Hello, long time no see.

Hello again. It has been an appallingly long time since I have updated this blog. What can I say; adventure (and reading) calls. I have now been here in this lovely land of Eire for 2 months. So much has happened that it feels like much longer, and also like no time at all.

In this time I have begun a master's programme that has been challenging intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually through reading popular literature. Thus far I have read: a lot of critical theory on the "masses" versus the elite and the literature produced for them; The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole; Frankenstein by Mary Shelley; Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen; The String of Pearls (aka Sweeney Todd); The Pickwick Papers by Dickens; No Name by Wilke Collins; Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon; The Beetle by Richard Marsh; Oliver Twist; Tom Brown's Schooldays by Thomas Hughes; The Coral Island by R.M. Ballantyne; The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley; Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll; The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald; and I have so many more to look forward to!

It has been a fantastic experience going through these very different genres and seeing what has been popular literature throughout time, it says a lot about culture and people and the fact that we have not changed much. The idea of this programme and attending Trinity sometimes becomes mundane, it is just a part of everyday life, but then every now and again I take a step back and think about it, and I realize that I am so privileged and I can't believe that I am actually doing this. I get to go to a school established in 1592 that is absolutely beautiful, the likes of which I had no concept of coming from Southern California where we have nothing reaching close to this age and history. And seeing and hearing some of the notable people who come to visit this university is overwhelming; for example, this week, Sir Terry Pratchett, author of the discworld series and many many more, came to speak to my programme, it was amazing.

Sir Terry Pratchett imparting us with some of his wisdom.




Over these past 2 months I have also had the chance to travel about and see this gorgeous and historic land that I am in.

Adventure #1: Belfast
My first venture was up to Belfast which was an experience that is difficult to describe. Going to a city that has had such a disturbed history, and to see the resiliency of this people and this place was moving. The peace murals are something that I suggest everyone see if they are ever in Belfast, they have so much hope and beauty. Also, seeing where C.S. Lewis spent early days and may have found Narnian-inspiration was pretty magical. The Titanic shipyards are pretty great too.

Here's a little taste of this trip...

This is the most famous of the peace murals, depicting Bobby Sands who lead the hunger strikes amidst the Troubles.

The cityskape through the top of Victoria Square shopping center, it is all glass, speaking to the fact that there is peace in this city today.

A peace wall separating the Loyalist and Nationalist neighborhoods.

The woods near Campbell College that C.S. Lewis rather loved; aka Narnia.

Samson and Goliath...the shipyards that many ships have come from, including the Titanic.

Adventure #2: Galway to the Cliffs of Moher
I also had the chance to see the beauty of Ireland as my flatmate and I ventured out to Galway and went on a tour from there to the Cliffs of Moher and through prehistoric and leprechaun country along the way. After this venture, I have to say, the west of Ireland is some of the most beautiful landscape I have seen; it is other-worldly with all of the rock everywhere through the Burren and the cliffs are absolutely breathtaking (it's no wonder they have been used in The Princess Bride and Harry Potter!)

Here is a little taste of this trip...

The Cliffs of Insanity, err, Moher...absolutely gorgeous

O'Brien's Tower

Bing said it better than I can: "If you ever go across the sea to Ireland/ Then maybe at the closing of your day/ You will sit and watch the moonrise over Claddagh/ And see the sun go down on Galway Bay"

High Crosses at Kilfenora Cathedral

The paths of the wee faery folk (aka leprechauns)

Wedge Tomb, amongst the landscape of the Burren, used by prehistoric peoples.

Adventure #3: Scotland
My latest trip had many enticements, the main one being the chance to see my doppelganger, also known as Janelle in Aberdeen, Scotland. I was able to go for 10 whole days (as opposed to the other trips which have been weekend jaunts). I loved Scotland, it was pretty and the accents are fantastic ;-) and starting the festivities with fireworks at the beach on Bonfire Night was very apt. Aberdeen was a nice town, much smaller-feeling than Dublin, and I was able to enjoy it with Nella. We were also to take a short daytrip down to Edinburgh and I fell in love with this city. I loved the architecture along the Royal Mile and getting to see Edinburgh Castle felt strangely historic, not to mention the Palace of the Holyrood where Bloody Mary spent much time. After this trip, I have decided that there is definitely something magical in the wind of Scotland: wherever you go you will hear the faint (and sometimes not so faint) sound of bagpipes on the wind...

Ready for Bonfire Night!!

"Remember, remember the fifth of November, the gunpowder, treason and plot."

The halls of the University of Aberdeen

Waverly train station in Edinburgh

The Sir Walter Scott monument (and evidence of bagpipes...)

I found the TARDIS!

