I'm back in the states. What can I say....it's been a rough adjustment. And not just for my body, which is going into severe detox shock, har har. Thankfully, Bryn stayed on with me a few days before she went back to DC for the summer...making the transition slightly less painful, as we spent our first week back in the US getting mani/pedis, tanning, eating sushi/cheesecake factory/chinese food, reading trashy American magazines while sipping DietCokes, and watching old episodes of Scrubs hours on end. I haven't really seen that many people back home yet, mostly because I don't think I'm quite ready yet...but also because I don't feel like there are that many friends left for me here. So far at least I've seen those who really missed me the most and made an effort. *ahem* hint hint.
Here's an anecdote of our last night in Ireland, and I'll always remember fondly the Irish people this way. The last week there, Bryn had this weird infection in her eye but she's one of those people who never goes to get help because she feels like she's complaining too much. Well she coudln't even open her eyes after a week, from the pain and the swelling..she finally called the doctor on call who made a house visit and told her she had a severe case of conjunctivitis and should get antibiotic drops STAT. It was already 11PM at this point, and we were supposed to catch a 2AM bus to Dublin, and she hadn't packed at ALL. We knew pharmacies would be closed but we were desperate so we called a cab to take us to the next town..the old Irish cabbie man took us first to one than another but they were all closed. He asked to see Bryn's prescription, then picked up his mobile and said "Let me ring my other half, she works with an eye specialist." She told him to bring us to their house, so he did! And his lovely wife treated Bryn right there and gave her samples of antibiotics to last her until she could get more drops. How's that for Irish hospitality...can you imagine anybody in the states being that kind toward strangers?
My favourite scenes of Ireland:
The oldest pub in Galway, where we kicked it so many nights...live cover bands playing U2 and other classics.
Galway - main street on a gorgeous spring day. You really learn to appreciate weather like this after 5 straight months of rain. My Irish homestay mom said to me, "It only rained twice this week! First for 3 days and then for 4." hehe.
Cliffs of Moher
Clonmacnoise, County Offaly
You know it's true.
What the hell is that? Why, it's giant potatoes marching in the St. Paddy's Day parade, obviously. How could they see where they were going?? With all their EYES of course! BWAHAHAH you knew that was coming..somebody stop me (please).
HAHAH these were great...the cartons of fags all said stuff like my personal favourite "smoking will cause a slow and painful death" or just simply "smoking KILLS." each time someone bought a new carton we'd all gather round (what does yours say!) as if it were a chinese fortune cookie. I wanted to bring back a bunch of cartons for my smoker buddies back home...but I ended up smoking them all myself. Oops.
Actually, being home isn't all that bad, I'm being such a whiny spoiled brat. As much as I was dreading coming back here, it hasn't been all that bad..and now I'm actually really looking fwd to this summer. I definitely have the same attitude I had going into the summer two years ago before I started my first year at Brown...independent and learning to be on my own for a while (re: boys). I'm remembering how happy I was, am, and can be being single for a while. This summer in Providence with so many of my good friends, living like real "adults" (whatever that means) will be grand. I'm determined to show that the different person I became in Europe is here to stay, cuz that girl was pretty class.
I'm going to be quitting xanga for a while. My mobile's still the same, and I'd love to see some of you before I move to Providence for the summer.
Cheers. It's been great craic.
xoxo | 
