Time Flies

In the past week I finished up the last of my assignments, realised I graduated one year ago, and, because of those two things, have had a huge nostalgia bomb blow up in my face.

For the last couple of days I have stalked through my old pictures and my friend's old pictures from our graduation. It's not that I have regrets or would even like to travel back and relive that time, it's more that I cannot believe how far my friends and I have come and the sentiment I miss of being together. 

Attempting to study in the back garden

One year later, half my friends are living in different countries all over the world, some are publishing books, others have become entrepreneurs and started their own companies, and some have even started a new life with their loved one. I handed in my last assignment for my Master's course, and now I have three months to write a dissertation before I have my degree. We have all gone in separate directions and I'm trying to wrap my head around it.

Luckily technology is a godsend to make it easier to keep in touch. I relish the occasional messages I get, and the Skype sessions that I've had so far. 

Anyway enough of the soppy stuff and down to business!

Since I was completing assignments I didn't do much for the sake of adventuring. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous lately so I've just been spending any minutes I can spare in the sunshine. I also realised how strong the Irish sun can be and proceeded to get a sunburn just from an hour and a half of exposure. God, I love aloe vera.

When the weather started to warm up back home, my mother would always go into overdrive cooking and cleaning... and I'm learning I'm the same way. I've made so many different summer salads over the past days, plus I baked banana bread, and I still have the urge to keep cooking. Below I have pictured a Mediterranean couscous salad, a Vietnamese Vermicelli salad, and a banana nut loaf. You can find out more about the recipes on my Instagram page.

   

This past Saturday was Eurovision, hence I'm posting this on Tuesday. For those of you that don't know, Eurovision is a song contest in which countries send one act to compete and hopefully take home the main prize. This was my first time not seeing the acts beforehand, but I'm glad I put my faith in Australia- yes they are one of the few countries outside of Europe that compete.

My roommates were off in Romania so I had the house to myself and I volunteered to host the viewing party. Lisa and I decided to make it into a cocktail night so we bought a few ingredients and snacks, and I generally and a good time. It was a small crowd and this year's Eurovision was definitely my favourite so far.

Until next time!

xx kim

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I don't have a song of the week, but I have been listening to a lot of 

Benny Goodman and Postmodern Jukebox

  

A Month Needed

Well it’s been a month.

To be completely honest I consciously made the decision to take a month off of blogging to concentrate on the end of term assignments. I didn’t want to keep making the excuses of having nothing to talk about because of work, so I decided to take a step back for a bit… but now I’m back with a vengeance and since summer is nearly upon us, I’m gearing up for some more adventures!

Gorgeous sunset from the back garden.

To catch up on the last month- yes Mother and Father I am finally filling you in- I wrote a full short film script, completed multiple presentations, hung out with friends and watched Game of Thrones, pigged out on Romanian Easter treats, and got mild pneumonia.

Let’s go back to where I left off. 

The beginning of April, Easter Sunday to be exact.

After a lovely weekend filled with Easter activities it was back to work once Tuesday came rolling around. On the weekend though I was able, yet again, to meet up with one of my friends from Australia. When I left there I thought I wouldn’t get to see these people for five years, and yet I’ve already had so many reunions and so many more to come! Hannah and I only had a short time to catch up so we just walked around Dublin and talked about the past year and a half. Luckily it was a beautiful day and it was good to be out and about just walking around.

Hannah being a cutie.

I have to mention the weather before moving on because it has been so mixed as of late. Now I come from New England, a region in the USA where it’s not abnormal to experience four different seasons in one day. However, in Dublin you can experience a season from one hour to the next! During the last weeks of April I swear there was this one stretch of five days when it hailed every single day. You always have to be prepared around here, BUT May has brought out some incredibly sunny days and I’m finally starting to get in the mood for summer.

Not only did April 21^st mark the date of my best friend’s birthday, but it also was my last day of lectures… possibly the last in my life. 

When I finished my baccalaureate I didn’t feel as though it was all ending since I knew I was going to get my masters, and yet now that I know my education is finally coming to a close, my mind doesn’t quite know how to processes it. Don’t get me wrong, I have two assignments due next week and I still have to write my dissertation over the summer, but the end is tangible and I can’t yet tell whether it’s foreboding or exciting. All I know is that it’s coming and I should take it in stride.  

My friends Cormuck, Kieran, and JC

The end of April came and just as I was getting excited to travel to Edinburgh to visit Steph and Chris before my final study period started. I had spent the last week hanging out with friends, and just generally enjoying the last week of classes, however it went downhill quickly.