The crosses at Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

There are many more adventures to come that I hope you will come along with me to see, but until then, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Week #1: Adjusting

Where do I begin about this, my first week in Dublin?

It has been quite surreal to say the least. At first, there was a feeling of deep fear and isolation an, "Oh my God! What have I gotten myself into!? I am not ready for this!" And then I would be overwhelmed by excitement at the fact that I was actually in Ireland.This would be followed by disappointment in myself for feeling sad or afraid in that this is my dream- to live in Ireland and read books. So, that has been the basic emotional roller-coaster I have been on this week. In case you were wondering.

After the first day, I encountered the first of my flatmates, Yaseena, a lovely Canadian, who is here to study creative writing. She has fantastic taste in music and film, not to mention literature. I then encountered Mary, from New York, who is here to get a Master's in Peace Studies (which sounds supremely interesting). There is also Melony from New Orleans, also studying creative writing.Next we have Rosie, from Blackpool (in the North of England)who will be studying Irish Writing, and whom I have thoroughly frightened with my Anglophilia (especially as regards "Doctor Who"). Lastly there is Ge (pronounces Gu) from China who is also doing Peace Studies and is one of the sweetest people I have ever encountered.

I have spent a lot of time in cultural conversation and wandering the city with these people and have come to think that I am pretty lucky to have been placed in this flat (despite the initial unmet expectations). I think that it will be a great year, and I very much look forward to hearing about what they are studying!

Mary, Rosie, and Yaseena (left to right)


Much of this first week has been spent in purchasing basic essentials for my room/flat and trying to navigate a new city and culture. Things I have learned:

1. The Irish are a supremely friendly and hospitable people.
2. This city makes no sense. (roads curve and turn every which way)
3. I love getting lost in the rain (which is fortuitous because it has happened a lot this week)
4. The Irish concept of time and administration is quite different from the American. (the mentality
tends to be "It'll get done, have a pint, it'll be grand.")
5. I love it here.

It is funny because I am so in love with this people, and have been for some time, but every time any Irish person meets me and finds out I am from SoCal they say, "You are crazy to come here from your paradise. You will freeze." To this I say, "I know! I am so excited about it!" and I firmly establish my insanity.

There are no words to express how beautiful this city is, and how much older than anything we have back in the states. Trinity was built 200 years before we were even a country. And it is absolutely gorgeous, I still can't believe I am actually allowed to even walk through the front gate, not to mention attend this school...

It is a humbling and exciting experience. More to come...

Travel and First Impressions

It has been a week, and I apologize for the delay in updates on my Irish experience. I cannot believe it has been a week since I landed here in this beautiful land.

Stage #1: Getting Here

The flight experience was definitely an adventurous one, that I am glad I don't have to relive anytime soon. So the plan was to do 2 overnight flights to get here in order to save some money. Let me advise you right now not to do this; spend the money on the most direct flight, by the end of this experience I was absolutely exhausted. So, I flew from San Luis Obispo to LA and then overnight LA to New York. In the mean time, I had discovered that the flight I booked from New York to Dublin was an United flight, but it was run by Aer Lingus, and thus I had to check in with Aer Lingus, but I had no information for their systems. So, I arrived in NYC early, at 7:00am local time, 4:00am Becky time, needless to say, I was sleepy. Now when planning this trip, I had thought that I would use the 14 hour layover to travel into the city and experience a bit of New York while I was there. I would go stop by Aer Lingus and get my flight all squared away, nap a bit, and then see New York!! This would be the perfect day! However, reality hit, Aer Lingus would not open anything until 1:00pm which turned out to be 2:00pm and they had no record of me having a flight with them. It took 5 people to finally figure out what had actually happened with my flight and get me booked in. By this time there was definitely not enough time to go into the city and I was absolutely exhausted both physically and emotionally (it is quite stressful to think you spent a large amount of money and do not have a flight!) By the end of this VERY LONG layover I felt as if I was living in my very own version of "The Terminal," I know JFK airport quite well now. But, sadly, this is still all I have seen of NYC...

But at last, I boarded a plane at 9:50pm local time (6:50 Becky time) and prepared for the final journey, the one across the pond. I was excited, and terrified. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and I would know no one in Ireland. But I had dreamed about this day for so long, and I was ready. Thanks to a lovely prayer from a good fairy I was as ready as I would ever be for this journey. I arrived in Dublin at 9:00am local time (1:00am Becky time) and I was so excited; flying over I saw a lush, beautiful, green landscape, just as I had always pictured. I walked off the plane into a sunny, beautiful day in Dublin. I let out a sigh, I was here. This was it.

