goin crazy in Dun Drum!

David, the man who owns the “Dundrum Holiday Homes” is still trying his hardest (we think) to get us wireless. It’s really extremely hard to not have it in our life constantly…but I know it’s kinda good for us all (not being able to check facebook all the time). BUT there is a lot of work to be down via internet…and so we either don’t do it or…that’s about itJ good excuse.

Saturday culture shock started to set in…it’s not suppose to set in for another month (according to all my intercultural studies) but being stuck in this small town (feels kinda like Siloam Springs) is really getting to us…especially because we are lacking a internet connection with everyone! Things that show culture shock include:

*compulsive eating or drinking (check),

*excessive sleeping (sorta check…naps out in our back yard count I guess),

*boredom (check = identity and any board game),

*physical ailments (almost everyone’s had ‘the cold’ and joey fractured his wrist),

*stereotyping of nationals (seriously, we’ve been reading “The Times” of the UK…they are crazy)

*unexplained weeping (not yet…we are having just too much fun)

We have watched quite a few movies in the evenings after we stuff ourselves with dinner and that’s about it. Jill, Emily and I rode our bikes to the beach on Friday night after I made my wonderful dinner for 15 people (I was proud of myself, especially after everyone told me what a great job I did ha ha). It’s beyond beautiful at the beach…the water is incredible, blue and gorgeous…I love the ocean. There is something about the constant change of the water and depth that intrigues my heart, desires and imagination.

So we’ve found this game show called Identity…there is one similar in the states. Donny Osmond is the host…oh Donny. His smile is something special. Lynn (she was the last contestant) won 10,000 pounds ($20,000)! It was possibly the highlight of our week…next to the tour of the Linen Museum in Lisburn. We watch Identity every day at 5:15. There are like 15 people who stand on podiums and the contestant has to guess their identity out of a selection of identities such as: changed name, new dad, Latino ballroom dancer, atheist…yeah it’s pretty interesting and definitely an interactive part of our day. “STRANGER….is THat your IDentITY?” – get it Donny, we love you even though no game show in the US would take/keep you

We’ve met some interesting people here so far. No one we’ve been able to call up and hang out with…but we are still holding out for those long lost friends in Ireland…here’s to finding them.

It’s interesting the things we do and find interesting when a large group like our own hangs out in the same house together for long extended periods of time. Trival Pursuit (Pop Culture) is a favorite of ours.

Since the group of us spend pretty much all day with each other we are beginning to get to know more things about one another and those little things that make an individual special J For instance, we all shared our most embarrassing moments a few days ago…things like that just bring people close…experiencing a horrible, traumatizing, socially awkward moment together. We spend Sunday evenings at Hadden and Betty Wilson’s church, then go to their house for ‘dinner’…more like snacks. We love love love Betty because she is fabulous and chic and makes us laugh so hard (probably not on purpose). They definitely will miss us when we are gone in December