Can we please take a moment and talk about how unbelievably cool Ireland is? First of all, despite booking the wrong flight), and having to pay an extra 100 euros to go on standby and then almost missing our flight, the trip was incredible! From the moment we stepped off the plane, the atmosphere and the people were so inviting! Even the guy at customs who stamped our passport asked us our names, majors, and told us that we would be great at our jobs! Who does that?!
Flying definitely adds some stress to traveling, but the Lord didn't give us anything we couldn't handle with Him. When we arrived to our hostel, the cutest man ever told us where we could get some traditional Irish food. It felt great to take our packs off and finally get some food in our systems. I had this potato cake salmon dish. yum yum! We also tried a pint of the Murphys beer, but it was a no-go. gross gross gross....We perused down Temple Bar (a very touristy street) and then went to bed because we were exhausted after a long day of traveling.
We woke up early to try to get some sightseeing in before we hopped on an 11 am train to Gallway. However, that plan fell through as we missed our train by 1 minute. At first it was kind of frustrating, but it ended up being a blessing! We were able to walk around Dublin and see Trinity College, the beautiful doors, eat lunch in the park, and just experience the city. Dublin is a beautiful place. It's a lot different from the other European cities we have visited thus far. It's definitely a pub scene versus a cafe scene. I like it a lot. Not to mention, everything was GREEN, and that automatically made me smile! Speaking of smile...as I walking I passed this one guy and he looked at me and said, "Hey! Nice smile! Thanks!" He thanked me for smiling at him! How cute! haha.
Around 2 we made it back to the train station where we caught a train to Gallway. Can you say PERFECT?! Gallway was beautiful! It is on the west coast and where P.S. I love you was filmed. It was everything we dreamed it would be and more. We found the Sleep Zone where we dropped off our stuff, and went exploring! We were in a cute Irish town on the coast so we had to go try the Fish and Chips! We went to McDonoughs, the famous fish and chips place, and that's when the night starting getting interesting....
While we were eating, two men came and sat with us and started up a conversation. They were hilarious! Long story short, we met up at the Quays (it was 60s-70s night...so they had a live band playing Bob Marley, Beatles, etc.) It was perfect. One of the most engaging, interesting, and fun nights of my life! It really felt like it was straight out of a movie. Irish people are arrogant, witty, hilarious, confident, and chivalrous. Never once did I feel anything but pure happiness. We just had a great time.
The next day we went bike riding all along the coast of Gallway! It was epically beautiful. We saw clovers, rainbows, leprechauns...okay, not really, but I really could not believe that I was biking in Ireland. IRELAND.
We had a beautiful day biking through the coast. When we got to the beach we unpacked our lunch, had a picnic, and just took in the amazing scenery. This was definitely the highlight of the trip for me. I was able to sit up high on a ledge and just sing, pray, and relax for a few minutes before moving on. I treasure those moments on this trip. After about 2 hours we stopped for coffee and rested some more. I loved getting out and getting to see the countryside. When we got back to Gallway we purchased rings and walked through the market. I could definitely see myself living somewhere away from the states and going to the market every saturday to pick up some fruits and vegetables for the week. What a great lifestyle. I wish we had more time to play in Gallway, but alas, we had to return to Dublin. The train got us into the city around 9 so we only had time to get some dinner and then go to bed.
Ireland is definitely a place I will return to visit. Despite the stress, what a gorgeous weekend!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Paris, Je T'aime!
From the banana and nutella crepes at the Eiffel Tower to sitting on the steps of the Sacre Coeur with wine and cheese this weekend was more than I could have hoped for! I left last thursday on a train to Paris where Neely, Will, Callie, Danielle, and I went to Giverny to explore Monet's gardens and the water lilies. Walking through his house was such an experience! I was literally standing on the famous green bridge and looking out into the pond with the boats and water lilies. This was the same place where Monet was inspired to create his famous masterpieces!
That night I met up with Heather and Lauren to go to our apartment, which faced the Notre Dame. Don't even worry about it. The apartment was just a small room up a narrow staircase, but it was perfect! Andrew, Lauren's friend, was so nice to let us stay there and show us around. We walked around the art district where we sat at a cafe and drank Cote De Rhone and I got this unbelievable Gelato! MMMM......
