I have been living in Evans City for two weeks now and in that time I have photographed a wedding, gone to a funeral (RIP Grandma Flinner), had my last day at one of my two jobs, worked 30 hours a week at my other job, and have unpacked and reorganized and repacked all of my possessions about ten times. I just do not know where the time goes. The move to Dublin is approaching with lightning speed and I feel like I'm moving at a snail's pace.
I knew I should have taken more time off of work before the move! It seems that the preparations are endless. Not only do I have to get everything ready for the move, I have to be sure that I have things in order for school and, of course, help plan and organize the going away party.
My last day at my cleaning job was this past Tuesday and I am so glad to be done with it! I got the job simply to help pay for the move. It bought me my plane ticket and deposit on my apartment and not much else. I have one more 40 hour week at Arby's and then one week off before we leave.
I remember in May when everyone was telling me and Matt how quickly the summer would go by and how soon we would be leaving. It seemed so far off in May, but looking back over the summer, I'm not sure where the time went.
Summer has always been my favorite season, not just for the weather but summer was always when I was able to spend the most time with my friends. I regret not being able to spend more time with them this summer. Working two jobs and preparing for the move took up the whole summer. I want to spend my last week with as many of my friends as I possibly can.
I get more excited and nervous every day. I have my tentative class schedule for school but I can't actually register for classes until I am there. It looks like my first semester of graduate school will consist of Research Skills and Methods, Media and US Foreign Policy, US Foreign Policy since World War II and (hopefully) International Politics in the Middle East. I am very interested to study US foreign policy as an American studying in Europe. It seems my first semester will be mostly theory and my second semester will consist of much more writing and photographing. I am just so happy at the thought of being back in school!
I am also getting very excited about learning about Irish culture and politics. Of course, I am reading as much as I can about it now. But with everything I sill have going on these last two weeks, the majority of my learning will be when I get there and am immersed in it!
I did watch an Irish film the other day called "Dead Bodies." It was recommended in one of my guide books and it's on netflix. I was actually really impressed with the film! It had a very different feel about it from American movies of the same sort. Throughout the beginning and middle I thought the film was quite odd and just could not see an acceptable ending for it. Yet, at the end, I was surprised and very pleased with the movie overall.
I love foreign films and am quite interested in seeing more Irish films. I am also interested in documentaries about Irish politics. If anyone has any recommendations, please let me know!
Fifteen days to go!
Slainte!
