In three days my sisters, Aunt Jen, and Cousin Kylie are coming to visit me here in Ireland. I haven’t seen my sisters in almost a year and the fact that they will be here in Ireland with me is almost surreal. Last December Jen and Brittney came to visit me and even though it was just six months ago it feels like yesterday. I showed them around Ireland and we even ventured out and explored London- my very first time having been there and I couldn’t have been there with better company. I was able to see London the right way and we made sure we packed as much as possible in so we would have the best experience possible. I wrote a great post about their trip not to soon after they left, but only having realized now that the post was somehow deleted, I’ll recap the whole experience now as I ready for their return again in just a few days and a whole new set of adventures to write about. Because in three days my family’s coming to visit me again and in their stay I’m going to show them as much of Ireland I can again, as well as London and even Denmark this time! The weather was very Irish the last time Jen and Brit came to visit, rainy and cold. I didn’t realize how accustomed to the climate I had become until they got here and spent the first day freezing and layering their jackets on. the rain here can soak you to the bone and the chill in the air will linger. But that was back in December and now I can tell you all that the Irish summer is here and your experience will be different. Instead of bone chilling cold, you’ll just be soaked to the bone hahaha. Make sure to bring layers! We spent the week looking around Ireland. We discovered the best scone and tea breakfast that happened to be right down the street from me. The scones were freshly made every morning and big enough to share between two people- not that we wanted to. The tea was so good –it’s been my favorite here pretty much since the day I arrived- we tracked the brand down in the shops and bought enough to send home. You can bet we will be eating breakfast at “The Wooden Spoon” here in Killaloe every morning this time before we head out on our adventures. We did lots of shopping and I even showed them Ireland's favorite well priced retail store. Penny’s. It’s a lot like forever 21 for those looking like a comparison. Anything you need you can find in Penney’s for a good price and let me tell you the store is always full of customers. I myself shop there every week because it’s just so hard to stay away sometimes. Ireland is such a laid back country, that even taking a good long country drive is heartwarming and so pretty your camera fills up with so many green pictures it’s hard to decide which ones to delete. One of my favorite things we did was visit Drumoland castle. It sits on a beautiful piece of land and the castle is so beautiful it looks like the Darcy’s stay there on weekends. And to make the moment even more memorable, as we drove in to the estate we saw a rainbow the ended straight into the little lake. Yes ladies and gentleman, we did find the end of the rainbow but not wanting to get wet –it was a beautiful sunny day- we didn’t dive into the weather to search for the pot of gold. At arrived at Drumoland for Tea time along with Kirsten Faloon who showed us the beautiful place. We sat in a beautiful room on amazing sofas I was sure cost more than my first car and ate the cutest tiny sandwiches with tea and hot chocolate. Having a proper tea inside a castle was definitely an experience one has to check off their bucket list and we sure did it in style! We treated my host family to a Mexican dinner which we prepared and Jen even had to bring a few ingredients from home to make it authentic. They loved it and ate it all up and it was nice to taste the ingredients from home! We treated Jen and Britney to a very Irish meal of Bacon and Cabbage that I can proudly say I can now prepare with my eyes closed. They also brought me tons of treats and snacks from America and I cherished them like they were gold. I actually have just now run out of my hot sauce and American candies because I ate them sparingly, it was a sad day when I realized my treats had run out. But receiving the treats from my family was like opening my Christmas presents early. When it was time to Jet off to London – a mere hour flight from Ireland- I was more than excited. I’ve always wanted to visit and see what the whole experience was like and let me just say I was not disappointed. There’s so much to do and see there it’s almost too crazy. We stayed in a beautiful hotel (I still dream about that wonderful shower head!) not far from Kensington Palace and could walk or catch the tube anywhere we needed. Our first day on the underground tube was SO confusing. I’ve never felt more like a tourist in my life and reading the tube map was almost like trying to decipher a new language. As I looked around me at the locals who seemed to know the tube like the back of their hand I knew it would take time until we knew which trains to jump on. Luckily after our first day, we were riding the Tube like pros knowing which lines to take and where- just like a local. We hit all the main sites, we saw where the queen lives, where the Royal couple had their first kiss, my favorite clock Big Ben, took pictures with red phone booths, took pictures with the unmovable guards, and visited the National Art Gallery. I was able to see actual Monet art pieces in front of me, it was mind blowing. We walked and walked and walked and even though our feet were killing us we kept going. Jen and Brit even indulged my childhood fantasy and helped me track down the J.M. BARRIE Peter Pan statue. It was one of my favorite moments ever to actually see it. We visited Harrods, the super famous store that even sells gold chocolate and spent hours walking through each floor and what they offer. The higher you went the more expensive things became, I was lucky enough to find a key chain that didn’t break my bank. One of my favorite experiences was riding the London Eye. There are always so many tourists in London its almost impossible not to be stuck shoulder to shoulder with them. We thought this would be the case when we were standing in line for the London Eye. Especially since we were stuck behind a tour of kids waiting for their ride. We just knew we would be stuck in a tube with all of them but to our surprise the attendants let us through and gave Jen, Brit, and I our own London eye tube! We had it all to ourselves! It was amazing, we were able to rise above London just the three of us and see the city in its entirety from every angle. We were able to see the London countryside as we traveled to the London Temple, a beautiful peaceful place where the worlds troubles always feel less important once your surrounded by its beauty. I was able to meet visitors from around the world and walk the grounds. Dad you would love this temple because airplanes flew right over! The food –we found this amazing pizza place that was so good we ate there twice!-, the culture, the company, the experience was more than I could have ever hoped for. My aunt Jen has always been so good to me and my family and made sure we had good experiences and taking me to London was definitely more than I could have asked for. Showing my family around Ireland was a great experience for me because I was able to show them everything I had been telling them about for months through pictures and videos. But to actually have them here and show them first hand was a great experience and I can’t wait to do it again in just a few days. Can you guys hurry up and get here already! See you soon! I’ll be waiting at the airport!
