Happy Christmas! (Final posting)

Hello!

As you have probably guessed, my mom and I did not go to New York. I got up at 2:30am the morning I was leaving Ireland. My mom talked to me that morning and said I needed to come home as quickly as possible. So I did my last minute packing, didn't eat breakfast (my stomach was in knots), and called a taxi for 3:30am.
Luckily all my travels went pretty smoothly from there. I took the airporter at 4:00am to Belfast International Airport. I flew out of Belfast into London Heathrow airport. It is worth mentioning that I had to take TWO buses within the London airport just to get to my terminal. From there I flew to Newark, New Jersey. When I landed (after going through security/customs), I took a taxi to the hotel my mom and I were supposed to stay at in New York. The plan was for me to stay there one night then catch a flight the next morning.
Good thing I was so tired and disoriented from all the traveling because the taxi to the hotel would have normal terrified me (and being on the opposite side of the road!). I got to the hotel (it was nearly dinner time in New York), but they wouldn't let me into the room. Since my mom made the reservations, she had to be there. Long story short, I ended up being able to stay in the room for the night (thank goodness). Needless to say, I had been up for over 24 hours, exhausted, disoriented, and still hadn't realized that I was back in America.
The next morning I departed at 6:30am (I think) and took a taxi to the JFK Airport. My taxi driver was amazing!!!! Very courteous and calm driver. My plane goes from New York to Phoenix, Arizona where I have a lay over. This plane trip wasn't ideal since we had to fly through a terrible storm. Once again, good thing I was too exhausted and disoriented to care.
It is the airport in Arizona where I finally started to see some odd cultural differences... For example, the clothing the people were wearing, the speed at which they walked, and the precise "swagger" they walked with. Very funny indeed!
Departing out of Phoenix, I was on my last plane to San Diego, California. Thank Goodness!!!
Seeing my mom was completely bizarre, but I also felt like I had never left her. From there she drove me straight to the hospital (not for me of course!!). In the car drive, it took me just a moment to realize that I was sitting (and we were driving) on the opposite side. Then it really freaked me out!! I started laughing so hard that I was crying! I felt like I had to do something because I was sitting on the driver's side, but my mom was driving! Haha I think I was also just extremely tired from the traveling and jet lag.
It still hasn't sunk in that I'm back in America and will not be going back to Northern Ireland. I've had to just throw myself back into this life here and haven't had the opportunity to ease back into things. I think that first day of traveling was one of the hardest days I've had. Not having time to say goodbye, the culture shock, the reality of where I'm going, the sadness and responsibility I'm about to face at home, being completely alone. I just kept telling myself, "Remember you're in the Amazing Race and this is just the toughest leg of the race." I know that sounds completely ridiculous, but it I wouldn't have been able to have gotten through without thinking that.
I wish I had the opportunity to not so abruptly leave my life in Ireland; perhaps it's better that way. However, I'm still worried about the moment when I realize that I won't be going back...
My family and I will be having our Christmas dinner at the hospital today. We've agreed to postpone our real Christmas celebration to a later time. Perhaps spring break?? haha Christmas in the spring, I like it!
And with this final blog entry, I want to give you all a huge thank you and wish you the best holiday it can be. May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live.

As always,
Cheers.

A New Day

 Here are some photos that I took the other morning walking along the river in Derry.

A block of ice floating down the river!

Don't want to be standing under one of them when they fall!

So today was officially my last day in Northern Ireland. I wish I could devote more time to a proper "goodbye/reflecting thoughts" blog, but so much has happened these last couple of days.
Just so you all know, I am supposed to be flying out of Belfast at 7:20 am tomorrow morning (taking the Airporter at 4 am...yay) to London, then flying out of London to New York. My mom will also be flying to New York and we will be there through the 15th. However, my mom and I may not be able to go to New York anymore. We have had a family medical emergency and it might be best if I just come straight home. It's all a bit up in the air at the moment. So my next blog could either be in New York or in California. You must stay tuned and find out!
Take some time to dance, sing, watch the sunrise, hug a loved one, or just take a deep breath. Tomorrow is a new day.

Cheers.

A Very Donegal Day

Hi all,
Here are some photos from when me and Jackie went to Donegal on Sunday (December 6th)!

We got to Donegal and went on the "Bank Walk".

Me and Jackie on the bank walk!

This is where we ate lunch when we reached the end. It was so incredibly quiet and peaceful.

Walking back towards town.

The Abbey Graveyard

The Donegal Castle

We took a walk around Abbey Graveyard, which was really beautiful.

The view of town from across the water.

I found Big Foot!!! haha

These two swans came right up to us! I think they thought we had something for them.

The view on the way back to Derry.

As a side note, my choreography assessment on Tuesday went really well!!! My piece will be performed again in February. And speaking of choreography, if you haven't watched my choreography reel on youtube, watch it!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d41ouMSWTcA
One more post coming, then I will be in New York!

Cheers.

Winter Wonderland

Well hello all! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I had a great Thanksgiving here with wonderful friends and amazing food! And, as for our Irish friends, it was their first Thanksgiving! Pumpkin pie was particularly a first for all of them.

The sun rising on Thanksgiving day. I actually took this picture from the window of the dance studio. Yep, we are committed dancers that wake up at the crack of dawn for rehearsal!

The centerpiece I made...ha! Completely edible.

I also went to the Belfast Festive on Saturday, December 4th. It was amazing and I wish we had more time there!!

Beautiful snowy mountains on the way to Belfast.

I think I recognize this mountain. Pretty sure it is in one of my other blogs... only now it's white not green!

Belfast City Hall in the daylight. The Belfast Festive (which is like a market with different foods and goodies from all around the world) is held in front of city hall.

Inside Victoria's Square shopping center. Look at all the Christmas trees!

Now THAT is a big Christmas tree.

City hall at night! So beautiful.

That tree that you see there had really cool lights inside it that made it look like icicles were dripping. Happy Christmas!

Elaine deciding what to get inside one of the French food markets.

Flowers and figurines in the market.

I woke of the next morning and look! SNOW!! Such a foreign concept for me since I have never been in the snow!

A cat that just strolled across the car park outside my window. Hmmm, aren't its' paws cold?

Walking back from class.

Ok, this spider has been living outside my window since the beginning of October. It completely amazes me how it has survived the weather! Keeps me company every once by making its way down so I can see it. By the way, it made its way down to say hello to me this morning!

Snowy mountains just beyond our Student Village.

The following pictures are from in and around town (Derry). I seriously risk my life to get these pictures as the snow is now hardening and turning to ice!!! So just tell me that these are the most AMAZING pictures you've ever seen = )

Cool old iron gate on the way to town.

Big Christmas tree in the middle of town.

"Hands Across the Divide" sculpture.

Most of the streets have some type of lighting decoration.

Inside one of the shopping centers, the Foyleside.

Outside of the Guildhall.

I just felt the need to dance a bit. = )

I will be posting more pictures soon from the trip I took yesterday to Donegal!!
Cheers.