Current Update

I have many posts saved but they won't format to update so that will have to be done later. But as a current status after 8 inches of snow and the Dublin Airport closed all night they are back up and operational. I am heading to the airport to fight the crowds and am very positive and hopeful that at the end of this day I will be home with my family! So for now off I go and my next post will be stateside! Merry Christmas and be blessed with many fun times with friends and family!!

May I Have a Drumroll Please.....

I feel that this is important enough to have its own post. As of Friday evening I have finished all the paperwork and assignments to complete my degree in Elementary Education! I have applied for my certificate and it should be in the mailbox waiting for me when I arrive home! I can't believe that after 2 years of classes, numerous papers, assignments, and projects, many sleepless nights, and long trips to Charleston for classes I am done with this portion of the journey to becoming a teacher. In many ways it feels like yesterday that I made the decision to go back to school to pursue my dream of becoming a teacher and yet at the same time it feels like forever. I have had many great experiences over the last couple of years and have met some very wonderful people along the way. I am thankful for all of my friends and family who have encouraged and supported me every step of the way and listened to me complain many and many of times about papers, projects and the such. You are all amazing and I am blessed you are a part of my life. I have learned so much about myself the last two years and have definitely grown as a person. Student teaching in Ireland has been the perfect conclusion to this journey and the impact it has had on me is unmeasurable. I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend my time student teaching abroad. It has given me many opportunities and experiences I otherwise wouldn't have had. It really was the right choice for me and I am glad I pursued it and was able to participate in such a program. Now I guess I need to find a job and become a working citizen again! But at least it will be doing a job that I love and that is what counts and matters the most!

Never a Dull Moment in Ireland

Wow! That's all I can say about this week. It has been very hectic with many things going on. When I returned from Germany last weekend I had a pretty bad cold. I have been fighting it most of the week and whenever I think I am getting better I am actually getting worse. But as always a little cold hasn't slowed me down....hmmmm....maybe that's why it's not going away.

This week I had to do a lot of planning for lessons and getting ready for my observation/evaluation by my COST students teaching coordinator that was on Thursday. I really enjoy teaching my students and this week we had quite a bit of fun learning about the Renaissance, Making ice crystals and snowflakes, and the Traditions of Christmas all over the world. And let's not forget the Children's mass and Christmas concert and a trip to Kenmare to see a Christmas version of Old Mother Hubbard at the theatre. It was my last full week in the classroom and I really enjoyed planning fun lessons/activities for the students. I am a very hands-on type of person and I love creating lessons that get the kids active.

To start off the week on Monday, Joe (father of host family) had an accident as he was helping unload wood and got his hand stuck in the shaft of the forklift. He was taken to the Tralee hospital where it was determined that he had two broken fingers, a third finger that was crushed, and quite a bit of nerve, tendon, and tissue damage. He was being sent to Cork hospital to see a specialist on Tuesday morning. There he was kept in the hospital for surgery on Wednesday. He underwent surgery of Wednesday and did come home on Thursday. He is in great spirits and very thankful that he will make a full recovery. It is going to be a long process that will involve physical therapy and currently he is in a cast for the next 4 to 6 weeks.
It was very hard for the kids to have him gone in the hospital for a couple of nights but they are very relieved and happy that he is home. They waited to put up the Christmas tree until he got home and we spent Friday night doing that until we ran into a light issue....now it is on hold.

Also on Monday I received a package that contained many baking goodies. Thank you Ann for your thoughtfulness. When the girls saw a package they asked what they had received! So of course I let them help open it and they were so delighted to see all the baking supplies. We have already made some goodies and I am sure the weekend will include some baking fun! I love being able to bake with them and am so thankful and grateful to everyone who has helped make that possible. I am very blessed to have such wonderful people in my life.

I spent several late nights working on student teaching paperwork and getting evaluations and assignments done. I hate waiting til the last minute but unfortunately, or is it fortunately, I work well under pressure. I did get everything turned in by Friday evening so there will be no delay in getting my grades posted. This is what I was aiming for and thankfully I accomplished that.