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Most people don’t know this, I sure didn’t, but Ireland (although one country) is split into two. It’s not a civil war or anything. Well. Not really. You see, here in Ireland there are two kinds of Irish. There are the Northern Irish and then there are the rest of them. Most specifically there are the Belfast Irish who don’t even really consider themselves Irish- more of under the queens rule. They don’t really associate themselves with the rest of Ireland and the moment you drive into their county limits, you can feel the change in the air. Not just by the wider roads, or the people, or the armored cars driving around, but by the feel of the city. Like a buzz in the air that can go off at any time. That may be because Belfast is at war with itself. The tension between the Catholics and the Protestants is still thick as a knife with murders and bombs hitting the city like a page straight out of one of Shakespeare’s plays. The Montague’s and the Capulet’s are basically the Catholics and the Protestants. The city itself has a different vibe. There are certain streets that you should just not drive down for your general safety. Honestly if you find yourself on Shankill Road get off as fast as you can. Throw in the fact that we were driving our car with the southern Irish plates and we were basically asking to be bombed. Unlike the rest of Ireland that has such a laid back happy go lucky feel, Belfast feels as if the city is on lockdown with armored police cars patrolling the streets. Belfast also takes murals to a whole new level. They don’t graffiti last names or random letters on alley ways, no, their art is representing the war, the lives lost, the Catholics views, or the protestants, and no matter where you go you will know who’s part of town you are in. All this said, you’re probably thinking “Why on earth would I ever go there?”. Many southern Irish have never passed the northern border. In fact I learned that in doing so it was quite alarming to some that I would even make the trip. But the answer to why someone should even go is simple. Northern Ireland is beautiful. All wars and fighting aside, Belfast is a beautiful city, alive with people who despite the threat of bombs and uncertainty still get up every day and go to school and work. And outside of the city lay the most beautiful ocean coasts I’ve ever seen, rolling green hills to beautiful for even the most expensive cameras to capture, and people with survival stories worth writing books about. I spent the weekend in Belfast with the Faloons and Christina. We spent our days sightseeing and even after driving all day –Belfast is about a 4 hour drive from Limerick- I felt like I could continue seeing more. One sight we visited was The dark Hedges. A dark row of the most beautiful twisted trees i've ever seen. Lined perfectly down a road for all to see. The trees themselves were astounding always making me wonder how long they’ve been there and who planted them in the first place. What was cool to see was the lines of visitors that came to see the hedges. People from all over the world walked up and down the walkways all coming to look at the wonder of the dark hedges. One of my favorite things we visited was the Giants Causeway. Talk about natures wonders at its finest. The walk alone to the sight was beautiful, along cliffs of stone bordered by rushing waves from the Scottish sea. From where we were we could almost touch the Scottish shores. Almost. The rocks were beautiful. Almost as if some giant had taken the time and carved out perfect little circles into the walkway of stones. I chose to believe that story even though I was told the Causeway was really the result of an ancient volcanic eruption interlocking 40,000 basalt columns. They were everywhere almost looking like a giant beehive coating the floors. I could have stayed there all day. The sounds of the waves crashing into the stones and the stones themselves captivating you in a way that makes you forget about your troubles and wonder more about the simple things in life. One of my favorite things we did was drive along the coast. The weather in Ireland can be unpredictable. Sunny one second and lashing rain the next. But the Sunday drive we took along the coast was nothing but perfect. The skies were blue lined with the whitest clouds I’ve ever seen, the ocean bluer than the sky. Everywhere we drove the cutest little boating towns waited for us lined with people just going about their day. Coming from living inland my entire life, I never realized until this moment how much I love the sound of the water crashing along the shore. There’s something calming and terrifying about it at the same time. I could have driven along the coast all day with how beautiful it was. Even though I've been living in Ireland for almost a year now,t he magnificence of the country still hits me. I've never seen a place so beautiful in all my life. The fact that the greenery grows freely here and without having to irrigate astounds me! And everyday I am grateful that I took the chance and went on this journey to see new things, experience new ways of life. Because we weren't just born to pay bills and die. We should get out and see new things if we are lucky enough to do it. We were born to see the world, make changes, make a difference, learn as much as possible. I'm not saying you have to travel across the world like I have, just get out and take it one step at a time. Go for a walk down your street and see where that leads and who you meet. I think its best said by John Muir, "In Every walk with the world one receives far more than he seeks." There’s a moment when you are experiencing something new, that things change. One second you are soaking as much information into your brain as you can in, which roads to take, where the best shops are, or even people’s names that you may have to ask them to remind you over and over again. Everything’s new, everything’s exciting. Then one day it just becomes your life, without even thinking you know the best route to your favorite store, which roads not to drive down because they are a one way and you don’t want to get stuck doing that again, and you recognize people by their voices or laughs and already know their names by heart. You’re comfortable, you’ve adapted, your home.
I don’t know when it happened, the moment where my experience turned from me still thinking I was a tourist in this beautiful country, to me feeling like this is my life now and fitting into the daily groove perfectly. I am not just a visitor here in Ireland anymore, I live here now. And I love every second of it! The past holiday months has been crazy busy. I learned a lot about a traditional Irish Christmas. I would have to say that the main thing I learned is that alcohol goes into everything over here, the cakes, the drinks, even the mashed potatoes! Also the holiday spirit is high no matter where you go. I noticed here the emphasis on focusing on the holiday and its meaning of giving and Christ’s birth instead of the commercial aspect of it and receiving the presents. I really enjoyed that. I also had family come visit me! My aunt Jen and cousin Britney came and spent a week here in Ireland with me then we jumped the pond over to England. I am saving that experience for the next post because there’s just so much I need to write about that. So the next few posts will be out of order, but that’s ok. I want to capture everything perfectly, giving each experience its own entry so I don’t want to forget about it. Because the sad thing is, if we don’t write the experiences we have down, someday down the road we will forget about the little details of the adventure and if were not careful we could forget we did it at all. So here’s to remembering France…… From the moment I stepped off the plane, the atmosphere felt different. I never know how to explain it but when traveling to a new country it’s like that country has a heartbeat of its own. Different from what you’re used to but you recognize the excitement of a new culture and experience. It took me less than 30 seconds to fully understand what my first obstacle in France would be. The language barrier. I’ve always been fortunate enough to know - or at least understand- the native language of the countries I’ve visited so far. By the time I reached the immigration line and I handed my American passport over to the very resigned French officer I learned that I had the little French I had learned from Beauty and the Beast growing up was not going to take me as far as I had hoped. Thank goodness smiles are universal. My host family and I had flown into Geneva Switzerland, a beautiful country blanketed in snow and I loved watching the homes light up as the last bit of sunlight faded away and the moon took its place in the sky. It was like I was watching a real life portrait come to life. The people of Switzerland, or at least the ones I met, were very nice and helpful. The shops were all kept nice and clean, the roads busy just like back home, and the merchandise expensive! The sandwich I had for lunch cost