The Festivities

Hello anyone that's out there.

A lot has been going on the last 2 weeks, we've had guest speakers, we've cooked up storms (figurative storms..we've just cooked a lot..) and we've all been getting to know each other. It's been fantastic.

Our first week's studies were on the presence of God and the second week's was about finding your identity in this life. It's been really good on the whole. I'm not really sure what to write about because there's too much information to write down so far as what we've been learning and I'm not sure what else to say..

Well, I did go see a hurling match (a game that kind of combines, field hockey, baseball, and soccer..interesting thing to see) and Gaelic football, (like soccer, only the scoring system is different, there aren't any stupid offside rules, and you can pass the ball with your hands..) I really liked gaelic football.

Today we went to a cultural festival in Dun Laoghaire (pronounced "done leery") it was supposedly for a whole bunch of countries with things from each place, but most of it was indian. Interesting. Anyway, it was a good way to spend our first Sunday off. Back to school tomorrow!

On that note, I bid you farewell.

Dublin.

Well, after a long sleepless journey I have arrived, whole and intact.

I'm now sitting in "Insomnia Cafe" right across the street from our house. Many of my e-mails and skype calls will be made from here because it has free WiFi..it's going to be my second home of sorts I suppose.

I love it here. Meeting all the people that I will be seeing for 7 months, learning bit and pieces about Dublin and discovering the house has been wonderful! The house we're staying in has been vacant for about 15 years and was given a facelift before all the students arrived, it's still in a little bit of dis-repair, but I'm in love with it! 15ft ceilings, stained glass windows, mystery doors, cracked walls and ceilings and alike..I love it.

There are 14 students in this DTS. I'm just starting to get to know them and I'm pretty excited to learn more about everyone.

Today we took a little trip on the luas (the tram that runs through the city) into the city centre where our lectures will be. We toured around a bit trying to familiarize ourselves...it's going to be quite the experience learning the roads and allys..that will take a while..anyway, it's great. Our lectures are right in an area called Temple Bar which is the buisiest area in Dublin. I also went to phoenix park which is a 5 minute walk from my house and is the biggest enclosed park in Europe..(not bad eh?) I'm going to be doing a lot of walking there I'm sure.

Well, I'm done typing now. So that's all for today!

Justine

Well, I'm heading off!

Today's the day!

In a few minutes I am going out for breakfast with my family and then heading to the airport for final farewells!

Dublin, here I come!