So I had this lovely plan to transfer all of my journals into this web log but the fact is I'm just too lazy. so here's a short but sweet recap of my life since september 3rd when I ventured out of american into the unknown.

days one and beyond: lots of air travel a nasty nine hour layover in D.C. met a lovely girl named Yael there (she chews gum like it's the most fantastic activity ever invented) arrived safely in london. A sweet girl from Minnesota helped me cary my luggage to the heathrow express and then to a taxi. I arrived in my hostel, slept a lot. Met three very cool girls. Elle from Australia and Tanja and Melanie from New Ulm Germany. We hung out and drank some cheap wine after I woke up. the next day I met Noelle- from NY and she and I went walking all around London. Westminster Abbey is excellent. I saw where Queen Elizabeth I is buried. Lots of other interesting dead people buried there. The next day was hard because it was my neice Isabella's first birthday. I missed family a lot that day- but I got to talk to my brother and my nephew Sam, so all was good. The next day I checked out of the hostel and went to the airport WAY TOO EARLY for my flight, but i did meet five lovely irish girls and they played cards with me and made fun of pop idols.

Cork days: I arrived in Cork on September 8th and had the most fabulous cab driver. He told me all about Cork on our short drive to Dani's Appartment. He was totally charming. Dani was waiting outside for me and we hugged and almost got ran over. Good stuff. We went out to a Pub that night called the Thirsty Scholar - funny huh and I had too many pints of cider (good stuff though- just in moderation). We saw this great band that played traditional irish music and a few kids got up and did some traditional irish dancing. It was excellent (not to mention they played sweet caroline- the best pub song ever). The next day was low key. I washed clothes and later in the afternoon went wandering around city centre. I found a fabulous che guevera faceplate for my phone and a cute little store that reminded me of the melting pot at home. Dani and I saw a movie (Veronica Guerin) about and Irish reporter in Dublin who, while reporting on Dublin's drug problems, gets assaulted and eventually murdered by those running the industry. It's powerful and moving and made my heart hurt a lot. I just kept feeling how I wasn't big enough to save the world. If that makes any sense to anyone. The next day was pretty uneventful but I did play Irish Monopoly with a couple of Dani's friends. Good stuff. Then I went home.

Brighton: I took a bus from stanstead airport to brighton and while the drive was lovely and the english countryside is as wonderful as it has always seemed the trip was three hours long and I was ready to be off the bus by the time we arrived. Thankfully my hotel was 50 feet from the bus stop so my five bags and I made it quickly and safely into my room- on the third floor. It was nighttime so I couldn't see the water but the hotel is right next to the brighton pier which was all lit up and reminded me (oddly enough) of the movie lost boys when the vampires first attack. Oh yeah good stuff. I basically went to sleep that night. The next day I walked around brighton and ate at this horrible restaurant. I walked out on the pier at sunset and decided that it wasn't all that scary after all.

HOME: I arrived the following moring at my flat and met some of my flat mates. Without going into too much detail I love thus far Celeste, Kim, Christina, and Oli. We've had many adventures but i'm tired of typing so I'm going to go. peace and happiness to you all.