the equivalent of 10 US dollars! Coming from America, and especially living on a border town, I was surprised to see that there were no border checks when driving from Switzerland to France. I had my passport ready and the words from “Be Our Guest” floating through my mind (you know, in case I needed to impress any French border agents with my French skills) but our driver didn’t even slow his pace as we drove over the country lines and into France. The ride was beautiful, as we were on a skiing holiday our driver soon left the busy city and wound us through the beautiful mountain sides covered in snow, frozen waterfalls, and quaint little towns. And yes, I did even get to see a French castle from a distance and yes, I bet its run by every day household appliances that sing and controlled by a beast just like in the movie. Our Chalet in Les Gets France was beautiful, a huge house all to our own that was nestled right off the slopes. It literally took us one minute to grab the ski gear and be out on the slopes. However nice the Chalet was, it did not come with wifi. I’m not going to lie, I felt like a fish out of water the first day! My hands kept searching for things to do, I felt like I was missing out on great conversations that I would have been texting with friends and family, and I missed the overall convenience that our phones bring us. The internet. The first day was hard. The second day I walked into town looking like a weirdo trying to pick up free wifi outside of the shops. But after I was able to check in and let everyone l know I had arrived, I felt better. As the days went on I let myself admit that it was kind of nice to be unplugged. To get back to basics and view the world around me instead of through the lens of the media. Instead of sitting on our phones and tablets at night like we would have done if we had wifi, we gathered around the table and played games, talked around the fire, watched movies uninterrupted by a text message or breaking story. My phone that was previously always glued to my hand, started to be left on my bedside table. My fingers didn’t fidget and I felt this relaxation come over me. It was nice to not have the world at my fingertips. It was peaceful. And it was something that I had needed to do for a long time but I never understood until that moment that I needed to do it. The town was beautiful, the French were mostly nice- and when they weren’t they were talking bad about you in French but lucky I knew the universal frown for "Whats your problem?"- and some of them smelled, just like the fermented cheese in some of the shops. The food was AMAZING (albeit expensive). I had the best hot chocolate ever filled to what seemed like the roof with cream and I promise that France has the best French fries I’ve ever tasted! I’m not even ashamed to admit that I ate them for lunch every day. They were that good! I even took a chocolate class where the kids and I learned how to make delicate chocolate delicacies by a lady who spoke limited English but knew how to work with chocolate like no ones business. Les Gets had the cutest little shops that sold everything from commercial mugs and ski gear everywhere to the smaller shops that sold things only a mother would love. People from all over the world came to stay here so there were shops tailored to cultures around the world. You had the Canadian grill, the down under Australian Bar (their burger was AMAZING), to the Asian markets. I would shop and listen as people spoke of their countries, their time on their slopes, or their wild night out the night before. It was funny to see how people saw the world, what they thought was important, and what they chose to take the time to talk about. I had both some of the most exciting conversations of my life and some of the dullest conversations of my life with complete strangers in France and really it all boiled down to how each person saw the world and their time in it. I did find this one shop that was nestled in the bottom of a mountain, so small you wouldn’t even know it was there. I had to climb down some slippery steps and away from the main traffic of the town to get to it, and yeah I’m not going to lie, I wondered if a shady looking place like this shop could get me killed, but I kept walking any way. Sorry mom and dad! The shop was a small little thing. Probably only the size of a 20 ft by 20 ft room crammed with everything and anything a person could ever think to collect. It was run by a little old French lady who spoke nothing but French and a few lines of English she had learned in her youth such as, “What’s groovy American!” It sounds even funnier coming from this lady with a missing front tooth and a thick french accent. I spent about an hour in this shop with the little old lady. She sat and documented her inventory, drank tea, cleaned her only window to the shop, and lit more candles to bring light into her little store. All the while I looked around. We didn’t talk. But I learned that we didn’t need too. She watched me as I studied the treasures she collected over the years thinking they were special enough to her and that someday she would find someone who thought it was special to them. I could see the light it brought to her eyes when I admired a chipped tea set, an old cabinet, a small antique pair of little girls shoes, and all the while I wondered where in the world she found some of these things. They all had stories, a special memory to her, but I would never know exactly what besides the way she looked at me and the mutual understanding we both had of her love for the things she had collected. After an hour of rummaging and even though her shop wasn’t big at all, I had only made a dent in her collection. I paid for a small little tea cup with a rose design, the little old lady admiring it in her hands as if saying a final goodbye to something that was once so special to her. I could tell she wished we could speak and she could convey how, when, or why she picked up this little cup in the first place, but all she said as I walked out of the shop and turned to say goodbye was, “Beautiful.” I ended going back to her little shop every day. I would spend an hour in another little section finding new treasures that had a story. In that time not many people came in if any at all, and I wondered how she afforded to keep her shop in business and the thought made me sad. She had spent her life collecting things that brought her joy hoping to one day spread it to others. But she never let her worry show, she did what she did every day I was there, kept inventory, drank tea, and cleaned her only window that let people know she was open. And every day I bought something new, a new treasure that was once hers and was now mine to carry with me on my adventures of my own. Wanting to help her in any way I could, I always over paid for my little treasures. At first she tried giving me back my change, trying to find the English words to tell me not to worry, but I shook my head and covered the money in her palm. I wanted her to have it. She would take a breath, give a sweet smile and nod. Each day we did this, and on the final day she smiled and handed me a small mountain flower she had picked that morning. I think she knew I was leaving, that I wouldn’t be coming back, and her parting gift, though small, meant the world to me. My time in France was amazing. It went by quickly yet peacefully. I spent the mornings watching the sun rise over the mountains, the days admiring the snow falling in perfect little individual forms to the earth to become part of something bigger, and the nights admiring how the little villages came to life with fire and light one house at a time. I remembered the importance of slowing life down. In this day in age we can get so absorbed into our daily lives and activities, always running somewhere to do something that probably won’t matter in five years. I needed a break from the constant movement of life and social media and the sad thing was I didn’t even know it was something I needed. If we take the time to slow down and let everything else rush by, we’ll have a clearer focus on what’s important to us in life, the people we come in contact with who have great stories we only need to understand if we listen or watch, and the opportunities that pass us by when we are glued to our devices or entrapped in our own selves. Sometimes all we have to do is literally stop and smell the mountain flowers. Admire something that we once cherished that maybe we’ve forgotten about. Write a friend or a family member we haven’t spoken to. And sometimes it’s as simple as sitting at a window and watching as the world moves by. Sometimes we have to let everything go, and see what’s important enough to stay. Every Saturday morning, here in Limerick, magic happens. Diverse people from all around the county come to one place to try and make a living. It doesn't matter what they are selling, sinks, divinity, pastries, meats, or even the cloths off their back. They come. They sell. They make the world go round. They try and make a living. Then they do it all over again the next week.
