After seventeen hours of travel on top of a sleepless night I arrived in Cork, safe and sound.

A soft, green landing in Shannon

My home is lovely (pictures to follow in next post), though far out from college.
I haven't met the fourth person in the house yet.
The lovely (gorgeous for here) weather is buffering my homesickness.
So far, I have been to a barbecque, went out dancing, and watched the All-Ireland [Gaelic] football final (Kerry lost to Tyrone in the last five minutes--it was so close!).
I have lots to sort out.
And I am glad to be here, but I miss my last month's routine rather desperately. It was a good routine.

Already, I've had discussions about the educational system in Ireland v. US, homophobia in Irish men, and the changing gender roles for women. Food for thought.

list-making, an introduction

As the eve of my departure looms closer (less than a week now), I find it appropriate that I should take stock of the various benefits and losses of my decision to head back to Cork.

What I shall (sorely) miss....










The Bay Area, as taken from the Stanford Dish

• my adorable, apple-of-my-eye niece, Hailey
• Bikram Yoga
• my sister Becky
• Sun. And warm weather.
  
• Pearl Iced Tea
  
• fresh [cheap] fruit
• The Daily Show
• Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
  
• Trader Joe's
• milkshakes from Peninsula Creamery
• the availability of salads (mmmm, Pluto's)
• Netflix
  
• All of my friends

What I look forward to....

Cork City on a "cloudless" day

• badminton
• the people from badminton: Joyce, Edel, Lucy, Ann, Philip, Ronan, Enda, Liam, Gary, Ciara, Colm, etc.
  
• The Panel
• Home and Away
• tea, all the time!
• soda bread
• tim tams
• Irish accents (especially de Cork ones, like!)
• not really leaving school
• the availability of cider on tap
• making Euros, not dollars
• the English market

This list is a work in progress, subject to my wanderings and pangs of longing.