Last Irish Blog!

Well, everything looks like it’s going to go off without a hitch. (Knocking on wood…) Moved out of our flat early this morning and Alison and I moved down to our hotel room neat the airport. My biggest concerns at this point are my bags. They’re barely closing and I’m worried they’ll be way overweight. The airline I’m flying on, the world’s cheapest airline, Ryanair, charges 15 euros (20 USD) for every 1 kilogram (2.2 lbs) overweight you are. I’m also worried about Joey’s bags flying to and from Athens. We’re on easyJet for that, which is similar to Ryanair, but a little better. They’re 10 Sterling/15 Euros for every kilogram. And I’m hoping Joey doesn’t have more than one to-check bag… I don’t think he does, but if so, that’ll be crazy expensive too. So everyone wish me luck for the big weigh-in.

The other thing I’m worried about is lugging my bags around. I’ll take a taxi with Alison to the airport tomorrow, and from the London airport I have an hour-long bus to the Tube! Then onto the tube for one stop on one line, transfer, then nine more stops. Then 4 or 5 blocks to the hotel. I know I’ll manage, but those things always make me nervous. I like when I travel with my dad and I know he can always carry something extra or help.

And I guess, one more concern about the bags is the issue of six more stops before home. I’m going to be opening and repacking my bag almost every 2 days, which might get stressful as I’m already having so many issues! Its 2 nights in London, 1 in Athens, 3 in Mykonos, 3 in Santorini, 2 more in Athens and then 1 more in London before jetting home!

I’ll keep you updated on things as much as I can! But I have no idea what the internet situation will be like and I know we’re going to be very busy!

Well, its my last night in Ireland. It’s finally over. My dad asked how I was feeling earlier, and I told him. I’m so excited for my vacation to London and Greece, but more so, I’m excited to see Joey. I’m a little sad that my study abroad experience is over, and it’s strange thinking back to the extreme effort and energy, and yes, cost, that has gone into this process, all the planning and anxiety, all the excitement. All of it is at its conclusion this evening. So I’m a bit saddened to be leaving, sad to say goodbye to the Brians and Alison, but it’s time. And I am so excited to go home and see everyone I’ve missed and to get Minneapolis tattoos with Nick. I’m excited to return to my normal life that I’ve grown a new appreciation for. I’m longing to drive down Hennepin towards Lake in the pouring rain, looking for parking for a nine-thirty show at the Lagoon. I’m excited to sit in my living room with my mom near me and my puppy in my lap and the cat on the back of the couch behind me (or the arm, he likes the arm). I’m excited to sit in the Engelhart’s kitchen, watching Liz and Randy make food, offering to help but probably being denied unless there’s avocados involved, watching Joey talk about life, about the things he has passion for with the people he cares most about. I’m excited to sit in my dad’s office, answering as many of his questions as I can, and playing the pinball machines he’s been restoring. I’m excited to see my friends, maybe go to a party at the Barton house, sit down at Cupcake or Espresso Royale and read with Joey. Get some coffee with all the people I’d like to catch up with. Etc, etc. You get the picture. Overall I’ve had a really good experience here, and it’s been most of what I wanted. And there will definitely be things I miss. Hands down, Lansdowne. But alas, everything must end, and I couldn’t be happier that this date brings forth the ending of my long-distance, skype and email based relationship.

Talk to you soon!

"This is a joke"

So, it's officially the 6th day of this God-awful mess.

Ireland is still getting beat down by the ash. Which is a figurative statement because the skies have been clear and blue all day. Which is not good news because the rain would help a lot. It would dissipate it and move it out of the flying-level of the atmosphere. Or so I understand. I've been doing my best to stay positive, not to worry too much and to just do my best. Unfortunately, it isn't holding up real well. Alison and her parents are all upset and in-general kind of down. It's so hard to see them upset and I truly feel their pain. And, of course, as I might have already mentioned, the worst part is just not knowing.

