We're official & Great Craic

We had our appointment with immigration and we're officially legal to stay here til June. It was a pretty painless experience and I'm glad it's done with. I had to print some things out for it at the University and it took me over an hour to do it. Only because I had to go to four different places to get it to work properly. Not sure if I'll get used to those differences in the coming months.

We've been going to sessions pretty much every night. This was taken at Dolan's here in Limerick. It was mostly undergrads from the University playing and they were amazing! Our first night out we met Eanna and Mary, two ladies whose energy astounds me. They go to sessions every night. Eanna because she's a musician who's learning to play the fiddle, and Mary because she loves the music & the people. They gave us a list of sessions to check out every night and we've been with them quite a bit this week.

Last night we went to a session in Kilkisheen (accent on the middle syllable) in the middle of the country and it was something else. I'm not sure I can describe it for you. It was in the old kitchen part of an old pub. the owners, pat & nanci in their 70s and puttering around helping people out. Every one knew every one else and they played and sang-and asked us to play and sing and it was delightful. Pat came in starting about 1:15 a.m. yelling for everyone to go home and half an hour later everyone's still around chatting. Mary told us if we waited around Nanci would serve us tea and sandwiches, but we were pretty beat. We got home around 230 a.m. What a lovely night. I wish I could describe it better for you...just know it was great craic there (say "crack"), which means that the people were friendly and joyous and the music was lively and the feeling of being there was welcoming and warm. Well, we've slept in (for good reason) and are now heading off to the Saturday market in Limerick. Love you all and I'll write more soon.

A little later.... Just got back from the market and it was lovely! Got fresh veggies & yummy pastries and beautiful cheeses. We took two of our pastries to a pub right outside the market and had tea & coffee (I'll let you guess who had which ;0) and a wonderful snack. It's a fine day (that means there's bouts of sun between the clouds & mist) and I'm going to go out for a ramble along the river. Kind of getting into this Irish thing. Good to know there's a warmth here that makes up for the weather. Thinking of so many of you at different moments that I know you'd love to share in and I'd love to share with you. Lots of love!

The end of the Rainbow

These shots were taken on the campus where the river Shannon goes through. It's beautiful. As I was strolling along taking these shots I was greeted by two dogs that I was glad to see (have I mentioned that I miss Darcy dog?-check out how she's being abused, uh, i mean loved at the cheateu de Libby/Jen/Rosemary at the blog link on the right). I met the dog's (name whisky and brandy) very kind owner, Peig & Tony Loughran and we chatted for quite a while. They live here in Limerick, have kids my age and younger and were so kind and Peig gave me her number. I think I'll call her tomorrow to see if she's into Pride and Prejudice. The movie's out here with Keira Knightly, and as much as the previews offend my sensibilites, i have to see it. If for nothing else, so that Libby & Carol & I can criticize it :0)

This is the session we went to last night in Ennis, just 20 miles up the road. The night before we went to one here in town that was fun. The one in Ennis had some tense moments as session etiquete was apparently unknown to this womand who just began playing her harmonica mid tune (in a very poor attempt to complement the music). The co-leader of the session was clearly irritated and giving her evil looks. It was funny (even I picked up on the what the heck is going on with that lady?). So, that was strange, but some of the tunes were amazing. (sans harmonica) As we drove back last night I saw stars for the first time since we've been here. I didn't realize how much I'd missed them til I saw them. I love the night sky.

I wish this picture could show how vibrant and amazing this rainbow was. We thought about going to catch the leprechaun at the end and cash in on the pot of gold :0) We drove down to see Hammy Hamilton (an amazing flute maker and tune writer-Blayne plays his tunes) and checked out his shop and he was great-so accessible and kind. He lives in the mountains and it was breathtaking, rounding curves in the road and seeing sunlit hilltops backed by rocky "mountains". Such a different sort of beauty than home. Everything is so GREEN. We're getting ready to head out to a session, so I've got to run. Lots of love!

Church Hunting

Well, the church we went to today was good in that it was a really good sermon and everything said was really Biblical. The sermon was on our need for the Gospel, so it was edifying in that way. The music, wasn't badly done...there actually was a really great trumpet player playing along really tastefully. The song choice was a bit rough for us. Lots of me & Jesus sorts of songs. One was a bit more Christ focused, but that wouldn't have been a big deal for us if there hadn't been these long pauses with the guitar still strumming between songs that people continued to randomly sing and pray and talk and praise and read. I don't doubt that these people were worshiping, and it the midst of this some people decided to share some scripture and that was good, but it was just very strange and when I thought of it as a cultural experience and asked God to make it worshipful even thought it was SO different, I did hear some truth and was encouraged, but we will keep looking for a church to go to. Pretty sure we coudn't do that every week.

So, there's that. Enjoy your church & don't take it for granted! That's today's lesson :0) And St. Pats, WE MISS YOU especially today. I came home and attempted to play some hymns on the guitar to sing along with. I'd gotten much more comfy with the piano lately for hymns and have to get MUCH better on the guitar before it's fun to sing along, and not painful (for my ears and my fingers).

