4 weeks to go

we've sure been busy over the past few weeks.
it seems that all of a sudden our teachers (both here and in the states) realize that we really didn't do MUCH the first 2/3 of the time we were here so they are going to plan something literally every day for the next two weeks. that's pretty awesome and everything ... considering we were just tourists ... but we are not. we are students. the end of the semester is creeping up, tons of little things to do (write letters, read books, make things, update my blog...:)), lots of places to see, and people to meet...AND finals and research paperS are due in a few weeks.
so i've got a big research paper over Irish tourism, a 2000 word paper due on William Wilberforce, travel to Dublin (in the Republic...OH over to 'the other side'), 10-14 pages on Sir William Orpen (an Irish artist), lots of interviewing of Northern Irish people, a trip to London and lots of other things that i wont bore you with.
all to say: i'm busy, but have a hard time DOING the work ha ha...i'm best at procrastinating.

we went to where C.S. Lewis went to church and got baptized and lived...that was amazing.  ross wilson made this statue of the wardrobe and one of his characters "diggory" walking into it.
we also went to the coast and could see Scotland from across the water. wow awesome.

we've had a few interesting people visit us lately.
Eamonn Mallie: the head journalist for Northern Ireland and a lot of the UK. he came and talked to us about....poetry? what? it was weird. and he made us feel like complete idiots cause we didn't know as much about America as he does...and he put down our education system. good start Eamonn (it's pronounced: E-mun) he's written lots of books. he's been involved intensively with the IRA and Shinn Fein (terrorist groups of Ireland) for years. he's like the Cooper Anderson of the UK.
David Park: wrote "oranges in spain" which we've been reading came and talked to us about it. that was pretty awesome. he's written a lot of short stories and novels and he's also a teacher....fascinating, i know
we just got home from Eamonn Mallie's house. we were invited to see all of his art
O WOW...
he's got to have over 15 million dollars worth of paintings in his large house. and he told us about every single one of them. all of them have a story. it was amazing, beautiful, intense, and long :)

a few days ago Vivo: the 'corner store' of Northern Ireland was having an anniversary. "one year of being open"
they had food, beverages and a drawing for prizes. well of course we went. party in dundrum!
we hung out, ate little smokies, drank tea (of course) and waited for them to cut the cake...as we were waiting one of the girls who worked there asked if i wanted to add my name to the raffle before they drew. SURE! i say. why not? i never win anything anyway.
"meg smith"...OH! that's me. i win.


gotta love Dundrum.