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

Easter Rising Centenary Event

I wish I elaborate on more amazing adventures, but honestly my life has been pretty mundane over the course of the past week. Not that mundane is bad in any way, shape, or form, but just in that I haven’t done much.

Between all the work that I was doing I managed to sneak out and join the Easter festivities in town. This year it was the 100^th Anniversary of the Easter Rising in Ireland so there was a three-day celebration honoring the events that happened a century past.

 At Trinity I was able to hear some live music from the Trinitones- the all male student society singers which gave me major yearning to be back at Wheaton College hearing the Gentlemen Callers again. And then I was lucky enough to hear the Trinity College Céilí Band playing some trad- traditional Irish music- before hearing the 1916 Proclamation read in both English and Irish.

Photo courtesy of The Irish Times

There’s still so much about Ireland that I have yet to discover. Not only is this the place I know live, but I have rich family history in this country so I really should open a book and to start to learn about my past.

Saturday night I went to a friends 22 Birthday and once again managed to stay up well into Easter Sunday. My sleep patterns are really suffering.

On Tuesday I went to Lisa’s to hang out and also get her old bike! So excited to be riding once again!

Other than that I was very ill on Thursday and Friday- symptoms including lightheadedness and a fever, yet somehow managed to get quite a bit of work done.

Here’s hoping that I’ll be able to get out more next week!

Xx kim

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Throwback time

Hootie & The Blowfish

Drowning

Friends, Fun and Paddy's Day

Over the past two weeks I've had my share of adventures, reunions, and just plain amazing times with both new and old friends.

Let's start out two weeks ago. On the Thursday before Paddy's Day, Maxi and Jana arrived from Germany and we had a reunion party to celebrate their return. We had some pre-drinks at a friend's and it was so good to talk with them face-to-face instead of in text or over a computer screen. By the end of the night it felt as if they never left.

Sunday we went into Howth and I finally got to experience the markets there. The pier was so foggy and you couldn't really make out anything but it the photos came out nice.

Looking across the pier- no editing, just pure fog.

Maxi, Jana, Emma, and I

The foggy Howth Pier

The next few days were generally relaxing and I had to say goodbye to my Germans again but also hello to my Aussie. Steph and I hadn't seen each other for a year and a half and Tuesday was spent catching up. Wednesday we had a mission to get suited up for Paddy's day- yes, we went full tourist but it was fun.

Steph and I waiting for the parade to start.

Since we were out late Paddy's Eve, Steph and I didn't get into town until late but we still managed to get a spot for the parade. The theme this year was 'the future' and some of the floats edged on an open ended interpretation. It started almost an hour late, but the wait was worth it. The marching bands were definitely the highlight! For being the largest outside of NYC, I was not disappointed.

So. Much. Green.

Friday and Saturday were Belfast and traveling around northern Ireland. There was definitely an influx of Americans everywhere and it felt strange being surrounded my my native tongue once again. Steph and I went on a tour of the north coast and saw sights such as the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge- if you're scared of heights I do not recommend!- and the geological landmark of Giant's Causeway. I never knew the full myth of how Giant's Causeway came to be formed, but learning it definitely put a smile on my face. Let's just say if involves hubris, pranks, and a onesie.

The view on Carrick-a-Rede.

Tourists flocking over Giant's Causeway.

Yes, you can climb to the top of the rather steep hills.

The sights were amazing as always- Ireland hasn't disappointed yet!- but Belfast itself wasn't quite what I was expecting. Its kind of hard to explain, but  I'll have to go back and really explore the city.

Uni started back up on Monday and the reality of how much work I have to do is finally starting to set in. It's a bank holiday Monday so I'm determined to get as much as possible done this weekend.

Happy Easter!

Psyched to go back to Edinburgh at the end of April and I cannot wait to reunite with Chris and Steph again.

Let's just pray I survive the next month.

Xx kim

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Song of the week

Panic! At the Disco-  Death of a Bachelor

Thrifts, Theatre and Transformations

I have been delaying writing this post for a while, not because I have nothing to say- quite the opposite in fact- but I just haven't felt the motivation to write.

However, a change was in order.

