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!

Its Been a Week!

Greetings to all Canadians!
As of today I have been in Ireland for one week. Amazing, isn't it?? It seems like forever since I have seen any of you, but the last seven days have also zipped by really, really, fast!
I apologize for the lack of blogging. I'm sure you're all dying to know my news :P
Well, I was dying to blog. I really was. I just realized this week how addicted I really am. I kept shoving thoughts in the back of my mind, and being like "Remember that so you can blog about it later!". Pretty sad, huh? Unfortunately I have had minimal opportunity to unload all those thoughts, so they're a bit jumbled and some of them have been lost.
I'll just ramble a bit and see what comes out...
After saying goodbye to Mom and Dad at 8PM Monday, I went through security, and I didn't even beep when I walked through the beeper thing (which always gives me a heart attack). I was wearing my ring though, so I don't know what's up with that. Maybe silver doesn't set it off? I guess.
Then I walked for a million miles through the airport until I found my gate, and waited for about an hour and a half. That was boring, so I just journalled a bit.
I had a window seat on the plane and I was very curious to see who would be sitting next to me. Turned out to be a huge, cussing, 20-something Irish guy, who I think bought all the alcohol available on the plane....hahaha! Pretty funny. He was actually very nice.
The plane took off just after 10 PM and that was fun. I looove take-off. Watching all the buildings grow smaller and smaller, and the lights dissapear beneath the clouds...it was super cool.
I thought I was going to go to sleep right away, but I actually probably only slept about 3 hours of the 8 hour flight.
I saw some Northern Lights, but it was not very good...just looked like a green cloud. I'll have to go back some day and see some better ones.
Also crossed over Greenland. By that time it was light out, so you could see the miles and miles and miles of snow and ice. That was very neat!
Coming into Ireland was cool....very green! And the whole landscape was sectioned off into little squares and rectangles of land like a big patchwork blanket. The pollution over the country is terrible though. It was like flying through a big murky gray cloud.
Getting off the plane was uneventful. Mom, I was totally capable of pulling my huge suitcase off the conveyor belt :)
I had no trouble until I got to Passport control. The lady was very suspicious of me, and made me feel pretty stupid haha. She drilled me about what I was doing and stuff.
"You're going to live with people you have never met before, for three months?" she wanted to know.
By the end of it I'm pretty sure she was convinced I had met someone on an online dating service, and yah you know the rest of the story...
So she only issued me a vistors visa for one month. Don't panic Mom. I'll be going into Dublin sometime this week to apply for a volunteer visa that will allow me to stay for longer. And if that doesn't work out...well, I guess I'll be travelling the world, and catching my flight home after my birthday.
A friend of the Mawhinney's picked me up from the airport. Her name is Maggie and she is the sweetest lady ever. She and her husband David live in the cutest little cottage imaginable and they've made me feel right at home. The little spare bedroom I'm staying in is all done up with popourri and antiques, and an electric blanket on the bed. haha..
That night they had Karen MaWhinney's sister and her husband over for "tea" (read: supper) and they are such a delight! Arlene and Noel. Seriously the funniest, friendliest, most fun Irish people ever.
The next day Arlene took me out to see the Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle, and the town of Portrush. It was such an amazingly fun day! She spoiled me rotten.
On Thursday Helen Bruce (coordinates the SWIM program) picked me up and took me to Belfast to attend the Full Time Youth Workers meeting at Church House. I met a whole bunch of people, and it was a lot of fun. Afterwards I walked around Belfast a little bit and did some shopping and stuff.
Friday I met Sam and Karen Mawhinney, and their three little boys (really cute!). Also met up with the 3 other leaders and the youth group of 10. They are all absolutely crazy, but a lot of fun! Most of them are 12 or 13, but the three boys are 15&16.
We drove to the MAD weekend in Coleraine that night. It was fun, but my jetlag was finally catching up with me, so I feel like I was dead the whole time. My highlight was the worship times led by Andy Flannagan and his band, and the speaker whose first name was Marko, but his last name remained mysteriously anonymous. He was from California I think, and his nice normal North American accent was music to my ears! Never thought I would appreciate it so much, but it was a nice little taste of home.
Some of you may remember me telling you that I tend to mimick accents unconciously. Well, its begun. Hearing the Irish lilt day in and day out is taking its toll. I'm starting to talk like them! Its kind of sad really. I mean, Oma and Opa came to Canada from Holland when they were about my age, and they still have their accents. And here I am, a week into my stay and I'm already losing my Canadian-ness. Haha....unfortunately for you guys, I will probably lose it within a week of being home.
The MAD youth rally ended Sunday at noon, and then we went to Portrush and walked along the beach there. It was very nice and I got to chat with a lot of the youth, so that was good. I took lots of pictures, which I will hopefully get up sometime next week.
Yesterday we drove back to Antrim here, did some shopping, went to Belfast and went to a science centre called W5 (who, what,when,where,why). It was cool. Kind of like a miniature Science World.
After that I tagged along with Karen and her boys as they went for dinner at a friend's house. We all squished into their tiny little dining room (they lived in one of those cute European townhouses where the houses are all only as wide as their door haha). The couple had two sons, Gavin (12) and Owen (20-something?). Funny story: halfway through the meal Gavin turns to his brother and says,
"So is she here with them or with you?"
I guess the two of them don't communicate much!!!
So all week I have been on the go, hopping from one place to the next...and I'm pretty tired. So today is my "Chill out" day. I am doing nothing. Except this.
Tomorrow I'm going to Ballycastle with Karen visiting her family there, and the next day we will drive down to Fermoy. And I can finally settle a little bit. It will be good. I'm excited for it :P
Whew! This is quite the report. I wish I could make it more entertaining or something, but I'm fairly braindead.
A few impressions I have of the country:
* They drink tea like none other! At home I have tea maybe once a week. Here it is 3+ cups a day!
*They wear their shoes in the house. That was a difficult transition.
*The nice days are brilliant. The rainy days are gloomy. The cold is COLD. Not our dry Kamloops cold, but a chill-to-the-bone kind of cold.
*Its very rural. Unless you are in the heart of the town, you will be driving past fields of cows or sheep (no sheep herders though guys...sorry to dissapoint) or llamas.
*The housing is my dream come true! It is so european...every house has quaint bay windows, a little sunroom, rock walls surrounding, many are made of red brick, and they all have gabled windows. It isn't just the high-end places either. Everywhere they are all so quaint. Even the townhouses or "flats". They all look like they grew out of the ground and have been there forever. I love it.
*I don't have to worry about eating weird food. Everything I've had so far is "normal", and they say that they don't eat a lot of fish or seafood. I've had A LOT of potatoes, lasagna, and chicken. This past weekend I don't think I ate one healthy thing. Chocolate, "crisps" (potato chips), "fizzy drinks" (pop), and "chips" (french fries), and white bread. And I'm feeling it. I need to start eating healthy again.
*Distance has a different meaning here. Everything is very close together, but it takes long to get anywhere because of traffic.