Growing up, there always seemed to be those scenes in the movies where the main character happens upon these types of street markets. And since I grew up watching them buy the best pastries and the most beautiful flowers, I've always naturally wanted to go to one. But I've never been to one before now. And let me begin by saying that it was worth the wait...... The locals of Limerick call this magical place the Milk Market. So naturally after hearing the name, I thought the items for sale would all be of the edible type. I wasn't wrong there, I just wasn't completely right. The market takes up a few city blocks, which coming from America you'd think, "Wow, that's pretty big!" But keep in mind that things are smaller here in European countries and that includes their roads and space provided. Some vendors prefer to sell on the outskirts, while others (and mainly the food vendors) prefer to be in the heart of the market which is housed in the center and looks like a small warehouse of opportunity. When you walk into the market the first booths you see are those selling random goods. And when I say random, I mean the randomness things you could EVER think of. Here on the outskirts of the market you'll find everything from cheap knockoff design handbags,shoes, and makeup, to bundles of extra Twilight books (that if you are interested you can find for a steal of a price!), you can also find a new sink if you are in the market for one, as well as a variety of good winter wool socks, to even the worlds weirdest looking fishing rods that will increase your daily catch by at least three times your normal rate.....or so I was told. These random booths upon booths are fun, and if you had a lot of extra time they are fun to rummage through and find hidden gems that the world now considers junk, old, or of no use. If you've ever lost anything in your life, anything at all, you'd probably find it there. As you work your way farther into the market and into the large warehouse type of building, I'm just going to warn you that your stomach will growl and no matter how much food you stuff into your face, your stomach is going to keep growling. And that's a good thing, because there are so many good foods to try. Ever since I arrived here in Ireland I have been craving a good old fashioned hot dog! The meat here is different and most of what they call hotdogs here are basically sausage. It's just not the same. So those of you going to Sam's club anytime soon, please take a moment and buy their hotdog and eat it for me! Anywho, even though I am not much of a sausage fan, that's hotdogs were irresistible. And to top it off, the vendor had every type of topping you could imagine! He grilled the sausages right in front of you and handed them over so hot you have to switch your plate from hand to hand until it cools down. Now, the food was delicious, but what I loved was the way they treated every customer like they were their first. Extremely grateful that you even stopped by let alone bought from them. You can tell many of these vendors rely on their weekly sells, most of them family business or small local startups. I got the same vibe from many of the vendors I visited. The little old ladies at the jewellery booths took the time to show you a EVERYTHING they had and thought would look good on you. And I mean everything. Because when they spend all day everyday piecing together jewellery, you can bet they put their hearts and souls into them. They genuinely want their pieces to go to the right person. And most of the time, they find the perfect home as if it was you they were making it for all along. If you've always wanted to go to Willy Wanka's Chocolate factory but don't want to chance turning violet or being sucked down a river of chocolate, then the milk Market is waiting for you. I honestly can't describe how many sweets you can find here. Literally ANYTHING you want from the creamiest brownies and fudge, the worlds largest croissants and breads, the flakiest coconut cakes, the sweetest pies, and the cutest macaroons of all flavors. And in all honesty, I visited the macaroon vendor a couple times because he was the cutest baker I've ever seen! I thought it was money well spent. Got to support those local vendors (wink wink!) What amazed me most was the magnitude of people that both came to sell and those that arrived to buy. Every week without fail, the people come. To think of the time and effort it takes to prepare for a few simple hours one day a week is astounding. The little old ladies work away for hours to provide earrings, the macaroon baker starts cooking his little delicacies days before, the meat vendors cure their meats weeks in advance. Everything has to be thought out, planned, and executed perfectly. All for a few simple hours. A fact that many of the consumers who visit hardly take the time to think about or notice. But if you ask, the vendors are more than happy to tell you how much of their heart and soul go into their products because to them it's not just a milk market, a bracelet, or a simple macaroon, it's their lives work, their passion, and their living. They come, they sell, they make the world go round. Then, even if you won't be at the milk market early the next Saturday morning before the sun comes up, you can bet they will be. Throughout our lives, no matter how long or short, we will all come into contact with different types of people. We will realize that there is a purpose for everyone we meet. Some will test us, some will use us, some will teach us, but most importantly are the ones that bring out the best in us. Those are the ones worth keeping around. If you’re lucky enough to realize that you’ve met them, then hold onto those people because as we grow older we realize that it becomes less important to have a ton of friends and more important to have real ones. I’ve been so busy writing about my new and exciting experiences here in Ireland that I focused more on the people I met for a small time and knew I would never see again (like the hitchhiker and random guy at the cathedral) , then on the ones that have made an impact on me. My friends. So instead of talking about the random things that happened to me this week (because it’s me and I always seem to get myself into the weirdest situations) I want to talk about the people I’ve met here in Ireland and have made this beautiful country feel like home. My Host Family: The Elliott’s I know many of you have been wondering why I don’t talk too much about my host family and the answer is easy, for privacy reasons. But let me begin by saying that I couldn’t have been placed anywhere better. I learn more and more each day how lucky I am to be living with this family and since day one they have gone out of their way to make me feel comfortable here. My room is huge, I have a bathroom to myself (which with five brothers and sisters is a new thing for me), my host dad is very kind and has taught me a lot about business, and my Host mom Maria is an AMAZING cook! I tell her often that she needs to start her own cooking show. The children are well mannered and make me laugh daily. They remind me to laugh at the littlest things and that a child’s laughter is the purest kind out there. We live in the most picturesque town I’ve ever seen. The house is beautiful. The town and the people here are more than welcoming and will go out of their way to help you. Everyone here is so active and even when it’s raining and pouring outside, you still see people going out for their walks and runs. I watch them from inside snuggled with my hot chocolate, hahahaha. I love it here, and I’m thankful every day that I was placed with the Elliott family. The Elliott’s are the family that brought me to Ireland. I wouldn’t be here or at least in Limerick if it weren’t for them. But I’ve also met other people that make me want to stay here in Ireland, not because it’s my job, but because I want to. The Faloons The Faloons moved to Ireland from Australia three years ago and let me just say that they run this town. They have life here in Ireland – from the people, to the shops, to the best routes- figured out and I have learned so much from them. They have introduced me to a lot of new things that would have taken me a while to do on my own. I’ve had my first bite of vegemite (which I really like so eat that haters!), taken my first public bus, introduced me to the best Milk market I’ve ever been too, and tutored me in the art of making every day deserts even better (yeah, you people have no idea what your missing) just to name a few things. I’ve learned that despite growing up opposite sides of the world we are more alike than we are different. The father Shaun Faloon is the first person who welcomed me to Ireland even before I arrived. Since he is the Branch President of the church here in Ireland, my dad contacted him to let him know I was coming (you know how dads are when their kids are moving across the world). Not even an hour later I received a message from Shaun Faloon welcoming me to Ireland and filling me in on what to expect. The fact that he would go out of his way to welcome me to a country I hadn’t even traveled to yet really made me feel at home before I even left my hometown. I remember the First time I met Kirsten Faloon she skipped the handshake and went straight for a hug. And not one of those hugs where you pat the other persons back and move on quickly, but a real hug, one that makes you feel like it’s your own mom hugging you from all the way across the world. And that’s what Kirsten feels like to me. She’s my mother from another zip code. She welcomed me into her home with loving arms and even after spending the weekend with me she invited me back again and again. I went from feeling like a guest in their home to feeling like a part of the family. Because that’s how Kirsten makes you feel. She is always genuinely happy to see you, jokes around with you you’re your best friend, knows when something is wrong, will go out of her way to help you, and like every mother wants the best for you. Kirsten has taught me how to cook some fine Sunday dinner meals for what seems sometimes like thirty people, and let me just say that she can cook! Everything she makes is amazing and every Sunday she sends her delicious food home with me that is usually devoured by lunch the next day. I don’t know what I would do without her here and honestly can’t thank her enough for her generosity and making me feel like part of the family. The Faloon kids are probably the coolest kids you’ve ever met. We are all really close in age so it’s fun to hang out and joke around with each other. The boys remind me a lot of my brothers and even though I haven’t been put in a chokehold yet (like my brothers would do) I’m pretty sure it’s coming eventually. This is Krystian. She is the kindest most selfless person I have ever met. Krystian will go out of her way to make you feel welcome, and never expects anything in return. She feels like my sister from another mister, taught me how to properly apply my makeup like any sister would, and taught me how to make sushi from scratch. She is one of those friends that you can sit in comfortable silence with and you don’t have to say anything because you guys are always on the same page. Krystian has shown me that friendship isn’t about who you have known the longest. It’s about who walked into your life, said “I’m here for you” and proved it. This is Christina. Like me she was taken in as part of the family. Christina is from Belfast and moved down when she started dating Kimball Faloon who is currently serving his mission in Germany. Christina has a big heart and has one of those faces where you can tell or ask her anything. Literally, people will stop on the street to ask for her help even when it would have been way easier to ask any of us that were closer. It’s actually pretty funny to see because it happens so often. If you want to hear the cutest northern Irish accent then all you have to do is talk to Christina, I promise it will make your day. Christina and I laugh at the dumbest things and share a love for movies and shows, especially Greys Anatomy at which we spend time every week to discuss the latest episodes at length. Christina is the friend who picks you up when you fall down, and if she can’t, she will lie down and listen until things are better again. Krystian and Christina are basically my sisters. We spend weekends shopping, watching movies, making food, talk about ordering food for hours then spend another hour looking at take out menus before we actually order and watch a movie. We know each other’s likes and dislikes, borrow each other’s makeup, and stay up late into the night talking in the dark before we actually fall asleep. Our friendship is secretly giving other people nicknames so only we know who we are talking about, not needing to explain things because we are on the same page, annoying each other and enjoying it, being each other’s therapists, and knowing the whole conversation with just one look. I would have had fun here in Ireland, but it wouldn’t be the same without them.
