!!
love you!