Also during the week I have spent three nights at meetings planning a disco with the 6th class. They are so very excited about the disco that is supposed to be held this evening. I just hope the weather holds and we will still be able to have it. They will be devastated if it has to be canceled. And so will I as this is a big deal to them and it is my last big event before going home.

Friday morning we awoke to 4 inches of snow and the snowflakes that were falling were the biggest snowflakes I have ever seen. Ireland has seen a dusting of snow before but an accumulation like this is certainly unheard of. The kids and parents alike were all caught up in the excitement. In fact the parents were having a snowball fight in front of the school Friday morning. It was really funny to watch them all act like kids. Seeing all the snow was really a beautiful sight. All the surrounding mountains and field covered in a fresh layer of white was simply remarkable.

This weekend is going to be busy as I have the disco this evening, on Sunday there is a singing/dancing performance that my students are in, and I need to begin the big task of packing. As the time is drawing very close for me to depart Ireland and head on. But we aren't going to dwell on that today! Today I am going to wrap a couple Christmas presents and prepare to have a great time at a very fun disco with some wonderful kids!

Exploring and Discovering Germany

Have you ever traveled somewhere and instantly felt so connected and like you belonged there?! That is how I felt about Germany. Everything about Germany from the people to the land to the rich history and culture made me just adore this country. Four days was certainly not enough time but it was enough to make me realize that one day I will go back.

As always, with my weekend trips there are stories to tell because something always has to go awry. Even though at the time it is stressful, looking back I can laugh and just shrug and say that it is all just part of the experience. On Wednesday night I flew out of the Kerry Airport in Ireland heading to Frankfurt-Hahn Airport in Germany. I met a very nice girl on the flight and we talked all the way there. I enjoy meeting people on planes because you never know where they are from or their story. The time was getting closer for us to land when the captain came on and announced that the Hahn airport was closed due to the snow they were receiving. We were being re-routed to the Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport. These are not words that any passenger wants to hear but especially ones who have no clue where that airport is and can't speak the language. Ryanair has to transport their passengers to the original destination so buses were being arranged to take us from Karlsruhe to Hahn which was 200 km away. By bus it would take about 3 hours and that didn't factor in the snow. Oh great, a long sleepless night was ahead I thought. Once we reached our new airport destination I called the family I was couchsurfing with for the weekend to update them on what was going on.

After several crazy phone calls and trying to figure out what would be best it was decided I would stay at the airport hotel in Karlsruhe and then in the morning take the train from Baden-Baden to Mainz. This made the most sense due to the new location and the timing of everything. So I walked across the street and checked into the hotel and decided the sleep was going to be worth the extra cost I had to incur. Gudula, the lady I was staying with, was absolutely amazing as she faxed me a letter with the train schedule for the next day and the best options to take. She really was a blessing and so helpful in guiding me in what to do. It is so nice to have a connection with someone who is familiar with the country and how to get around.

On a quick side note as I was going through customs in Germany and the guard took my passport looked at it then looked at me and then began speaking to me in Germany. With a confused look on my face I said...English please. He said, Oh you don't speak German and I responded with No I don't. He smiled and said but your last name is German. I just laughed and agreed that it was. This was the first time I realized that here in Germany people would recognize my name. I go from a country that most people can't pronounce it without being told or spell it to a place where people assume I am from Germany by my last name.

Thursday morning I awoke early to catch the shuttle bus from the airport to the train station. I bought my train ticket and found my way to the platform. All of this can be a little nerve wracking when everything is in German and you have no idea what is going on. The train ride went smoothly and we got into the connecting station without too much delay. The snow the night before was causing some delays and problems along the line which I was really going to find out about shortly. I got on the next train in Manneheim heading for Mainz....I thought all was going quite smoothly until the train stopped and there we stayed for quite some time. Of course the conductor was great about giving updates but it was all in German so I had no clue what was happening. I contacted Conrad to let him know the train was delayed. What went from a 10 minute delay turned into a 111minute delay. Along the way I finally found a lady who was kind enough to translate for me what was taking place. Finally I arrived in Mainz and found Conrad who was waiting for me. We got to the house and I took some time to relax and unwind from the crazy morning before I took off to see the city in the afternoon.