Then I saw a new map of the ash and by tomorrow morning, or maybe tonight at midnight? it has Italy completely covered and a corner of it is very very close to Greece.

The other thing thats really hard for me is missing Joey. It's been so long since we've seen each other, and been together, and I've been looking forward to the 24th of April since I left January 1st. I'm still hopeful that everything will be clear Friday morning, if not sooner, but who knows? The 100 some days already have seemed unbearable at times. None of you, save Alison, know this, but I looked up flights to India at least 10 times. And I was ready to book one. I would have rather gone to India than any of the other places I could have gone for spring break. I didn't go because Joey didn't think it would be feasible. And besides, we had Greece. I'm to the point that I don't care about Greece, I don't care about London anymore. Will I be disappointed? Absolutely. But more than anything, more than any place or any trip, I just want to be with Joey. Not knowing when that will happen, how much longer, that's the worst.

I'm trying to hold out hope, but it's getting more difficult. But, at the end of the day I have to put it in perspective. I lead a very privileged life and have been blessed in countless ways (not the least of which being Joey). I've never seen war, death, famine, or any horrors that still commonly plague millions around our world. I'm healthy--save the cough and sniffles. I've always been fed, always had a home, and always, a loving and supportive family. I will get home, and I will get home safe. It may take some time, but this is not (even near!) the greatest issue that could befall a person. So, I'm hanging on to my gratitude for that.

Volcano Update: Monday Evening--19th

So the update is that earlier today the volcano stopped erupting. They were planning on opening UK and Irish airspace by late tomorrow evening. We were excited and happy and I felt better. I bought a couple cute things for Greece and an Athens map. Just got home from hanging out with Alison’s parents again today—seriously, some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. The news is getting worse and the airspace is probably not going to open up tomorrow. I guess the volcano is erupting again and spewing more ash into the heights that affect the planes. Here’s to going to sleep and hopefully waking up to good news, and not bad news.

April Update

I’ll start from where I left off and divide into sections. Or something.

OH CRAP.

Real quick, I forgot to mention that the Thursday before the conference I went to a press conference in a swanky hotel and it was amazing and I just want to work in politics for the rest of my life, k, thnx.

Anyway the outline of this post will read like this

I) Internship and class update

II) Family News

III) Everything else

I) In internship and class news, the Dail hasn’t sat for quite a while, but they had a fron bench “shake-up” Did I mention that? It was pretty cool to see, and very ceremonious, but not sure it really means anything at the end of the day. I got “pimped-out” to another TD’s assistant last week too. It was a little funny that I was borrowed like that, but I had a good time. It was with a woman I’d actually met before, her name is Sarah and she’s very cool and had just finished reading Race of a Lifetime: How Obama Won the White House (UK title) or Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin. Which I had read a few things about in the Post and a couple other places, but anyway, we talked a lot about the election and about American politics and it was a great time.

I went out to the constituency with Brian last Thursday and helped him stuff leaflets into mailboxes. ! We dropped leaflets updating the constituency on the things Brian has been doing the past three or four months into their postboxes and door slots. I kept getting nervous that an angry and/or disillusioned resident would yell at me, or chase after me and tell me how horrible Brian is, or what a bunch of crooks politicians are in general, or say, “Get off my lawn!”

I have to admit I was nervous. I kept thinking, “What did I get myself into?” and I kept worriedly looking over my shoulder to brace against attack. And I was anxious the entire two and a half hours. But none of those things ever happened. One woman politely shook her head no from inside her house as she saw me coming. But that was the worst of it.

I watched Deputy Hayes talk with a few of his constituents that were walking around or doing yard work, but I didn’t listen in—even though I wanted to. I thought it might be rude if they were talking about personal issues, so I continued on.

After we finished, Brian and I meet up with assistant Brian and another guy who had also been dropping leaflets in another part of the district. Brian Dawson had “six or seven” people angrily chase after him or yell at him. So it does happen here. But I escaped it.

