Frisbee, Friends, and Fantastic Weather

Custom magnum ice-cream from the pop-up shop
in Arnotts

This has been one hectic week.

It started out on Saturday morning, early morning that is. I dragged some of my friends out for a walk to see the sunrise along the Clontarf seafront. There was just the right amount of clouds to make it an incredible, and worth the five-month wait.

On Tuesday I signed a lease. That’s right, I’m moving once again.

My residence in Whitehall really started to feel like home, and my roommates have become like my little family but an absolutely amazing opportunity popped up that I couldn’t resist. I’m moving into a newly renovated house with Lisa, my old roommate and best friend here in Ireland, and Rob, a new friend that I met on the zoo visit. The house is a dream and the five hours in Ikea and 4 hours building the furniture are definitely worth it.

football and frisbee

One of my favourite spots at DCU

The weather has also been pretty incredible this past week as well and my friends and I have tried to take advantage of it as 

much as possible. It's strange thinking that 20˙C here feels hot, when back home 33˙would be hot. The sun here is just sooooo much stronger!

We’ve been to a couple parks and have been throwing the football and frisbee around- usually ending with a few summer drinks.

I’ll officially move in to the new house tomorrow and start my next chapter of living in Ireland. Here’s to the new house and new experiences.  

xx kim

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I've listened to this so many times this past week. Please watch the visual album if you have a chance! I've followed him for years no and it's amazing to see how far he has come.

Straight Outta Oz

Favourite Song: Water Guns ft. Jordan Sparks

Top Ten Experiences in Ireland So Far

As it’s summer now, I took an unexpected break. To be fair it was refreshing not having to worry about a post a week, but I did miss the schedule of it all.

I’ve officially been here ten months, wohoo!

That means I have lived in Dublin longer than anywhere else in the past five years.

Here are my top 10 photos that I’ve taken in the past 10 months. I’ve selected a mixture of travel destinations and just pictures of great memories.

The Beginning

After nearly 8 years I finally returned to this gem of an Isle. This was the first picture I took of Ireland from the plane heading down to Dublin airport.

A Halloween Like No Other

Did you know that Halloween actually originated in Ireland? Neither did I until this past year.

Howth

This side of Dublin Bay has become one of my most frequented travel spots and I plan to go back to this place right outside of city centre. It's a quaint town that's right on the water, and, on the weekends, there is a great market there filled with delicious treats.

The Cliffs of Moher

This is seriously one of the most breath taking scenes I have ever visited. I'd love to go back out west and complete the entire cliff walk someday.

The Festive Season

With all of its small alleyways and narrow streets, Dublin was ripe with opportunities to decorate for the holidays. I loved just going out at night and walking aimlessly around.

Paddy's Day

No it's not St. Paddy's, or is it ever really called St. Patrick's Day. I spent my time watching the parade with my friend Steph from Australia- I hadn't seen her in nearly two years. A lovely member of the garda- policemen- took this photo of us and everyone around was buzzed with happiness.... and maybe a bit too much of alcohol, but who am I to talk.

The Giant's Causeway

I loved learning about the formation myth of this landmark, and I highly recommend going there and taking a tour of it. 

Pentatonix

After years of watching them come together as a group on The Sing Off and then all their youtube videos, I finally was able to see them live in Dublin. If you ever get a chance to see PTX live I would recommend going. They sounded amazing, if not better, live than on their records.

Dublin Zoo

Even though it's summertime and many of my friends have gone home, we were still able to plan a day trip to the zoo. Although I can't say it compared to the zoo in Dubbo, Australia or the Tarangire in Tanzania, I thoroughly enjoyed my day. I especially loved that the peacocks were allowed to roam freely all over the zoo grounds, plus good company always makes for an amazing day no matter what.

Home

After living here for 10 months I can confidently say that I am feeling Ireland is home. I really can;t describe what drew me here, but now that I am, I really do not want to leave. I've made some incredible friends here and I can only hope to make more and gain more fond memories.

xxKim

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Normally I would put a music recommendation here but I've been listening to such a variety that I can't choose.

-Olly Murs: just feel good music, especially his earlier material

-Fleetwood Mac: I was never a huge fan, but they have some great summer tunes

-DNCE: I can't stop listening to Cake by the Ocean

-The Beatles: summer becomes my time where I put on the White Album or 1 over and over again.