I've done a fair bit of driving around since I got here, so transport gets a little blurb all its own!

First of all,

The Irish are CRAZY drivers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They go FAST! 80 MPH on every little road. And the lanes here are very, very, narrow. If you go walking along the side of the road (as I have done) you need to be careful because they zoom past you soooo fast and so close! Its fun if you are in the car though. Its like you are on a rollercoaster because you zip along these windy roads that kind of roll up and down over the hills. And the scenery is amazing.
It was/is a bit of an adjustment getting used to driving on the other side of the road. I keep walking to the drivers side when I get in the car, or panicking because we're taking a right turn and it feels wrong to be pulling into the left lane.
They have very few light-controlled intersections here. Instead they have these big roundabouts where you just yield to traffic on the right. It seems to work well, and you rarely have to come to a complete stop.
Karen was telling me the other day that if I want, there is a family in the church that has an extra car that I can use while I am here!!! Haha...I don't know what to say. I would have to learn to drive standard, AND learn to drive on the left side. Kind of sketchy.
On the other hand it would give me a lot more mobility...we'll see how it goes.
I could make a pretty good crazy Irish driver :P

Anyway, I've been on here for a pretty long time now, so I should go. It would be grand to hear from you all, so leave a comment! Like I said I will try and get back on here once I get settled. And I will put up some pictures.