Mainz -

I spent Thursday afternoon wandering the streets of Mainz taking in some of the historical sites and spending some time at the local Christmas market. Gudula had left some wonderful maps that aided me throughout the day and helped me find my way. I visited the SS Martin and Stephen Cathedral which was quite impressive, the Augustinian Church/Seminary Church, Iron Tower, Wooden Tower, Church of St. Peter, Regional Museum, Kirschgarten (Cherry Orchard), Castle of the Prince Elector, and walked along the Rhein River for a bit enjoying the view. I also spent some time just wandering through streets window shopping and then took in the Christmas market. I briefly walked through when I first arrived in the old city area to just get a glimpse of it but then I went back once it had gotten dark to really experience it and visit all the stalls and taste some of the glorious food.

 

Frankfurt - 
I chose to stay in Mainz for the weekend because it was located near some major towns that I was interested in visiting and the rail would make them all accessible pretty easily. For some reason with this trip I really wanted to visit and explore several different places and not just stay in one city. So up and off I went to Frankfurt for the day. I really didn't have a plan or even a map...I am either getting braver or crazier! Or maybe a little of both. So I bought my rail ticket and set off for Frankfurt. I enjoy riding the train and watching the countryside pass by. I knew that Frankfurt was a bigger city and was going to have many train stations but I figured it was going to be best to get off at the Main station because it was the Main station so that would be close to where I wanted to be, right....nope wrong. But thankfully I figured this out before I got off the train thanks to a lady who took pity on me and started asking what I was interested in doing and seeing in Frankfurt. She then told me what station to get off at and even got off with me to help me get orientated and pointed me in the right direction. I am so thankful for people who are so kind and willing to help others out. I got off right by the Christmas markets and right where the Old and New parts of Frankfurt meet.


I decided that today was just going to be spent wandering and see what I found. So that is exactly what I did. I spent time exploring the Old City and admiring the churches/cathedrals and just the buildings in general. I crossed the river and just did my own little walking tour. I always find it so peaceful to just walk the streets and take in the surroundings. You can learn so much about a city just by walking and looking.

I really admired how the Old and the New meshed together....it gave Frankfurt quite a unique look and feel which is one of the reasons I really enjoyed this city. Of course I also spent plenty of time wandering all the stalls in the Christmas markets and enjoying the festive atmosphere.

 

 

After getting my fill of Frankfurt and it was still quite early I decided to hop back on the train and head to Weisbaden to check out the Christmas market there. I knew that it was past Mainz so in theory if I stayed on the train I would get there. And don't you know it...I was right. So off I got at Weisbaden and set out to find the Christmas market. This market was very scenic as it had lighted decorations overhead in the shapes of lilies. And being set among some very picturesque buildings made for quite a sight. I enjoyed walking throughout the markets visiting the different stalls. Before it got too late I decided to take the train and head back to Mainz and spend some time with the family I was staying with. I spent the evening talking with Gudula and Conrad....it was a nice evening getting to know them and sharing stories.




Heidelberg -
After breakfast with the family I headed to the train station and was on my way to Heidelberg. My goal for the day was to visit the Christmas markets and Schloss Castle. I got off at the Main train station in Heidelberg, found a map and located where I was and where I needed to go. It was quite a trek but off I went. I love having the ability to read a map and find my way. I made it to the Bergbahn which is the mountain railway that goes up to Schloss Castle. The Bergbahn also goes up to Konigstuhl which is on top of the mountain and the view from the there is gorgeous. I made the stop at Schloss Castle and toured the grounds and the castle itself. The Castle was so big and it was fun to walk around parts of it and imagine it the way it used to be. I think I should have been a German princess that lived in a great big castle! It would have suited me! From the castle I took the Bergbahn all the way to the top. It was so much fun...halfway up you have to stop and switch rail cars and the one that takes you to the top is a wooden train. I sat in the front going up and then down...so cool. At the top it was quite quite cold and snowy so I didn't stick around long...snapped a few pictures and then got back in the wooden train for the ride down.