Readjusting

Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day/Moving Day

Everything over the past two weeks has gone by in such a blur. I've been absolutely crazed between moving, schoolwork, and life in general.

Luckily I found a new house to live and it's less than a 10 minute walk from uni! They only downside is that one Lisa and I realized how brutal it is trying to find accommodation this time of the year, so we decide to live in different places for now. Hopefully we'll live together in the future though!

My new roommates are a couple from Romania and then a girl from Africa, Malawi to be more precise- I haven't really had the chance to talk with her and she's moving out at the end of they month so.... I'll save about €50 a month and the rent itself is cheaper so I'm super excited.

Tuesday was a whirlwind of trying to pack and move. I'm still getting reorganized, but I'm slowly getting there. I've been here only five months and I still can't believe how much stuff I've accumulated. 

The beautiful dinning area.

Probably one of my favourite things about the new place.

One of the worst/best things about moving out is buying new bedding, it really makes your room so much more personalised.

I finally feel like I'm living more in my own house than another person's.

This semester is really looking up.

New Room!

Soon it'll be March and I'll get to see yet another Australian friend. Time really is flying by and I soon am going to get out there and look for jobs. The thought scares me half to death but I guess everyone has to suffer through it at least once.

Sorry for the mundane post, hope next week's will be a little more exciting now that I am settled into my new home.

Xx Kim

.......

Random weird tidbit, but the place I'm living now is the neighbourhood where Luke Kelly lived. He's a great trad artist- traditional Irish music- and I recommend him if you're into that sort.

Plaque for Luke Kelly

New Year, New You? Meh.

I’ve learned a long time ago that resolutions do not have to be made on the start of the New Year. What is so special about this particular day? For me it’s always been a halfway point rather than a new beginning- school and whatnot. Furthermore, if I am making any resolutions, I always make sure to make them realistic.

In the past I have done:

• ·      Make new friends and keep better contact with the old
• ·      Graduate
• ·      Smile or laugh everyday
• ·      Take time for myself

New Year's Eve Crew

·       

Although I have had varying success, for the most part I am happy with what I accomplished. This year I want to take more photos- I apologize in advance to all my friends- and I would like to get my MA.

This year I got to spend it with new friends, and am excited to see what 2016 will hold.

Now that that’s out of the way, it is time to backtrack.

The beginning of the feast.

Christmas Eve was spent making my very first mince pies- as Chris’ mother said, “rustic but delicious”- and trying to do some last minute shopping. We ended up going out to spoons for the night where I got to met all of his old secondary friends and they were all so lovely. We stayed out in town way longer than intended and I hate to admit I was a little hungover from the night before- although not as bad as Chris ;)

Christmas day was spent doing absolutely nothing besides enjoying family time and watching Love Actually, and the Queen’s speech. At the end of the night the entire family ended up playing a few games and it was all just so relaxing.

For Boxing Day, Chris, his brother Michael, and myself decided to go ice skating while their parents braved the crowds to take advantage of sales. Being from a place ice skating is second nature, I was surprised at how rusty I was at it. And boy, what a difference it makes to have your own skates. I asked at the counter how often they sharpened them and was appalled that the answer was every two weeks!

Rushmere Country Park

The next day was my Birthday and I was surprised upon receiving more gifts from Chris and his family. We went out for a walk a nature park and then I went out to dinner with Michael, Chris, and Sara- a girl whom I met Christmas Eve. A few of Michael’s friends showed up later on and treated us with a few jäger bombs. I went home at a decent time and had a wonderful night sleep.

Monday was my last day in England and the entire family and myself went for a long, but rather enjoyable, walk around the Tring reservoirs which showcased the incredible English countryside. I was able to see some canal boats and a few swans before I packed up and flew back to Ireland.

Bulbourne

Tring Reservoir.

One of the many canal boats

It was a strange sensation stepping back on Irish ground.

I felt as if I was coming home, and as I opened my door to my apartment I felt like I could breath and relax again.

I am so lucky to be where I am, and maybe this year’s resolution should be to try and cherish every moment I am here.

Xx kim

PS

I would also like to dedicate this entry to the man that nicknamed me "the blueberry-eyed baby." You were such a big part of my life and graced this earth for the past nine decades with smiles and perseverance. I'm glad you are no longer in pain

 <3