The Big Red Dot Says "You Are HERE"

     These past few days I have been so concerned about what is over there and all the "what ifs" and things I cannot possibly know. As it has been brought to my attention, I need to have a bit more of a zen outlook on this and live in the now--I need to focus on the questions that can be answered.
     So for the next few days I will be enjoying life at home, speaking more with my co-workers, trying not to be so distracted and self-centered, I will do my best to focus my energy on the important things because once I am actually over there I do not want to regret having missed the short time I had left with my family before I left for a whole year.
     'Til then...

Dreading Decorating the Dorm Room

    I have about eight days left until departure and it is finally beginning to sink in. Oh.my.gosh.Ican'tbelieveI'mactuallygoingtoIrelandtostudyforawholeyear,ohmygosh! or something to that effect... So besides things like my passport (now safely retrieved from Indiana) and my class schedule, or the whole debate over bringing a bike or not, what does my mind decide to dwell on? (nothing truly productive of course) My mind thinks, "oh, you have tiny dorm space and are limited on what you can bring? I wonder how to decorate the dorm room?"
     It's not like I can bring anything heavy or anything that will take up too much space in any suitcase. There are things I want to bring like my wall-fan (too large) or my bedside-table candle-holder (too heavy) that just won't make the cut. What things should I simply leave behind and what should I try to bring so I don't have to buy it there where the exchange rate is high?
     The one thing I want to do (that is still possible at this point) is to have a wall filled with pictures of everyone from home and a world map of all the places I have been and all the places I have yet to go see <3 If anyone has any other suggestions please feel free to comment!
      As of this afternoon I have a new camcorder to share videos as well! Look for videos to be posted sometime after the 6th of September :)

I'll be home for Christmas?

     The more I look at it the less likely I will be able to come home for Christmas...
While this is initially rather distressing I am deciding to put this in a happier light: I get to spend Christmas abroad, possibly with some new friends, discovering Ireland or possibly some other countries to boot!
     We found out it is not possible to use frequent flyer points to get a round-trip ticket for me during the holidays, so I will either be paying for one pull-price and out-of-pocket or simply staying there... So to cover my bases, besides being always on the hunt for cheap round-trip tickets home during the holidays, I am asking what folks recommend to do while on holiday overseas. With the money I would save by not buying an airline ticket I could buy a bus-pass or a train-pass or perhaps even take a ferry to someplace new. What sights should I make a point to go see? What new experiences should I try? If not staying in Cork or Ireland where should I go?
     While it would be absolutely wonderful to come home for the holidays and see everyone again, if that is not possible then I intend to make the best of it. Any suggestions are appreciated and encouraged!
     go raibh maith agat! [thanks!]

Of Passports and Packing

     So as I sat on the floor of my bedroom playing Tetris with my suitcase, I regarded the list I had started about a month before of what I needed to pack. Sure, I had remembered my toothbrush and sonic-screwdriver, but what about my passport? I still had to sign that sucker... so where did it go? I looked in my cookie-jar where I had placed it for safe keeping and discovered it was not there. Apparently it had made its way to Valparaiso Indiana with my sister! Well, now I get to see her one last time before either Christmas Break or June! :3
     Also, Yesterday being our 21st birthday, I went out to dinner at our local Irish pub Ballydoyles. Jeff, our bartender, happens to be from Cork! Imagine that! I feel so much better knowing that there are folks over there who I can contact in case of an emergency.
    If anyone has any tips about packing for a year overseas, or dorm-life, or international flights, or all of the above, please let me know! Also, does anyone know if it is possible to send a bike through the airport as a checked-bag?
    Cheers!

Saddle Up Your Horses

     This year I am going to be studying abroad in Cork, Ireland! I thought it might be nice to have a place separate from the likes of Facebook and Twitter where I may post pictures and stories of my adventures while abroad.
     The plan thus far is to arrive sometime between the 2nd and 9th via plane departing from O'hare/Chicago, to New York, to Shannon, and then a rental car to University college Cork. If anyone has any advice about traveling abroad/Ireland/dorm-life/etc please feel free to comment!
     I look forward to this year and hope to stay in touch with everyone!