Kelly Jean

I'm back in the States!

I can't believe it.  Was I really just in Ireland for two months?  I think it will take some time to soak in.  I was just in Dublin this morning and now I'm back in Brownsburg... the world really is such a small place.

I'm so glad I did this.  I feel like I've grown into a much more confident person, and it really has broadened my perceptions of pretty much everything in my life.  If you are reading this, and you haven't traveled out on your own yet, DO IT.  And do your best to actually meet the locals, you won't learn anything if you just pull the tourist route.  As Mark Twain says, "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”  And as Kurt Vonnegut says, "Love may fail, but courtesy will prevail."  If we all treated everyone with the hospitality and courtesy that I was blessed with during my Irish adventure, the world would feel like less of a scary, lonely place.  So go out there and see the world, but if you're not going to be nice, stay home!

I will never forget these past two months.  Thank you to everyone, especially the Kavanaghs, who are officially my home away from home.  And thank you to everyone who has been reading this, I hope it inspires you to get out there and take some chances.

But remember, be nice.

Love Kelly

Yes, I did it.  On my last full day here in Ireland, I bent over backwards lying down and kissed the Blarney Stone.  I was going to regret it if I didn't, and it's also a good way to say goodbye to Ireland I suppose.  Some kids at my school told me that they've peed on it.  I hope not.  =)

This was especially for good ol' Mike Dyke, who said he'd be mad if I came back from Ireland without accomplishing this task.  So there you go Dyke, I did it and I have pictures to prove it!

I'm now back at the Cork bus station waiting for my lift to Dublin.  Once I get there I'll hang out in the hostel and then crash for the night.  I might get up early enough to do a bit of last minute shopping before I head to the airport.  I fly home at 2:30!!!

If any of you want to see me before I head to Florida, I'll probably be hanging around the house on the 29th, regaining my energy and repacking for warmer weather.  Stop by and say hello if you wish!

Can't wait to see all of you,

Kelly

P.S.  According to legend, I am now blessed with the gift of gab.  I'm going to be talking even more than I did before... be prepared.

Hey all, I've successfully made it to Killarney!  I got in yesterday around one and it's now around four today.

I really sounded tired in the last update, didn't I?  It's because I was.  My night in the hostel in Galway was a little rough, I just couldn't sleep.  The room was really hot, there were several people snoring, and right as I drifted off a few guys came in for the night and made way too much noise.  But that's all part of the hostel experience I suppose, so eh well.  I survived, right?  

Yesterday I walked around the town quite a bit.  Because it was Sunday, most of the shops were closed, but there was still a lot of activity.  Killarney is well known as a "tourist town," so I was worried it'd be too commercial, but it's actually got a lot of charm.  After walking around, I took a nap in the hostel because I was exhausted, and then woke up later and eventually met four other guys in my room.  One is Australian, one is German, and the other two are American.  We talked for a bit, and then I went out for a bite to eat.

I ate some stew (and drank some Bulmer's) at a pub called Kelly's Corner (I couldn't resist) and ended up chatting it up with a couple next to me from Georgia.  Not thinking, I forgot to get cash out before I bought my food, so when it came time for me to pay, I had to run to an ATM.  I told the waitress and was about to go out and fetch some dough, when the couple offered to pay for my meal.  They were so nice, and I asked them if there was anything I could do to make it up to them, but the woman just asked me to "pay it forward."  (If you've seen the movie Pay It Forward, you'll get what this means.  Basically, next time I find a person in need of assistance, I'll go out of my way to help them since the couple went out of their way to help me.)  So I was very lucky, and very glad I had the experience!

I went back to the hostel and had a beer out on the hostel porch with the guys I had met earlier.  A random English guy came up and talked to us, and said he makes his living from playing guitar on the street.  When I went up to go to bed, I guess he had started playing downstairs on the porch, and I heard him through the window.  He was really good, so he must get a lot of tips!  It was very relaxing, mellowed me out, and so last night I finally got some proper sleep.