 Next stop was more Christmas markets...they are spread out across 5 different squares. So I wandered all over Heidelberg visiting all the markets and seeing the churches and other buildings. I have to say that my favorite thing is vising the Christmas markets at dark to see everything lit up. At one of the squares the backdrop of the market is the Schloss Castle that also lights up at night. Words can't describe the sight it makes and how you feel being there. After seeing aand doing all I came to do it was time to make the journey back to Mainz. So I found a train station that was closer than the main station and was on my way.

My days in Germany definitely went by too fast but I did make the most of them and enjoyed all the different things I did and places I saw. The Christmas markets are spectacular sights and I was glad to be able to visit ones in different towns to see the differences. The thing that I learned is that most of them have all the same type of things and what really sets them apart is the location and atmosphere. Each one had a different vibe to them that made it unique. The markets also had more food stalls than I thought they would and trying different foods is all part of the experience. I tried so many types of delicious foods and I guess my German blood shines through because I loved all the different types of bratwursts. Who knew there were so many to choose from. Thankfully I walked a lot over the weekend so I didn't feel quite so guilty. I figured out the trick to staying warm at the markets....always have something warm in your hands....might I suggest a bratwurst, or a crepe, or even some Gluhwein (mulled wine)!

I have to put in a note on how thankful I am to have chosen some great people to couchsurf with. I have really enjoyed trying couchsurfing and find it a great way to meet new people. This family was very welcoming and it was fun to get to know them. The kids spoke limited English so it was rather interesting but they liked having me teach them new words in English. They live in a great neighborhood that is close to the city centre and the train station. It was rather ideal and the house was very accommodating. They have a fairly new house that they designed and had built. It is more of a modern design but I loved the layout and my favourite part was heated floors! Love it and think that all houses should have that. For starting off so skeptical about couchsurfing I will admit I am so glad I gave it a chance...not just once but twice. I vowed to try new things and I think I have been quite successful in doing just that.

And now for the conclusion of my trip...
Sunday morning had a very early start as I had a plane to catch. It was unfortunately time to say goodbye to Germany and head back to Ireland. I took a taxi to the train/bus station to catch the bus at 6:45am, but the bus never showed up which started to send me into a little bit of a panic. And even more so when no one could answer why it didn't come or if the 8am bus was going to arrive. Mainz to the Frankfurt-Hahn airport is quite expensive by taxi so the bus is the best way to go and unfortunately those are the only two options. I will admit I was on the verge of a meltdown and the lack of sleep and being sick weren't helping matters. So I decided to ignore the time difference and call mom. Then in the midst of our phone conversation and still unsure of what to do my phone died. Nothing like waking someone up to just have the phone die....oops! And not to mention causing her to worry. I decided to wander back outside to the bus stop and to my joy and amazement saw several people waiting...this gave me hope that the 8am bus was going to arrive! And thankfully it did and the I made it to the airport in plenty of time to check in and get through security. There were no delays and we arrived back in Kerry ahead of schedule. I took the bus into Killarney where my ride back to Sneem was waiting for me. She needed to do a little shopping before heading back to Sneem which was fine by me, this would give me the opportunity to stop at a couple places. And I was able to finish my Christmas shopping....that is such a great feeling!

I was so happy when I finally arrived back home....I love my weekend getaways but there is something to be said for being back at home. So that's a wrap on my weekend in Germany. Thanks Germany for an amazing time! Sure can't wait to visit again someday!

What's Next on the Traveling Agenda?

