Pt.1 of the trip home

A few highlights from my trip home. So good to see the family and be back in Florida. There is something really exotically beautiful about parts of Florida which I never fully appreciated until coming to Ireland.

In contrast to the last post

In lighter news...
Max dyed and cut my hair and I am loving it. I have never gotten so many compliments. He dyed it a silver blonde and then shaved one side short and left the other side longish.
Oh and just a side note for the parents. Don't worry the earring is not a piercing it is just a cuff :)

Moscow

Just turned on the news and saw the coverage on the attacks in Moscow. So sad. Also, scary to think what this is going to mean for Russia's relationship with the Caucasus. Especially since Putin's major focus is security. Tough situation.

Back in Ireland

So Christmas holiday is over. I returned to Ireland to find that my shower, which had been a bit wonky since I moved in finally broke, and the heating was also broken. After not sleeping for two days and a 13 hour layover this was not a pleasant discovery. But, shower is fixed and now works better than ever. I am over the moon about being able to have a full pressure, hot shower that doesn't oscillate between freezing and burning. The heating is getting fixed soon. I let the housemates take the reigns on that one. It has really warmed up here and we found an electric heater in a closet so that is just fine.
It's good to back in the swing of classes.
I had such a wonderful break. It was so nice to see everyone in MN. I am am so fortunate to have been able to go up there and that everyone was free to see me. I love Ireland, but I can't help but miss my college friends.It is weird how close you grow to people when you live with them for 4 years.
Then being home was great. Spending time with family is always so nice. They spoiled me, of course, it was restaurants, daytrips and movies. Christmas dinner featured a homemade turducken which was amazing!
I am also so glad I wasn't here for Christmas; sounds like the theme was ice, bursting pipes, transportation being shut down and no water. The whole country basically shut down for a month. Thank goodness my parents didn't come visit me for Christmas!
Classes so far seem good. I am taking Business and Human Rights and Human Rights and Development. I didn't go into the course planning to have my focus be so much on the business and economics side of things, but I am enjoying learning about them since I know next to nothing about the topic. Also, I think one of the largest challenges facing human rights is convincing people that it is economically feasible to support and fund human right initiatives.
I am finally over my killer jet lag and am finally able to function without 13 hours of sleep. Haven't been doing too much. Been spending a fair amount of time with Sam's family; catching up on Christmas and stuff.
I have been eating my weight in pudding and brown sauce. This is by far my favorite food of Ireland. It is a spiced sausage mixed with grain, kind of like a haggis. There are two kinds white and black. Black originally was made with blood, but the cheap stuff I buy I am pretty sure it just dyed or something. And then brown sauce is almost like a steak sauce. It is the consistency of ketchup and is made from tomatoes and fruit, with a strong vinegar kick. It can also be used on just about anything in my opinion.
My favorite club in Galway has closed due to the economy. I heard from a former employee it costs 23,000 Euro to run a week. I have absolutely no concept of how that could be possible and think my facts might be a bit off. The entire business went under meaning that over 150 people have lost their jobs. Two bars, a club and a chain of liquor stores were all owned by the same guy and all of them have had to close their doors. I think the December weather really was the nail in the coffin.
In happier news I got one of my grades and was pleased with it. Four points away from an A which is killing me. But, having talked to others about it, and having heard that the prof. is apparently a hard grader I am pretty content. He said it was very well written:) YAYAYAYAY! So I feel pretty good about next semester. I am so happy that I did my distinction paper at Olaf because it really did an amazing job of preparing me for writing papers. This course has really made me realize what an education I got at Olaf.
Anyways sorry about the length of the post, so much to update on!
Hope everyone is well!

Merry Christmas

Hello all,
So haven't updated in a while. Sorry about that. Just a note to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday season. It's warmed up a bit here in Florida, but is still as cold as ever in Galway. I am so happy to be home for the holidays and am loving the sunshine. I had the opportunity to travel up to Minnesota to visit my college friends. I had an absolutely amazing time. Everyone seems to be doing really well and those that aren't in school have all managed to nail down real grown up jobs. An impressive achievement in this economic climate. I went tubing for the first time and loved it. Can't believe I was in Minnesota for four years and had never been tubing. Hope all is well with everyone!

Sam moved!

So big news at least for me. Sam is in the process of moving! Since the pipes in his current place froze him and his housemate decided to move. This may seem like a drastic response, but the problem is that the main water pipe into his house his outside and completely exposed to the elements. Meaning that whenever it gets this cold that pipe is going to freeze and there isn't anything that can be done (or at least that the agency is willing to pay for). So that somehow voided the lease. Meaning he is free to move out before the lease it up. His new place is on the same street I used to live on. It's an apartment, sharing with 3 others and looks really nice from what I have seen online. His current housemate who he really likes is moving with him and then it is a girl from Korea and another guy from the same town Sam's housemate is from. Can't believe they found something so quickly. They literally just started looking yesterday! Galway is really boom or bust when it comes to housing. So he is paying 5euro a week more but it is a better location, much newer building, and much nicer place all in all. Also since it is an apartment heating costs will be less and there is less chance of the pipes freezing. Ohh and he has access to a roof garden as well! So happy!
I am still loving my place, it isn't the best as far as the insulation is concerned but love my house mates and I can't beat the location. The bubble wrap window insulation made a remarkable difference! I would by no means say my room is warm, but there isn't ice on the inside of my window anymore!
I am sick (again) so no big plans for the weekend. Just trying to get healthy for my journey home :)

BRRR

It is freezing here. Like literally. Sam's pipes froze. Mine our still ok, but I live in fear. I insulated my windows with bubble paper and it made a huge difference. I also bought an under blanket for my bed which has made it so much warmer. Ireland it not cut out for this kind of cold. Funny that all three winters I've been here have been freezing and unseasonably cold. Maybe the weather is just afraid I am going to start missing Minnesota.
Went to see Fintan O'Toole speak last night. He is an editor for the Irish Times and wrote a couple of books about how Ireland got into and can get out of its current crisis. He was a very engaging speaker and I was very happy I went. Thanks to my mom for recommending it.
Right now I am sitting on the sofa in front of a roaring fire (thanks to my housemate Shane) watching an amazing episode of Top Gear (the one where they build a convertible people carrier and accidentally set a car wash on fire).
On a side note Aldi a German discount grocery has turduken for 9.99 Euros a pound, mince pies for 89 cents a pack and Irish cream for 5.99 Euros. SOOOO cheap for food, in Ireland. YUMMM!
So excited to return to the states and friends, food and family!