This morning I got up and walked to the tourist office, and ended up deciding to rent a bike.  The Killarney National Park is basically right next to the town, so I went to a rental bike shop to get it set up.  And what are the chances of this: I met two girls not only from Indiana, but from IU as well, getting ready to rent bikes and ride around the park.  Their names were Mae and Bridget, and I ended up doing a quite a bit of biking with them first before I set out on my own for awhile.  We all got a little lost, but just laughed about it, and ended up exchanging emails so we can trade pictures.  

I eventually set out on my own in the park, stopped at the restaurant and ate a delicious salad, and then biked around a bit more before heading back into the town.  It was definitely a work out, but I've realized that I love bike riding so much that it doesn't seem like exercise to me... so I think when I get back I'm going to get a proper bike and start doing it all the time.  I loved it... and today has been beautiful, sunny weather so it was perfect.  The mountains and the lakes were fabulous.

So now I'm in an internet cafe.  Not sure what I'll do next, but more shops are open today so I may walk around and try to get some last minute shopping done.  I'm going to sleep early tonight because I'm going to take a 6:55 bus to Cork.  I want to get there early so I can head out to the Blarney Castle and yes, kiss the Blarney stone.  It will be a fun, cliche way to end my travels.

My plan was to take the train from Cork to Dublin on Wednesday morning, but there is currently a strike going on, so that may not be possible.  If it's not, I'm just going to get on ANOTHER bus tomorrow after Blarney, head up to Dublin, and get there tomorrow evening.  Alma's sister, Una, lives in Dublin and said I could stay with them if the strike didn't let up.  So that might be the plan!  At least I'll be able to sleep in before my 2:30 flight the next day.

It will be a lot of BUS, but I'm used to that by now.  I miss my car!  I miss driving!

Love you all, see you soon,

Kelly

Hey everybody.

I successfully arrived at my Galway hostel last night.  It was still pretty light out around 9:30, so I went to a restaurant by the river and people-watched as I ate.  Afterwards I went to the cinema and saw the new Indiana Jones movie, which is actually pretty fun.  Harrison Ford always makes me happy.

Anyhoo, it's early here, just a little past 7:30 in the morning.  I am catching a bus soon to Killarney and once I get settled there I will update on what is happening. 

I'm SO tired of the bus.

- Kelly

This is it, folks.  It's my last day in Letterkenny and I can't believe it!  I'm catching a bus to Galway at 4:30 and saying goodbye to the town I've lived in for the past two months.  

My last day of school was great.  The staff loved my gift, and started using the forks and spoons right away at lunch time.  They presented me with a crystal plaque with the Deele College crest on it, one of my classes got me a big bouqet of flowers, and another class bought me a Donegal Gaelic jersey.  I was not expecting any of it, so of course I cried around three times.  I was able to get past my emotions though for the teacher v. student game of Rounders, which was so much fun.  It was definitely different than baseball though because the bat was half the size and we used a tennis ball, but we managed to tie with the kids at 15-15.

After school, Alma surprised Aaron and me with tickets to Riverdance.  So we went to the show, which was great, and then went out for our last visit to the Letterkenny pubs.  I stayed on Guinness the whole night because I know it won't taste as good at home.  It was great fun, and I must say I have a bit of a headache today because of it.

So now I'm over at Agnes and Charlie's house for the last time.  I'm so comfortable here that I forget I'm completely across the ocean from everyone I know.  It's going to be sad to say goodbye, but I'm definitely keeping in touch with them, and who knows---maybe I'll be back sooner than I think.

I'll be traveling the next few days on my own, and then I'm back to America on Wednesday.  Time has flown!

Kelly

I leave in Wednesday week (or a week from this Wednesday... that's how they say it here).  I can't believe it.  I'm definitely ready to get back and see my friends and family, but it's going to be sad to say goodbye to all these wonderful people.  I have never left a place before having to wonder whether I'd ever see the people again, and at this point in my life, I really don't know when I'll get back to Ireland.  Alma's house really has become a home to me, along with her parents'.  So I'm sure this week is going to be a mixed-up blend of bittersweet emotions, but I'll get through it.