It may only be Wednesday and most people are thankful for the middle of the weekend and counting down til the weekend arrives. But for me the weekend begins today! I fly out this evening for Germany and will spend through the weekend exploring different cities and hopefully getting my fill of Christmas markets. I am looking forward to this trip and another great experience. Due to a successful couchsurfing experience in London, I am again couchsurfing in Germany. I am staying with a family in Mainz...they sound like a lovely family and I can't wait to meet them and their three kids. Sure to be a fun filled weekend and of course there will be stories to be told on Sunday/Monday when I return.

Looking forward to the weekend away before the craziness of next week. I have a couple projects left to finish for EIU and I get officially observed next Thursday. After that I will be able to breathe a little and enjoy my last remaining time here in Ireland. Going to make the most of every day that I am still here....it is going to be a great remaining couple of weeks and there are plenty of things going on that will keep me busy.
For now though it is off to Germany I go! So happy early weekend to me!

A Festive Weekend

Blogging several days at a time seems to be my thing here lately....guess it works for me. So let's see what the weekend held and all the fun things I did. Last week held a couple rough days for me but what better way to kick off the weekend than coming home from school on Friday to a package from my mom! It made me smile with all the goodies packed inside but more importantly it reminded me of how loved I am and how much people support me even when we are miles apart. Thank you mom for that reminder and for being such an amazing mom! And thanks for the Skype call and listening to me vent and go on and on and on! So after my talk with mom and oogling over my package I spent the evening baking chocolate chip pan cookies with the girls and then stayed up late playing cards. It was a fun and relaxing evening at home and so enjoyable teaching the girls new card games and they even taught me one too!

Saturday morning I awoke to a very icy day but the sun was bright and shining and even the temperature was tolerable. So I decided I was going for a long walk to enjoy the morning. I headed out and I am not sure if it was a walk or more of a skating journey. Going up and down hills on pure ice can be a little tricky....takes talent! I walked the road up the mountains that stays by the bay and enjoyed some great views and just my time out. I love my walks and runs as it gives me time to just be and think and enjoy my surroundings. I found some really beautiful houses overlooking the bay that were for sale....hmmmm.....a great holiday home possibly! Wouldn't that be fabulous to own a holiday home in Ireland?!?! Oh maybe someday! I somehow managed to become overly engrossed in my walk that on my way up I failed to realize there was a slight fork/bend in the road so that when I came back down I missed the bend and kept walking forward. When the road turned to a gravel/dirt pasture road I realized I wasn't on the right path anymore. But the extra little detour doesn't hurt anything and it actually gave me a spectacular view of the mountain which I always enjoy. After finding my way back to the main road I made my journey back in towards the village where I did a little shopping and browsing around and picked up a few groceries for the house.
Once back at the house it was time to dig in and do some baking to prepare for the bake sale on Sunday. The girls and I made lemon bars, chocolate peanut butter cups, and sugar cookies in lovely Christmas shapes. It was a really fun afternoon and the girls had never baked Christmas cookies before. They loved rolling out the dough and cutting the shapes and of course decorating them all as well. I love that I have been able to bring new experiences to them through doing things that I really enjoy. They are always asking to bake and I won't turn them down because that is how you learn and create memories and traditions. Saturday evening I rode with a friend of the family's, Diane, to Kenmare and watched the secondary students put on a production of the musical, Hairspray. The students there did a phenomenal job and the talent that they had was astounding. Some of those kids have amazing voices and a real talent for acting.