I had my last day, which was mostly uneventful. And this Wednesday I am meeting the two Brians for lunch.

I finished my three papers for my class, plus the journal and additional research paper. I took my three exams, totaling nine in-class essays. I feel ok about all of it, but when you’ve turned in so little to a professor, and had such limited interactions with them, it gets hard to know how things will be graded and how everything will work out in the end. I’m most nervous about history. But, ITS ALL OVER. It is officially my summer vacation.

II) The FAM. My mom and grandparents flew into Dublin on the 28^th. They were here for 10 days, until the 7^th. It was an adventure! And it was really great to see familiar faces, and I’ve missed my mom a lot, so that was just great too. If only she’d managed to bring my puppy… (Who, we have just determined will turn 5 this November! He’s getting so old!) Lets see… While the family units were here we went out to Galway and County Clare and saw the Cliffs of Moher. Second time a little less exciting for me, but hey, still beautiful and a great part of Ireland. We also went to Powerscourt, which is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if you’re ever in Ireland. It’s a big old estate that has a couple ponds, a nice big estate-y yard, and a lot of trees and flowers. We had great weather and it was wonderful. Alison had gone about a month before the fam got here, and I saw her pictures and I thought, “we have to do that” and we did and the fam liked it as much as I thought they would. [I should for sure be a travel agent/guide] We did a hop-on hop-off bus tour; saw a few of the sights, including Book of Kells, always a favourite. Went to the Brazen Head, the oldest pub in Ireland (from like the 1700s I think, maybe even earlier). Plus, Michael Collins and the 1916 rising revolutionaries met there! We had dinner and this really cute and great show there, about fairies and folklore in Ireland. Everyone really seemed to enjoy it. Went to Easter Vigil mass, and actually, a couple others. Feigned excitement, haha. I’ve recently come to a pretty staunch stance on the church, more hard-lined that in the past, and even then, not a big fan, but I digress, that’s a different story. We also headed up to Belfast and then Giant’s Causeway, which I will put pictures up of. Absolutely wonderful, and I’ve wanted to get up there so I was happy to do it with my mom. We also took a couple strolls around the Georgian squares, which was nice. AND, of course, a tour of Parliament! I think it was a little boring sitting in the Dail—no one was yelling or interrupting or mocking—but they liked walking around, hearing about JFK and especially meeting the Brians. It was pretty sad to send them home but I think despite some crappy weather everyone was eventually happy they had come.

III) Well, on the other side of my adventures there has been a lot of stress. Especially in the past couple days. But to back it up, the last month or so has been focused on trying to find housing! Which—and it might be needless to say—is highly difficult doing from a foreign country! And another time zone. But I think there is progress being made and I’m hoping to have it done in the next week. I have also been working closely with my loving and wonderful boyfriend to plan and finalize our trip. The current plan is for me to fly to London next Saturday, the 24^th, and for Joey to fly to London the same day. We’re spending two nights there, and doing some light sightseeing, depending on Joey’s jet lag. It’s a long trip from Jaipur to the airport, and then it’s a long flight. I think about 10 or 12 hours, but not completely sure. Then we’re flying to Athens Monday the 26^th, where we will spend three nights. Then it’s off to Mykonos for another three, and then Santorini for three more. We’ll fly back from Athens to London on the 5^th of May, and spend one more night there. Then we’re jetting home Thursday afternoon (the 6^th) to Minneapolis.