I was going to wait until the summer to redesign my blog, but than I realised how ridiculous that was and that there was nothing stopping me so..... Welcome to Leap of Faith 2.0.

It's a little brighter, and, in my opinion more clean cut.

Shameless self promotion.

I've also included some badges to the left in desktop view so you can follow me on twitter and instagram. I must warn you twitter is mostly inactive besides music events, and instagram is food, landscape, and things I think look aesthetically pleasing.

And now onto the good stuff.

It's been a while, eh?

My illness was not the worst I've had, but it definitely hit me hard. Thursday and Friday were blurs and, by some miracle, I made a recovery just in time for my busy weekend.

Kilo Sale at the Raddison Blue Hotel

On Saturday Lisa, Leni, and I bought tickets to attend Tola's Vintage Kilo Sale. I realised after that there were quite a few kilo sales on and they are quite a cool concept that I have never heard before.

After purchasing a ticket we were lead into a ballroom full of racks of second hand clothing, jewellery, bags, and other miscellaneous things. After choosing your items you would get them weighed and pay the assigned price. I was able to find a big bomber jacket and sweater for €16. We then went to Queen of Tarts afterwards and enjoyed our spoils. I also bought a cheeky sketchpad and pencils because I left mine all in the States.

Sunday I attended a play festival with Emma, Aoife, and Alan to support our friend Rory. The plays were in the Smock Alley Theatre and I was hit with a huge wave of nostalgia as the productions reminded me if the 10 Minute Play Festival held at the end of the year at my undergrad college.

The week following passed by in a rush of classes and assignments. I was able to take a quick break to see Triple Nine- I'm still confused as why there had to be black Russian Jews? I mean I guess it was alright.....

Wednesday I tagged along to Lisa's Game Society meeting since it was board game night and I genuinely had a great time. It was nice to socialise with new people and forget about school for a bit.

My back garden in a blanket of white.

Friday I woke up to the beautiful sight of snow! Yes, I thought spring had sprung, but seeing snow made me feel home- it also kind of made me crave maple syrup and other New England things but I digress.

That night I returned to the scene of New Year's Eve for yet another house party. It was much more low key, but so much fun nonetheless. I was also able to actually talk to those I met New Year's without worrying if they'd remember talking with me or not! I may have made people stay up far too late again but oh well.

Xx kim

This is the last week before reading week and Paddy's Day so I have a lot to get done before Jana, Maxi and Steph arrive.

It's going to be a busy two weeks!

New section! 

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Song of the week: 

Lukas Graham - 7 Years

Jinxed

The inevitable has happened.

I’m finally sick.

Oh Spring...

Up until I came back from Australia I was always known as the ‘sick one.’ In year six, I missed a grand total of 49 school days and if I didn’t have good grades I would have been held back due to my multiple absences. However, I’ve only had minor illnesses since coming to Ireland but I think I finally jinxed myself…. I also blame spring allergens…. A runny nose and congestion won't hold be back though since I've a busy weekend ahead of me.

 Starting out last Wednesday, myself and a few friends went out to celebrate our friend Alan’s 22 birthday. Da Baby is growing up so fast.

We all returned to Whelan’s for their silent disco night, and although the tunes weren’t as banging as the last time, the good company made up for it. I also met a Canadian that lives about an hour away from Montreal, and so we talked about our favourite spots. It was my first time talking to someone about some place other than Boston.

The Bleeding Horse for Alan

My weekend was spent doing uni work and naught much else, but it was nonetheless a very much needed relaxing weekend.

Last night, Tuesday, a few of us got together and had a karaoke night because why not? At these events I usually have a drink or two to really let loose, but I must say it was a nice break to just hang out and have a good time.

It still amazes me to think that I’ve only known these people for about five months because it’s hard to imagine a life before knowing everyone.

Xx Kim

……

I have no idea where the time has gone, but I’m happy to say that some reunions are quickly approaching!

Maxi and Jana are coming back in March, and also my friend Steph from Australia is joining me for Paddy’s Day! I can’t wait to be the ultimate tourist! At the end of April Steph and I are joining our friend Chris for a weekend in Edinburgh, it’s been over 8 years since I have traveled there and I know we’re going to have amazing adventures!