No Wedding Ring...No a Surprise

Since my recent engagement in January, I seem to find myself gazing to people's left ring finger as I talk to them. Not that it makes me think more or less of them in most cases but now that I'm jointing the almost-married-world I find a little comforting common ground in knowing the person I'm talking to has also found that special to love them and that they are indeed married.

There are however, the people I meet who I talk to for five minutes, look down and see a naked finger and think, well that's no surprise. The professor that's proven to be a nightmare for me in Dublin is exactly one of those people.

This certain professor is an American. Aside from this fact, he seems to think he's better than every other American and enjoys making American students feel like shit while he talks about himself as though he is an all knowledgeable European. He also enjoys making comments about students, like myself, who he deems not intelligent enough to pass European journalism classes--because 'we as American students, lack the proper education to not fail.'

Are you kidding me? I am a senior in college. I am just shy of three months away from graduating with a BA in International Journalism and a double minor in Advertising and Multimedia with a 3.5 GPA. I've had two journalism internships and completed all of the core journalism classes at my university in the United States as well as gained entry to your 'prestigious Irish university' and you're going to tell me I'm not 'intelligent' enough to pass any 'true' journalism classes at your institution. Thank you for not only insulting me but also proving my point.

Mr. Want-to-be-European-professor, I can see exactly why you are NOT married and I'm sure every other student and woman can see it as well.

You are a pompous asshole.

my engagement ring

Man, If My Kids...

I hope when I finally get the nerve to pop out a few kids that those little buggers appreciate the shit out of me for what they'll be putting me through in labor...But. I'm sure they won't have a clue. In that case, this has inspired me and my fiancé for the not-so-glorious days of raising teenagers in the future.

Enjoy.

Pollination Up Close

"Nothing lasts forever. Everything in the Universe wears out. Reproduction makes us a link in the evolution of life."

The footage included in this talk is so beautiful. A short & very worthwhile watch!

2012: A New Life...Literally.

Well, hello Internet world. I haven't sat down and typed out anything in so long so we have heaps to catch up on. January brought many new things for me this year. I've never asked for so much in my resolutions and gotten so much in return.

January 1st brought me the 'official' title of fiancé from the love of my life, keeping January interesting. Every day after that was spent packing and unpacking, shopping, crossing things off lists and making new lists so I wouldn't forget anything while getting ready for my BIG move to Ireland.

Now as I sit typing on my laptop in my flat, I find myself actually living--successfully, mind you--in Ireland for a week already. Arriving in in Dublin proved to be less challenging than I had feared but arriving at my apartment was less than satisfying.

The place I moved into had not been cleaned by anyone before I'd moved in so I was welcomed with molded onions, bread, croissants, tangerines and liquefied potatoes, a moldy bathroom and a kitchen that smelled awful. So far, I've spent under 5 hours cleaning and feel a little better about calling this my 'home' until I return to the United States in June. However, walking around in my flat without flip-flops or moccasins will not be happening, probably ever.

I have two countdowns going...one until I move home in June and the other until my fiancé comes and sees me for 2 weeks in March. Even though the one to March is much sooner, it seems to be taking way longer. I am not sure how that works.

I am completely baffled by my neighbors up stairs. They started to party last night at 10:30 p.m. and didn't stop until 6 a.m. this morning. I miss living in the dorms and having our 'regulated' quiet hours and RAs to enforce them. Being an RA at heart, it took me a lot of will power to not stomp up to their floor and tell them to shut the hell up like I would have been able to do in the states with my old job. I guess what they said was right, 'once an RA, always an RA.' I suppose it will always be a gift and a curse.

So far I have used my free time to complete a wedding website for my fiancé and myself and start to plan our holiday when he comes to visit me. At least it's keeping me busy so far because it looks like classes will not be too demanding until the last weeks of term. I am unsure what to do with myself for countless hours until I get to go to bed every night.

The 6 hour time difference to my family in the states has made it impossible to communicate as much as we'd like and it's very hard to find an app on my iPhone that works all of the time with texting/IMing or anything else that is crucial to my existence and talking to my fiancé and BFFs.

So far, if I don't kill the neighbors, living abroad is something I think I can handle for the next couple of months. I am looking forward to traveling around Dublin and Ireland and also venturing to other countries to see other parts of Europe and of course, my camera will always be my travel buddy!

Me outside of Trinity College. Dublin, Ireland.

Cheers.