However, unless you live in a cave, you have heard of Eyjafjallajoekull, the Icelandic volcano sending every European air travel plan into chaos. There are 18 other students in my programme. One, in a miracle, has gotten off of the Island on Friday. And I’m really happy she did because she had bronchitis and she’s safe at home now. There’s at least another 13 stuck and screwed over right now. Several of them just trying to get home—including two of my roommates—and the other’s post-programme trips cancelled and delayed. Alison can’t get to Rome to visit her best friend. Another couple missed their first flight to the first country on their list, which was cancelled, so they scheduled another flight tomorrow to their second country. Also cancelled. This girl was devastated when I saw her earlier. Plus, Alison’s parents are visiting, and it was hard for them to carve the time out to come in the first place. Their flight home was scheduled for tomorrow (Monday) morning, now they wont get out until Friday at the earliest. I literally feel sick about all of this. I feel awful for all these people and their plans ruined. And that isn’t the least of them. That’s 15 or 20 people I personally know, and there’s at least hundreds of thousands more who are making alternate arrangements or giving up.

No one really knows anything. Every day since Thursday there have been good signs and troublesome ones and every morning since then the news has gotten worse. I am very panicky and worried at this point. I’m trying to just breathe and take it day by day, and hope for the best.

On a lighter note because I’m doing everything I can to not think about it, I’ve had a great couple days with Alison’s parents. On Friday they invited me to come with them to County Mayo, specifically, Bahola. Alison’s father’s grandpa was born in Bahola, and they still have relatives there. And! The family cottage, in which Alison’s great-grandpa was born, is still there and has been restored. So I went with them and we drove to Mayo and we saw the cottage and we heard some stories. And it was a bit of a drive, but I had a great time and it was so cool to see that! With my Mid-European mutt status, I’m not sure I could ever find an ancestral home, but I think I’ll try. I know I have a great-aunt on my mother’s side that has done genealogy research and I know my paternal grandma knows a lot that I don’t about that side. So maybe I’ll track down my own cottage in Germany or the Czech Republic someday. Or maybe the Engelharts have one I could borrow.

Yesterday (Saturday) They invited me out with them again. (Really, so sweet of them. Great, nice people.) We went on the ‘Wild Wicklow’ tour. County Wicklow is one south of Dublin, and they have beautiful mountains. It’s also called The Garden of Ireland and Powerscourt is down in Wicklow. Lots of movies were shot there, including PS I Love You and 85% of Braveheart and Excalibur. It was great and Alison’s parents really enjoyed it. She was stressed because the scenery on the way to Mayo wasn’t very exciting and really, when your family comes to visit you on something like this, all you want is for them to have a great time and to be happy. So everything was better after seeing Wicklow, which is very “Irish”—hahaha meaning, what we as Americans, or maybe just non-Irish think of Ireland as.

And finally, to bring you up to today. Or, up to date. Or Update! Oh, I amuse myself if no one else…

Today I headed down to the Dun Laoghaire market, which had many tasty food items. I was disappointed that I couldn’t fit more in me, but my bank account and swimsuit were not. I had some spring rolls and a good portion of a friend’s green chicken curry. And an ice cream cone! I wanted a falafel and a crepe though… There were also little stands selling other things—not too many though. There was a natural foods/gluten-free booth, which my father would have loved, and a new-age, Eastern booth, a couple jewelry ones and a book one. In which I almost bought Ulysses and The Commitments—but didn’t. Instead I bought: Horrible Histories: The Cut-Throat Celts. Not sure if those books exist in the states, but Sarah, the woman I worked with that one day, recommended the series to me and said that event though they’re aimed at kids, the books are fun and interesting. So I picked it up and will flip through it and maybe see if Sean will like it.

Now I’m at home, working through the stress of the volcano and taking it easy. I planned on being around this week and just relaxing, going to see a few sights that I hadn’t and a couple of the free museums, so that’s still on the agenda. Not sure what everyone else is doing though…so we’ll see I guess. And in conclusion, if you could through a positive thought and or prayer out into the universe for everyone who needs to get home and wants to get to their vacations and trips and family, it would really mean a lot to me. I feel a bit helpless and I’ve seen some of these devastated people first hand. And that’s only a mere speck of the current situation.

I’ll keep you all updated here on my current travel situation. Thanks guys.

The thoughts

So, you all deserve a major update. and I hope to give it to you very very soon.

However, I have my last two--and hardest!--finals early tomorrow morning.