Sunday started off quite hectic as we had to set-up the booth at the Christmas Craft Fair at the Sneem Hotel. The sixth class is hosting a disco on the 18th of December and were raising funds to put on the disco and also for the Bees for Batten Foundation. It was a really long day and started off with some negativity but by the end of the day they were a bunch of happy kids as they sold all of their sweets/treats and even won the prize for having the best decorated booth at the fair. I am so proud of all of their hard work and am so glad they asked me to be a part of organizing this and the disco with them. After seeing all of their effort for the bake sale I can't wait to for the actual disco as I know it will be a smashing success! They raised quite a bit of money and were very good at talking with the people and selling up all of the baked goods. And a huge thanks goes out to everyone who baked something...without you our success wouldn't have been possible.
Being at the craft fair all day was also a great way to interact and mingle with the community members. I met and talked to so many people throughout the day. This village has really been a blessing to me and I am so thankful for my time here. I enjoyed wandering the fair and browsing all the neat crafts that were there...made for a productive Christmas shopping time as well! After the fair I was so exhausted and ready to just relax. I spent the evening proofreading a paper on Bullying for Taryn...which I was more than happy to do for her. Just shows that you can still be there for your friends even with many miles separating you. Got to enjoy a wonderful skype date with her as well....always a pleasure talking with her and laughing and sharing stories.

Overall it was a fantastic weekend full of many things. I love the holiday season and can't believe it is already here but I am enjoying it and all the different events and festivities that are taking place. And I am such a lucky girl as I get to celebrate or enjoy Christmas festivities in 4 different countries! Now isn't that just amazing! Loving it! It is going to be a short school week for me and then off to Germany for a few days. It is my last trip around Europe before I leave and go back to the states. You can be sure I will make the most of it and enjoy every moment of it! For now I must go to school and celebrate the success of yesterday's bake sale with my students as I tell them exactly how much money they raised! Can't wait to see them smiling with joy!

Snowy Ireland

Last year was the first time in 30 years that Ireland received any type of snow or real winter-like weather. This year is starting to prove that it could be just like last year except that it is starting about a month sooner. Snow fell Saturday evening thus causing the roads to freeze. Ireland is not equipped to handle the snow or icy conditions therefore when it happens most everything shuts down. Not to mention the temps have been around -10 degrees Celsius which is also pretty much unheard of. I will say though that for me it is more mild than winters in Illinois. Yes it is cold but there is no wind chill factor or large snow accumulations. Honestly the mountains covered in snow is a very pretty sight and makes for a great picture taking opportunity. The roads were pretty hazardous Sunday and Monday making any type of travel including just into the village pretty difficult. The students had so much fun out on break sliding across the school yard and having snowball fights. They were quite amusing to watch, just wish I had their energy and enthusiasm. 

 

 

It was decided on Monday that school would be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday due to the weather conditions. Just one of those perks of being a teacher…I love snow days! So on Tuesday I spent the day working on different projects and we even went up to the farm and attempted to sled! There wasn’t enough snow to go down on our own so I would pull or push the girls on the sled. It really was a fun time! The day was cold but the sun was nice and bright and helped to clear most of the main roads. Later in the afternoon we received a text that school was back in session for Wednesday due to the improvement in weather conditions. Boo for only one snow day, but at least it was a fun one and a nice one day break! The girls even went out and built a snowman….the cutest little snowman ever!

 

The London Experience

Whenever I come home from a weekend trip I am always delayed in writing about it. I am not sure why this is but that just seems to be how it goes. So let’s talk about London!

I left for London on Thursday evening...it is always such an adventure for me to just get to my destination and of course back again. But this is what happens when you are living in the country and relying on others for rides and public transportation. I journeyed from Sneem to Killarney by mini bus then waited there at the bus station for a bit then took the bus to the Kerry Airport. I had almost a two hour wait and this airport is tiny so there is absolutely nothing to do. Lucky for me though as I was going through security I started talking with the lady in front of me who ended up being from London and we ended talking the whole time we waited for our flight. Once I landed at the Stansted Airport I had to take a bus to London City Centre to the Victoria Station which takes about an hour and a half. From there I took the underground to South Wimbledon which is a half an hour. By the time I reached by final destination for the evening it was late and I was exhausted. And thank you to the bus station ticket lady for telling me the wrong directions and what tube line to get on….thankfully I can read a map and realized she was wrong before I got on the underground.