When I get back, I literally have a day to relax at home before my family packs up again and heads to Florida.  It is going to be very strange going through so much travel in such a short amount of time.  But once I'm out on the beach taking in the sun, I'll be able to relax, go through all the past two months' events, and realize how lucky I've been.

Yesterday at school I literally had nothing to do.  The students are taking exams, so there isn't much teaching going on at this point anymore.  I filled my time by walking to town (about two feet away, haha) and developing some pictures, and then sitting on the computer.  I hate not having a task, so I asked my Principal if these next two days I could take time to visit Alma's school, etc. and then come back on Friday for the awards ceremony.  Alma actually suggested the idea, but she still has to get permission from her school's Principal.  So today I ended up sleeping in, and I think I'll walk to town at some point and shop a bit.

As a going away present to Alma, Aaron and I pitched in on a nice picture frame and put in a nice picture of Alma and us.  Charlie, Alma's dad, suggested that another nice gift would be some sort of plant to go in her garden---which I think is a great idea because that will be something lasting that will really benefit her long-term.  I think I'm going to go to the garden center today and see what I can find.  I know nothing about gardening, but Charlie made a few suggestions so I'm thinking it won't be too hard.

Tonight, Alma and her parents are taking Aaron and I out to dinner.  Afterwards we're going to go to the bowling alley to bowl, have drinks, and watch the football match.  I really want to get something for Agnes and Charlie as well, since they have basically been my substitute parents.  I can't count how many times they have taken me in, fed me to the brim, and then fed me some more.  =)

I thought of a funny gift for my school.  There are a lot of staff members, but only a limited number of utensils in the staff kitchen.  Every day, people have been scrounging for the next spoon or fork for their tea, their lunch, etc.  So I went out and bought a simple 16-piece cutlery set so the staff can have more time eating and chatting and less time hunting for the right eating tool.  I think they'll get a big kick out of it, and I also think it will be really handy as well.

I've also written tons of thank you notes at this point, which I hope to get out this week.  I'm hoping I don't get emotional on Friday at school, but it tends to happen when I have to say goodbye to people.  If I do though, I'll be able to get my mind off it after school when the staff plays a staff vs. students game of Rounders.  Rounders, in case you don't know, is baseball or softball, which I happened to play growing up.  Of course now that I've told the staff this they're expecting a lot out of me, so I hope I don't disappoint.  I was never amazing at it, but I'm definitely better at it than I would be at soccery/football or Gaelic.  So I'm glad it's a game I'm familiar with.  It's going to be a fun way to end my time at Deele.

Well, I'm going to grab something to eat and then head to town to get some more shopping done.  I hope I find a good plant for Alma!

Kelly

Here are some pictures from the secret beach I was taken to on one of my couchsurfing adventures.  It's probably my favorite place.  The beach is full of smooth white stones, and your feet sink into them like sand.  The rock arch adds to the beauty of the place.






Siiiigh... I'm going to miss this place.

Love Kelly

This weekend Alma went away for a hen night in Scotland, but I stayed behind in Letterkenny and ended up going out last night with Helena and her friends.  We stopped in at a birthday barbeque and then went out to a couple bars.  The band at McGinley's played "Wild Night" by John Mellencamp (and he's from Indiana, so I got excited), and right after that they played "Mary Jane's Last Dance" by Tom Petty (which of course has the famous first lines about an Indiana girl).  So of course I had to get up and dance.

There was a group of older men sitting near us, and this one guy took a turn and danced with all the ladies at our table.  He said he's got kids and grandkids, but he's still going strong.  It was great fun!