We woke up bright and early to grab a croissant (i'm trying to get my fix for all of the french food), went to the Notre Dame, and then went straight to Versailles! After a small ordeal with the ticket counter, we finally got in and spent the next few hours roaming around what was once the center of the cultural and intellectual world (18th Century). Louis XIV's palace was magnificent and so unbelievably ornate. Every room was more impressive than the next. I finally was able to see the famous hall of mirrors, which didn't disappoint at all!
When we got back from Versailles, we went to the Louvre! Despite what I heard, the Louvre was fantastic! Although I loved it all, my favorite was the room filled with ancient artifacts such as the Code of Hammurabi and art from the Sumerian and Assyrian time periods. It was unbelievable looking at creations from the beginning of time (thousands of years old)! PS the Louvre is huge. I got lost in it for about 45 minutes, and was freaking out just a little bit. haha. After pulling my jaw up from the ground, we walked to the Eiffel Tower to get the Oh so famous Crepe we had heard Lauren talking about for weeks. IT WAS AWESOME. (The Tower of course). Every time I saw it, it was just as cool! Watching it light up at night and sparkle around 11 blew my mind. It was so gorgeous and romantic.
Speaking of romance, Paris really is a lovely city. The architecture is breathtaking and their are adorable markets and flowers everywhere! Love is definitely all around....
Over the next couple of days, we went to the Musee o'Dorsay, which holds a lot of Impressionistic art such as Degas, Van Gogh, and Monet, went by the Arc De Triomphe, had a picnic at the Eiffel tower, and sat at multiple cafes and just took it all in. I was amazed at how much we were able to accomplish in a weekend. We successfully completed everything we set out to do! (Including a musical rendition in front of the Moulin Rouge and buying French Lingerie!). SO HAPPY.
I'm glad to be safe and sound and back home in the Nederlands! I'm even happier to have finished 6 hours of class today! Oh the joys of studying abroad! Off to read a novel by tomorrow.....
That night I met up with Heather and Lauren to go to our apartment, which faced the Notre Dame. Don't even worry about it. The apartment was just a small room up a narrow staircase, but it was perfect! Andrew, Lauren's friend, was so nice to let us stay there and show us around. We walked around the art district where we sat at a cafe and drank Cote De Rhone and I got this unbelievable Gelato! MMMM......
We woke up bright and early to grab a croissant (i'm trying to get my fix for all of the french food), went to the Notre Dame, and then went straight to Versailles! After a small ordeal with the ticket counter, we finally got in and spent the next few hours roaming around what was once the center of the cultural and intellectual world (18th Century). Louis XIV's palace was magnificent and so unbelievably ornate. Every room was more impressive than the next. I finally was able to see the famous hall of mirrors, which didn't disappoint at all!
When we got back from Versailles, we went to the Louvre! Despite what I heard, the Louvre was fantastic! Although I loved it all, my favorite was the room filled with ancient artifacts such as the Code of Hammurabi and art from the Sumerian and Assyrian time periods. It was unbelievable looking at creations from the beginning of time (thousands of years old)! PS the Louvre is huge. I got lost in it for about 45 minutes, and was freaking out just a little bit. haha. After pulling my jaw up from the ground, we walked to the Eiffel Tower to get the Oh so famous Crepe we had heard Lauren talking about for weeks. IT WAS AWESOME. (The Tower of course). Every time I saw it, it was just as cool! Watching it light up at night and sparkle around 11 blew my mind. It was so gorgeous and romantic.
Speaking of romance, Paris really is a lovely city. The architecture is breathtaking and their are adorable markets and flowers everywhere! Love is definitely all around....
Over the next couple of days, we went to the Musee o'Dorsay, which holds a lot of Impressionistic art such as Degas, Van Gogh, and Monet, went by the Arc De Triomphe, had a picnic at the Eiffel tower, and sat at multiple cafes and just took it all in. I was amazed at how much we were able to accomplish in a weekend. We successfully completed everything we set out to do! (Including a musical rendition in front of the Moulin Rouge and buying French Lingerie!). SO HAPPY.
