In Ireland the inevitable never happens and the unexpected constantly occurs -Sir John Pentland Mahaffy

The past few days I have had much contact, through emails and blogs, with fellow YAVs across the world. It is interesting to me that often when I get homesick, it is these people that I miss rather than my friends and family from home (Please don't take that wrong, friends and family from home, I miss you often enough too!) It is amazing to me how quickly I became very close with strangers in a matter of a week of orientation. I suppose that the similar call we are all answering, in one way or another, is a bond that others can not understand. I feel that in the course of my life, I keep finding friendships that blossom faster and faster... I remember saying that college friends become dear friends so quickly your freshman year, then saying that camp friends are made even faster than college friends, and now, I can add that YAV friends, after only a week together, are the fastest made true friends with the most limited contact I have ever made. I miss you all and wish you the best.

Things here are picking up, with more placements for the PCT developing. I visited Castle High School yesterday and will now be officially working with the photography club there on Tuesday afternoons, with the PE classes and possibly some after school sport, and best of all, the drama production this fall, OLIVER! Now, many may not know this, but my little brother was once a HUGE Oliver fan! When he was probably 5 or so he learned all the songs and mastered the accent! It will be fun to work with the play, which I really have never seen, yet I know all the songs because of Drew. I'm sure there will be many stories to share along the way!

I also visited the Newington Day Center where I will be working with older people (it is not PC here to say elderly...). One of the old men already told me that I can't discuss my love life with him or it will break his heart with jealousy. Haha! My job there will be just hanging out and forming relationships. Many of the old people were sad to hear that I was Kirk's replacement, as they hadn't remembered or truely realized that he would be leaving. I am excited to see how these relationships go, in light of the relationships that Kirk left behind. Again, I'm sure there will be stories to share!

Today is our first real rainy day and I now understand the desire for all things truely waterproof. The walk home consisted of my umbrella flipping inside out many times and pushing my way against the wind. It was much like a classic Boone day. I must admit as much as I would stand out as American, I miss my rainboots! My bright colored, polka dot or stripped pairs of wellies. I might just suck it up and get mom to ship them, as apprently it is already clear I am American- this morning three guys probably mid-twenties surrounded me on my walk to work on the sidewalk and starting singing Sweet Home Alabama. While it caught be of guard, it was pretty fun. They asked where I was from, had a good laugh, and went on their way. I in no way felt threatened or uncomfortable, it was merely playful. Banter is big here, but I didn't expect it from strangers!


(g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-gallop momma)