I don’t know what I would do without the Faloons. They have taken me in as their own and I love every minute I spend with them. Honestly, we could probably be watching fresh paint dry on a wall and I’d be perfectly content. I love them because they are real. They don’t try to be anything other than who they are and they are down to earth. They know how to take a joke and even better turn that joke back around into something even funnier. They remind me a lot of my family back home and I think that is one of the reasons that I’ve never felt homesick. Sometimes I think of how much I would be missing if I didn’t move to Ireland and never met the Faloons. But then I remind myself that I did make the move and I’m even more grateful that I did. No matter where you go you always have the opportunity to meet new people, try new things, and have new experiences. But all of that is better experienced with friends and family. Notice the people who are happy for your happiness, and sad for your sadness. They’re the ones who deserve a special place in your heart. Like Kirsten Faloon told me, “you’ll have friends for a reason, friends for a season, and friends for a lifetime.” How long they are in your life is entirely up to you. “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory." All Hallows eve went like this for me: Movies, deep conversation, all the sushi you can eat, thinking the night was over and getting into onsies, deciding the night wasn’t over and painting our faces, there were a few spiders, and saving a guy’s life. Yes, all in that order. How was your Halloween?
I’ve always looked forward to Halloween. Back home I looked forward to watching spooky (but not gory) Halloween movies. And if I’m being honest it was really movies like the classic Hocus Pocus. I loved the feeling of Autumn all around you even if the leaves weren’t quite changing color yet back in Texas. But it was just a feeling that you get and can’t see. It was there and I loved it. When I was younger I couldn’t wait to make my homemade costume (as I got older I usually procrastinated this until the actual day and ended up just throwing a sheet over me, cutting out whiles for my eyes, and going as a ghost) then head out and trick-or-treat with my family. We went out together, filled our bags with candy, laughed at each other and cried when someone stole our good candies. Then when we were done we would usually head home, dad would order a pizza then “check” our haul for any “suspicious” looking candies, and we would turn on another Halloween movie while we organized our candy and traded like professional barters to get the best haul we could. As I grew older this never changed for me. Even if I wasn’t dressed like a ghetto ghost, I was walking along the siblings and cousins that could still trick-or-treat and soaking in that Halloween night air. I didn’t want to go to the parties, Halloween (at least for me) was a family affair and I didn’t want it any other way. The seasons here are not hidden in any way. The weather here is colder, the trees have all changed into beautiful colors of oranges and reds, and there's no question Fall is here in Ireland. However, this Halloween was different, I didn’t go trick or treating however I did help my host family make the children’s costumes. And it cracked me up how much they actually took to the whole sewing routine. They have been sewing everything and anything they can since then. I did however have my friends and out here they basically are my family and the events that unfolded led up to a night I’ll probably never forget. And this is how it went…. My friends and I had just planned on staying in for movies and making homemade sushi. And that’s what we did, at first. I never in my life thought that Halloween night would be the time I learned how to make an Asian delicacy, but hey, there’s a first time for everything! I spent a good majority of the early evening laughing it up with my one of my best friends here Krystian (She is Australian) as she taught me how to make sushi. She is an expert. I learned the tricks to making the rice just perfect, and yes, you can go VERY wrong if you don’t know what you are doing. Trick-or-treaters came to the door and leave it to a bunch of young adults to forget to buy candy! We felt so bad! We would have offered the kids sushi if it would have held in their bags but you can see that wasn’t the best idea. Once we were filled with Sushi, and I mean FILLED, everyone just did their own thing. Some watched a movie, others talked, some even debated which is always interesting, and the night went on like every other weekend night. I guess that’s why it didn’t really feel like Halloween to me but I was with friends so it was okay. The weather here is starting to get colder, especially at night, and sometimes it can feel like you are a bear going into hibernation after you eat a big meal and all you want to do is sleep. So, some of us decided to call it a night, getting dressed in our onsie pajamas (that are REALLY big here) and getting ready for bed. But none of us felt like we weren’t ready for Halloween to end particularly when it felt like it never started. So, even though it was 10:45 pm we got up, painted our faces with our eye liners (I went with webs all over my face and spiders dripping down) and drove into the city. From what I have observed, Halloween is the biggest in the United States. I mean we take it to a whole new level. Here, it’s kind of just a holiday that some people will take part in. But what I realized as we drove into town is that anyone will take the opportunity to dress up. Everyone we saw was dressed up for a night on the town, which here usually means many of them were going to the clubs. My friends and I already decided that wasn’t something we wanted to do. I just wanted to be out and see what it was like. I was very surprised by the costumes some people had. Of course I saw the obvious witches and ghouls, but my favorites were the ones people actually had to put thought into like the Sanderson sisters, a group of friends dressed up as the little green toy soldiers from Toy Story, a few prisoners (which looked so convincing I could tell if they were actual escaped convicts), and some of the oddest costumes I had no idea what those people were. And when I asked them, they laughed and answered, “I have no idea.” Sometimes I forget where I am, that I am actually living in Ireland and I have to remind myself that the people here are different. The people of Ireland generally are very kind. Many of them will stop what they are doing to help you. For example, they will even stop and offer their assistance if you and your group of friends are trying to take a picture. We had several people offer and my first thought was, “Won’t they run off with the camera?” However, none of them did. Many of them stopped to ask us about our night, where we were heading, and parted saying they would catch up with us later, even when both groups knew we would never see each other again. It was so fun we made a game out of pretending to take a picture when someone walked by to see who would stop and who would keep walking. Saving a random guys life was a moment of chance. My friends and I were walking down the busiest street in downtown Limerick and the whole time I could feel someone watching us. When I turned around I noticed a guy dressed in a blue shirt, green tights, and a pink tutu walking after us. He didn’t look alarming, if anything he looked ridiculous, but he was definitely following us. When he finally noticed I was staring at him he called out to us “Ladies! Ladies!” and you can imagine him sounding like Captain Jack Sparrow, because that’s exactly what he sounded like. Needless to say this guy had had a few to many choice drinks and wasn’t all there. He asked us if we knew were a certain club was and we pointed him the right direction all while trying to slip away. We didn’t get away fast enough though, but I guess that was alright because he tried to be cool turning and saying, “I’ll see you ladies later,” and he didn’t even notice he was walking right in front of a moving car. All of us sane people with our wits about us reacted instantly, pulling him back just in time before our night turned into a real horror movie. He wasn’t even quite sure what happened and being the good people we are, we sent him down a very quiet car empty street. It probably wasn’t the best situation to be in, but I still think it was a good thing we were there. At least for him. Through the night what I realized was that I really wasn’t missing anything with the Halloween parties