I'm glad to be safe and sound and back home in the Nederlands! I'm even happier to have finished 6 hours of class today! Oh the joys of studying abroad! Off to read a novel by tomorrow.....
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
To Modernism and Beyond!
As of this moment, I have officially completed my first week of school as an International student. I am enrolled in two Baylor courses (Civil Rights and Human Dissidence and an independent Political Science class) and two classes through the Center for European Studies (Modernism and Beyond: European Literature and International Relations). So far, I love all of my classes except for the fact that they are 2-hours long. Coffee will be necessary in the CES classes because my professors love to hear themselves talk and I can barely understand what they are saying. I now realize how much work this program is actually going to require. It is going to be A LOT of reading and writing, but if I'm diligent it should be alright. Yesterday, we had a debate about the sovereignty of state and globalization in International Relations and watched Valkerie in Dissidence. So far, so good.
Today, I woke up early and went to the market with Madeline. I LOVE being able to wake up, shop in a market, and walk everywhere. It's wonderful not having to rely on a car to take you places. We can literally walk everywhere. We also stopped by the phone store to purchase a cell phone. It's been a very productive day, and a much healthier one. Yesterday, I got food poisoning and was sick all night so I've very grateful to be feeling a little better! After class Madeline, Callan, Danielle, Derek, and I got lunch at a gorgeous cafe. There is nothing better than eating outside on a beautiful, cool day.
Today, I woke up early and went to the market with Madeline. I LOVE being able to wake up, shop in a market, and walk everywhere. It's wonderful not having to rely on a car to take you places. We can literally walk everywhere. We also stopped by the phone store to purchase a cell phone. It's been a very productive day, and a much healthier one. Yesterday, I got food poisoning and was sick all night so I've very grateful to be feeling a little better! After class Madeline, Callan, Danielle, Derek, and I got lunch at a gorgeous cafe. There is nothing better than eating outside on a beautiful, cool day.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Getting Oriented.
I have a feeling that all of the days are going to be so long, but go by super quickly. Today was all about getting to know maastricht and the Center for European Studies. I woke up this morning, went for a run, ate breakfast, and met the group for a tour of the city and orientation. We basically just walked around and familiarized ourselves with the area.
Maastricht is gorgeous. The vibe here is just so wonderful! Today I saw lovers outside of balconies, people outside of cafes smoking and enjoying a glass of wine, and beautiful scenery and architecture. It's so great because it is not as overwhelming as a Paris or Milan, but it still has cultural importance and a great social scene. We toured part of the school today, and it was so great! We got an introduction, and then we enjoyed pastries and coffee. Everything is so different here, but I'm loving every minute.
After touring the city and the central station, we went to a American cemetery to honor WWII veterans. It was peaceful to learn about and walk through the memorial, and it really made me realize what an opportunity I have to be able to be in the places people sacrificed their lives for my freedom. We spent a couple hours there, and then headed back to the guest house (our dorms) for dinner.
Sometimes I feel as if I'm at summer camp going through the lines at the cafeteria, but it is a new and refreshing feeling. Dinner was great, and then we went back to our rooms to rest before going out for the night. I'm quickly finding out how huge the party scene is here in maastricht. I went out with a few friends tonight to go bar hopping (which isn't normally my thing), but I want to get acquainted to the culture. They took the students around tonight to go on a bar crawl, but that was totally not my vibe so I decided to stay behind.
So far, I know I'm still in the honeymoon phase of this journey, but I love it! It is a lot to get acclimated to, but I'm ready.
Maastricht is gorgeous. The vibe here is just so wonderful! Today I saw lovers outside of balconies, people outside of cafes smoking and enjoying a glass of wine, and beautiful scenery and architecture. It's so great because it is not as overwhelming as a Paris or Milan, but it still has cultural importance and a great social scene. We toured part of the school today, and it was so great! We got an introduction, and then we enjoyed pastries and coffee. Everything is so different here, but I'm loving every minute.