Today I slept in and then went to another Gaelic football match with Alma's parents and Aaron.  And they won!  The other two I had been to had been disappointments, so I'm glad I got to witness a success before leaving the country.  I've really gotten into Gaelic, it's quite fun to watch.  And of course there were some guys on the field pushing each other, and that always makes me laugh--a bunch of boys fighting over a ball.

Aaron and I are back at Agnes and Charlie's house now, about to eat a delicious curry chicken dinner.  I think tonight I may stay in and watch a movie, and then possibly go to mass tomorrow.  I haven't been yet and I've been meaning to go.  The cathedral is beautiful on the outside so I look forward to seeing the interior.

Well, I'll update again soon!  One week left in school, can you believe it?!

Kelly

The weather this week has been amazing!  I can't believe I'm in Ireland.  I wish I had brought several pairs of shorts with me, and more tank tops.  I've actually laid out in the backyard a couple times, it's been so nice.  And today at school it was "Sports Day," so I've got a bit of a burn from being outside.  But I love it!

This week in school I've been finalizing all of my class projects.  My students in 2D did their author presentations, my 1M and 2M students pasted and decoarted their "Where I'm From" poems, and in 4P2 we're almost done reading Philadelphia, Here I Come.  Next week all the students I've been teaching have exams, so I'm not sure what my role will be, but it seems after this week that I'm basically finished.  Crazy!  Tomorrow will be another great day because I'm going on a field trip to Derry to get a tour of the city walls and the museum, etc. 

Tonight Alma's parents are having a BBQ at their house.  I'm going to go play with her niece and nephew, and sit in the sun.

Love Kelly

 

 

Katie, Sarah, Aaron and I successfully met up in Galway on Saturday.  After a four and a half hour bus ride it was nice to step off and see Katie's smiling face.  I hadn't seen her since our first week here together so we were all in high spirits.  Shortly after we met up with Katie we found Sarah, and the four of us went into a pub and sat down for some conversation.

I can't believe how fast time has gone.  All of us feel the same way---it's so funny to think back to the nervous beginning we experienced when first arriving here.  We're so much more confident and comfortable, and it seems like now that we've finally gotten settled we have to pack our bags soon and leave again.  It will be bittersweet!

Katie has had a great time in Killiney, and Sarah has had just as great of an experience in Cork.  As for Aaron, I see him almost every day, but he's enjoyed his time at his school in Letterkenny.  We talked about how different the education system is here, and how in all our schools there are certain things the teachers are very strict about and other things they are relaxed about that completely surprise us.  I've been here for basically two months, and still can't figure it out!

After the pub, we walked around and shopped in Galway before the shops closed (they close at 5).  Then we hopped on a bus and went to Oranmore, a town just outside Galway, where our couchsurfing host came to pick us up.  We wanted to give him a gift for taking in four people, so we bought him a mini-keg of Heineken.  When buying it we were thinking, well, what if he doesn't drink?  But then we we told him about our hesistation he said, "I'm Irish, of course I drink.  In all my life I have met only three Irish people that don't."  So luckily, our gift choice was very suitable.  =)

Our plan was originally to get settled in Oranmore, and then head back out to Galway, but we were having so much fun where we were that we just stayed in Oranmore.  We went out and had dinner at a really good Indian restaurant, and then came back to the house and had a really fun time.  More than anything, we wanted to catch up and spend time with each other, and we found that it didn't matter if we were in Galway, or just sitting in a comfortable living room.  So we stayed up late laughing about random things, playing with a giant Bull Mastif dog, and watching a swing-dancing video (Fearghal, our host, swing dances.  He showed us a tape of the routine he's going to learn next.  Staying with Nico made me want to learn salsa, and now I want to learn swing, too!)  We eventually went to sleep, sharing the living room space on a couple big air mattresses and the furniture.