Tomorrow is the lunch with everyone in Blayne's program. He's ready to get started. We're feeling pretty settled, though there are still a few more things to attend to. We are getting ready to head out to a local pub for some trad music tonight at half nine (I'm trying to get used to the local terms for time). Getting ready to enjoy my first pint of Guinness since we've been here. I know some of you are shocked and appaled (as am I a little bit). But I will savor it and think of the many of you I'd like to share a pint with and have a chat. Love you all!

Our First Travel Day!

(psst...You can click on any picture to see a larger image of it)
Here's a shot out of the window as we drove down to Cork & Kinsale today. It was a beautiful day until it started raining ;0) But that wasn't until around 5 p.m. so the weather held out pretty well for us.

Here we are the edge of the cliffs at the Old Head of Kinsale. The views are stunning there. It made me want to rapel down and climb back up. I'll be signing up with the outdoor society this coming week, so that will cure the climbing bug.

Blayne really wished he had one of his gliders with him today to do some slope soaring. He said the cliffs there were perfect for it. (Surprisingly, he was not inspired to rapel & climb).

That's our little micra on the side of the road there, and me happy to be alive in that moment and at that spot. The very end of the point is a golf course. It's amazing and has a lighthouse and a few castle ruins on the course. We were not allowed on the premises...members and guests only of course. Quite right.

All in all it was a lovely day. We had a seafood dinner in Kinsale (no, Champ was not there with Dorothy Mantooth) and then drove back in the rain. We're going to check out a church tomorrow that Andy Hubbard (a Nashville friend) connected us with through his friends in Dublin. We'll let you know how it goes. Love you all!

Our Micra Machine

Well, we thought we could get away without a car, but we were wrong. I know, some of you are laughing right now.

On Thursday we went through post-grad orientation with other folks in Blayne's program. It was wonderful to get to meet the people he'll be learning with this year. They are very friendly and fun to be with. Several of them are from around here in Ireland and told us that the best local sessions are out in the countryside and go til 1 or 2 in the morning, and when they heard we didn't have a car they said "that won't do at all".

So, here is our little micra. After lots of help from Matt Chafin (our insurance agent in the states) and quite a few phone calls, and two bus trips to Nenagh (say nina) about 25 miles out from where we live, we have our own Nissian Micra. It's tiny, but (Jen, prepare to be jealous) it gets 52 mpg on the highway (not that there are many of those around here, but it's still rocks-or as the locals say "it's brilliant".

Here's Blayne lounging on one of the two sofas in our apartment. I'm sitting on that sofa now looking through the album that David & Natalie made for us...it's so good to see faces of dear friends and laugh at such fun memories. I'm looking forward to making those sorts of memories here and to hearing how things are going on with all of you. I'm missing home a bit right now, it's Friday night and we're just chilling (wierd, huh?). But our adventures here are only beginning.

So, tomorrow we'll be out for a drive around the countryside. We are very much looking forward to the freedom we'll have with a car! It's been a strange week for us, but good. Good to be together in this adventure. It alternates between really busy and thumb twiddling. I'm looking forward to getting into the rythym of life next week as Blayne begins his program.

Well, I'm cooking dinner and it's just about ready, so I need to run, but love you all lots!

Getting Settled

Well, we arrived Sunday evening around 6:30 p.m. and finally on Wednesday around 5:30 p.m. we have internet. We are addicts to it and I confess that without a phone on the premises and no internet we have felt very cut off from the world. Some times that feels good (right, Jake?) and sometimes you want to let the people you love know that you are alive. So far, the main culture shock has just been inconvenience. We Americans are so spoiled in this way-I had no idea how much so! You ask a question about when you'll have a phone, when will the internet work, etc and they say, oh i don't know. i guess that I'm going to have to die to some of my obsession with efficiency (that will bring joy to some of you and sorrow to others :0)

Tuesday night we met a neighbor, Jing Lu (NOT Irish :0) who was kind enough to let us use his phone to call the states-a quick call to my mom who called a few others-hopefully most of you worried ones got the word. Being in Jing's apartment led to a discussion of his being a beginner guitar player, to Blayne teaching him a little, to us being invited to his place for delicious Chinese food tonight. 5 neighbors and Blayne & I gathered in their cozy apartment around a table for 4 and ate a Chinese food feast-even some tripe was on the table. We did not expect our cultural experience to extend beyond Ireland. But here in our complex we've met Germans, Spanish, Chinese & of course, Irish.

We've mostly just been getting settled and getting necessities, though we did head into Limerick city yesterday (10 minute bus ride away) and wandered around town into St. Mary's cathedral, built in 1138. It is still surreal that we are in IRELAND!! What the heck? The rolling green hills & the river Shannon are right next to the University. It is beautiful. And our place is simple, small & clean. It's a simple life so far, maybe it will stay that way, but you know me.

Blayne's orientation for his program begins tomorrow, so we'll get the tour of campus, get to sign up for clubs (me too..I've already asked and I can join the outdoor society....I can't let my climbing shoes & harness go unused since I brought them all this way.) It's good to be in touch with the world again. Hope that you're all doing very well. And love you lots!

PS...CHECK OUT BLAYNE'S BLOG (link on the right sidebar) FOR PICS OF THE MOSTLY FINISHED KITCHEN IN THE LOFT!!