After touring the city and the central station, we went to a American cemetery to honor WWII veterans. It was peaceful to learn about and walk through the memorial, and it really made me realize what an opportunity I have to be able to be in the places people sacrificed their lives for my freedom. We spent a couple hours there, and then headed back to the guest house (our dorms) for dinner.
Sometimes I feel as if I'm at summer camp going through the lines at the cafeteria, but it is a new and refreshing feeling. Dinner was great, and then we went back to our rooms to rest before going out for the night. I'm quickly finding out how huge the party scene is here in maastricht. I went out with a few friends tonight to go bar hopping (which isn't normally my thing), but I want to get acquainted to the culture. They took the students around tonight to go on a bar crawl, but that was totally not my vibe so I decided to stay behind.
So far, I know I'm still in the honeymoon phase of this journey, but I love it! It is a lot to get acclimated to, but I'm ready.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
21 and smashed (my car that is).
This week I turned 21. Yeahhh. Adulthood has officially arrived. I celebrated with my family at Antica Posta in Midtown and it was just delightful. The atmosphere was romantic and I felt so very loved! The whole day I realized how blessed I am to be surrounded by such great friends who I know will be with me through life. God is so good!
This week was very emotionally draining, too. Yesterday, I went to REI to pick up some things for Africa/Maastricht, and when I came back out to my car I was horrified. The entire driver's side window had been smashed in and my iTouch had been stolen. There was glass everywhere! I felt so violated knowing that some creep had vandalized my car and stolen from me! What a terrible feeling. I went to bed and I was physically shaking. It's the kind of thing that you say, "that would never happen to me," but well...it did happen...and to me. I honestly feel like what happened was spiritual warfare. I know that Satan hates to see God's people impacting the world for his kingdom, and this happened 13 days before I leave for Africa. Pray..pray..pray! Satan wants to bring us down and discourage our precious hearts before journeys, but I refuse to let that happen! The iTouch was just a material thing, and I can get over that! I'm just glad they didn't steal my car, or hurt me. It could have been worse.
My parents have been gone on a financial planning excursion so I have been playing mommy for the past two days. It's been pretty exhausting trying to locate Michael's lost wallet, cook for him, take care of skip and boots, try to deal with Bekah's ridiculousness, keep everything clean, and make sure Michael is taking his medicine. (He just got his wisdom teeth taken out on monday). Let's just say that it has been fun! Yay for parents! They do so much for us!
11 days. I am continuing to count down the days to Drew's arrival in atlanta and then our departure to Africa! Thanks for everyone's interest, prayers, and financial support! We are so close to attaining our monetary goal for the trip, and feel so blessed! Each day God reveals his mercies and graces to us, and He has been so faithful!
Love!
Rachel
This week was very emotionally draining, too. Yesterday, I went to REI to pick up some things for Africa/Maastricht, and when I came back out to my car I was horrified. The entire driver's side window had been smashed in and my iTouch had been stolen. There was glass everywhere! I felt so violated knowing that some creep had vandalized my car and stolen from me! What a terrible feeling. I went to bed and I was physically shaking. It's the kind of thing that you say, "that would never happen to me," but well...it did happen...and to me. I honestly feel like what happened was spiritual warfare. I know that Satan hates to see God's people impacting the world for his kingdom, and this happened 13 days before I leave for Africa. Pray..pray..pray! Satan wants to bring us down and discourage our precious hearts before journeys, but I refuse to let that happen! The iTouch was just a material thing, and I can get over that! I'm just glad they didn't steal my car, or hurt me. It could have been worse.
My parents have been gone on a financial planning excursion so I have been playing mommy for the past two days. It's been pretty exhausting trying to locate Michael's lost wallet, cook for him, take care of skip and boots, try to deal with Bekah's ridiculousness, keep everything clean, and make sure Michael is taking his medicine. (He just got his wisdom teeth taken out on monday). Let's just say that it has been fun! Yay for parents! They do so much for us!
********
11 days. I am continuing to count down the days to Drew's arrival in atlanta and then our departure to Africa! Thanks for everyone's interest, prayers, and financial support! We are so close to attaining our monetary goal for the trip, and feel so blessed! Each day God reveals his mercies and graces to us, and He has been so faithful!
Love!
Rachel
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