slow and steady is the pace i like

I've been hanging around Cork and my campus a lot the last couple weeks. What with the flu, lectures, and what not I've just been lounging around and chilling, which i love to do so i have no problem with it. Spent a lovely Valentine's evening with my roommates Lily & Kelly...we went to this italian restaurant which was a mistake cause we looked as if we were in a polygamous lesbian relationship. haha the food was pretty good though.

other than that though, i can't say anything of huge importance has happened around here. OH, i did spend last friday morning at the Emergency Room for the first time in my life. Don't worry, it wasn't for me. My roommate ended up coming into my room at about 5 AM saying she felt horrible and needed to go to the hospital. I didn't ask any questions and just said, "okay, let's go!" but then was like, "wait, where do we go?" I'd never had to do anything like that before especially without having a car. we called up a taxi though and got there fast. Long story short -- we spent a total of 6 hours in the ER for them to tell her that she just had some gastro-problems. was super tired when i got home @ 11 AM and ended up missing my lecture, but i'm just glad it wasn't anything serious. definitely an interesting experience.

Today, Kelly Lily & I headed out early to attend mass @ St. Finn Barre's Cathedral -- about a 20 min walk from our apt. It was a beautiful church and i wanted to snap some pictures, but i was too worried about offending anyone that i didn't end up whipping out my camera till i got outside. I've been to mass before, so it wasn't anything too new. The choir was lovely and the church had such beautiful stained glass.

afterwards we headed downtown since it wasn't very far away and grabbed a late breakfast/early lunch. there is ONE bagel shop downtown and i finally found my favorite thing on the menu -- their all day breakfast sandwich! it was like having a slice of home with me...i've missed bagels so much! I could've eaten five more of these, so delicious. Then we headed into some clothing stores which wasn't the smartest thing to do for us ladies, but we couldn't resist and i was in some SERIOUS need for some rainboots. successfully found the rainboots i needed.... and a few more things along the way ;)

I have my first test on Tuesday in Archaeology...it's been so long since i've had to do anything that it's been SO hard to find some motivation. keepin' my fingers crossed that i'll do well. lots of studying to do tomorrow.

OH, & tomorrow i'm taking my belay-certification test @ the gym so that I can finally climb without having to have one of the "club leaders" follow me around everyone. it's been pretty good in the club so far, but i missed the last couple weeks and everyone else seems to have an experienced partner so when i've gone the last few times i haven't had anyone to help me climb and it's just awkward. blah, it's weird. i wish i had a friend that would go with me and help me break the ice. i hope i pass the test! pretty nervous.

Archaeology Adventures & Tea Time

So sorry, I haven't updated in forever but it's because I got lazy, and THEN I got the flu to top it all off. Pretty bummed this weekend since I was supposed to go to Scotland with my two roommates, but instead spent it in chills and sweating out a fever. Not to mention I lost almost 150 euro because I had to cancel my flight. things happen for a reason though... Anyways, not much has been going on anyways but last weekend I went on two little excursions.

Last Saturday, the 28th, I headed out with my archaeology class to explore some of West Cork and look at some old castles and ritual sites. The weather was not very pleasant -- it was cold and rainy. Being me of course I wore my Vans even though the professor recommended boots...I didn't think we were going to be trekking out into the fields of Ireland as much as we did. He sure proved me wrong. By the end of the trip my shoes were pretty covered in mud and soaking wet. Although I was quite miserable for a good two-thirds of the trip, it was pretty cool to go to these sites and really see all the history there is in this country. I'm going to go buy some rainboots this weekend for our upcoming second class field trip. here are some pictures:

Lily & I in front of one of the many castles around Ireland

only the beginning...

love this landscape! 

can't remember what this ritual site was called, but the stones are perfectly aligned to reflect
the winter and summer solstices. This is one of the largest stone circles in Ireland.

Then, the next day Lily, Kelly and I headed out to Killarney for some high tea and a tour around the national park in a horse drawn carriage! We had to wake up early to catch the bus out of Cork, but unfortunately as many of you know getting me out of bed before 8 is a bit of a task, so we missed the first bus, but we just jumped on the next one an hour or so later. The Tea Room in Killarney was the cutest I've ever been to. It had the greatest atmosphere and was so much fun. Then we were guided around the Killarney National Park, which encompasses more than 8,000 acres! It's so gorgeous. Our tour guide, Paul, was the nicest Irish man -- full of interesting facts.

And there's nothing like ending a long day with an Irish coffee! 

jam-packed weekend

This weekend was so much fun, but so tiring. My roommates & I signed up for two tours, one on saturday and the other on sunday. Waking up early, riding around in a bus, getting in and out and in and out, well it all got pretty tiring. We went to some many beautiful places, but by the end I was daydreaming of my bed.

On Saturday, our main destination was to the Blarney Castle and Gardens. SO gorgeous! Along the way we stopped at so important cities like Cobh (where the Titanic made its last stop), Kinsale (which had the best fish and chips restaurant), and lastly to Blarney. The Blarney Castle and Gardens covers such a huge area you could spend hours there. Check out the pictures below.

the boy is pointing to NY, where there's another boy statue pointing back (Cobh, Ireland)

Cobh, Ireland

Blarney Castle

making my wish on the "wishing steps"

Kelly & I in front of some castle in the Blarney Gardens...someone actually lives there!

kissing the blarney stone for good luck. one of the scariest experiences ever. this was at the top of the castle and you could look directly below you when you were kissing it! 

Then on Sunday, we got up extra early to meet the bus @ 8 AM to head out to the Cliffs of Moher which were a couple hours away around Limerick, Ireland. So happy it was a clear day...gotta fully appreciate all of God's beauty! :) Thankfully we had a bigger bus this time so it was much more comfortable for the two hr drive up there. Our friends Patrick and Sean joined us as well. We had a great time...i don't know if i've laughed so much in the longest time. such a great time! 

Pictures are below: 

it was crazy how different the landscape was over to the west, lots and lots of limestone! 

this is one of the many portal tombs found around Ireland...the archaeology class i'm taking here
is pretty handy whenever we go around to these sites ;) 

on the edge of the cliffs of moher! pretty scared. 

Kelly, Lily, & I 

it was so incredibly windy it was hard to stand up straight. 

Me, Lily, Patrick, Sean, & Kelly 

our luxury bus ;) 

lots of hair complications
from left to right: Patrick, Lily, Kelly, Sean, and Me

finally-- the cliffs of moher! 

now i'm taking it easy and recuperating from such a full weekend! time to catch on my readings for class, maybe...haha ;) 

exam timetable

I'M BEYOND EXCITED RIGHT NOW!

just checked my e-mail not thinking there would be anything of great importance to it, but I found an e-mail from my school saying there was an error on one of the exam schedules...this made me think to myself, "well if there was an error that must mean the schedules are up!"

proving my theory right...there it was in all it's glory, my exam schedule!

I honestly couldn't think of a better schedule, well I could, but this is pretty good. Finals cover the entire month of May, so I could've gotten a schedule that had one final on May 1st and one on the 15th and say one of the 25th. It really would've made it hard to travel.

Luckily, this is what i got! In this way I'll be able to travel a little better more for my spring break and not feel as rushed to get back, as well as the option to travel and do whatever I want after the 14th. If I've seen everything i've wanted to see I can come home early or I can continue to wander around -- i have a feeling it might be the second of those two ;)

Got my archaeology final on my birthday, but fortunately it's in the early AM. Turning the big 2-1 in Ireland! :)