But! I also have a metric ton! of random (and to me, interesting) thoughts stumbling across my mind. I'll give it to you here, as a change of format. and consolation prize.

12:50am: last one of the night. finished my last paper. CRAZY ANXIOUS about History bright and early tomorrow. Birthday miracle please? For the official countdown: 12 days, 1 dail day, one exam day, and one night in a hotel separate me from Joey.

10:41pm: now we're getting somewhere. (research paper). additionally, Nicholas Manty is one of the wittiest people I know. Glad to gain some of my friend wit back from Wisconsin after the devastating loss of Tyler Pool. Nick's said wit can currently be seen on display in the quotes section of my facebook. back to work.

9:43pm: 12 hours until this starts. FUCK. But, I'll be done in 18. 18 more hours. 18 more hours.

9:16pm: coming off of my coffee. It feels like currrrr-ashhhhhh. bang. zzzzzzz. three more hours and I'm calling it quits on studying tonight.

7:43pm: Want to mention that a young Fine Gael-er said to me, "What kind of music do you listen to; I take it from your lip piercing some kind of rock?" As he said the rock part he made a jazz-hand type gesture.

7:41pm: Alison just noticed that part of our history notes are directly from Wikipedia. Teacher fail.

7:37pm: does anyone else think, "shit! I hope science fixes this before I have to deal with it" and then just cross their fingers? I can't stop crossing my legs when I sit down even though I KNOW it can (does?) cause varicose veins, but I am just really really hoping that by the time I'm that old it will be an instant, cheap and safe. AND, hoping in 27 years when I'm ready to have kids, that I can (again, safely) pick the gender. Cause I really want a boy. especially as a first born. I was just talking with Nick about what a crazy long term planner I am (and he is too) but I'm thinking this is borderline delusional. Thoughts?

7:30pm: Everything smells like beef around me today. I dont get it.

7:19pm : Listening to Killing in the Name Of as a tribute to the Irish rebellions. [If you dont get this, read here: HERE]

Ard Fheis, or How I had the Best Night in Ireland at a Political Conference part 2

Flash back again if you would.

A few things I forgot to mention. First, Alison went out Friday night before we left with some friends from home, some of which are Irish. They told her it was really cool she was getting to go to the Ard Fheis—she said she couldn’t understand what they were saying with their accents, but either way, you know it’s a big deal when the Irish think it’s a big deal in politics, because people don’t really care that much. With some understandable reasons...

Second, the Ard Fheis, (even though part of what it translates into is annual) only happens every other year—at least for Fine Gael not sure about the other parties. And, save Alison and myself, there were no other interns or Americans there.

Third, Alison interns for a member of the Government. I told Brian (assistant) that and he said, don’t tell anyone. I felt bad because I think Alison might have felt a bit awkward, but neither of us cares that much about the parties. We tried to maintain the rouse, but we couldn’t cover it up very easily, and with neither of us wanting to directly lie, our avoidances made it obvious. The people who found out, mainly some of the assistants slagged her a bit, but it wasn’t a big problem.

Finally, there weren’t very many middle-aged people in attendance. A nice sized high-school aged group with Young Fine Gael (of which I was informed not too many are normal), a few college age students maybe also with Young Fine Gael, or just interested. A few middle-aged people and a TON, a TON of Irish Elders.

I feel it’s important to point out that for the first time in the last FIVE weeks of my sickness, I was not the person in the room with the worst cough. You should have heard all the old people coughing up their lungs, it was disgusting, but I was delighted because it put my cough to shame.

So, after Edna Kenny’s speech Alison and I tracked down Brian to figure out what was going on. With little to no success. The Irish don’t necessarily explain things very well, which is odd, but I’ve encountered that a lot. It was funny actually, Brian just up and left while we were standing around with his friends, being actually pretty awkward, and then Brian sent one of his friends a message that I crept on saying he had gone to Burger King and would be back in 20 minutes. Now, you may hold it against me or find it creepy that I casually looked over his friend’s shoulder at the message, but like I said, no explaining, very awkward situation, I think it was justified. Anyway, Alison and I headed towards the main area of town to try and find some cheap food. We succeeded at Mike’s Fast Food. Or something. I honestly don’t remember what it was called but it tasted delicious.