over the years. What makes Halloween fun is being with your family and friends and people that you can talk with instead of having to save their lives all night. Holidays are for memories and nights that you can actually remember, not hear about from someone else, and even though I didn’t get to trick-or-treat with my family, I made memories with the family I have here. In the moment I didn’t think that making rolls of sushi, getting dressed for bed then quickly getting dressed for town, painting spiders on my face, and saving a guy’s life would be a memorable night for me. But that’s the thing, we never really know we are making memories until the time has slipped away from us. I think Dr. Seuss said it best, “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory." “You don’t need money to be rich, open your doors, heart and mind. Invest in people, friendships and relationships and watch how much you gain back.” The longer I’m here in Ireland, the more I want to stay. The more I travel, the more I never want to stop. What I’ve learned the most since my time here is that you can never do these things alone. I mean, I could travel all over the world and I’m sure I would have a great time but when you travel with friends and have someone to share the experiences with you, that’s what makes the time, money, and experiences worth it.
I spent last weekend in England with a group of church friends from Ireland. We are basically the traveling melting pot of nationalities. Two Australians, one Spaniard, two Irish, and two Americans, so needless to say we stand out in other countries with our accents however we hardly notice each other’s anymore. We arrived in Manchester England early Friday morning and myself and the other American Natalie couldn’t stop talking about is the fact that we flew on a plane for less than an hour and we were already in a new Country. Yeah, everyone could totally tell we were American. We’re used to traveling for hours before we even get out of our states (Natalie is from California and of course everyone knows Texas is a long journey), so this easy traveling thing is something that still amazes us. Since it was only nine in the morning we decided that we needed to stop for breakfast. Our driver (a native Englishman) took us to what is one of the most popular breakfast spots in the area. Merrie England- a small coffee shop with a reputation for good breakfast. The place looked straight out of the fairy tale Snow White and it was here that I of course ordered a traditional English Scone. I was just going to eat it with butter (I thought that was normal) when I was told that the only way to eat a scone is with heavy whipped cream and jam. They were right, it was better. We traveled to England for a YSA convention so most of our weekend was planned out with activities and dinners. In this time I met a lot of new people from all over England, Scotland, Denmark, Portugal, and South Africa. We danced, competed in an archery tournament (because how could you not when you go to England), ate more Curry (This meal is surprisingly popular wherever I go) and danced some more. I made new friends and I strengthened bonds with the friends I traveled over with from Ireland. Any free chance we got we went exploring our surroundings. Instead of seeing the shops, pubs, and busy sights like most tourists do, we just walked wherever we wanted and did whatever we wanted. In doing this, we came across some really cool things. First we found an abandoned playground. It had a great view of the countryside and the equipment was still working (although I had to think back on when I got my last tetanus shot). Here we did something we haven’t done in a long time. We just played like kids and I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun on a teeter-totter! Just down the road from the abandoned playground we found a secret forest. The stone path inside was overgrown and even though the access was right off the main street, it seemed like not many people journeyed in there. This place was beautiful with tall over grown trees and since the seasons are changing it also had fall leaves flying all around us. I could have stayed there longer but seeing as it was secluded it probably isn’t the best place to be at night. No matter where I go in Europe, I can always find an old church of some type. Yes, they all look about the same with stone work and graveyard sights but I always can’t help but think about the history that these places have seen. The people that walked right where I was and how different and similar our lives may have been. One of my favorite sights to see was Victoria’s tower. All weekend we had seen it far off in the distance and as we definitely weren’t walking all the way out there we waited patiently and finally saw it on Sunday. Driving up a VERY steep hill in a small stick shift car was hilarious and scary enough ( seriously it felt like we were completely vertical at some points), but the sights were more than worth it. After living in Ireland for almost two months now, I’m still glad to say that the sight of seeing so much green and beauty around me hasn’t worn off like it seems to do for a lot of the locals. We were so high we could see the mist rising off the ground, the horses running down in their fields, and the city going on like it always does in the distance. And there we were on top of it all. What I learned most from this trip is how amazing people can be. In a world of so much negativity it is good to see that there are still good people out there. We had older couples taking us in and housing us all weekend where we otherwise would have spent bundles of cash on hotels or (as was the plan at one point especially when you’re traveling with guys) sleeping out in a random field with a fire (In the freezing cold temperatures I’m glad we didn’t go ahead with that plan). I can’t remember the couples names but I remember the conversations we had. We talked about everything from our travels, to the way things worked back home, to what we still wanted to see. My favorite night was when we were all together and playing different games with everyone in the group with an older couple that loved games so much they had a room full of them. I especially liked their quick wit and playful banter (their English humor is pretty blunt). At one point we were so tired from our weekend none of us could think of the answer and the old English gentlemen rolled his eyes and playfully said, “I’m playing with a bunch of idiots.” Needless to say we all cracked up after that. I liked that guy. I’ve laughed harder and more in this one weekend (and for those who know me I laugh all the time) than I can remember doing in a while. It was almost constant and it’s not like we were seeing these amazing tourist attractions or spending our life savings on clothes and souvenirs. We were just together, having fun, seeing the good things in life, and not having to spend much money at all. If I’ve learned anything in my time out it’s that you don’t need to wait until it’s a good time to see the world and experience new things. If you wait, you’ll never go. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a good time. All you really have to do is get yourself there. If a group of young adults with limited budgets can do it, so can you. Making memories doesn’t cost a thing, meeting new people doesn’t cost a thing, and forming new friendships doesn’t cost a thing. But you will lose everything if you don’t try or go. You will miss out on more than you can comprehend. I can’t imagine not knowing the people I’ve met and not having the best friends I have now all because moving to a new place is a scary thing. I’m glad I took the leap and got myself here because the friends and experiences have been more than worth it. I think its best said as this: “You don’t need money to be rich, open your doors, heart and mind. Invest in people, friendships and relationships and watch how much you gain back.” 2,628,002 seconds, 43,800 minutes, 730 hours, 30 days. Time flies by no matter which way you count it. As of today, I have officially been living in Ireland for one month and it flew by faster than any of these numbers. When I looked at the calendar the other day, I could hardly believe that time had flown by so quickly. I just got here! I still have so much to do and see! Aside from a small panic attack that time was passing way to fast, I remembered that in this one simple month, I have done many new things, learned so much more than I could have imagined, and met some extraordinary people along the way. And all of this in just one month.
