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!

Snapshots

Sometimes I wish I could just say a magic word and take a 10 second snapshot of my life. So I could say, “This is what I was doing at this exact time in this exact place.” These moments normally happen when it wouldn’t be possible or acceptable to pull out a camera and record or snap a picture. My snapshot includes all the senses. I want others to not only see my rosy cheeks but feel the cool wind on them. And not to see the Irish waves crashing in but to hear their might and soothing roar. I don’t want to tell how it feels to ride my bike up and down the hilly boardwalk. I want you to push the petals, tasting the crisp Irish air, as you ride up the steepest hills you’ve ever seen. Hidden by the tall grass on each side, on the boardwalk it’s just you and the sky. I want the Mountains of Mourne to reflect in your eyes as they do mine. You could smile at the old Irish couple, who walk in front of you slowly…not hearing the “excuses me’s” as you try to rush past. They are in no hurry, seeming as in love as they were on their wedding day.

I want to save and yell the magic word to relive the moment or even the whole day again later. If others could yell it too…to live the moments of wonder and love…
Maybe you and others would be able to see the creator and how he romances me so.
How he paints the coast with green moss and blue and purple rocks. How he shows great amounts of love in small seconds of life.

This is what I get to experience as I ride my bike two miles to the beach. Sometimes the tide is in and the bay is full. It seems almost like Florida… But then the cold wind almost knocks me over and I realize where I am. The other day, after being in my town house all day…sleeping, reading, writing…(Ireland is pretty relaxed) I decided to get some exercise and go on another bike ride to the beach.

The tide was out and I decided to walk and jog along the wet sand. I went way out to the edge of the bay where the ocean was meeting the beach. I stood amazed for awhile looking at the huge, cloudy, blue sky and the ocean ahead of me. The mountains beside me and the green hills all around… And then two black heads popped up about 50 feet away. Looking kind of like a deep sea diver, and then more like a puppy dog…a seal looked in my direction. Obvious of my presence…maybe because of my singing… or maybe because in my bight red running shirt I didn’t quite fit in, he looked at me for several seconds and then splashed away.

It was one of those “snap shot” moments. I seem to have them whenever I take time to soak in God’s beauty. Whether that means sitting and eating Curry with new friends in India, riding through the green, tree covered hills in Arkansas (on a road trip with my best friend Lauren), or looking at lighting above the ocean in Florida late at night, or seeing a waterfall in Ireland or a bike ride through the country.

So…maybe this is too poetic…or over the top…but it’s the closest thing to a “snapshot” that I’ve got. : )

Finally! A few pictures!

I didn't have much time, but yesterday I got about 10 minutes to upload a few pictures off my computer. The rocks and water picture is the ocean in New Castle, which is four miles from where we live. This is where I am now, in the library. The mountains and flowers picture was taken in my back yard. Pretty beautiful huh? That's also some of my team playing in our backyard, mountains to the left. There's my room and the back of our wee houses too : ) I also liked the picture of the waterfall. That was taken when we were touring the North Coast. Hopefuly more pictures and maybe a video to come if we can get internet in our homes. Love and miss you guys!

Okay...still no pictures.

Well, we don't have wireless yet. So a short 4 mile walk to and from the library is required. We got a few bikes the other day, so maybe a bike ride will help speed up the process of getting to New Castle (where the library is).

Today starts the beginning of our third week in Ireland. I think we are finally getting into the swing of things. We also will be going into Belfast every Thursday for class. So hopefully I will be able to upload pictures.

I love my classes so far. I think that I have a couple of really Godly men that will be teaching some of my classes. We are reading C.S. Lewis and Richard Foster for two of my classes. So its great to be able to read things for school and see God working and moving in my life through them.

I think God has really been teaching and showing me things this week. I also feel that this time in Ireland will really be one of growth.

We went last week to the Northern Irish Parliament. I've learned a lot. Last night Jill, Carrie, and I were sitting around talking Irish Politics. For fun. Weird. But I've learned so much in such a short amount of time. And I'm excited to be able to really meet people and build relationships.

Hadden, a dear old Irish man, teaches two of our classes. He and his wife Betty have been taking very good care of us and make all of us laugh so much. Funny little Irish, or British couple... We went to Hadden's church last night and there are many young people. I think many of us on the team would like to attend every Sunday night to build relationships with people.

Anyways...that's a wee bit of an update : ) Hope you are all doing well. Miss and love you!

oh... and p.s.

phone number :

011-44-777-238-3419

address:

3 Dundrum Bay Holiday Homes
Dundrum, Northern Ireland UK
CO. Down BT33 OLY

Ireland might just sparkle...

Well, I've been in Ireland for about a week and a half. It seems a little like a year and half... not that it's bad, but it does seem a world away. We don't have access to internet very much. We are at a library today. And other people are waiting. So, I'll try and be fast with my update.

Last week we spent the whole week around the northern coast. Who would have thought I would be walking in rainy Ireland, with Castles and the greenest grass I've ever seen.

My mind has already been overwhelmed with Irish politics. The history and fighting is so fresh. I'm also in the process of deciding a topic for a big research project that will also serve as a social/ documentary photography project. So, I'm learning lots already. Trying to process as fast as I can, since I'm living out what I'm learning.

Irish culture. I love it. Of course. I'm addicted to tea after a week. Even though they speak English...there are still things you dont say here...or most of time, things they say and I have no idea what they are talking about.

I love my Irish teachers. We met with our Irish literature teacher this morning. Derick Bingham. He wrote a biography on Amy Carmichael. He is a well known Irish author. We watched a documentary on C.S. Lewis this morning. Professor Bingham was the one in it. Yeah, I guess you could say he is a big deal.

My backyard looks like this:

straight out is the bay. The water goes in and out twice a day.

to the right are the green mountains of Ireland.

to the left are little colored houses of Dundrum.

Not quite Arkansas...

Well, I should probably go. And hopefully pictures will be up as soon as we have wireless and I can get them off my computer. I miss and love you all! Ireland is great. I have a feeling that when the work load picks up a bit it will be challenging but very inspiring.

I love stepping outside after it rains. The ocean, the green, the sheep, the sand and all the colored houses.... Ireland sparkles :)

Counting Down the Days

Ireland is getting closer and closer. In a little over a month I will be flying out. I am excited for the new friends and better friendships with so many of my friends that are going with me. I am excited to see and experience new things. I have no idea what to expect...All I know is that I am living in a little town about 30 minutes from Belfast. I'm living right next to the water, like I have all summer in Florida...but I have a feeling this will be different. I want to see and do as much as I can. I will be flying out with one of my best friends Jill from the Kansas City airport September 3rd. We will meet up with most of our team in New Jersey and fly together to Ireland!

The Green Adventure

So, my big adventure hasn't happened yet... it actually won't happen for awhile...but I have decided to make a blog for it now, due to my excitement. I can always put more information on as I find out where I will be living and what I will be doing. I can't wait for all the new things I will get to see, and smell, and hear...and well, Ireland will just be one more adventure : )