It's really only week 2?

I'm sitting at my desk drinking a cup of tea, reflecting with music on in the background. What an amazing week it has been! It is a lovely experience to have here in Ireland. Homesickness finally started to kick in but I trust in the strength that God gives me to get through it.  As my mom, sisters, brothers, everyone says, "Don't waste your energy being sad. You're in Ireland!" How am I coping with homesickness? Well I brought two DVDs that always are my go-to DVDs when I'm at school. "Friday Night Lights" and "The Sandlot". I watch either of those, pray, journal, listen to music, and spend time with friends and once in a while Skype with people I love right before I go to bed. Even in just little spouts of homesickness, I always keep in mind my mom's phrase that she got from her mom, "This too shall pass."

My week!

I guess I'll start from last Sunday! (What better place to start than the beginning.) We (international students) rose early to get on a bus to visit the Cliffs of Moher and The Burren. On the way to these places, we went on winding roads way out in the country. It was a beautiful sight, but I pretty car sick. I knew it would help to rest my eyes or head, but I just didn't want to miss any of the landscape of God's beautiful creation in Ireland! Our first stop was The Cliffs of Moher.

While I was visiting these two places, I realized that I really do not know the significance of them. I mean they are a beautiful sight, but how were they formed? Is there something really interesting about them that will blow me away? I decided that when I go on field trips like that, I am going to do some research on what I am visiting before I go. It will make the visit and pictures more meaningful. On that note, I just looked up these two destinations on Wikipedia. Here is the link for the Cliffs of Moher: The Cliffs of Moher. After briefly reading it, an interesting fact I learned was that you can find 300 million year old river channels at the base of the cliffs. Wow! It was extremely windy when we visited the cliffs. It was also very cold and a little rainy, too! Though, we didn't let that take away from the experience. In fact, we embraced it even more. The wind was literally pushing us back as we were climbing up the stairs to the top. It was hilarious! We were all laughing histerically while trying to keep our balance. (I have a video of a few of us getting blown by the wind. I will post it on Facebook sometime!) What a workout it was. It was such a blast though. There was one point on the path on the way to the Castle at the point of one of the cliffs that was a blast of wind/rain. We mentally and physically prepared ourselves (zipped our coats, made sure all of our bags were closed, tightened our mittens and hats) and then said "1! 2! 3!" I think it took about 30 seconds to get through it. Through all of this cold weather, my hands were frozen because I didn't have any mittens. I could barely take pictures, but I didn't let it bother me. I was at the Cliffs of Moher! I also couldn't take enough pictures. There are so many different angles and I didn't want to miss one. Side note: I realized at the end of the day that that was my first time seeing the ocean. Lovely!

Next stop - Food. On our bus ride to Doolin (very small little town), it was sunny, but then all of a sudden it started raining, then all of a sudden it started hailing. Then there was this HUGE crack of thunder that made most of us jump. The weather is so unpredictable! We ate at a cute little restaurant. It was the only one open in the little town.

Next stop - The Burren! What is the Burren? I was wondering the same thing. Even when I got there and was taking pictures. I don't have pictures up yet (because I'm waiting for my camera cord to come in the mail), but I can tell you that it was beautiful. It is made up of different kind of rocks on a cliff near the ocean. It is surrounded by country land that looks like it could be in The Lord of the Rings! This is also where I saw my first cattle. A man was leading 3 of them on a trail. It was so fascinating to see in person! Here is a link to learn more about it: The Burren. We took a lot of pictures (just can't get enough pictures), then we all got on the buses. On our way back, the sight was brilliant. Most of the drive was along the ocean. I was so tired and wanted to close my eyes, but I didn't want to miss anything out my window. So I waited until we were on the freeway (even then I wanted to keep my eyes open! so I waited until it was dark).

It felt good to get back to my apartment and jump in a hot shower and end the day with a cup of tea, reflection time, Skype session with Eric, and then a piece of cake and another cup of tea as I wrote out my class schedule. The most nerve racking part is figuring out where all of your classes are. Oofta! Well on Monday I only had class from 3-5 (Ireland Since 1800) It is a history class. My teacher is great! I notice that the Irish sense of humor is slipping in humor, but they don't laugh at their own jokes very much. It almost makes it more humorous. Do we laugh at our own jokes in America? It should be an interesting class!

On Tuesday I had a PACKED day. I have 4 classes, but one of them you meet twice. I have:
1. Hydrology and Water Resources - the teacher is splendid and so enthusiastic about what she is teaching. The funny part about her is that she kept on talking about how unorganized she was and told us how to accomodate if we are last minute people like her. 2. Women in the Celtic World. This class should be very interesting. The professor is passionate about it, and the topics that we will be discussing seem fascinating. 3. Lifting up the Lowly (Theology Class). *Note: there are two sections of campus. A north and south campus. One is Maynooth and the other is St. Patrick's College. I live on the complete opposite side of my Theology classes which are in St. Patrick's, but it still only takes me about 11 minutes to get across campus! (Yes, I timed myself.) This class is about women in the bible. The teacher had us in a circle and we read a book from the bible and together we formed it into a story that we could more so undertand. He was just so excited about everything we were saying. It is going to be a lovely class! I didn't bring a bible with me (due to the weight) so after class we walked to his office and he let me borrow one. It was so wonderful how he was asking me questions and getting to know me. I love it when professors are personable like that! 3. The God of Jesus Christ (Theology Class) The professor knows what he is talking about, but it is a little hard to follow, though I am excited for the content of the course. 4. Women in the Celtic World (again). It was a pretty crazy day, but good! I didn't get lost once!