IF you comment. muahaha....

OH MY GOSH!

News Flash!
I just realized this is PJ's 1st Anniversary!!!!
*wipes tear from eye*
Happy Birthday, PJ.

Now, your job is to read PJ from beginning to end, as a tribute.
Ha!
Just kidding.
Though I was reading my MSN blog the other day, and it was highly entertaining.
I'm rambling.
Sorry.

Happy Birthday PJ!

So This is Goodbye Then..

I leave tomorrow morning.
For those of you who I only see once a year anyway, this probably won't make much of a difference. I fully intend to keep up PJ. With lots of pictures!
But for those I usually see at least once a week (or daily in the case of my family)...goodbye is a little different. I will miss you all SO MUCH! Seriously! I'm not just saying that and thinking in the back of my head, "Heh heh heh! SUCKERS! I'm going to be in Ireland having the time of my life I won't even remember your names when I drag myself away!".
I DO intend to fully enjoy the opportunity I have, so lets be honest, I won't be pining away ( I don't think). BUT I will really, truly, genuinely, sincerely, miss you! I hope you will all try to keep in touch. I want to know what is going on in your lives too!
Anyway, I'm kind of getting away from my point. A lot.
Goodbyes.
I don't like long, drawn-out goodbyes with tears, and multiple hugs. I've done them. Its not my thing. Its not that I won't miss that person, or that I am sad to say goodbye to them. And I tend to avoid situations that draw out a goodbye. I just don't like to hype it up too much.
On the other hand, a non-existent goodbye sucks just as much. The one where you can sort of remember the last time you saw that person, but didn't bring about the closure with a goodbye.
I like a goodbye where it is defined, to the point, and upbeat.
A hug (sometimes), a word of farewell, a wave, and then an exit.
That is my kind of goodbye.
But maybe its not yours.
So if I seemed cold or indifferent when I said goodbye to you (or maybe I didn't get the chance for a defined goodbye...sorry!) it wasn't because I don't like you or something. Its just the way I do it.
And really...July is not that far away. This is going to go by so unbelievably fast. When I get back and say hello to you, you will feel like you just said goodbye to me.

(Like this:)

*hug*
Well, see ya soon.
*wave*
*exit*

I Take It Back

If I have ever told you, "I have nothing to wear!", or "I don't have any anything!"...
that was a complete lie.
I am packing now, and the fact is, I have FAR TOO MUCH.
This is impossible...

EDIT:
Apparently it is not impossible...
I am packed. But there is much that was left behind, and my bag is definitely going to be over the weight limit.

Good Reading

Well it was my last day at work yesterday...
It was a pretty sweet job because it was usually not very busy, so I could do a lot of reading when everything else was done.
That was a nice change, because since grade 11 I really haven't done a whole lot of reading.
Of the books I finished in the past month or so, Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell, and Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller were my favorites.
When I was reading Velvet Elvis, I was like WOW. It is such an amazing book! I felt like it was a year of Bible School squished into one short little book...though I've never been to Bible school, so that might not be accurate at all...
It had some really good things to say (I kept thinking, "I've got to remember this quote so I can blog about it!"....but alas...) and I liked how he made such an emphasis on how we should always be questioning, critiquing, and wrestling with how the Bible is interpreted, instead of just mindlessly accepting whatever anyone says it says. I know I am totally guilty of allowing myself to be "spoonfed".
There is so, SO, much to absorb from that book. I took it out of the church library, but now I wish it was mine so I could take it with me to Ireland. There is still so much I can learn from it.
Through Painted Deserts was not as awe-inspiring, or as deep...but it is by Donald Miller, and I love his style. I absolutely LOVED Blue Like Jazz, and while TPD was not as good as that one, it was funny and thought-provoking. And it said a lot of things that I can relate to at this point in my life.
In conclusion:
If you have time to read, and are looking for a good book, get Through Painted Deserts. Or Blue Like Jazz.
And even if you don't have time to read, and have a stack of good books waiting to be read, go and get Velvet Elvis and READ IT...because it will change the way you think about Christianity. In a good way.