This morning we let ourselves sleep in until around 10.  Aaron was snoring like a beast on the couch several times throughout the night, so I didn't get the restful sleep that I wanted, but I survived, haha.  We said our goodbyes to Fearghal and Junior (the dog) and headed back to Galway.  We ate some yummy lunch and talked about how weird it will be to get real jobs when we get back.  Having our own classrooms will be so exciting---I'll finally feel like I have my own space.  I'll be able to set up my own discipline, my own lessons, my own decorations, etc.  Now I just have to find the job... 

We said our goodbye at the bus station around 2.  We're going to invite each other to our graduation parties etc. and hopefully will meet up in Bloomington again sometime in the summer.  We're all going to miss it.  =(

It was a well spent weekend!  I'm back in Letterkenny now, very tired, and will probably go to bed very early tonight.  I'll hope to see all of you when I get back (less than three weeks!)

Love Kelly




 

It's Friday!  This week has been a long one, and I'm very tired.  The students at school were particularly wild today--some people are saying it's because of the full moon.  Apparently the kids' behavior in the school has a lot to do with the moon's cycle.  Maybe they're all werewolves... I don't know.  =)

But tonight I'm going to take it easy, and then get up early for Galway.  Everyone back home has graduated, and at this point I'm really ready to be done.  My time here is wrapping up though, and I still have to take in everything I can.  I know it will be bittersweet when it's time to leave.  Last night I went over to Helena's (the neighbor's) and had a glass of wine with Alma and her friends.  If I remember how nervous and apprehensive I was when I got here, I start to realize how much I've learned and how much I've grown.  I've been very lucky to be surrounded by such great people, and will remember this experience forever.

I'm going to go play with Alma's nephew now.  I'm at her parents' house and Kevin, a 9 month old, is too cute to be ignored.

Love Kelly

This Saturday I've finally organized for the four overseas students here (Aaron, Sarah, Katie and me) to meet up in Galway for a night.

Originally we were going to book a hostel, but Kelly the procrastinator waited until this week to try to book one, and the search was proving difficult.  However, faithful and reliable couchsurfing.com has saved us from homelessness.  I managed to find one guy in Galway that can host up to four people, and just heard back that he's completely up for it.  He's just oustide the city--a bus ride away, which should be no problem at all.  

Sarah's coming from Cork, Katie's coming from Dublin, and Aaron and I are coming from Letterkenny.  We should get into the city centre in the early afternoon, and from there we're going to decide where to go, what to do, etc.  Should be great fun!

I will update this after our adventure, I'm sure.

Kelly

Over the weekend, a boy from my school drowned in the river.  He and his two friends were fishing, and the tide rose and swept him away.  The other two managed to get out in time.

But it's awful news.  Tomorrow school is canceled and there is a funeral at 11.

I feel awful because he was in one of my classes, but I can't remember specifically what he looked like.  I only teach the class once a week for 35 minutes, and there are around 30 kids.  I don't think I will go to the funeral, I feel funerals are for those with personal connection, but I'll keep him and his family in my thoughts as it goes on tomorrow.

Kelly

I'm back in Letterkenny after a long and nice weekend.

I ended up staying in Belfast Sunday night as well, because the next day at noon some of Addy's (my host in Belfast) friends were throwing him a goodbye BBQ.  He's leaving for India in a couple days after spending a year or so in N. Ireland.  So I went to the BBQ for a couple hours and then got a taxi to the bus station to head home. 

When I got back to Letterkenny, I found that Alma was also having a BBQ.  It really was the perfect day for one---I actually worked up a decent sweat on my walk to the house, and might have benefited from a little sunscreen.  So I attended two BBQ's in one day.  Pretty great.

On Saturday and Sunday, even though I was having fun, I was starting to catch a cold.  By yesterday it was hitting me strong and I was sneezing and coughing pretty consistently.  The combination of the constant walking over the weekend, the cold, and the small sunburn had me feeling quite exhausted and Alma had me call in sick for school today because of it.  I really am glad I did, I'm still coughing and sneezing today, with a headache from the congestion.  So I'm taking it easy and hopefully am back in tomorrow.

