Lubna

By the way...I forgot one VERY strange important coincidence.


Lubna is from Basrah, Iraq. Also the place where my cousin Sarah is stationed for the Nat'l Guard. Very strange how people everywhere in the world are connected to each other. I'm a firm believer in the 6 degrees of separation theory.

New Roommate

I was just given a new roommate yesterday, and I really am not looking forward to it...

Not to be a pessimist, but I really hate sharing bedrooms with people (Kristin was an exception because she was awesome).

Lubna, my new roommate is a 35 year old woman from Iraq. She seems super sweet and I'm sure it will be a great experience, but grrrr. Mid-day nappers don't make good roommates, and that's whats currently going on. I hate having to tip toe around at 2:00 in the afternoon when I have things that needs to be done. She also has quite a strong perfume that she wears, and my room doesn't smell like me when I walk in which I don't really like :/

Merrrr. It'll be fine. On the upside, I spent last evening in Kilrea helping celebrate Tom's 22nd birthday. He had about 15 friends over at his house, and I was the only one not born and bred in Kilrea. 'Twas good craic! Tom's little sister was shocked (and looked a little disappointed) that I was from Minnesota and didn't have the stereotypical accent. Thank goodness!

I'm with a new group this morning until tomorrow afternoon called Active Dads, which I'm really excited about. It's a group of ten fathers from East Belfast up for a night for bonding activities with their wee ones. It's great to see the dads out! Also semi amusing watching tough men from a loyalist background in their parenting mode. One already asked me if I am married. Awkward. I'm leading out an arts and crafts session for the kids tonight while the parents are in a lecture, so that hopefully will go well :)

I think my typing is disrupting Ms. Lubna's slumber, so I shall say Ta for now.

Ka

Cards

Hello!

I started a new art project a few weeks back ago: Greeting cards! Well, I suppose it spawned from the decision that my paintings were taking too long, and when I started one I'd pretty much work through the night until I finished. Doesn't bode well when you're waking up at 8:00 a.m. and trying to work with a group of Primary School children. SO, to remedy this I made a smaller painting. Then I folded over the other side of the unpainted page. Ta da! A card...

In the last couple weeks I have finished 3, and hopefully I'll have somewhat of a full set (how many different images are in a set of greeting cards, anyway?) by the time I leave.




Ta!
Ka

hi from the causeway

Katie took this video at Giant's Causeway :)




cheers!! tanx, (in a dublin accent, like) katie!
-Karen

at the weekend

It has been a busy past couple of days!

Katie, her mother, and myself played tourist on Friday and Saturday with trips to Carrick-a-rede rope bridge...


Wasn't that scary until you look down!

Eep!

We also visited the Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle, Portstewart, Coleraine, and Rathlin Island. It was great to get out and see some of those things again after living here for a while and having at least a little more of a native perspective :)

Katie and her mom left Saturday afternoon, and I spent the rest of the day relaxing and walking down to the beach to collect some more sea glass. I found a gorgeous royal blue piece, and a large clear piece that has the word "milk" on it. So fun! I need some good jewelry designs and proper wire asap.

TODAY was quite interesting. I was on "cover", which I think I've explained before, but basically was the person on hand all day on the site in case of any issues or emergencies. I have really never dealt with anything more than making sure someone's heat is turned on in their room, overseeing various things, etc. Should've knocked on wood, because today the cover mobile rang and alerted me that a member of a group had fallen outside and most likely broken his foot. Hence, it was my responsibility to call for an ambulance and fill out all the necessary forms, etc.
Bit daunting. I'd forgotten how squeamish I get with medical emergencies as well. Poor lad's foot was double in size...


And I leave you with:

Pretty view of Ballycastle Harbour from the ferry Katie and I took to Rathlin :)

Cheers,
Karen

visits from afar!

