Last week I went to Barcelona for 3 days. Although my iPhone and about 60 euro did get stolen, I had the most beautiful and amazing time taking in the sites and spending some time with my amazing friends Iris and Sarah. Its all got me thinking about how absolutely wonderful this past year has been.
12 months ago, on June 3, 2012, I was probably at work or sitting in my apartment in the States being a nervous wreck about my upcoming move to Dublin, Ireland. Looking back, I wish I could tell myself to GET PUMPED! This past year has probably been the best one of my entire life. I realized my dream of living in another country, and it has been beautiful, scary, thrilling and most of all a learning experience in who I am as a person. I came here scared, well actually terrified, and unsure of myself. Now, a full year of college and 10 months later, I've never been more sure of who I am and where I'm at in my life. I've travelled to five countries, made amazing friends and completed a year of college in subjects I absolutely LOVE. Sitting here writing this, there's tears in my eyes from how happy I am. After the past few years I'd had, I didn't think I would ever get to be this happy. It feels like a dream. I just want to put it out there to the internet, the world, the universe, and whoever is out there listening, that I am beyond thankful for my life and all of my experiences. Even the tough experiences, especially those. Without tough times, years like my last one wouldn't taste so sweet.
To all of you amazing, beautiful, talented and interesting people who grace my life, I love you! My family by blood and my family by experience-my life would be empty without all of you. Don't worry, I'm fully aware of how sappy this all sounds. But its true, and I have to say it. I love all of you in NC and I love all of you who I've met since I've moved to Dublin. How lucky am I?? Life really is beautiful.
I'm heading to NC to visit for the summer in less than a month. I can't wait to see all my friends and family there in person, and not just through a computer screen. I'm also going to get to see my sister(not by blood, but you all know that by now) Bridget get married. Then in August, I'll be packing up and heading back to Dublin. I can't wait to see what this next year holds :)
xoxo,
Erin
Monday, June 3, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
"Live tonight because you can't take it with ya, raise your pint for the people who aren't with us"
I found this song by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis today. Not only is it awesome, but it totally reminded me of my Mom. She would have loved to hear this song! Raising my pint to you Mom!!
Monday, March 11, 2013
“It’s a funny thing about comin' home. Looks the same, smells the same, feels the same. You’ll realize what's changed is you.” Benjamin Button
I literally cannot believe that its nearly mid-March. I've been living in Dublin since August 2012 and have loved every single minute of it--even the hard moments of adjusting to living somewhere far away from everything familiar. But, as I'm about to purchase my plane ticket to NC where I'll be for 2 months this summer before returning to Dublin, I'm wondering if I'll experience reverse culture shock. It will have been nearly a year since I'll have been back. I've completely re-adjusted to life in Dublin and I know I won't be staying in NC permanently so I won't be changing habits just for the summer. I'm SO excited to go back and see my family and friends and participate in my best friend's wedding, but there's a great deal of anxiety as well. I'll just cross that bridge when I get there I guess!
In the meantime, here are a few things I'm looking forward to about NC:
1. family!
2. friends I haven't seen in too long
3. TARGET
In the meantime, here are a few things I'm looking forward to about NC:
1. family!
2. friends I haven't seen in too long
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| makeup! clothes! groceries! all in one convenient location
4. The Pit- barbecue, sweet tea, bourbon, mac'n'cheese
5. Long, hot, sunny walks at Lake Johnson
6. Seeing Fayetteville St.--my favorite area in Downtown Raleigh
7. Yates Mill Pond--my favorite little hidden gem of Raleigh. I completely feel like I'm in another time when I'm there
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Monday, February 18, 2013
Cork Weekend Getaway
This past Saturday I headed down to Cork with a few friends for the weekend. It was really nice to get out of the city and take a little break for awhile. We went to the English Market(Bobby Flay and Rick Steves visited it on their shows, so obviously I had to go too!) and it was VERY impressive. There were all kinds of beautiful meats and seafood. Oh, and a giant blanket sized piece of tripe(gross!). There were cute sandwich and bakery stalls as well. We had already eaten before we went so I didn't try anything, but I'm sure I'll be back and I'll be sure to sample some things then!
After that we went up to see University College Cork where one of my friends I was with went to college. The campus is GORGEOUS. There's a pretty little river that runs through it and the buildings are just stunning. It reminded me a bit of Duke University in Durham, NC. I think I read somewhere that part of its design was based on UCC, but I'll have to confirm that!
