Beginning to feel like a local

Hello everyone!

Well, today marks the last day of class for me until I go back to class at St. Ben's in August.  Its crazy because I still have two months left in Ireland and Europe!  The school system is a little different here, I am being graded mostly on just a paper and an exam for each class.  The exams are essay exams and my first one was one and a half hours long to answer two questions! We all used up the whole time and we were frantically scribbling words down the whole time as well.  My hand literally cramped up! 

Anyways, the past week we have all realized that April is here! We are like wait, what? Its here already? In one day my parents will arrive in Dublin! ONE DAY!  I am praying for good weather for them as they are only in Ireland for about 5 days total and I want them to love it as much as I do!  Its crazy thinking about being gone for about 4 weeks after I am done showing them Ireland.  Trying to get all my ducks in a row has been a bit stressful but it will definitely all be worth it.  

In the past week I have also realized that I have begun to feel like a local.  I mean I have been living here for 3 months, I'm definitely not a tourist anymore!  During the St. Patricks festival I could tell who was a tourist and who was a local.  All weekend I would hear things that in my head I would either go 'no, don't do that' or 'yes, thats right.'  Things like commenting on whether a certain coffee shop is a chain in Ireland or whether the buses have bathrooms or wifi on them.  Just little things that I have picked up by living here and that I don't really think about anymore!  But I also know that when I speak to real locals I will be placed in the tourist category because of my accent.  

Some things I have really begun to appreciate about living in Cork:

My view from the library.  I actually still can't get over that building and that I had a class in there.  What?! 

Finding a favorite coffee shop or two :)

Sunsets over the River Lee

Indulging in oreo cupcakes and other baked treats from the English Market

Taking myself to out breakfast at a favorite coffee shop while sitting outside on a nice day and watching people, cars and double decker buses go by on the main street.  The half door has not only the best chai lattes but also the best scones I have ever had.

Hot chocolate and girl talk at O'conaills

My fellow Corksters, girls night and wine cafes (Photo courtesy Ana Nugent)

Basically, I don't really want to leave Cork.  I would just love it if all my family and friends would come join me here! I miss everyone so much but I just love it here and I want to share where I live with so many people!  I have been beyond blessed with this opportunity to immerse myself in another country and try and see and experience everything that Ireland has to offer.  I hope I have been able to express my gratitude along the way for everything that I have been given! And to top it off, I am about to embark on a journey of a lifetime in Europe.  You know, just going to casually bop around Europe over to London and then to Switzerland and Italy for a few weeks...   Its fine.  

I am so excited to see and experience other countries and cultures.  My travel mates and I talk a lot about how difficult the language barrier is going to be and we know how tired traveling can make you  BUT I know its all going to be worth it.  The language barrier will just make for better stories once the frustration and confusion has worn off :) 

Today will be of finalizing details of our travel plans and having a final family dinner and trying to see everyone before we are all separated for a month! We are definitely realizing that our time to go home is coming sooner than we wish and trying to make the most of being together while we can.

I think that is all, next post will hopefully be when I get to Prague but we will see!