Day 1

Sept. 14^th, 2012

                My first greatest experience, while on my way to Ireland occurred when we were flying over the ocean and I saw the aurora borealis (northern lights)!! It was my first time to see them and the last place I would look for them (while on a plane).  I am currently at the international airport waiting for my bus to Londonderry.  It is 7:10am for me and I haven’t been able to sleep a wink.  The time here is 12:10pm.  The people here are extremely kind and will go out of their way to help you.  I love it here already.  I’ve noticed different trees and flowers that I want to identify as soon as possible.  Its 52 degrees here and very windy.  Its not normally windy like this.  I asked the taxi driver.  I thought I had to go check in at the international office in Belfast today so I took a taxi into town, learned that I didn’t have to check in there, and called the taxi driver to pick me back up.  We chatted the whole way and I asked him plenty of questions to keep him busy.  His name was John and he has a 16 year old daughter.  Very kind guy and when he learned that I made a mistake by driving to the University of Ulster Belfast campus, he didn’t charge me full price for the ride.  It was so strange watching him drive on the left side of the car and left side of the road! The hills are wide and vast and green and beautiful here! At least I didn’t go into Belfast for nothing.  Also, the girl at the coffee shop washed my apple for me when I purchased it.  So kind! I must look like a stupid American though because some Irish guy in the coffee shop said something to me and I couldn’t quite understand and his wife said “oh its just an American.”  Also, I sat next to a young man from Belfast on the plane.  I don’t think he liked me at first because I accidentally sat on his pillow and when he saw me he said “great.” In a sarcastic tone. Haha.  But I really wanted to talk to him and ask him questions so when I finally did, he was very talkative.  I got my first 100 lbs out of the atm today.  The money here is so large and pretty and the coins are thick and heavy! I can’t wait to look out the bus window on my travels to Londonderry now.  But I am desperately needing sleep. Hopefully I won’t fall asleep until I can get to the Mcfeeters’ home

As soon as I arrived at the Mcfeeters' home, I was offered a cup of tea by Stephen Mcfeeters, a 17 year old college (high school) student.  We entered their very modern yet boxy living room with a well lit fire place and sat and chatted while sipping tea.  It was a dream. Lexie and Bernie soon came home and welcomed me graciously.  Lexie is a good looking red headed Irish man from Derry and a retired firefighter.  Bernie is a nurse and they have a daughter who has two children and is living in England. After talking for a while, I went to bed in my spare room in their home.  Two hours later I was awake and proceeded to use the shower.  The shower was more complicated than I was prepared for.  There was a pull down switch when you first enter the bathroom to turn the shower machine on.  Then there are two shower heads in the shower and a box with many buttons.  I was highly confused.  Also, the toilet had two buttons for flushing.  Which one do I push? 

After asking Stephen for help I figured it out.  After I was all cleaned up, the Mcfeeters called me for tea, which was actually dinner.  We had ham, peas and homegrown potatoes.  Also, a creamy gravy to pour over everything.  It was delicious.  Then the Reverend Robert Buick, a friend of mine who picked me up from the bus stop and I've been emailing with for a while, came to pick me up along with his daughter Ally for a tour of the town.  I saw "free derry" with many political and sometimes disturbing murals all over the homes.  I saw the peace walking bridge and the giant and beautiful presbyterian church.  We also did a walking tour of the Magee campus.  When we toured the sports center of the campus, I learned that surfing is a very popular sport here! Oh, by the way, it is about 55 degrees F here everyday and rainy all the time!

After all that, I went back to stay the night at the Mcfeeters' home but not before sitting in their living room and chatting more about politics, the olympics, etc.  It was a wonderful conversation.  We each had a cup of tea and then two sam miguel beers. Yum! 

Day 2

Sept. 15th, 2012

I woke up at 10am and got ready for the day.  Then Bernie called me up for some breakfast.  It was huge! Poached egg and muffin, cereal, orange juice, tea, yogurt and fruit salad! Then the Reverend picked me up and drove me to my campus.  It was time to pick up my key for staying in the Duncreggan student village.  I'm staying with four other girls in a flat.  I get my own room with a sink in it.  The bathrooms are rather large and so is the kitchen and common room that only 5 girls share.  I love it! Two of my flatmates haven't moved in yet.  The girls that I have met are Aoife (pronounced like Eifa) who is from southern Ireland and 24 and a nursing student getting her second degree. She is very kind! Also there is Rebecca who is 29 and a social care student.  She is from Belfast and also getting her second degree here.  When she heard that I was a christian she suddenly gave me a big hug. haha.  I love people here.  Around 2pm I went to the church BBQ at the YMCA.  I had my first Irish burger with cheese, onions, and a sweet red relish.  It was delicious!  Also, there was tea.  I met many people of the church who were all very kind.  I met the Reverend's wife who took me under her wing and introduced me to everyone.  She is a traditional looking Irish lady.  I met a woman whose name was Kay.  She was born and raised in Londonderry and especially pleasant to talk with.  After the BBQ, I went grocery shopping with Bernie and Stephen.  Bernie had offered to help me earlier.  I would have been so lost in the grocery without her.  We went to a place called Tesco's in a shopping center.  Bernie pointed out all the good brands for me and suggested what foods I should get for meals.  This was essentially my very first time grocery shopping and it was in a different country. haha.  After grocery shopping, the McFeeters invited me to their home for dinner.  We had curry.  It was delicious.  They gave me such a huge portion, I couldn't eat it all.  They also let me borrow their kettle, a few dishes and cookware, a cell phone they weren't using and a pillow for my apartment! They are the kindest people in the world!  After dinner, the whole family helped me with my groceries and brought them into my flat.  It took us the longest time to realize that you didn't have to swipe your card but only put it up to the chip to get in.  The family stayed for a few minutes and gave me hugs and left. Soon afterwards, I went to bed.