After our food we headed back to The Malton because supposedly something was going to happen. We walk in the door and Mike, who works in the Fine Gael press office says hey, where’s Brain? and opens his jacket pocket. He pulls out two tickets, smiles and says, take these. Alison and I look at the tickets we’ve been handed. They say:

Edna Kenny TD Leader of Fine Gael

invites you to a reception

following his Presidential Address

Drinks 9.00 pm

*no admission without invitation.

Mike gives us directions as we excitedly hustle towards the reception room. On our way, run into Brian TD and he says, oh let me take you downstairs etc. We walk down this set of narrow stairs to this almost secret room with TWO guys standing out front. They take our tickets and the three of us walk in, and talk for a couple minutes. Then Brian asks, “what are you drinking?” We tell him, he goes over to the (open) bar and brings us back a vodka tonic and a gin and tonic. Then he says hang on, or maybe just disappears and comes back with two more. Mental image, Alison and I are now downstairs, in a small reception room, surrounded by TDs (reminder: essentially congressmen and women) and senators, each of us pretty excited, double fisting drinks brought to us by a TD. All of this while Edna Kenny is about 2 meters away drinking a GUINNESS. Best image ever. We talk with Brian for a while and then he leaves to mingle. Politicians never stop campaigning. Then we bump into a couple of Brian (assistant)’s friends from Leinster House that I’ve had lunch and tea with a few times—Matt and Paddy. We chat, get a couple refills and continue to have an amazing time. Especially after being told that Brian (assistant) couldn’t get in downstairs. [It was a pretty exclusive event!] (this is so long; My excuses a) I’m part Irish b) I’ve been in Ireland for a few days shy of three months c) this was an awesome night d) I think the details make it more real e) I never want to forget this.) Eventually the open bar closes. Maybe because they’ve run out, which I actually wouldn’t doubt, but probably because its getting late at this point. I tell Alison, I’m depressed, that sucks, and we laugh. Then quiet pause. No, I think I’m actually a little depressed, I assert. We laugh again.

Paddy and Matt, head upstairs and encourage us to follow, since most of the other guests have filtered out. Upstairs in the Hotel’s main reception bar area, reunite with Brian (assistant) who says, “I hope that’s water you’re drinking,” and I say, “of course, cause you’re just drinking orange juice.” I never drink, he says, and I say, “ohhh, so that’s why so much work got done on Thursday” (the day after St. Patrick’s Day) We both laugh and I feel overwhelmed with how happy I am to have been placed with the (my?) Brians, and how much I love politics, and how happy I am to have come to Ireland. Honestly I can’t stress enough how much the experience I had was exactly what I wanted, to be welcomed in by the people I work with, to have a truly unique experience with a foreign government, to have an amazing internship. Everything fell into place and was validated by this silly conference out in the west of Ireland with a funny name.

The night continues on in the hotel reception. I meet more of Brian’s friends and colleagues. Alison and I are introduced to Edna Kenny, who is in an adjacent room, taking pictures, chatting. One of the guys asks if Edna can meet two Americans. He stands up to greet us, kisses our hands, and of course, mentions Obama, and we get our picture taken with the next Prime Minister of Ireland. One guy, Colm, used to work for George Lee—the celebrity TD who resigned—but he didn’t spill any details for me. I get led into my first debate of the evening, the first point of conversation with almost anyone Irish person who realizes you’re a yank—Obama. Colm tells me he’s a McCain man and I respond heavily. And I launch into the hands down (Lansdowne) number one reason why no intelligent, self-respecting informed person would ever vote for McCain (as president in 08) : Sarah Palin. Oh goodness, for those of you who have had the pleasure of avoiding this topic with me, lucky you. Anyway, I went into my stump speech on all the reasons I have for hating her, as a person and a politician. Colm and the others smile and laugh at my ferocity, and I assure them I don’t swear a lot, and that I especially didn’t too often before I landed on their island, but that she is one of the only people I would use some very choice words on. They don’t believe me, or they do, and just want to hear me say it, so I do. Everyone laughs and the conversation continues on things I find less infuriating.