Stage #2: Failte ("Welcome")

My introduction to Ireland was a grand one. I was met at the airport by a lovely woman I had met at work at the Grand Californian Hotel who has showered me with warmth and hospitality from the moment I met her. Liz was there a few moments after I arrived and helped me lug all of my suitcases into her minivan and proceeded to give me a fabulous driving tour of Dublin, and added perk I had not been anticipating. My first impression was that this is a lively, beautiful, thriving city, older than any I had ever seen. It is overwhelming, in the best sort of way, to think of the history this city has.

We arrived at Trinity Hall, my home for this year, and it is in a rather posh part of Dublin called Rathmines. It has been modernized, which was slightly disappointing, but they have retained one of the old houses as a social space and it is gorgeous, built in 1900 (somewhat new by Dublin standards). This Hall has quite an interesting history. It started as 3 houses that were purchased by Trinity as a place for the women who attended Trinity to live (once women were admitted), as women and men could not live in the same area.

So, I had arrived. I walked in and spoke with a very kind Irish gentleman who gave me a key to my room which is very much like a hotel key, an electronic card, and I came to my room...

I quite like my room, I have it all to myself and it is quite big considering what it could be. I even have my own bathroom (which is wonderful in a flat with 6 girls!!)The shower is a strange setup, a shower-head in the corner of the bathroom and a drain in the middle without any sort of contraption for containing the water so everything just ends up wet, but I have my own shower, so there is no complaining here!

So, I got situated with all of this and then I absolutely crashed I was t i r e d! Again, DO NOT do the sort of flight I did, it will kill you! I woke up, looked around, and felt far from home and alone. But I have this lovely new Irish big sister who had me over and made me a fresh home-cooked meal, my first in Ireland and all was well again.

The rest of this week has been spent meeting and spending time with my wonderful new flatmates and adjusting to and falling in love with this city, but more on that later...

My Bags are Packed, I'm Ready to Go...

It is hard to believe. I leave tonight. I am going to Ireland.

There are many nervous and trepidatious feelings. Traveling afar with this many details to be figured out to go into a new land and experience a new people; one can't help but have a little bit of fear.

I am SO EXCITED! To head on this new adventure, this new experience, and one that is all my own. I am so excited for the experiences that I am going to have: academic, spiritual, and life-changing. I can't wait to meet new people, including the new Becky that will emerge out of this year.

Risk has been the word for this year. Here I go, taking a risk, and I am so very glad that I am...

I'm leaving on a jet plane and I don't know when I'll be back again.

A Goodbye to RHF aka Family

It has been a strange and surreal experience saying all of these goodbyes.  I know that I am doing something momentous. I know that I am leaving for a year. But I am not certain that I know this. It has not yet sunk in. It is starting to.

On Sunday I said goodbye to my church family, and that was hard. The people of Rock Harbor Fullerton have truly been the church; they have been my brothers and my sisters, my support system, the people with whom I choose to spend my time. How can I leave this? How difficult it is to say goodbye. But this is not really "goodbye", just "see you later." I refuse to let these people, this family, slip out of my life.

With all that said, my final Sunday was perfect. It was an evening of family. It included a surprise of being pulled up in front of the entire church to have Steve give us an emotional send off, and Nick, some much-needed prayer. I covet these prayers, and I trust that they will continue. And the night was ended by new life, by the beauty of baptism. People chose to move from death to glorious new life in Jesus Christ. There is no more perfect final memory of RHF.

The last year with RHF has been truly wonderful. The lessons I've learned and the growth toward God and toward community that I have experienced has been good on unimaginable levels. To see the growth we have come through as a community and individuals is inspiring and makes me feel like I have been a part of something real and right.

Thank you family.

Staying true to the nature of this blog, here is a pictoral look at my life and farewell to RHF...

 

 

 

 

 

And now it's time to say goodbye to all our company...

It feels like the end of an era. It is quite strange sitting on this side of working for Disney. I had always wanted to be a part of the magic and for 2 years I was able to. It had it's ups and downs, but I am so glad I was able to be a part of such a fun company and to have had the awesome Disney experiences that I was able to from touring Walt's apartment above the fire station on Main Street, U.S.A. to getting to walk through the Haunted Mansion when it was especially decked-out for Christmas to going to the Cast Member previews of attractions and parades. These are opportunities I will not have again and will not quickly forget. I am so glad to be pursuing my dreams and heading across the pond to Ireland to study books and engage my passions, but before I do, here is a pictoral look back at my Disney life...

THE MAGIC

  

  

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

THE WORK

 

 

 

  

THE PEOPLE

 

M-I-C- See you real soon! K-E-Y- Why? Because I like you!  M-O-U-S-E