(Pictures are on my librarything link to your right)

Too Tired

I'm too tired to write.
Just read Mom's Blog to get the update on my life...

A Week From Today...

On this day next week, I will be heading down to Vancouver to fly out of the country!
I'm getting a fluttery feeling in my stomach just thinking about it!!!
When did I get so adventurous? I don't remember ever being anything but a homebody...and suddenly I'm spending six months on some hippy island, and then the next 8 months on an island across the world!
I got an email from the pastor last night to let me know that I will be picked up from the Belfast airport by his extended family, and that I can stay with them until I meet up with the youth group on Friday. That is a HUGE blessing because I was really quite nervous about having to find my way around after a how-many-hours??-flight and then being completely on my own for a couple days. I mean, I'm sure I could have done it...but it was just one more thing to stress about.
And now I don't have to! Hooray!
I am looking into getting my travel/medical insurance today...I still need a decent raincoat that is not outrageously expensive, and I'm waiting for an email from the SWIM (Servants Working In Missions- part of the organization that brings in the volunteers for the churches) lady regarding my visa. Those are the most important things that need to be attended to before I leave.
There are still all the little things too...but everything is coming together, which really has very little to do with my planning skills, and everything to do with God not letting my ineptitude get in the way of His plans :)

Counting down...

So now the countdown has begun and I'm starting to stress...a little...
I had a big shopping list today (it is my "Saturday" today) and big ambitions to get it all done...
But nothing seemed to go right (ie: the stores didn't have the things I needed, and things are so darn expensive!), and I only got a few things done, and I still don't have a raincoat, and I still need to get so much random paperwork stuff done, and I don't know if everything I need to bring will weigh over 20 kg, and I have no clothes (ok that's a lie...but you know what I mean! I'm a terribly vain little beastie, and I like to have new things...or at least nice things...) and....I'm stressed about $$. Which is what most of it comes down to.
Its terribly selfish and "un-trusting"...I know.

Booked!

I just booked my flight!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
I can hardly believe this is happening after talking about it for SO LONG!
WOW.
Ok....just breathe....breathe....
Whew.
Ok...
I'm good...
Ok.
Yeah.
I'm flying out of Vancouver at 10PM on Monday (the 22) and will arrive in Ireland at 2:45 PM (their time) Tuesday.
I'm hanging out in Northern Ireland for a couple days until the 26...then I will meet up with the Youth Group and head out to Coleraine for the youth rally.
So...yeah....this is it!
I am actually going!!!
This is SO weird!

Its Happening!....Slowly....

First of all I'd like to say that I am failing miserably at my self-imposed internet restrictions. Just wanted to have that out...you know...I wanted to say it before one of you did. But I AM getting stuff done...
Listen to this...it is kind of cool...on two separate occasions yesterday two different people (yes Dad, one was you) suggested that I look at Zoom airlines for my fight. I was going to look there anyway, having been referred there by my seasoned traveler friend Sarah from camp, but it was kind of neat to have it "coincidentally" brought up. Because...when I searched for flights from Vancouver to Belfast for this month, one came up on the 22nd for only $250+tax!!! Crazy, eh??
I think it is destiny :P
I emailed the pastor in Fermoy and he responded right away saying that that timing would be ideal. There is a big youth rally right up there in Northern Ireland that next weekend that the youth group will be coming up for. SO...I won't have to find my way to Cork all by myself, I will get to meet all of them and we will be staying in a big house in North Antrim...which I REALLY wanted to see, but didn't think I'd ever get an opportunity to.
What a HUGE blessing and answer to prayer(s)!!!
God is far too nice to me.

Maybe I will get to see the Giant's Causeway!