I didn’t say much too many about my accommodations while in London because I didn’t want people to worry or fret about it, but now that I am home and the weekend was a success I will share the details. After arriving in Ireland I had heard talk about this new way to visit places if you were on a budget and that was to couch surf. There is a website, www.couchsurfing.org, which you can go onto and search to see if there are any hosts in a particular area or town. You join the site and can send requests off to see if someone will let you stay with them. I know this may sound scary or intimidating, but hey I am all about trying new things on this little adventure that I am on. I decided I would like to try it at least once to say that I have. I firmly believe that if you are smart about this there really are genuine people out there and it can be a great way to meet new people and make friends all over the world. 

So with that being said I couchsurfed in London staying with Michelle in her flat in South Wimbledon. It was great to stay a little outside of the city but it was so accessible by the underground. Michelle is originally from Canada and has been in London since the beginning of September. She is a teacher and is working through an agency that places teachers in different schools in the London area. She also has three flat mates who are also from Canada and are teachers. She was a great host and we had a great time on Saturday sightseeing around London…more on that to follow. I am really glad that I gave couchsurfing a try….

 

Friday morning I was determined to see as much of London as I possibly could. So off I went to the rail station with my map in hand. I decided to do the free walking tour that Michelle suggested and left a brochure for. I had a little bit of time before the tour started so I took the underground close to the meeting spot and just walked around browsing in the shops. I got to the meeting spot and was shocked to see how many people had turned out for it on such a cold day. We were all split into groups with our own personal tour guide. My guide’s name was Ben and thankfully he wasn’t one of those boring guys…he had lots of energy and you could tell he enjoyed showing people around and telling them about the history of London. 

Throughout the tour we visited Buckingham Palace, Nelson’s Column, Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery, St. James’s Park, Wellington Arch, saw the Queen’s Horse guards, Big Ben, Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms, Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey. The tour was 2 ½ hours long and it was very interesting to learn about these different places and the history behind it all. It was nice to do the walking tour as you get to meet other and just start talking amongst the group as you are walking along. After the tour was complete I had lunch with a couple people from the group. We exchanged travel stories and bit and pieces and had a good time. 

There were still more sights to see on my list so after lunch I bundled up and headed out. I decided to do another walking tour that was focused on the Old City of London. Good thing I liked my tour guide Ben because he was the leader of the tour as well. This tour only had 8 of us and that included Ben the tour guide. For this tour we saw St. Paul’s Cathedral, The London Monument, The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Globe Theatre, The Church of the Knights Templar, Mansion House, London Bridge, The Royal Exchange, Millennium Bridge which is also known as the wobbly bridge, Covent Garden, and Tate Modern. With the hour of darkness setting in earlier these days we got to see some of these sights lit up at night which was really neat. The Tower Bridge is quite impressive and lit up at night it is a spectacular sight to see. 
 
I really feel like doing both of the walking tours was a great way to see the most popular and historic sights of London. And at the end of the day I was able to say I had marked off all of the sights I wanted to see off my list! Quite impressive for one day! After I finished the tour I took the underground to the London Eye area where there was a Christmas Market that is actually called the Cologne Christmas Market after the one in Germany. It was amazing to wonder the bank area around the river visiting all the craft and food stalls listening to Christmas music with the city of London lit up all around. It was a spectacular sight. I really enjoyed it and even tried a German bratwurst….just getting ready for my time in Germany! I did some wondering and browsing…I love all the little hut like stalls and it really just warms your heart and makes you think of Christmas. 

 

I got back to Michelle’s and we talked about our days and made a plan for Saturday. After some much needed rest I awoke on Saturday ready for another full day in London. Michelle and I headed into London and our first stop was Buckingham Palace to watch the changing of the guards. Unlike Friday, which was bright and sunny, Saturday was very chilly and overcast. 