In learning and experiencing a lot and since my arrival I have received the same question from friends and family back home. How is the food? What are you eating? So, I figured this week I would take a moment to take your tastebuds on a delectable journey, debunk some of the food myths, and fill you in on what you can and can not find here in Ireland. First off, yes, in Ireland you eat PLENTY of potatoes. And when I say plenty, I mean plenty. They are a must to almost every meal. And the funny thing is.......I'm not really a fan of potatoes. I'd rather not eat them. However, in moving to another country you have to accept that their ways of living will not be like your own so you have to swallow (literally) your dislikes and eat that potato!!! Of course the potatoes are usually baked or stewed and almost always accompanied by carrots, sweet potatoes (which oddly enough I love), or green beans. Now, one meal that folks back home wouldn't consider an Irish delicacy, but that usually lines the dinner tables at least once a week, is chicken curry! I know, I thought it was odd as well but it's very good! Chicken curry is just as it sounds, chicken and curry usually served with white rice and bread. It looks similar to the traditional Mexican dish Mole, just not as dark. Also, depending on the kind of curry the cook uses, the dish can be very spicy! So naturally, I like it! A very famous Irish meal that is known around the world and is actually served often in Irish homes is that of the Shepherds Pie. I actually had that yesterday! So yes, that meal is a regular. And yes, it involves potatoes! And what many people don't know is that their is also a sister to the Shepherds Pie and that is the Cottage Pie. They are basically the same except for one thing. The meat. So write this down. If someone is offering you a Shepherds Pie, then that means you will be eating ground Lamb Meat and a mashed potato crust. If you are eating Cottage Pie, you will be eating either ground beef or mutton with a mashed potato crust. As of this moment, I have only had the Irish beef version. Or at least that is what I have been told.... Recently at a neighbors house I was served Shepherds Pie, everyone makes things differently and this one had a distinct taste that I couldn't figure out. I guess the neighbors saw this and asked me if something was wrong, I said, "No, it's very delicious but I've just never tasted beef life this before." This followed by a pause that I believe was longer than necessary and they just smiled and moved on. I don't know if they were scared to tell me it could be mutton - I'm still not sure if it was?- or if they don't think it needed to be explained, but believe me, this kind of thing happens to me a lot. Now let's talk about fish. Since I live right off the river, naturally you can bet I eat a good amount of fish. The species can range from brown trout to salmon and I most typically eat salmon here. Just recently I had smoked salmon on pesto pasta. Yes, it was delicious and very healthy! So if you ever come to Ireland and stay for a while, you can bet on having fish often! Fruit is also a major part of life here and I love it! The fruit is not grown here in Ireland and like most countries has to be sent in. The oranges and avocados are from South Arica, the apples are from France, bananas from Belize, and our kiwis are from New Zealand. By Irish law every food must be labeled with the country of origin or it cannot be sold. I think it is fascinating to see where the food comes from and like me, how far some of it has to travel to be here. Almost every person on the world LOVE'S bread and I can tell you that Europeans take that to a whole new level! There's bread everywhere here! And literally almost around every corner. Every day on my way into town I pass by the cutest little bread store where the owners are hard at work baking every type of bread you can imagine. Completely fresh! And boy does it smell good!! Bread is a staple for any meal you have. Breakfast- you'll most likely have toast or a bagel. Lunch- you'll most likely having a sandwich, toast, or some sort of wrap. At dinner your meal is usually accompanied by a roll of some sort. Bead is everywhere here! And what surprised me most was that butter ALWAYS accompanies your bread. Even on your sandwiches! Instead of mayonnaise this is what you would do. You would spread a generous amount of butter on BOTH sides of your bread. Then you would layer your Irish ham, cheese, and cucumbers. And as Emeril would say, "BAM!" There's your Irish sandwich. And sometimes, if your walking through town or down your lane and someone invites you in for tea and a snack, you will either receive some biscuits or a sandwich! This first time I was offered biscuits for a snack, I had one thought, "biscuits? That's the weirdest thing to invite someone in for!?" But of course I accepted and when asked about how many I wanted I only said' "one please." When the biscuits were brought out and I saw that biscuits her mean cookies. Of course I quickly changed my tune and said, "Keep the biscuits coming!" As for the sweets, you can't get any better than the homemade desserts of any of the small bakeries here! From lemon tarts to chocolate mouse pies, everything is beyond delicious. And don't even get me started on the chocolates! They are so milky and creamy that you are sad after you've finished a piece......or a bar. Funny enough it's the opposite of home, where the cheap chocolate taste gross and the expensive chocolate is the good stuff. Here, the cheap chocolate is the best and the expensive stuff tastes like plastic. Needless to say I've never wasted any of my hard earned Euros on expensive plastic chocolate! I've been stalking up on sweets to send home that the owner of the shop now tells me this every time I walk in, "Maizie, I just stalked the chocolate and left the creamy ones on top for you!" Here in Ireland, even things you would expect to be the same are different. Take McDonald's for example. One won't be able to find a jalapeño burger or even something similar to what you could order back home right now. Nope, here the menus are tailored to the country. So instead of a The McChicken, you will find the McMor, 100% Irish beef and bacon, layered cabbage, cheddar, and Ballymaloe relish. Does that sound appetizing to you? I haven't tried it yet but I most likely will. However, coming from Texas I really only have one thing to say, "What does a girl have to do to get some Texas beef?!" Before I left home, I had a lot of people telling me what I would and would not be able to find here in Ireland. And I am glad to announce (for my sake) that most of them we're wrong. Many people told me I wouldn't find peanut butter. That myth is false. IRELAND DOES HAVE PEANUT BUTTER. It is not the extra creamy kind we have back home, but it makes a PB&J just fine. I also thought I would never see jalapeños here but they are surprisingly common! I know, weird! Ireland also has Oreos, Reese's peanut butter cups, snickers, and many other American candies. I was surprised to see how Americanized the food selection was! So if you come to visit, rest assured that you do not need to take up luggage space for your favorite treats back home. You'll find them here, and if you don't, you can just find something else you love. I know, I seem like an expert and it's only been one month. But you learn a lot when you're constantly taking in a new culture on a daily basis. But Instead of looking at it like I have 11 more months to go, I see it as I only have 11 months left. There's a lot more I still want to do, people I want to meet, foods I want to try, and before I leave I have to seek the answer to the everlasting question that I am not sure will be answered........what was in that Shepherds Pie? Growing up we all learn valuable lessons about safety. Don't touch the stove. Make sure you look both ways before crossing the street. Chew your food before you swallow. Don't talk to strangers (which, let's be honest, we all know I have a hard time not doing!) and definitely do not let a stranger into your car.