So comes to a close a very short but sweet visit from friends and family! I thoroughly enjoyed Thursday, Friday, and Saturday afternoon with Kristen, Drew, Katie, and Katie's mother, and it is nice to finally have people who can picture in their minds where I'm living and what I'm doing. Kristen and Drew only stayed Thursday evening unfortunately, and Katie and her mother spent Friday night as well. Everyone is gone this afternoon, and alas, I am back on my own!

On Thursday I navigated and Drew drove (impressively)us to some scenic sights near Ballycastle. First, I took them to the mysterious, haunted graveyard in town. It's really Ballycastle's pride and joy ghost story, and as much as I think I don't believe in ghosts there really is something eerie about Bonamargy Friary, a friary for Franciscan monks hundreds of years ago. After the monks left, a recluse named Julia McQuillan moved in and became known as "The Black Nun". There are many different variations of the story, but the bottom line was Julia supposedly murdered a few different people, made prophecies that came true, and for years frightened the people of Ballycastle. In the end, they ended up breaking into the Friary and killing her. Nowadays, Julia haunts the old Friary and loves it when little children stick their hand through the keyhole in her gravestone, because then and only then are they marked with THE CURSE OF THE BLACK NUN. Dun dun dun...


I also took the group to (in my opinion) one of the most beautiful places I've ever been, Murlough Bay. It's near Corrymeela and I think it has one of the biggest ocean views I've ever seen. We also drove through the quaint town of Cushendun, and played around on Ballycastle Beach. After the outdoor adventures, the four of us took in a nice meal and a few pints at O'Connor's pub. THEN. I got a brilliant idea. Why not go for a wee midnight graveyard stroll? After all, I'm sure Julia much prefers to haunt people in the dark. Drew was as excited as a little boy on Christmas at the idea, and Kristen and Katie politely said they'd wait in the car...
Good thing Drew and I are persuasive, because next thing I knew the four of us were clinging to each other weaving through gravestones and checking around stone walls before continuing through. Great craic!! Too bad Drew is too curious and had to stick his hand through Julia's keyhole gravestone. He's pretty much doomed I'd say...

Here are pics of my sister and me outside Corrymeela, a cute Irish woman walking her Springers outside the Friary(They looked just like Nitro), Murlough Bay, and Ballycastle Beach/the Pier:










I was sad Kristen and Drew could only stay one night! So good to see them. On the other hand, Katie and her mom stayed until Saturday afternoon, which gave us ample time to catch up and do some more tourist activities! I shall update later describing our adventures yesterday at the Rope Bridge, Causeway, Dunluce, Portstewart, and (oops!) a little shopping in Coleraine. Ta for now!

Karen

bahh

I went for a wee dander today and for the first time really noticed and appreciated some of the great things about SPRING...the main particular one being wee lambs running around everywhere. I honestly can't get enough of them. If anyone was looking out their front window at the road this afternoon they probably would've been confused as to why a wee blade was stopping every few feet along the road to admire the little beings. I didn't bring my camera, but I wish I had!! I found this photo on the internet (The black faced lambs are my fav):



Usually the fields are filled with low, semi-frightening "BAHHH's" from the big sheep. Now in Springtime there is a nice harmony of rumbling "BAHHH'S" and little baby "bahs!" that sound a little squeaky. So incredibly adorable. There was even a lamb trying to chase a bunny! Ahh! I die.

Alright, enough with the obsessing over the lambs. My apologies.

-Karen

bit of an art frenzy

I have been doing a lot of art in my spare time! I realized I have a problem with telling people I'll make a painting or drawing for them, then becoming attached to it when making it and end up not able to part with it come time. he he.






maybe I miss my MN friends a little?!

Amsterdam II

Hello again! A few more points about Amsterdam I failed to mention in round 1:

-The Van Gogh Museum was amazing. It was quite interesting to see some of his work when he was just beginning, and also strange to think of Van Gogh as a beginner. Also interesting was how much his work changed throughout his career-his first paintings and last were not even recognizable as done by the same man...
So you DEFINITELY weren't allowed to take photos in the museum, but you know I just couldn't resist blossoming almonds...



