Cliffs of Moher and Irish Dancing!

Last night after school we all went to an Irish Dancing class. They closed down a pub for us, and a man was there teaching everyone pretty basic dance steps. We were silly and pretty terrible but it was a really cute and fun night, we took the bus back to Ballyvaughan and stopped into one of the pubs closer to our housing. 

This morning we got up and went to school, and then the bus took us to the Cliffs of Mohr! They were so incredible and since the weather has been spotty lately we were lucky to be there on a completely sunny and clear day. Anyway, it was amazing and here are some pictures. This place becomes more magical everyday. 

Max, and some silly girls. 

girlfriends. :)

Brittany, Maura, Janine, 

Katie Lindsey, Steph
this is Brian.

we were mom and dad.

setting up tripods and running into family pictures on the cliffs.

a couple of my housemates/friends

Kaetlyn and Meghan
This is Ryan.
This is Eileen. we are all submitting art for the Cliff of Moher welcome center so we all were working

 on things while we were there. Kind of awesome.

Lindsay.

Alex.

obnoxious Americans

Janine.

We went to the  cliffs/ocean  near Fanore, on the busride back. It was ridiculously beautiful. I can't think of a better ending to a day. 

Mike, representing Maine.

Brittany.

Steph was on the phone? ridiculous.

happy times.

Eileen.

this morning.

Last night's sunset

This is our house. It's called Marie's house. It's really pretty and becoming more homey everyday. We live at the end of a very long dirt road there are a couple street lights further down but for the most part it's very dark at night which means, if it's not cloudy, the stars are very bright and beautiful.  Last night when we were all making dinner, I noticed the sky was such an odd blue and so I took a picture off of our back porch. This morning I got up and took some pictures of the house, and Simon and Richard showed me how to make "flapjacks" which in the States are the same as a granola bar, and they are delicious and easy. The weather today is a bit wet and very very windy but I need to work off some of this breakfast so I think I'm going to go out for a walk, maybe to school. Have a great day. Love you all. 

Making flapjacks!

Living Room

My bedroom:

For your soul senses the world that awaits you

In out-of-the-way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wanter,
This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.

For a long time it watched your desire,
Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,
Noticing how you willed yourself on,
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.

It watched you play with the seduction of safety
And the grey promises that sameness whispered,
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
Wondered would you always live like this.

Then the delight, when your courage kindled,
And you stepped onto new ground,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
A path of plenitude opening before you.

Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life's desire

Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new ryhthm
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.

For A New Beginning
John O' Donohue

Galway

Went to Galway On Saturday morning and shopped for the day, and did a 1 1/2 hour walking tour. We got to learn some very interesting and gruesome history of the place.  A group of Six of us Girls got a Hostel there for the night and went out to a couple Pubs in Galway that were really fun. Lots of traditional Irish Music and Good times. We met up with the rest of our group later in the night and went out to one more pub, and then shopped and Grocery Shopped Sunday before the bus came to pick us up. I found some friends that wanted to go to church with me on Sunday morning and we were lucky enough to catch a mass at the Galway Cathedral which was so incredibly beautiful. It was hard to take pictures because it was pretty dark in there but the pictures above are from there. The mass was celebrated a little bit different than what I'm used to. We all gathered around the altar and kneeled for communion, there was no wine, and no exchanging peace. I thought that was odd but interesting. Lit a candle for my all of my family and extended family wishing they were there with me for Sunday Mass but it was a beautiful and exhausting day. Galway was pretty chaotic and I was ready to get back to the quiet of Ballyvaughan which was a nice surprise because I thought coming to such a quiet and remote place was going to be a huge adjustment, but it has been surprisingly easy. When I was walking back to our house two boys stopped and asked me if I needed help carrying my groceries and I found out that they had moved into my house and are staying with us for a couple of weeks doing an Graduate Exchange Program from England. There names are Simon and  Richard and they are very nice and very funny. I'm excited to have another flavor being added to our house of all girls. They had pasta ready when I got out of the shower and we had a great night of chatting and getting to no each other. I'm excited they are here. And!- they fixed our oven- we were having troubles operating it. 

Got behind, but things/people from the last few days

These are pictures from the past couple of days. Lots of adventure! We started school this week, no real classes but just sort of a week of orientation. I took pictures around school, I'll show them another time. It's very beautiful and homey. 

Went to my first mass here in Ballyvaughan, Last night (Thursday) and it was very nice. Made me feel more at home here and I'm excited to see what it's like on Sundays. This Sunday I'll be going to the Cathedral in Galway which I've heard is really beautiful. 

Most of the abroad kids and I are taking a class called Irish Studies, where we'll be traveling/hiking around Ireland and learning about all of the different things that make it such a magical place. Anyway, here are some of my favorites from the past couple of days.

more vegetable soup and brown bread (delicious)

family playing in the snow, cuteness.

Irish Studies