I got sick. 

At first I brushed it off as nothing more than a common cold- something that I could easily handle while traveling.  Boy was I was wrong. 

I went to the doctor’s before my flight on Thursday for a follow up and unfortunately my results came back with mild pneumonia. This meant no Edinburgh for me.

I had been looking forward to this for months and now I had to cancel at the last minute. Not only was this going to be the last opportunity to see Steph before she heads back to Australia, but it was going to be my first time back in Scotland for nearly 9 years! My parents told me to chin up though, and I like to believe everything happens for a reason.

Before I end the update here, I want to make a shoutout to my Grandmother for her 88^th Birthday and also to my Mom for Mother’s day.

Love you both to the moon and back!

I guess that’s all for now so see ya next week!

xx Kim

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Song: Ain't No Sunshine

Artist: Bill Withers

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

A Very English Christmas

This isn't the first time I've spent my Christmas holidays abroad, however the last time was in Australia and I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt.... This year it feels more odd since it's cooler and it actually feels like Christmas time.

I've come over to England- just north of London- to spend the holidays with one of my good friends that I met in Australia. I hadn't seen Chris or his family in nearly 18 months and I was hit with a boatfull of nostalgia when he and his brother picked me up at the airport.

The family home is just far out enough on the countryside that it almost reminds me of where I live back home in the States. I haven't felt as home here as I have in quite some time. It's amazing how open families can be, and at Chris' home everyone has been so welcoming.

Since Monday, I saw an English pantomime and spent the day in London.
I had no idea what a pantomime was besides the fact that it usually consists of cross dressers... Boy it was quite an experience. The theme this year was Aladdin, and Priscilla Presley was the Genie. There was so much audience interaction and jokes for both the children and adults attending. I was so proud that i understood the majority of the jokes referenced even though they were mostly about English pop culture.

Before going to the theatre, we went to the Milton Keynes shopping center and it was huge. Unlike most of the malls in America, this center was all one story so it seemed to go on for ages.

The Theater at Milton Keynes

Today, Wednesday, Chris and I made the journey into London to go up the shard and do other tourist stuff- like see Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. We ended our day in the winter wonderland in Hyde Park. It was very much like a fair or carnival back home but loaded with stalls offering mulled wine and hot cider. I was lucky enough to meet with Allie once again and Nick- another friend that I met whilst in Australia. We stayed in the Bavarian Village for the majority of the night listening to live music's and catching up since it's been so long since we've all been together. Our meeting was to brief but I hope I'll see them again in the future.

All in all a very good break so far. I still can't believe it's been three months since I left. Time is going back quicker and quicker.

Xx kim

PS
I arrived on Monday no problem from Dublin, and the day was very nice and relaxing. Chris brought me up to me up to Dunstable downs- I know confusing, right?- and we experienced some of the most intense wind gusts I've experienced for some time.

Still, the view was pretty spectacular.

Pictures will be pretty sparse this week, because I'm only using phone photos and none from my camera since I don't have access to my laptop.
So long until next time and happy holidays!

Bittersweet

Here’s to Jana and Maxi, my dear German family <3

I came over to Ireland clueless, friendless, but eager for adventures.

Within the first couple of days I had slowly made my adjustment to life in Ireland and tried to

immerse myself in the social life the country had to offer. You guys were a big part of making Ireland feel like home.

Maxi, even though I thought your name was Emma you decided I was worth your friendship and I couldn't have asked for a better Mom. You are so fun loving and always have a smile on your face. You were never one to shy away from a pint at the pub, and you were always there to make sure I got home safely on nights out. I better see you and your beautiful sunshine bag soon!

 Keep laughing and being beautiful babe.

Jana, I’m glad that we decided to have that first date at the Autobahn. It was that night that we discovered we were twins and that night set the tone for our entire friendship. Girly you are so beautiful. We’ve been through some serious stuff together and you were always there to have a casual drink or  walk around Dublin with me when I was bored. What am I going to do without my other half? This is not a goodbye, but a see you later and all I can say is look forward to some more adventure featuring Thing 1 and Thing 2.

The three of us have survived multiple nights out, and we managed to survive Snoozles- forever bonded together by the shock the shock of rooming with a naked drunk Irishman, a terrified Frenchman, and a mystery man that didn't know how to shut a door.

See you soon fam! 

Love you both so much <3

Xx kim

P.S.
Expect a lot of snapchats, whatsapp messages, and endless Skype conversations!