Woops! Mwa ha ha.

Overall, Amsterdam was quite a beautiful city with a lot of unique qualities. If I ever make it back to Holland I'd definitely want to get out and see more of the countryside, though!




On to things Corrymeela-ish. There are currently several residential groups at Corrymeela, and thus hectic days for all. I washed more dishes today than I ever want to again. It's good to be back in Norn Iron and back amongst friends, and it's always comforting to feel a certain sense of "home" here.

Cheers,
Karen

Amsterdam

Hello!

I arrived home from great Amsterdam trip late last evening and unfortunately had to work bright and early this morning! Good morning, kitchen duties! I was helping chop vegetables by 9:30 am this morning and now have finally gotten a chance to sit down, and err...shower. Much needed.

Amsterdam was unlike any other place I've ever been, and even after four days I'm still not sure I completely understood what was going on there. Kristin, myself, and Tom packed as much as we could into our short time there, and left with the main objectives of visiting the Anne Frank house, Van Gogh museum, Canal Cruise, Wax museum, and keeping some time for fun and spontaneity checked off the list. The city was bustling and a melting pot of many different types of folk, and it was pleasant knowing we weren't the only ones who weren't quite sure what to make of our surroundings.



We walked (a little frightened, if I may add) through the Red Light District the first night of our trip. You aren't allowed to take photos (which I think everyone understands why), but considering we were all feeling thoroughly awkward and sped walked down the street I don't think stopping for a photo opp. crossed any of our minds...

On the second day, we navigated our way to the Anne Frank Huis, which before visiting I suppose I didn't even realize was located in Holland. It was as expected a more solemn activity on our trip, and really quite fascinating. It was strange to think while walking around the rooms of the Franks and Van Pels families living there in the dark for two years. No photos allowed in this place either, but Kristin and I decided we wouldn't feel right treating it as such a tourist sight. In a strange way you could feel a sense of spirits in there.



Later on in the day after our journey back to the WWII era and a few blocks down the street, the three of us found a glorious little cafe called "Bagels and Beans" where we succeeded in relaxing with lovely cups of coffee and gourmet bagels at least a few times. The second morning for breakfast I discovered the magic of a bagel with maple syrup, brown sugar, and banana slices....mmm..




I will update a little later regarding the rest of the trip. It's officially time for a nap in my room!

Love,
Karen

new things

Sorry its been a while since I updated! Its been extremely busy around here. In the last week, I have

-Learned what sea glass is, collected some, and crafted a few pieces of jewelry with string, sea glass, and wire.

Finished product:



-Explored Murlough Bay and Torr Head, which are two local scenic attractions and if I may say two of the most beautiful places Ive ever been in my life

-Worked on housekeeping a few days and learned what a horrible ironer I am. Sorry to the woman I was working with…every time I finally finished ironing a duvet I would look over to see that she had done 6 in that time. Oops.

-Eaten way too many desserts and drank way too much coffee and tea. On that subject, actually began the road to addiction to tea. I now have an internal struggle each time when it comes time to decide to choose between a wee cuppa tea and a wee cuppa coffee

-Slowly began hating my computer again. It keeps freezing….hence why I am using the old computer in the main building that someone has sneakily changed all the keys to German language…hence why this post is going to be somewhat short. It is taking me forever to insert all the right symbols and figure out which keys on the board are flip flopped.

-Took a few long walks along Ballycastle beach.

-Started planning a camping trip with Tiff and Eamonn, two fellow volunteers. Hopefully we will go sometime over a weekend in the next month. And were talking proper camping, complete with kayaking and tents. Eep

-Went on a couple dates with a lad I met at Wee Toms pub two weekends back. Quite lovely…

Now I am getting ready to leave for Amsterdam with Kristin on Sunday. My friend from Kilrea, Tom, has also decide to spontaneously buy a ticket and tag along. It will probably be good to have a male in the trio I suppose.

I promise I will update more later. I am just frustrated with the constant freezing of my computer. Why cant it just behave for once….