proof-reading is for university, so don't judge

I always struggle with getting really thoughtful and deep on my blogs OR catching all my avid readers up on the day to day life that is Belfast. As you probably noticed, I tend towards the day to day catching up. Sometimes I find the two don't mesh well within the same post. But today, I hope to mix them well, because when I think about it, the day to day leads to the deep and quiet thoughts I have. Profound, I know. About two weeks ago, Marlene Taylor, who has been our guest minister this year more times that I can count, took the service while Lesley is on holiday. She preached about time, how we use it and how we waste it using Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. As I sat, thinking about my two months left in Belfast, I pondered how I would truly spend my time and how I would like to spend my time- two very different things. I thought back to the time about two months before I graduated from university and the list I made titled 'Things to do before I graduate.' While I didn't accomplish them all, it gave my time direction and concrete goals, from one last jump off trashcan falls, to stopping by Dr. Pratt's office just for a chat. Naturally, that Sunday, I went home and made a list of things to do before I leave Belfast. I was amazed and grateful that many of the items on my list involved spending time, sometimes doing specific things, with the people I have met here.

Recently, I started another list. Yes, this is how I control my ADHD and manage to get anything done! This list was of things I would miss and things I am looking forward to. I am trying to keep them balanced as to make leaving and arriving home seem okay, although I feel I am merely trying to fooling myself. Funny enough, yet probably not all that surprising, the first things that came to mind were food. The lack of sausage rolls, yet endless trips to Outback Steakhouse ahead of me top the charts. I decided to keep people off the list, as to avoid pages and pages of words. I will miss daylight until 10.30. I will miss being able to walk anywhere I need to go, yet can't wait to drive. I will miss the people and the Carolina blue sanctuary at Fortwilliam and Macrory, yet am looking forward to hearing Bob preach, meeting the new associate pastor at UPC, seeing people who have watched me grow up and thanking those first hand who made this year possible. I will miss sausage rolls as I said before, but can't wait to get a sausage biscuit at Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen. The list goes on and on, and thats not even the people.

As I said in my last post, my flatmate Lauren left last Sunday. Her last night in Belfast, I couldn't sleep, imagining how I will feel when I know I am going home for good. Terrifying. Now, don't get ill with me- it will be great to see everyone, but its almost like graduating all over, leaving what I know as home and the norm and not knowing when I will return, and return at that, just for a visit, not to the life I now know as my own. WOAH. Since she has gone, it is weird to think about the her getting to do the things I miss, like the BIG one- seeing the fireworks last night on the 4th of July. We had a good day yesterday, I had lunch with Joyce and Rosemary and Rosemary even worse her American Flag shirt in honor of the holiday. We had a brilliant dinner with our house guest, Jackie, who is up from Limerick to help Alison with her camping trip. And we headed to the Duke of York for a few pints and came home to sparklers (don't worry- we really were safe with only one or two pints in us...)! BUT, with the 4th being one of my favorite holidays, and fireworks near the top of my favorite things in the world, it was a sad day to be in another country.


Jackie, is a volunteer with the Presbyterian Church of Ireland in Limerick, and is from Argentina. I have had a great time getting to know her, talking about Argentina, her experience, and the world in general. I still struggle a lot with the impact of this year, if I am really making any kind of difference or am just a fun organized person for people to get to know. Over dinner last night, we talked about poverty in Argentina, and the need that lies in every country and how we are here in Ireland, leaving our own. Is it the selfish part of me that wants to travel that means I cross an ocean to serve? I spent all day Tuesday with the McGrath family. We had taco night since they had never had, much less even seen, tacos. (shocking, I know!) It also happened to be Lauren's 16th Birthday. It was too fun to be able to spend the day with them. Chris (17) and I talked a lot about life, love, and university.

We talked about traveling and Arabs and the prejudices we have. He told me that before American volunteers came to Fortwilliam (as it was at the time...) he thought ALL Americans loved George Bush, were ultra conservative and fundamental, and were so proud of our invasion of Iraq (which, I say not to comment on politics, but the generalization that lies within the unknown) Through his experience with PC(USA) volunteers, he has learned that we are not all the same. Not an hour before, Chris and I had talked about the war and the whole culture and location that is the middle east. He commented that all Arabs are all the same. Now, I wouldn't be a good friend, or youth leader, if I didn't force him to look at his two statements back to back. With experience, comes understanding. And I won't even get started on the connection with Catholic and Protestant that I could make and did briefly to him as he drove me home at my direction up the New Lodge Road, a highly Catholic area.

Taco night with the McGraths was on my list of things to do before leaving. Having more deliberate, serious conversations with my youth is as well. One down, one started, and many more left to go. All in 6 weeks, but really 4 since I am away for 2, time. (Don't worry McCormicks, your chicken pot pie night is coming!)

I could continue on rambling about the peace line just behind our house that is to be extended two meters higher due to an increase in violence or the hysterical trolls on youtube.com that talk about coming up north (a video I will one day share...) But, I will, rather, leave you with a simple sentence. I am excited to see what my remaining days in Belfast hold.

and PS On one last and very unrelated note, my life long friend, Will Perreault, is spending three months in Uganda. His blog (http://willinuganda.wordpress.com/) today had a great shout out to me, reading 'The task of bathing, though, is typically preceded by getting greeted (aka peed/pooped on) by my two-year old bro Jason with a "Heeeaaaaayyy" that's a perfect mix between Libby Hunter and the Fonz from Happy Days.' I knew a piece of me was already in Uganda, I just didn't know it was in the form of a two year old boy!