One week to go

I haven't posted since Thanksgiving! O how many times I said I would be a regular blogger!!

Here's what I've been up to since turkey day:

Fri. Nov. 27 Aaron arrives for an epic 50 hour visit. I showed him around town, my neighborhood, Rathmines (he didn't believe that I was actually spitting distance to Aldi, very impressed). DIT, Stephen's Green and Grafton Street, Trinity College. Had Lunch at my 2nd favorite Dublin pub, the Porterhouse Central. Spent the rest of the afternoon around the house. Dinner at JoBurger, the coolest resturaunt in Rathmines. Then hit up my 1st favorite pub in Dublin, our local, Rody Boland's. Which is where my roommate Marie-Therese tends bar. She's amazing!

Sat. Nov. 28 We visit Kilmainham Gaol (pronounced jail) which is an old prison. Lots of Irish history happened here, including the event that, arguably, led to Irish Independance. Watch a little Rugby, meet up with Rachel at Fefie's Creperie, another Sarah Jay fave, for crepes. AMAZING!! Such a great place, thats actually really French. Then dinner at Mel and Hilary's. They were having a "murder mystery dinner party" called Death By Chocolate. Way fun. Aaron, playing American boxer Mike Byson, was the the guilty party!! We stayed up and chatted with them till pretty late, then home, and stayed up even later, because he left the next morning!! So sad :-( he couldn't stay longer. The next morning (sunday) was typically Irish, lashing rain and cold wind. It was probably the worst weather I've experienced in Ireland. We ran into Rachel on her way to church, Aaron's bus stop is right by our church, Methodist Centenary. Aaron got on the bus (tears, hugs, kisses) Then I went to church.

The next day, Monday Nov. 30, I left for Edinburgh Scottland!! With my Purdue friend, Britt and another UCD int'l student, Mariel. Britt did all kinds of posts on the trip, here's her blog...

part 1
part 2
part 3

After 3 awesome days in scotland, I returned to Dublin hell bent on making the most of my last 2 weeks in here. So I've been trying to do some Dublin things I hadn't done, and spend as much time as possible with my friends.

Some Irish Christmas traditions:

Mince Pies and Mulled Wine, not made with mince meat, fruit and other similar good stuff mulled wine is like sangria but served warm.
Kris Kindling, known as Secret Santa back in the States
Carol Services, these are going on all. the. time. I'll have done like 3 before I head home. We had one at church on Sunday afternoon, I was in a little drama about spreading Jesus' love at Christmas. I was complimented on my reading skills by all the church ladies. Rachel sang O Holy Night, she was complimented on her singing skills by all the church ladies. The little kids played around the Christmas tree. They were complimented on their ornament throwing skills by all the church ladies. I had my first mince pie, Amazing.