More unedited ramblings. Yay?

It's been awhile.  Sorry, everyone.  And sorry a second time, because I am also going to use the lame excuse of "Oh I just had to settle in first"...However, I'm using this excuse because it's the truth.  I knew it was going to probably be a difficult transition, but I didn't realize how strongly the culture shock would hit me.  The past two weeks I have been mostly tired, or confused, or hungry, or stressed, or sometimes all of the above.

There have been some good moments, though.  A lot of good moments, actually- like the end of the first day of school, when I happened to sit down in an empty seat and was joined by a group of girls who have turned out to be incredibly nice and friendly.  Let me tell you, in a school so small that people in sixth year know most of the first years, having someone nice to talk to (much less a friend like the ones I've made) during breaks or lunch is a lifesaver.  Seriously.

I've gotten into a good routine, especially this last week, and I'm starting to settle in so well that I have to make myself take a step back and say "What is my life anymore? How the heck did I get here?".  I mean, this week alone, the stuff I've done has kind of blown my mind.  In P.E., I went freaking horseback riding.  At home, I wouldn't even be doing P.E. right now, and even if I was, it would consist of a random sport here and there, or walking around the track and talking.  And in my first real P.E. class here, I was able to go horseback riding through this beautiful trail in the middle of the Irish countryside.  And just tonight, one of the other students and I went for a walk down by the sea.  It was cold and wet and drizzling, and the tide was in, so the waves were several meters high and crashing over the rail of the walk.  We stopped and watched the people surfing in the middle of it, and I wished I already knew how so that I could join them.
I can't believe how blessed I am.  It sounds typical to say, but if you had told me at this time last year when I first started to try and do this exchange that I would be living in a gorgeous old Irish house within walking distance of the sea, I would have considered you mentally deranged. 

But now, here I am.  I am living in a gorgeous old Irish house within walking distance of the sea.  I have a cup of tea at nearly every meal and sometimes in between.  I take the bus into town on the weekend for my own errands.  I'm going to join the local surfing club and go surfing every Saturday morning.  I'm going with my family to Killarney next week to see Riverdance and stay in a hostel for the first time (I know, I'm such an American).  I'm meeting people I would never have known existed otherwise.  I can count to ten in Irish.  Oh, and I'm here until January.
Seriously, how blessed am I?

Granted, I'm making it sound a lot cooler than it really has been.  I have been getting over the "honeymoon phase" of culture shock during the last couple days, and started to experience real homesickness for the first time.  A couple nights ago, I had a really vivid dream that involved so many of my friends back home, and my sister was helping me to clean my room, and something big was about to happen so she kept telling me not to forget my shoelaces.  I couldn't understand why I would need them, and she was trying to explain but kept getting really frustrated.  I jerked awake, and it took me a few seconds to remember where I was and that I wasn't back home with my family.  That realization made me extremely sad, and I spent my shower time that morning trying to perk myself up for the day.  I haven't cried from homesickness yet, but I know I will before this stay is over. 
That being said, I'm really glad that I'm with a family that has had students before, and I'm so grateful to have other students in the house at the same time.  We can help each other that way.  One of the girls and I are hoping to take a day trip into Dublin soon, to see the city and maybe do a little shopping (though that will probably be in a couple months).

Before I wrap this post up, I am going to ask for everyone's prayers, because I have been getting homesick, but also because I've been having trouble finding a church.  There's a protestant church in the town, so I'm going to try to go there, but I am still missing having a body of people around me that I can go to regularly.  I don't know quite how to describe the feeling- it's like I'm homesick for fellowship.  That's been a big struggle lately.  So, any and all prayers/encouragement would be appreciated.

Thanks to everyone who actually takes the time to read all my crap- sorry this post isn't particularly imaginative or interesting.  It's just what came to my head when I sat down to write it.  However next weekend I'll have the trip to Killarney to talk about, so I'll have a nicely polished post for you all to read.  So get excited.