Well, I have some laundry to take off the line, and then I'm going to go read a book in the backyard.  Aaron went to town and is picking me up some medicine, so once I get that in my system I'll be feeling a little better.  

It was well worth it!  The weekend was great.

Kelly

P.S.  Congrats to all the graduates!!!  Technically I've graduated as well, but still have a few assignments left to complete for this program.  But it's a great feeling! 

That's the famous Couchsurfing motto, and I fully agree with it.  I couchsurfed Friday night in Derry and last night here in Belfast, and the people have been great! 

Ewelina was my host in Derry.  Originally from Poland, she's lived in Ireland for around three years working and playing lots of music.  She's very talented--I got to listen to some of her recordings and she's got a great voice.  Her inspiration is Eva Cassidy, so she's very smooth and mellow.  Right when I got there she got me a cup of tea, and then we went out to see some bands playing around the city.  I came at a good time because the annual Derry Jazz Festival was going on.  She knew a few people playing, and we ended up viewing a couple and then settling in Mason's Bar.  There we saw a funk-jazz band with a girl that was waaaay over the top, then an amazing beat-boxer (best one I've seen), and then her friend's band which played some more jazz.  I met her friends, and they all were so nice, and I never felt alone or like an outcast. 

The next day she showed me around Derry in the morning.  I took a walk in the area with all the murals dedicated to the Troubles and the Civil Rights movement that took place there.  Derry had it's own "Bloody Sunday" in the 70's, where around fourteen people were killed while peacefully protesting in the center of the town.  The murals were really interesting, and I'll have to show the pictures when I get back. 

Then, Ewelina and her friend Owen took me on a drive up to the northern coast of Ireland, and Owen took us to a secret beach!  It's down a long windy road, a few turns here and there.  Then you have to get out of your car and walk across a field, and then down some rocks.  And then there you are!  It's a beach covered in smooth white and grey stones, and the water by it is so blue and clear.  There's also great rock formations and a big rock arch that is amazing to see.  My camera is messed up (I'm buying a cheap one today) so I didn't get any pictures, but I'm hoping Ewelina will send me hers.  I wrote down the directions as best I could and hope to get out there again before I leave.

Last night I arrived in Belfast, and Aditya met me at the airport.  He's originally from India, and has been in Belfast for a little over a year doing some work.  It's funny that out of the four times I've couchsurfed here, so far I've only stayed with one actual Irish person!  I like being able to meet different people though, and Aditya is great.  He fed me dinner and then we went out and met some other Couchsurfing people in a bar, and danced the night away.  Good times!

Today we're going to wander around Belfast, and he's going to show me the murals they have here as well.  I'll probably do a little shopping and snapping of pictures, and then decide when I should head back to Letterkenny. 

Anyhoo, hope all is well with everyone else!  Feel free to shoot me an email and let me know what you're up to, I'd love to hear it.

Kelly

Hey friends and fam!  I’m almost done with my 5^th week here at Deele, and my 6^th week in Ireland.  The time is going even faster now that I know I don’t have much left, so this weekend I’m getting out on my own.

 

I’ll be heading to Derry tomorrow night, and then spending Saturday and Sunday night in Belfast.  So yes, I’m venturing into Northern Ireland territory!  I’m going to be using Couchsurfing again as a way to see the area, and I’ve already set up places to stay.  Couchsurfing is apparently pretty big in Ireland, particularly in Cork.  There are a lot of social gatherings set up in the bigger cities.  In Belfast, every Wednesday there is a pub quiz night and any couchsurfing members are welcome to go—I’d love to if I didn’t have to teach in the morning!  But the guy I’m staying with in Belfast has plenty of rave reviews and seems very willing to share any info about the area, so I’m sure I’ll have fun.

 

I also hope to get up to the Giant’s Causeway and the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge if I can (these are both in Northern Ireland as well) which are supposed to be great scenic sites.  I really have no set plans this weekend at all, except for location, so it’s going to be a very spontaneous weekend I think.  I look forward to getting out on my own.

