Well this week was a toughy. I managed to finish 2 essays on time and now I only have one more to worry about that is due in 2 weeks. If ever you need someone to educate you on Oscar Wilde's life or what Yeats' sybolism is in his poetry, I'm your girl. Thursday my friends and I went out to celebrate our completed work. This week our classes start again, and I have been trying to figure out what courses to take next semester. I need 3 classes that are pre-requisites for my Global Wine Studies degree so hopefully Ulster will offer them. If not, second semester is going to be semi-unproductive. I am going to meet with my advisor to figure it all out this week. Cross your fingers!
On Saturday night, the international students and families gathered to learn traditional Irish dances! They were more like jigs, it was a lot of fun and surprisingly a good work out. After we learned about 10 different dances, we watched 2 girls dance something similar to Riverdancing. I have ALWAYS loved Riverdance! I remember being on Dad's couch and watching them dance on TV. He was always so leniant with the TV remote :) Thanks, Dad. After the dancing was over, can you guess what we did? We had tea and cookies hahaha, I love this country. They have tea for every gathering- for a break during long classes, after church, after meetings, after dinner, before dinner, during dinner...
Well anyway, I have been in this bad habit of going to bed late (4 or 5am) and sleeping until 2pm- it's terrible I know! It is hard because there is not much to do during the day so I have no reason to wake up early. But lately I have been feeling bad, getting homesick, getting bored, and sad. I decided that my sleeping patterns have a whole lot to do with that, so this morning I woke up at 9:30am, went to work out, made a nice breakfast, went rowing (it was SO rough and very frustrating), had dinner with friends, and went to a mass with them and sang church songs. Overall, I feel so much better today. Being productive and busy is an important part of keeping my mind entertained while I'm here since there is not much time spent on school.
That about sums up my week. How was your week? Anything exciting happen? Keep me up to date! I miss all of you. I'll see some of you in only FIVE WEEKS! :)
Bye for now
You sound so much happier since I spoke to you last week. I think you've figured out the equation for your down time and that's to establish a healthy sleeping/working routine. I want you to teach us some Irish jigs at Christmas, so keep practicing! We'll just have to have an Irish night. Let me know about your next semester classes. :) Love you!
ReplyDeleteYeah, sweetums, the emotional roller-coaster. But we Skyped all about that last night, didn't we, so I hope today was another positive, happy day! Do they call cookies biscuits like the English? Maybe you'll form a tea habit there - and you'll probabaly be able to tell good tea from bad; I can't:) Days have many pockets if you have things to put in them - so I'm glad you're looking around for other interesting things to do! Love you, darlin'!
ReplyDeleteWow, Ellie. What an amazing experience you're having!!! I love the pix you post... I really liked the carved pumpkins & seeing you and your friends, and the countryside... oh my! I like it all. Thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDeletebing.com has featured locations that made me think of you. First it was the Giant's Causeway in Antrim... (There's a story there, of course. Have you heard it? I think it would be wonderful to hear some local person's version.) And then the other day it was Mt. Rainier! And you've been near both of them! It's a very small world - you're spanning the globe! :)
Yes, isn't it amazing what a difference good sleep and nutritious food can make! I prove it to myself all the time - especially when I make unhealthy choices. So glad you're aware of all of that and can avoid some of the pitfalls I've dived into head first. :)
So memorize some lovely Irish poems and tromp around in the wet, green cold... it'll be spring before ya know it!
May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be always at your back
(and may some lovely adventure you don't expect be right around the corner!)
Here's a big hug!
kim
Hi Kim! I'm glad you like my pictures, I wish I could put more of them up. But since I can't, they are all on facebook.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Giant's Causeway has a fun wee story. Folklore claims that an Irish giant named Finn MacCool built a huge bridge of basalt columns so a rival Scottish giant could visit and they could have a battle to determine who was the strongest giant. When Finn saw how big the Scottish giant actually was he ran back to his wife. She decided to disguise Finn as a baby and when the giant from Scotland saw Finn as the baby he grew greatly afraid and thought "If this is his baby, how big is the father?!" And he ran back to Scotland, but in his panic he ruined the bridge leaving only some leftover columns, which is now one of Northern Ireland's biggest attractions! I have yet to have visited it, but my Irish family says they would like to take me there. I have seen friend's pictures and it is stunningly beautiful.
Miss you and thank you for the hugs :)
Very (mac)cool story, Ellie. :) Do you ever get a chance to tell stories aloud? I think that's a wonderful art. You'd be good at it! Anyway, hope you get a chance to see the Causeway.
ReplyDeleteAnd also glad you're singing... I'm convinced the vibration created is very healing for us... plus it makes such a lovely sound and it's fun!
Thanks for letting us know you've posted other pix on Facebook... I'll visit. I'm still trying to remember to get involved with social media, so it didn't occur to me. My college interns always think I'm nuts cuz I don't communicate more that way... :)
I'd love to read some of your papers... are you posting those too?
Love you! Stay warm!
I leave the story telling up to the professional traditional Irish :) I can send you my papers if you'd like. What is your email?
ReplyDeleteHey Ellie-belle,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you realized how personal schedules affect the body, mind, and soul and got your schedule figured out. There's a lot to be said for understanding and respecting the body's natural rhythms. There's also a lot to be said for being proactive in managing our emotions. (Although I sometimes hate it when my body says to get up at 5:00 a.m.!)
We miss you!