Eventually, I get baited into a conversation that I know full well to avoid. I get asked by a few young Fine Gaelers who were introduced to me, “If you lived in Ireland, would you actually support Fine Gael?” Which is a really valid and interesting question. And I say that I certainly wouldn’t support Fianna Foil, because they’re awful and corrupt and Brian Cowen seems like an idiot. But that I do tend to lean pretty left, like socialism left. And the boys—I say boys, they were probably a year or two younger than me, but they looked 16 tops—tell me, we’re pretty socialist. I should have just left it. I should have just nodded quietly, turned to my right and joined Alison’s conversation, I had many options, but took none of them. Natalie likes to debate—ok, argue. Natalie feels strongly about quite a few things, and one of them is government and its role in (a) society. So I say, yes, but in the states it’s different, and the Democratic Party platform is more liberal. And they ask, how? Well, I say, we have the separation of church and state and I so very strongly believe in that. And they ask me to elaborate and I throw out Gay Marriage as an example, and they say we support that—which, pretty sure, they don’t—but whatever. I should have left it, but I continued forth: It’s just different, there’s different issues. Like what, they ask? I assert its different and they ask again. I should’ve known better. I really should’ve, but I decide it’s time for someone to say it. Abortion. WHOA. Explosions everywhere. I don’t even remember if they listened to me, going through my piece of, regardless of how you morally stand on abortion, I believe—especially under the US Constitution—that you absolutely CANNOT heap those morals onto the other 300 odd million people. And that I want abortions safe and regulated. And that I believe it is an important component of women’s rights and privacy rights. And also, that I would never choose that option for myself, nor would I advocate it for a friend in that position. But it needs to be an option. And I got the question, “so you believe abortion should be used as contraception” which no, um, hello, contraception is preventative, abortion is, well, reactionary, or something. Anyway, as I stirred up discussion between them, I removed myself and jumped in with Alison.

Ok. I’m going to try and finish this up. We (a group of about 8 guys + Al and I) eventually moved out of the hotel to McSorley’s—a bar/nightclub. There was a €10 cover, but someone called the TD from Killarney—Tom Sheahan, and they let us in for free! Have to love being connected to the political elite. We hung out at McSorley’s—more free drinks—Alison and I were pretty much, well, the hit of the party. Some of the only girls--definitely the best ones!!—the only interns and the only Americans. They were all so interested in us! It was a lot of fun. Plus, going out with Brian (assistant) was fun to see, and he was such like a big brother. None of the guys were at all creepy or sinister. It was just all around a great time. Eventually Sorley’s closes, we head back to the hotel for a supposed band, most people seem to have started packing in, Alison googles pictures of the Irish rugby player she’s into—Rob Kearny. Matt and Paddy walk us back to our hotel to make sure we get home ok. Seriously, I can’t say it enough, it was truly my best night in Ireland.

Brian, Alison and I

little known Natalie fact: I dont like beer, I dont drink beer.

this is only the second beer I've ever finished. Beer #1) going

away party in which Tyler convinced me they wouldn't let me

visit Ireland if I didn't finish the Guinness he brought and this

was Beer #2.

Alison, Colm, Mike, Brian, Paddy, Me and Patrick.

just some of the lot.

Ard Fheis, or How I had the Best Night in Ireland at a Political Conference part 1

Best Night in Ireland. Hands down Lansdowne. Probably one of the best nights ever in the grand scheme of things. Of course, nothing comparatively to the night I met my best friend, but still.