 

School is flowing very easily now.  Each class is in the middle of working on some sort of assignment I’ve set up for them.  In a couple classes the students are working on writing their own “Where I’m From” poems (original is by George Ella Lyon, you can find it online).  I did this with my students at IPS, and many of them got very involved in it.  Writing poetry can always be very intimidating in the beginning, but once I show the kids that all they have to do is write about their own lives, it tends to flow out after that.  I’m hoping to have a poetry reading day like I did at GWCS, because they’re great fun and give kids the confidence they need to keep writing.

 

With another class, I have them doing American author research projects.  I made a list of well-known American authors from all walks of life, and each student was given one name.  I didn’t give them any more information, and their job is to do research and create a poster about the life of the author, one of his/her most famous works, and how his/her  life influenced and is reflected in the writing.  I didn’t know if the students would be excited about this or not, but I think it really got their curiosity going when I refused to give them any information except the name.  Next Tuesday they will be bringing in their posters and each person will do a short little presentation to the class on his/her author.  I’m really excited to see how they do, and I hope that it introduces the students to authors they may not have heard of otherwise.

 

In another class I’m creating activities as they read the play Philadelphia, Here I Come, and in another class I’m teaching advertising (and we’re making our own magazine ads this week).  I’m also teaching another class a bit of poetry!  I know it sounds like a lot, but at this point it is flowing really well and I’m not stressed out at all.  This is the life!

 

As for my life outside of school, it is going grand as well.  Last night was the big Liverpool v. Chelsea football match that was to determine who went to the European finals, so I went over to Alma’s parents for dinner and then watched the game with them.  The Kavanaghs are big Liverpool fans, but unfortunately the team lost.  I’m sure Alma is a bit depressed today because of it—she really gets into the games, yelling at the TV and all. 

 

After school today I think I’m going to run some errands, and then figure out the details of when I want to leave tomorrow, and where I’m going.  Then I’m off on my three-day weekend expedition!

 

Miss you all,

 

Kelly

I'm currently in Dublin in an internet cafe, and it's a beautiful day outside so I'm sure I won't stay in here long.  I said goodbye to Dad and Caitlin earlier today at the airport, and decided that I should wander Dublin for awhile before I take a bus back up to Letterkenny.

It's so quiet in the mornings, especially on Sundays.  Many of the shops don't open until 11 or 12, so the city still felt asleep this morning as I was walking around.  I bought a muffin and some juice and walked around St. Stephen's Green, the city park, which is very clean and very beautiful.  After I update this I think I'm going to browse some bookshops, and then maybe do a little shopping when the rest of the stores open.

Dad and Caitlin were blessed with fabulous weather when they were here.  It rained a "wee" bit when they arrived but cleared up fast.  Friday they came to my school and got to watch me teach a couple of my afternoon classes.  My dad sat in the back of class with a group of 1st years, and I had to ask him to stop talking a few times. =)   Caitlin sat near the front and shook her head, wondering how I stay sane when there are 20+ hands in the air at once, all going "Miss!  Miss!  Miss, over here!  Miss!"

Friday night we went on a drive up north to a restaurant along the coast called The Water's Edge.  They were able to see a couple of the smaller towns, Ramelton and Rathmullen, which I find very cute.  We got back a little before 10, and Caitlin, Aaron and I went down to main street and had a few pints at McGinley's.  We knew Alma was possibly there, and right when we opened the door she was standing in front of us!  So ti worked perfectly.  We eventually took a taxi back and went to sleep.