On Wednesday I had Global Water Resources and then Victorianism to Modernism. Victorianism To Modernism was my first class in a big lecture hall! There had to be at least 100 people in this lecture hall. It was a strange feeling, but kind of cool at the same time! This is an English class. The teacher is pretty monotone, but the content should be pretty enlightening to English material in Ireland. I also officially registered for my classes and received my student ID on this day!

On Thursday! Oh boy.... Well I set my phone alarm, but it never went off! And I was up late the night before because apparently I just don't like to sleep. I missed my first two classes, but I did make it to my other Theology Class - Christian Faith and Contemporary Culture. This professor is lovely. He types up notes for us because he doesn't want us to be taking notes during class. He likes meaningful discussion. When I went up to him during a break to have him sign my form to sign up for the class he asked me where I was from, how I was doing, and said that if I need anything, just let him know. Lovely, right? I felt very blessed at that moment to have such wonderful professors. 

I don't have any classes on Fridays, so I just laid low after going out on Thursday night. Did I tell you that people literally go out every single night, here. EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT. I only go out once or twice a week. I can't afford (financially and physically) to go out so many times a week! It will be so nice not having class on Fridays so I can take 3 day trips with friends!

On Saturday we went to Dublin for the first time! I took so many pictures (soon to come). I've never been to New York City, but it reminds me of what New York City is like, but much prettier and cleaner. We did some shopping, visited Trinity College, and finished the day off by eating at a cute little restaurant on a corner. We picked it randomly because it was so pretty looking. Funny moment: Do you know what prawns are? We didn't. We asked the waiter and he joked around with us and told us in the tone of voice, "Really? You don't know what prawns are?" It's shrimp by the way. After we were done with our meal, he said, "Did you like the prawns - I mean the shrimps?" ha! Throughout the whole day we felt like such tourists: taking pictures of every single thing (stopping in the middle of sidewalks), looking at maps in the middle of the sidewalk, asking strangers where something is, etc. It will be pretty lovely when we are used to the place!

Today I went to church in a really old church building. Fun fact: When I first got here I took a ton of pictures of this building - thinking it was vacant and had super historical fiction. Then I found myself in that church this morning! The masses are very different here. To be honest, I was not a fan of the mass. There was no music, and everyone rushed what they were saying. It seems they just wanted to get it done instead of letting it soak in. So I am going to go church shopping while I'm here. :) I went on my first walk/run in Ireland. I would speed walk for a while then run a short while - repeat. It was wonderful landscape. I just couldn't believe it. I was in Ireland. That's when it was really hitting me. Then I had dinner with two girls and we made pancakes, eggs, and ham. Brinner! Now I'm ending the day with some tea and blogging. That is about all for now.

Random facts learned:
*They call yarn - knitting thread. (I asked a woman at Tesco if they had any yarn and it took us about 2 minutes to communicate what I was asking for. I love those moments!)
*Prawns are shrimp.
*It is true - Irish people really are late, often. Most of my professors arrive at least 5 minutes late.
*They actually do have speed limits here. (I'm not sure they actually follow them though...)
*Black coffee is called Americanoo. I felt so silly as an American buying an Americano one morning. I could just picture the waitress rolling her eyes in her head. ha.)
*Hulu and Pandora does not work over here. It only works in the United States.
*There are no animal crackers here.
*Irish people are very nice! One morning I was having troubles with the ATM. I told the older gentlemen that I thought it wasn't working. It worked for him, then he stayed by my and walked me through how to use it. Kindness. :)
*I've found myself using more of their word choice while talking to friends - brilliant, lovely.
*They play American music in the pubs. No country!
*They say "lovely" instead of "awesome".

People keep asking me what my favorite part of Ireland is. It's tough to say! It has only been two weeks, but I feel like I have been here for much longer than that! My favorite part thus far is the people. I have made very amazing friends. I can't say enough how blessed and fortunate I feel to have made such close friends already. A couple friends and I were talking tonight and they both commented how they feel like they've known me for way longer. They said they commented how when I first saw them at the airport I walked right up to them like we were casual friends and said, "Hi! I'm Megan! What are your names?" I guess not many people do that. haha! It's crazy to think that in less than 4 months we will all have to part ways, but we don't talk about that now! We have so many memories to make before saying goodbye.

I hope you all have a blessed week!