(no subject)
So, it's been three and a half weeks so far and I'm almost to my halfway point in Ireland.
Dear God is it July already?
I barely realized it was the 4th the other day. I was too busy moving to my new "homestay."
It's not actually a homestay, but the rental apartment for visitors to the Father Peyton Memorial Center. He was famous in the post-war years as the Rosary Priest and did lots of things with American celebrities and radio and getting people to pray all over the world. So, there are crucifixes (crucifii? ...no) in at least three places in the apartment, including one right above my bed. I guess no bringing boys back from the pub after a few pints to this place either...Although, it would be quite dangerous as the nearest pub is a fifteen-minute drive. Oh yeah, it's isolated here.
I feel more than a little not-Catholic. I know what some of these things are, but they aren't in my family's religious traditions, so I just don't really get why people go on pilgrimage (one of the museums I've worked with so far is part of a pilgrimage site). It's weird trying to explain that my dad is The Rev and that no, Protestants don't all use the same church and no one really calls themselves a Protestant like people call themselves Catholic. I guess this is my culture shock, since it wasn't really odd to see fields of cattle right outside of town.
It's also interesting interacting with some of the people who are supposed to, well, supervise me I guess. One of them, Sister Maureen, is obviously a nun. However, she doesn't wear a habit (haven't seen her in one at all) and listens to popular radio. Listening to Sexy Back in the background when we were driving was...weird. (I've also heard The Final Countdown twice in the last few weeks, and had to desperately hold back the lulz as I saluted in my mind) It's really hard to hold back the lulz as well when she says things like "He had a really attractive display of his meat" when talking about a butchershop the MSU faculty group that was over here for the last two weeks visited for something to do with community development.
Also, I was proposed to the other day by a drunken, not-so-cleanly man on the street the other afternoon waiting to be picked up after going to the chemists' and the post office (and the bookstore >.>). I was not flattered, and was quite glad to see him walk on down the street after refusing to call my parents or kiss him. Next time, I'll remember to say I'm married instead of quickly making up a boyfriend upon realizing my mistake. My husband will, of course, be big, in the Garda (the Irish police), and right in that shop there OH LOOK THERE HE IS goodbye, sir.
I've sent out postcards! There were 14 of them, so I think everyone who asked for one should be receiving it within the next week.
If it stops raining for more than a day, I think I might go into shock. I've got a head cold, and it's probably because I cursed Ireland (I wonder if the Sudafed here can make meth too?). It seriously has rained every day in some part of Ireland since the very day I got off the plane here. I might have also cursed southern Britain, because it's flooding there and people are dying. Sorry!
And now, since this is dialup and not my money paying for it (well, it is, kind of), good night!
Dear God is it July already?
I barely realized it was the 4th the other day. I was too busy moving to my new "homestay."
It's not actually a homestay, but the rental apartment for visitors to the Father Peyton Memorial Center. He was famous in the post-war years as the Rosary Priest and did lots of things with American celebrities and radio and getting people to pray all over the world. So, there are crucifixes (crucifii? ...no) in at least three places in the apartment, including one right above my bed. I guess no bringing boys back from the pub after a few pints to this place either...Although, it would be quite dangerous as the nearest pub is a fifteen-minute drive. Oh yeah, it's isolated here.
I feel more than a little not-Catholic. I know what some of these things are, but they aren't in my family's religious traditions, so I just don't really get why people go on pilgrimage (one of the museums I've worked with so far is part of a pilgrimage site). It's weird trying to explain that my dad is The Rev and that no, Protestants don't all use the same church and no one really calls themselves a Protestant like people call themselves Catholic. I guess this is my culture shock, since it wasn't really odd to see fields of cattle right outside of town.
It's also interesting interacting with some of the people who are supposed to, well, supervise me I guess. One of them, Sister Maureen, is obviously a nun. However, she doesn't wear a habit (haven't seen her in one at all) and listens to popular radio. Listening to Sexy Back in the background when we were driving was...weird. (I've also heard The Final Countdown twice in the last few weeks, and had to desperately hold back the lulz as I saluted in my mind) It's really hard to hold back the lulz as well when she says things like "He had a really attractive display of his meat" when talking about a butchershop the MSU faculty group that was over here for the last two weeks visited for something to do with community development.
Also, I was proposed to the other day by a drunken, not-so-cleanly man on the street the other afternoon waiting to be picked up after going to the chemists' and the post office (and the bookstore >.>). I was not flattered, and was quite glad to see him walk on down the street after refusing to call my parents or kiss him. Next time, I'll remember to say I'm married instead of quickly making up a boyfriend upon realizing my mistake. My husband will, of course, be big, in the Garda (the Irish police), and right in that shop there OH LOOK THERE HE IS goodbye, sir.
I've sent out postcards! There were 14 of them, so I think everyone who asked for one should be receiving it within the next week.
If it stops raining for more than a day, I think I might go into shock. I've got a head cold, and it's probably because I cursed Ireland (I wonder if the Sudafed here can make meth too?). It seriously has rained every day in some part of Ireland since the very day I got off the plane here. I might have also cursed southern Britain, because it's flooding there and people are dying. Sorry!
And now, since this is dialup and not my money paying for it (well, it is, kind of), good night!