So it has been a while since my last blog but nothing really interesting has happened. There isn't really much to do around this town besides going out to the pubs at night. As much as it would be lovely to get out of the apartment I have been spending most nights in because I don't want to waste money by going out. Going out here isn't as easy as just walking out of my dorm back home and going down to Fifth Ave. To get to town is a twenty minute walk and when I go out I like to wear my heels; no one wants to walk twenty minutes before their night even begins. So this means we have to call a cab, which living on a budget cab fees seem to add up quickly. So needless to say I have been trying to save money by staying in and trying to make the best of it by hanging out with friends. Thank goodness we have our Friday "field trips"! (which are free!! YAY)

This past weekend has been the greatest experience since I have been here. Friday we had our second "field trip", we went to the Irish National Heritage Park in Wexford. This trip was very education; through the tour we got to see what the Irish houses first looked like when they came to Ireland. Along with their housing we got to see the how they improved into nicer housing and how they accomplished farming. The next place we went to was the beach where Saving Private Ryan was filmed. There was nothing too special about this beach. Normally beaches back home have board walks or little beach shops all around them but this beach only had on little beach shop in the parking lot and it wasn't even open. When I'm at the beach I am so at peace with myself and I can just sit there watching the ocean and listening to the waves for hours. Though it was raining I haven't been more relaxed since I have been here. I wish there was a beach close to Carlow so I would be able to go and just sit there and leave all my worries else where. This was just the start to my weekend.

Shawna, Chrissy and I planned a trip to Cork to visit the Blarney Stone and Castle and the Jameson Distillery. Saturday morning we left by bus to go to Cork. We had to go to Waterford to catch another bus to finally get to Cork. The scenery on the bus ride there was so beautiful! We drove by this mountain breath-taking. Though it has fog around it , the fog was what made it so pretty. Every one would tell me how green Ireland was but by taking this three hour bus ride to Cork was when I finally realized how many different shades of green there actually are here. As soon as we got to Cork we got on another bus that took us to Blarney. So far this is by far my favorite place I have visited so far. While we were here we went to the Blarney Castle. It was here that I finally felt like me doing this whole experience was actually worth it. We climbed the narrow stairway up to the very top of the castle to where the Blarney stone is located. To kiss the Blarney stone you have to lay on your back and go upside down to kiss the stone. Thankfully there is a guy that holds you so you don't fall but I couldn't help but feel as though I was going to fall straight to the ground.

While in Cork we got to experience our first hostle...let me just say this was a treat! haha completely not what I was expecting by any means. The room was so small, online it said it would sleep three people. The bed was a bunk bed with a "double" bed on the bottom. Needless to say Shawna and I had to share a bed and cuddle. But this experience is definitely something I will remember for the rest of my life. Sunday we woke up and went to see the Jameson Distillery. We got to take the tour and see how Jameson was orginally created and the process they still use today to make the whiskey. At the end of the tour everyone gets a sample of Jameson whiskey. Also eight volunteers get to do the "taste testing" which is tasting scotch, American whiskey (Jack Daniels) and Jameson. Of course, Chrissy and I volunteered to partake in this fun experience. I can honestly say Jameson was the smoothest to get down. At the end of the taste testing the eight volunteers were given certifications stating that we ae offical Irish whiskey drinkers.
This weekend was exactly what I need to help me get through the weeks to come. It made me feel like I chose to do this for all the right reasons and that all the homesickness is worth it in the end for times like these...

Only 75 more day until I get to go home and see my loved ones who I miss so much