That evening we went and heard a friend of a friend's band play for their new album launch in town. It was a great weekend filled with lots of laughs, and I look forward to more in the future!
After that we went up to see University College Cork where one of my friends I was with went to college. The campus is GORGEOUS. There's a pretty little river that runs through it and the buildings are just stunning. It reminded me a bit of Duke University in Durham, NC. I think I read somewhere that part of its design was based on UCC, but I'll have to confirm that!
That evening we went and heard a friend of a friend's band play for their new album launch in town. It was a great weekend filled with lots of laughs, and I look forward to more in the future!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Get in Gear 2013!
Tomorrow after class I'm signing up for the Get in Gear program with UCD. Its essentially a 5 week fitness challenge. You take an initial fitness/health test and then for the next five weeks you can choose to sign up for as few or as many fitness classes at varying levels of intensity(low, medium, and high). At the end of the 5 weeks you take another fitness/health test and see how far you've come! They have Zumba, pole dancing (I mean come on, if something like that is offered I have no choice but to try it) and a class who's description sounds a lot like the Body Attack class I used to take at my gym back in NC plus tons more. I'm really excited to just jump right back into my old favorites and try out some new things like kettle bells. I've always preferred fitness classes to only doing the elliptical or the treadmill.
My roommate Tracy told me about the program today, which also happened to be the day that I decided to get back on track with my health. I've been eating A LOT of takeaways and frozen pizzas since I moved into the house and it was making me feel so lethargic. Because I don't have a car and I walk everywhere I hadn't gained much weight, but I hate eating that way. Plus, I love to cook so it really wasn't making sense. I just got into some bad lazy habits. Anyway, today I was back to my healthy ways and even just after today I already feel so much better. I made an awesome taco-inspired salad for dinner and it was super tasty!
My roommate Tracy told me about the program today, which also happened to be the day that I decided to get back on track with my health. I've been eating A LOT of takeaways and frozen pizzas since I moved into the house and it was making me feel so lethargic. Because I don't have a car and I walk everywhere I hadn't gained much weight, but I hate eating that way. Plus, I love to cook so it really wasn't making sense. I just got into some bad lazy habits. Anyway, today I was back to my healthy ways and even just after today I already feel so much better. I made an awesome taco-inspired salad for dinner and it was super tasty!
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| A couple tablespoons of salsa as dressing--yum! |
Not to mention the fact that I'm the maid of honour in Bridget's upcoming August wedding so I need to be looking my best by then :)
Here's to getting fit and eating clean in Dublin in 2013!
xoxo,
Erin
Sunday, January 27, 2013
"Rock Me Mama Like a Wagon Wheel" Old Crow Medicine Show comes to Dublin!
One of my favorite bands is coming to Dublin on Wednesday and I'm headed to the show with a couple of friends! Old Crow Medicine Show are kind of bluegrass-y, rock and country but not really any of those things at all. Apparently they've been influenced strongly by Bob Dylan, and you can definitely hear his influence in their songs.
Their song "Wagon Wheel" is kind of an ode to Raleigh, NC and whenever it comes on at the bars back home everyone stops what they're doing and sings every word. I'm SO excited to get to see them here!
Their song "Wagon Wheel" is kind of an ode to Raleigh, NC and whenever it comes on at the bars back home everyone stops what they're doing and sings every word. I'm SO excited to get to see them here!
Monday, January 21, 2013
Have a Little Faith, plus a Roman 24th Birthday :)
Life is good--This past week I got to spend 5 days in Rome with one of my friends from home, Carly, and my friend Sarah who I met in Dublin. I had been a few years ago, so it was pretty awesome to go a second time. I got to see the Coliseum, the Forum and the Vatican again. I really enjoyed getting to notice new and different things the second time around.