Fine Gael have been gearing up for their National Conference or Ard Fheis in Irish (pronounced are-desh, go figure. Irish is feckin crazy.) I was reading through Brian’s conference speech on Thursday morning. His wife came in and I met her, she was really nice, and she asked, oh are you going to the conference, and I said no at the same time that Brian said yeah. And then he said, “Oh! You should go! Brian, lets get Natalie a room and you can take the train down Saturday morning. Bring one of your friends.” Fast forward to Saturday morning and Alison and I are jumping on a train (technically the dart, then the LUAS, then one train and then another) down to the very south west of Ireland in Killarney, County Kerry.

Alison and I were so excited to be getting out of Dublin! Plus, we were up in a FOUR STAR hotel—The Killarney Plaza and Spa. Much different than our recent trips (hostels yikes!) and our accommodation down in D4 (we came home to ants).

Flash back to Thursday afternoon. Brian was mentioning to some of his mates how they shouldn’t put conference in the same week as Paddy’s Day because it was too hard on ones liver. I should have taken greater note and prepared.

We’re forward again to Saturday. We got to Killarney at half twelve (12:30) and walked over to our hotel. Brain Hayes was waiting for us in the lobby and checked us in at the desk. I leaned over to Alison and said, “I feel like such a mistress.” The hotel was absolutely gorgeous. SO HAPPY. Plus, Killarney was very nice, very beautiful, etc. Alison and I are moving to Killarney one day. We got up to our great room, unpacked, and lounged for a little bit. Lunch and then to another hotel, the Malton, where the actual conference was on. We sat in on the Education Panel during which Brian gave the speech I edited and then there was a lot of discussion about Education in Ireland as well as abuse in both the education system and the government in general. It was about 2 hours, but mostly interesting.

The really funny part was that after some of the panel would speak, they’d ask for questions. And the moderator specifically said, questions, quick questions, no comments. None of them were quick, and probably about 2 of 15 were questions. THE IRISH CAN TALK. And they love to talk, and I love that about them. Congratulated Brian afterwards and headed back to our hotel. Then headed down for a quick workout at the “state of the art gymnasium” It felt good to get on an elliptical again. Showers, ROBES, and the beginning of the Ireland v Scotland rugby game. Then back to The Malton for the Leader’s Speech. I thought it would just be Edna Kenny, the party leader, TD from Mayo and Spokesperson on Northern Ireland giving his speech with one or two introduction speeches. –As is rather common in Ireland, or at least with the Brians, no one told me what was going on or what it would be like. There was a very engaging master of ceremonies, a young middle-aged woman, I cant for the life of me remember who exactly she was but I liked her. -----Mairead McGuinness, a Member of European Parliament. Woo woo EU. Then there were several speeches from Fine Gaelers. (Whats the plural? Haha) The two best were Leo Varadkar, the spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment who really laid into government and blamed them for the recession—but in a very intelligent, impassioned way—and then Michael Ring, spokesperson on Community and Rural Affairs. Deputy Ring had a very humorous speech, most of it equating to what a joke Fianna Foil is and what an astounding leader Edna Kenny is. There were some good videos played too—a few about current Councilors who will be running in by-elections for TD seats, and a FF joke one, and a video of Edna Kenny’s accomplishments since becoming leader. Which, he’s actually led the party very well, gained a lot of seats, laid out good policies, etc. Plus the video was to the tune of Sweet Surrender [by the Temper Trap--you should listen to it!!], which is most definitely a favourite.

Finally, Edna took the stage. His speech was about 25 minutes long, and he laid out Fine Gael’s 3 pillared plan to get Ireland back to work that will be implemented when they’re in government. It was a good speech and I really like Edna Kenny. He seems like a great, smart man. More on that later though.

I’ll conclude here with Part One. The Business half of my trip to Killarney.

I’m very very tired—which will be covered in part two. Hopefully tomorrow.