Late Nights, Bella Calls, and Amazing Gelati...

Well, I'm back from Rome. I have a lot more pictures but here are a few... Rome was beautiful and a lovely holiday. : ) I loved the late night dinners and being able to walk all over Rome. No one eats dinner until late in Italy. Most of the time 8:30-9 and even later when its hot in the summer. I ate amazing Italian food every night and had Gelati atleast once a day...I also had some of the best coffee and chocolates I had ever had. Italy, you have so much of my heart. Well, besides the food...Jill and I went and stayed with a friend's uncle and aunt who are missionaries in Rome. They had been missionaries through the International Mission Board....cool huh? So we hung out with Carrie's (our friend) uncle since her aunt was in the states. He (David) showed us good places to eat and helped us when it came to reading the map... Jill and I saw most of the major things...although we are coming back one day, to see the things we missed. It was very relaxing. Having three full days there, we had time to see things but also just walk the streets, get lost, and see what Italy is all about. I loved the busy city life, Romans walking to and from, shopping, all the motorcycles (which many driving were girls...) and the beautiful Italian men. Haha. You can't forget the tons of groups touring, all wearing matching scarfs....oh well. Sunday we went to David's church. It is a "multicultural church" so it was great. Tons of people from all over the world, sitting in church in Rome. They were celebrating their African Fellowship that day. So we had great music and an African lunch. Jill and I also met three Christian girls (picture above). The blonde is from Finland working in Rome and the other two are Americans studying in Rome. So we all went out to eat our last night in Rome together. It was really fun. Overall, the time there was pretty much perfect. A few blisters from walking so much, but we connected fine on all of our flights and buses on the way there and back. My time in Rome was so fun and also very beautiful. I threw my coin in the Trevi fountain, so I will be back. The picture of the square above is the view from my window at night. Below were tons of restaurants with people eating late into the night. The picture of the church has a prison below. Its where Paul was kept and also where he wrote II Timothy. Pretty cool. Anyways, Thursday starts the first day of the last full month I'm in Ireland. I know it will go fast...

For my Mum

Thanks so much mummy...for my new boots. I feel a tad spoiled...I really had no intention of you actually getting them for me. But you did... so, just for you (and only you) is my first day of school picture. Jeran Nicole, age 21. Picture taken in Dundrum, Northern Ireland...

love you and miss you!

Here in Northern Ireland...

Life across the ocean is going rather well. I think the shock of being away from home has passed. Not that I don't still miss everyone...but things seem to be going better. I have made a few friends. I went to a Bible study last night and met a couple people that seem interested in rescuing me from Dundrum... This week should be lots of fun. I am going into Belfast Wednesday to hang out with my friend Laura, from Queens. We will probably shop a little...and then the next morning Jill an I (in the picture) are taking a bus from Belfast to Dublin. We are then flying to Rome! We will be staying with a friend's aunt and uncle. They live right by the Spanish steps. We will be there for four days. So, hopefully I will have a good update next week to tell you of my time in Italy. life going well. Lots I could tell you...but maybe I can leave some exciting things for when I get home. If anyone even reads this...I never get any comments....

haha, Northern Ireland is just great. First class if I do say so.

Please mom?

So... I'm not completely shallow, but I do want my mom to see the most amazing pair of shoes in the world.

Topshop is a great store. And if I was working at a high paying job (in pounds) I would probably get these.

But anyways. Life is good here. We finally got wireless internet in our homes. Which is good but now the work load is picking up quite a bit.

I will be in Rome a week from today! How exciting. Jill and I are going for 4-5 days. Yay!

Jill and I also went for starbucks with a couple girls from Queens. We then went back to their dorms too. Fun day. I had Indian food for dinner. So I'm pretty happy.

Love and miss you guys! More of an update later...

Making A Friend...

Well, this last Thursday I was in tears during my art class at Queens. Two little old Irish women tried to encourage my friend making by giving me ideas on how to meet people. As my class begun, seeing that I was surrounded by "life time learning" students (meaning everyone is over the age of 65) I began to get even more frusterated with my current situation. 15 of us Americans live in Dundrum all week. With no one our age...and with busses only going to and from Dundrum til about 8 at night. And when I get to Belfast and see the hundreds of students at Queens I am a bit overwhelmed. My friend Emily and I tried to sit in the Caf there...we ate homemade PB and J's like the home schooled children we felt like. We just acted awkward...knowing as soon as we said something they would know we were from America. Then, not having much luck we went into the pub...in the student center. Turns out its pretty popular to go to the bar and get a drink... at 1 in the afternoon. All the kids sat drinking between class as Emily and I sipped on Diet Coke... and still not making any friends...

So, my day wasnt that great. And being the sixth week, Culture shock started to hit. You know, being homesick...hating the Irish ways...wanting MTV and a limade from Sonic...maybe even internet that you dont bike 8 miles for....

BUT then the good news comes. This weekend one of my good friends Jill and I got to leave! We went to Portadown and stayed with some family friends of hers. Steven and Gail have two wee kids, Sam and Abby. Abby is the most so cute...stating that most things are "quite lovely" in her four year old voice. Sam loves football. (soccer) and loves WWE too... similiar to WWF?

Gail to us to one of those women parties...you know, the older wife ones. where women buy things... like cute things for their houses. Jill and I were so pleased to see someone younger there. We made a friend! Her name is Laura and she is a first year student at Queens. We are going to meet up with her this next week and she is going to show us where she lives. Who knows...maybe we will met her friends...or even have a place to stay in Belfast...

But even just meeting someone has been great. Getting away from the Brady Bunch back in Dundrum...and being more one on one with the Northern Irish people. God is good and is blessing me each and every day! He is always knowing my prayers and my heart. : )

This weekend in Portadown has actually been "quite lovely"

So what if I just got yelled at by an Irish Librarian...Americans tend to be loud...

Okay...Update.

I have "Fringe" now. You know...way cool bangs. Except sometimes they look crazy (as they do in one of these pictures) because of the Ireland wind an rain.

I still like Ireland. I am a little annoyed at how we live in Dundrum, Population: 50 people over the age of 65. But hey...its going really good and I have learned a lot. Hopefully I will get to meet some people my own age soon. I have seen lots of beautiful things and had tons of fun so far.

I dont have a whole lot of time. But I am going to write a better and more thought out response later. I do miss everyone a lot!

Three updates:

1. fringe (remember bangs...)

2. A + on my first essay

3. They have an amazing poo bear icecream over here...nothing like the states has. It has honey, caramel, and tons of goodness.

Cheers!