I have less than a month left in Northern Ireland. More and more I'm realizing how much I love it here, but also how much I love the comforts of home. I know that the second I'm home I'll be wishing that I could have made more out of my semester here. When else am I going to get to spend 3 months in another country with basically nothing to do but be.

Leaving California I didn't realize how much I'd miss it until I came to Ireland, and now I won't realize how much I'll miss the island until I'm back home. I wish that I could truly appreciate where I am all the time.

Last night we went to an irish art collector's home. It was incredible. He must've had well over a million pounds worth of art in his home. The worth of the artwork wasn't the only thing that made it notable but more so how knowledgeable he was about each piece. He is a well known Belfast journalist who covered a lot of the NI Troubles, and still has time to devote to his hobbies of poetry and art. Last week he guest lectured one of our literature classes and spoke so passionately about poetry. He is such an expert on so many things, but he just passed off his knowledge as a hobby. When I'm around him I feel so ridiculous. I know absolutely nothing besides what's on PerezHilton. But still he recognized all of his success as fleeting.

distance makes the heart grow fonder

in a few words:

I miss TOMS so much. so so so so so freaking much.



love,

emily

Soon

I go to Italy on Wednesday.

Who does that?

Well, you know, when in Rome?

the heavens parted

and wireless arrived.

no more 10 mile round trip treks to internet. no more $6 bus rides to go 10 miles round trip to internet.

hello to not doing homework ever again.

i'm basically a cultural anthropologist. sort of. well, not really...

Let me tell you the difference between JBU and Queen's University in Belfast, Northern Ireland the easiest way I know how.

Queen's has a bar that operates in the student union. A really happening bar. a bar that makes people feel automatically cooler for entering. a bar that, when people leave, they go to their next class a little more confident, but a little less able. a bar that is open at 10am.

I went in it at 1pm, and people were already drinking away. It might as well have been 1am.

I love it.

Instead of grabbing a Carmello after class, people are taking shots. ha.

Ireeelllaaannndddd.......you would.

i love belfast

I love being in Belfast. Absolutely love it. love love love.

Staying in Dundrum is beautiful, but Thursdays in Belfast is definitely one of the best parts of the week. Our art class at Queen's is so awesome. I feel like I'm in Mona Lisa Smile. I said it. I'm resorting back to my old dream of being an art museum curator. It won' t last until January, but for now it's nice to dream.

Well, to wrap up:

i love belfast.
dundrum is pretty.
Mona Lisa Smile is a good movie.


much love.


ps: I just had the best brownie of my life.

Italia!

So, Elizabeth and I just purchased tickets to Italy!!!! We'll be heading to the great country in a couple weeks (the 24th). Ah! I'm really in Europe!? what!? OMG--I'm about to eat spaghetti in its home state.

Well, I must go. I have a 5 mile bike ride ahead of me.