Sorry For the Delay...

I have become increasingly poor at blogging. Nevertheless, Instead of telling all about Saint Patrick's Day (which is so long ago at this point!) I thought I would make a list of things I have learned in Ireland so far:

Exit Sign

1) Though the exit signs show a very active person running out the door, it is ill-advised to  do so. Especially if the door turns out to be locked, as many around here do.

2) The green men signalling to "walk" are actually leprechauns, stuck in there all day, to help the Irish population cross the street. I was wondering why I hadn't seen any, and a friend kindly explained this little-known change in Irish society.

3) If an Irish professor gives you a list of topics, they want you to stick exactly to the prompt. Free-thinking is somewhat constricted. As an English major, I had to get over this, as I want to give my own interpretation/ thoughts on something.

4) There are maaaaany different Irish accents. Your accent carries with it religious and political implications, and hence some people (one of my professors included) fake a different accent.

Hurling=beating each other with clubs, ball is incidental

5) All Irish sports involve severe violence with very little protection (ex. hurling, rugby, etc.) and the point of competing in sports is to physically damage those from the next county as much as possible in a legal context. If you play sports in Ireland, you will definitely break something or possibly have a lifetime injury.

6) There is still much political tension, especially in Northern Ireland, which has unfortunately been associated with church denominations. There is still much healing that needs to happen.

7) Most Irish persons are well-trained in some musical instrument/ have multiple musical abilities.

8) Dublin is not all that different from Boston, only it is smaller, both in acreage and height (they aren't skyscraper builders here).

9) Ireland is not all rolling hills and countryside, but there is a good deal of sheep and farms, even in the city.

10) "What's the craic?" is the equivalent of "how are you?"; "Craic" is Gaelic for "fun."

11) Tea and biscuits (cookies) are never out of place, and there can never be too many at any given point in the day (though buttermilk scones are the preferred morning replacement for biscuits).

There are many more...I will continue the list at some point...maybe.

God has still been blessing me and keeping me well. I must admit I have gotten caught up in the business at times, and He has to redirect me to focus on Him.

I would appreciate prayer for:

1) Exams- which will run from May 13th- May 24th for me.
2) A teachable heart and for me to listen to God's voice in this last month here.
3) All relationships I have started here would be well tied-off and that I could be a continual blessing to all those around me.
4) When I return to the States, that God would provide a car, and eventually a place to live in the Fall.