But the best part of my trip to Rome was when Sarah and I found the Scala Santa just next to the San Giovanni in Laterno cathedral. The Scala Santa are holy stairs that were brought to Rome by the Emperor Constantine's mother, St. Helena, in 326 AD from Jerusalem. They were the steps that led to Pontius Pilot's offices and are reportedly the very steps that Jesus walked up when he went to speak with Pilot just before his crucifixion. There are still a few spots on the steps where drops of blood can be seen. After searching around for a couple of hours with no luck in finding the Scala Santa we finally found them in a completely undecorated and plain looking building. When we walked through the doors, however, there was a palpable sense of awe and I immediately knew our searching was well worth the effort. For a few minutes we just stood and watched as other pilgrims climbed the Scala Santa on their hands and knees-a requirement to ascend the stairs as a sign of respect. Watching people from every corner of the globe undertake this pilgrimage filled me with gratitude for the opportunity to climb them myself and awe of what I was looking at.
As Sarah and I walked up to the stairs and knelt down on the first step I tried to take in everything around me-the beautiful frescoes on the walls, the ancient marble beneath my knees, the visible drops of blood, the elderly woman undertaking the climb and fully prostrating herself on the stairs. I was overcome with feelings. To visually witness faith in action is staggeringly beautiful. The people climbing these steps may have been motivated by faith in a Christian God and Jesus Christ, but to just think that faith in whatever form or religion you choose is enough to send you half way around the world on a pilgrimage to pay respect and honour to something bigger than yourself is amazing. Faith pushes humanity forward and gives it something to hold onto when things are so dark that there seems to be no way out. Its what has convinced me that there is a beautiful place and Someone who loves all of humanity enough to let us have an entire lifetime of learning and growth. Faith is the reason I know my mom is resting and full of joy and was smiling down on Sarah and I as we reached the top step of the Scala Santa with bruised knees and souls overflowing with faith, love and gratitude. In short, it was one of the most unique, amazing and simple experiences of my life. I would never trade that half hour for anything.
And on top of all of that, I turned 24 while we were in Roma! Carly and Sarah got me balloons and a princess crown and the day was just perfect. We stopped for cappuccini, strolled all over the city and had a dinner out. I couldn't have asked for anything better! I'm so lucky to have such thoughtful and amazing friends!
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| St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City |
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| Lacoon--my favorite sculpture |
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| Carly's cute ballerina bun, snapping a shot inside St. Peter's |
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| Cannoli, gelato and a cappuccino--what more could a girl need? |
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| Salmon and prawn risotto--can you tell half of Rome's charm is it's food? :) |
But the best part of my trip to Rome was when Sarah and I found the Scala Santa just next to the San Giovanni in Laterno cathedral. The Scala Santa are holy stairs that were brought to Rome by the Emperor Constantine's mother, St. Helena, in 326 AD from Jerusalem. They were the steps that led to Pontius Pilot's offices and are reportedly the very steps that Jesus walked up when he went to speak with Pilot just before his crucifixion. There are still a few spots on the steps where drops of blood can be seen. After searching around for a couple of hours with no luck in finding the Scala Santa we finally found them in a completely undecorated and plain looking building. When we walked through the doors, however, there was a palpable sense of awe and I immediately knew our searching was well worth the effort. For a few minutes we just stood and watched as other pilgrims climbed the Scala Santa on their hands and knees-a requirement to ascend the stairs as a sign of respect. Watching people from every corner of the globe undertake this pilgrimage filled me with gratitude for the opportunity to climb them myself and awe of what I was looking at.
As Sarah and I walked up to the stairs and knelt down on the first step I tried to take in everything around me-the beautiful frescoes on the walls, the ancient marble beneath my knees, the visible drops of blood, the elderly woman undertaking the climb and fully prostrating herself on the stairs. I was overcome with feelings. To visually witness faith in action is staggeringly beautiful. The people climbing these steps may have been motivated by faith in a Christian God and Jesus Christ, but to just think that faith in whatever form or religion you choose is enough to send you half way around the world on a pilgrimage to pay respect and honour to something bigger than yourself is amazing. Faith pushes humanity forward and gives it something to hold onto when things are so dark that there seems to be no way out. Its what has convinced me that there is a beautiful place and Someone who loves all of humanity enough to let us have an entire lifetime of learning and growth. Faith is the reason I know my mom is resting and full of joy and was smiling down on Sarah and I as we reached the top step of the Scala Santa with bruised knees and souls overflowing with faith, love and gratitude. In short, it was one of the most unique, amazing and simple experiences of my life. I would never trade that half hour for anything.
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| Scala Santa |
My second semester at UCD starts tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to my classes this semester. I hope everyone's weeks are off to a fabulous start!
Love,
Erin xoxo
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