Saturday morning Dad and I got up early and went to the store to get ingredients for pancakes.  Caitlin made them when we got back, and they were delicious.  Then Alma and her friend Sharon drove (and we followed in our car) out to the southwest area of Donegal, which is beauuuutiful.  Sharon has a house in Glencomcille which overlooks the ocean and some cliffs... Alma said we may go out there again sometime before I leave, which I'd love.  Then we drove out to see Slieve League, which are actually the highest cliffs in Europe.  Not as many tourists get up in this area of Ireland though, so it's seen less often and not as mentioned.  But it was fantastic.  Normally apparently there is a massive wind blowing from the view we were at, but we were lucky and arrived on a very calm, sunny day.  I got some great pictures, and again, will put them up when possible (didn't bring my camera cord, so this will probably all happen when I get home).  But here is a picture of what Slieve League looks like (not my photo):




After the cliffs we drove down to Killybegs, the biggest shipping port in Ireland, and of course ate some fish and chips on the pier.  While we were eating, a seal poked his head out of the water at us!  I'm glad I got to see one so close, it was so cute.  

When we got back to Letterkenny, Dad and Caitlin packed up their stuff and we drove down to Dublin.  It was again a very clear night and so we were able to see a lot of pretty green fields along the way (and once again, many sheep).  We got to the hotel and crashed, and this morning we said goodbye.  I'm so glad they came to visit, and I'm so glad we had such fabulous weather while they were here.  Thanks Dad and Caitlin, I love you!

Anyhoo, just wanted to update you on the weekend.  I'm now going to go and wander the streets of Dublin some more, maybe visit a museum, do some shopping, and then eventually head over to the bus station and go back up to Letterkenny.  I can't believe the weekends almost over already... life here is going too fast!

Miss you all,

Kelly

This is my new baby cousin!  Everyone say awwwwwwwww....

It has been awhile since I've updated this... sorry if I've gone into hiding.  I've been pretty active this past week and weekend and haven't been able to sit down and write out an update. 

First, I'd like to share the news that I have a new baby cousin, named Hannah!  My mom called me yesterday to share the news, so that was very exciting.  I couldn't remember when my Aunt Jasmine was due, so it was a great surprise.  I think I now officially have 20 cousins, it may be more... I'll have to write down all the names and see if that's correct.  Anyway, the more the merrier!  I'll try to put some pictures of her on here as soon as my mom sends me some.  Welcome to the world, Hannah!

Also, my dad and sister Caitlin are currently in Ireland!  I get to see them on Friday.  I'm going to give them directions to my school so they can hopefully meet some of the students in my afternoon classes.  Then we'll spend Friday evening together and most of Saturday before they head back to the States.  I am very excited to show them around, and just get some time with them since it's been about a month since I've seen them.

Yesterday I was able to go on a field trip to Dublin to get a tour of Leinster House, the headquarters for the Irish Parliament and Senate.  From the observation area we were able to see the Taoiseach (the Prime Minister/governmental President of Ireland), which was pretty cool, I must say.  He's actually in the process of stepping down from his role, and there has been a lot of news about him in the papers, so it was great to be able to see him in his role before he finished.  He's been the leader for quite awhile and there is a lot of mixed opinion about him... but that's expected, he's a politician!

I have to go teach a class now, but I'll update more later on what I've been doing.  Tonight one of the teachers is treating me to dinner with her family, and taking me to a play in Strabane.  So kind!

Will update again soon!

Love Kelly

"Ta on la go brah!" = It's a beautiful day!  This whole week has had fantastic weather.  It's a bit chilly today, but the sun is out and I have barely seen any rain.

Wednesday was a perfectly clear night, so Alma and her dad Charlie took us up to Grianan Ailigh (forget how to prounounce this... haha).  It's a mysterious stone circle that dates back to around 2000 BC.  It's on the top of a hill in a town called Burt and reveals a fantastic view of the countryside and the river.  We arrived at the top just in time to see the sunset, so it was the perfect ending to a perfect day.  I hope to take my dad and sister up there when they visit (next Friday!).  I can't wait to see them!

School is going very well.  My Irish students are currently working on writing back to my American students, and are having a lot of fun with it.  I hope to send them back to the States sometime next week, along with some pictures of my students, etc.

I'm going to go into the staff lounge now and have some tea.  Talk to you soon!

Kelly