So why didn't I remember this last one this week? It all happened so fast and I must say up front that I WAS NOT THE ONE DRIVING!! Here I was, ready for a road trip with my friend from Spain- I think I was reaching for a piece of gum at the time- when the car slowed, my friend waved at someone I couldn't see, and before I knew it....a guy was getting in the car. Let me start by saying that I am indeed alive. No need to worry about my safety at any point of this recollection. However, I did learn many valuable lessons within the time we accidentally picked up a hitchhiker ( and by we, I mean I accidentally picked up a hitch hiker) and the time we dropped him off about an hour later. Before I tell the story, I'll have to give you a brief description about my friend who was driving. Her name is Solange and she is from Spain. She has been living in Ireland for three years now and has grown accustomed to the Irish ways of life. Needless to say I am learning a lot from her. And over the past few weeks, I have learned that she moves to the beat of her own drum, has a very Spanish temper when it comes to crazy drivers, can parallel park into the tiniest spaces imaginable, and doesn't always think before she acts. Hence the hitch hiker situation. I could spend a whole blog post on Solange alone because honestly you wouldn't believe how crazy this girl can be sometimes. However, I'll save that for another time. Today we are talking about the lessons I have learned from picking up a total stranger up from the side of the road. We had just let my gated neighbourhood -which is very nice and safe- when Solange slowed the car to a complete stop. Or more of slammed on the brakes! I know, that's a weird thing to do, but Solange has done this before - mainly to pull out something to eat, or check directions, or stop immediately if there is a Chinese restaurant (she LOVES Chinese food)- so I wasn't really alarmed. Until I saw her waving at someone. By the time I followed her line of vision, the guy was already heading to the car. Naturally my voice raised a few octaves out of alarm, "Solange what are you doing?!" She waved me off, "Giving him a ride. He's cute, no?" I was seriously questioning her sanity at this point, "That doesn't mean you pick them up!" Solange then hushed me as the young hitch hiker got into the car. Was he cute? Yeah sure. Did he look like a killer. Not really, but who ever really does? Was he carrying anything suspicious? Well, I was definitely eyeing his hiking bag pretty close. Who knows what could have been in there?! Anyway, before I could think to closely about the plot of Liam Neeson's movie Taken, the car was already moving forward and the car was quiet. Because even though Solange thought he was cute, and she is from Spain which you think she could talk his ear off, she can also be shy and chooses the oddest moments not to talk. And even though I thought this could be the way that I die, I can't help but talk. So before anything could get any more awkward, I did what I do best. I made conversation. So we talked. First it was about names. (You know, that way I would have a name to tell the police later if this whole thing went south.) His name was Ruben and he was from Scarriff, Ireland. Which is about 40 minutes from Limerick. He was my age and in very good physical condition, definitely not someone you could out run. ( You can be sure I was sizing up my competition and get away routes.) But the more we talked, I realised I wouldn't be needing to run anywhere or pull out the moves I learned from Jackie Chan in Rush Hour. We had only been traveling for 5 minutes and we were already talking like we were best friends. He was genuinely a nice guy and had good views of the world. We talked about his upbringing in Scarriff which is a very cute small town - but there's not much to do in terms of grown up activities, or so Ruben explained to me. " It was fine when I was younger and I could kick the football around all day. That's what all the kids did. But growing older, there wasn't much to do- unless all you wanted to do was drink. I don't know if you have noticed yet Marcy, (I let him believe that was my real name, far enough from the truth so he couldn't look me up again but close enough that I didn't feel bad for completely lying to him) but Irish people love to drink. There's more pubs in my town then anything else. And I'm not going to lie, I got caught up in that world for a while. But quicker than I got sucked in to the drinking lifestyle, I learned that I didn't want that to be my entire life like the rest of my close lads. I had to get out, so I took it literally." By this time we had plenty of time to talk because Solange decided to take this time to stop for one of her lunch breaks. But I was starting to understand why Ruben has callused hands and carried around his hiking equipment. He literally got outside, to nature. He climbed every rock he could, hiked every hill that challenged him, and participated in every race he could. Because it made him into the man he wanted to be. Eventually, Ruben decided that he wanted to help other kids get active and out into good activities instead of falling into the lives that would take them no where and in his words "the drinking life destroys families." So for the past two years Ruben has volunteered as an instructor and counsellor for kids all around Ireland and England. He says he loves his job and the kids he gets to teach. But what I wasn't fully understanding was this: If he had a stable job and a car, why was he hitch hiking? So I asked him. Of course he answered with a smile, " I know, it seems weird. But one of the biggest lessons I have learned in life is this. Just because you have money, doesn't mean you should spend it. Rich people don't get rich by spending their money. If anything they are the cheapest people out there. Needless to say I always try to live within my means. Also, sometimes I like to be reminded that there is still good in humanity. So if someone picks me up, taking time out of their day to stop for me, it's a kindness the world says doesn't exist anymore. And I do the same, when I'm driving I will pick people up. Of course I choose them wisely but I try not to base people on their looks. Honestly the scariest looking guy can be the one who is the most humble. So I really live by the whole, 'Don't judge a book by its cover thing.'" By this time we were reaching our destination and I was pretty sure I had met Titanic's Jack Dawson in life form. He had a good attitude towards life, didn't take anything for granted, and had his head on straight. I was honestly sad to know that our time together was coming to an end. I knew I would never see him again and that our paths will never likely cross again. (Unless Solange is driving, then who knows!) But as Ruben got out of the car with hiking gear in hand and goodbyes for a safe life had already been said, he had one more thing to say, " Life's a journey Marcy, and the cool thing is you never know the great people you are going to meet along the way." Needless to say, I told him my real name. Now I don't have any pictures of him. I don't even remember his last name. But good people like Ruben are out there. The moral of the story is that I learned mixed lessons here. No, I wouldn't advise stopping and picking up a hitch hiker. However, at the same time, not all hitch hikers pose a threat. I'd guess to say many of them would be grateful that you even stopped at all. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
February 2016
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