We got to Buckingham Palace early to get a good place on the grounds to watch the ceremonial changing of the guards. I am glad we got there early because despite the weather the place was very crowded. It was interesting to watch the ceremony take place and how each group marches in. The whole thing is done behind the gates of Buckingham Palace but you could still see what was going on. There is also the changing of the horse guards that take place. These men on horseback are the actual bodyguards of the queen. When she is in town staying at the palace there will be 24 horse guards riding through but when she is out of town there are only 12. It just so happened she was not in London over the weekend. By the time we finished there we were absolutely frozen to the core and I believe neither of us could feel our toes. We headed to Oxford Street to do a little shopping and grab some lunch. After lunch we headed to Westminster Abbey where we attended the Saturday afternoon mass. It was such an amazing experience and I am so glad that we went. The choir was beautiful and just sitting in the church surrounded by all its beauty was very serene. The inside of the church is so exquisite and all of the details of the stained glass are gorgeous. The outside of the church is also very impressive. One of the things I wanted to do while in London was attend mass at Westminster and was so happy to hear that Michelle thought it would be cool to do so as well. 
After mass we walked over to Hyde Park where we met up with one of Michelle’s flat mates. The Hyde Park Winter Wonderland was taking place. This Christmas market was different from the one I went to Friday night as there was more of a focus on foods and rides…it was like a mini amusement park. But nonetheless it was fun to walk around and take in the experience.

Due to the time of my early morning flight on Sunday and the fact that the bus and underground wouldn’t be running yet I had to head out to the airport on Saturday evening and spend the night at the airport. For a girl that is all about just arriving to the airport the morning of her flight and will usually pay for a hotel room close by it is quite impressive that this is my second time spending the night in an airport. I didn’t leave London City Centre until 11pm and due to construction we didn’t arrive out to Stansted Airport til after 1am. I got into the airport and found a quiet spot to curl up and try to get some sleep. Let’s just say that I don’t actually really sleep in an airport because I don’t relax enough and can’t really get all that comfortable. And thanks to a group of guys who decided to have a drinking party I really got no sleep. I find it so crazy how an airport comes to life so early in the morning. At 4am shops and food places start to open and people start to stand in line to check in for their gates. At 6:30am we were allowed to go down to our gate area and start assembling for boarding. I was so thrilled to be heading home and all I wanted to do was get there and get some sleep!

Saturday evening Ireland received a blanket of light snow which rarely happens therefore when it does things shut down! My flight got into Kerry Airport with no problems and actually arrived early. I caught the bus into Killarney and waited to hear from Maureen on what time she would be there to pick me up. A couple hours later I received word that Sneem was covered with ice and the roads into Killarney were quite treacherous. We were going to wait and see if the sun cleared the roads up a bit making it doable for someone to drive in and pick me up. So I wandered Killarney with my suitcase doing some Christmas shopping. I knew I had to keep moving or I was going to fall over from exhaustion. I remembered that a girl who is a resource teacher at my school was due back into Killarney sometime on Sunday. I called her and she was able to give me a ride to Kenmare once she got into Killarney at half two. I called Maureen and let her know I could get a ride to Kenmare and that I would just need picked up from there…Kenmare is closer to Sneem and on a better road. A friend of Maureen’s was actually doing some grocery shopping in Kenmare and would be heading back to Sneem about the time Joyce and I were due to arrive in Kenmare so she would give me a lift home. I met up with Diane and we made the journey to Sneem which was quite the trek. On the journey as we were talking Diane mentioned that my American accent was thicker than usual!! I thought my accent always sounded quite American! I couldn’t believe how snowy and icy the roads were and they don’t salt or clear the roads like they do at home. So after a slow going journey we finally made it to Sneem. I was so thankful to her and Joyce for their rides and making it possible for me to get home. Now all I wanted was a hot shower and my bed!

The only negative thing I have to say about my trip to London is that the customs people didn't put a stamp in my passport!! It really was a great weekend to London and even when things don’t go as smoothly as you plan you just learn to go with it and take it as part of the experience! Through each weekend expedition I have learned so much and all of it is what makes each experience unique and memorable! And I have 200 pictures to prove it!