*pokes*

Oh, hello friends!

First of all, I HOPE YOU'RE WELL. I know it's been an eternity, but I wanted to check in and update you.

I'm happy and healthy and designing full-time in Chicago. :]

This blog was such a huge blessing for me, and something I'm proud of, too. I cherish each and every person who I've interacted with here. Some, still good friends of mine. I want you to know that while this blog is, for the time being, not a priority... PLEASE stay in touch with me! I'd absolutely love to reconnect.

The easiest way to stay in touch is Twitter. 

I'd LOVE to hear from you. And, if you're interested, I will be keeping up with a blog with thoughts less personal, and more design focused over here.

Gosh, seriously. I feel like my friends and readers from this blog know me in a way most of my friends here don't. You've seen such deep growth within me during my college years. I can't say it enough, I love and remember y'all so much.

Anyway, enough sap. Let's reconnect, yeah?

Much love,
allysonkate

Wonderly Wonderful

Wonderly

I feel like I'm rolling with the punches right now in life. I've got an internship in Nashville this summer, I have no idea where I'm going to live, I have more things to accomplish in the next two weeks than I can actually humanly manage, and I just signed with the YouTube network Big Frame and more specifically, Wonderly.

That last one is particularly strange, friends. As I never really intending on making vlogging an actual thing I do. But, Wonderly is so so wonderful, and I love everything they are and everyone who's involved. 

No one knows about this blog anymore. You do, though. You. My friends. I don't share this link anymore, and I want it to stay that way. This is going to stay personal. I don't know how often I'll most, but I will. I will never stop. 

However, this also means I'll be trying to keep up with a weekly schedule here: Parsamend

Stay here with me, friends. But if you'd like, I'd love for you to go there, as well. 

Stay sane during finals. You can do it. I like you.

xx

Here.

I want to blog.

This month I've been listening to The National like crazy. For some reason it has been one of the only calmers for me lately.

I've finished 4 weeks of school now. I'd say I'm at the point of massive self-doubt. In my abilities. In my talent. Everything is discouraging. I have to consistently make an effort not to be discouraged. I just feel incompetent in every way.

But.

It's a work in progress.

I'm not unhappy. I want to make that clear. Just questioning everything, as you do in your mid-twenties, I hear. Everyone just seems so much better than I.

This is my last full time semester. I graduate next December, after a few classes in the fall. So... that I'm thankful for. Nearly all my friends are gearing up for graduation. I am thankful I'm not.

I'm going to VidCon... you know, that YouTube conference John and Hank started a while back? That one. I look forward to it each and every day. Speaking of YouTube, I've been keeping up on my channel recently, for those of you who didn't know that.

I miss writing.

I haven't been taking very good care of myself lately. May I blame winter? Senior year of college. Is emotionally the hardest, eventfully the craziest, and successfully the most rewarding year. I'm ready to be done. Except I never want to be done with college.

Life.

Guys.

xx

Little Victories: My Etsy Shop

- Entry from September 11, 2012

Well, I did it. Small steps towards bigger things, eh? :]

Introducing: Parsamend Prints

Feels

Edit: I wrote this a couple months ago and found it in my drafts. But it fits. So... here. :]

I believe

the skies

are doorways

home.

I think one of my favorite things about this video is that all the kids were his relatives. He paid them in pizza.

I've been doing a bit more reflecting these past few days than I have in months. My whole life has kind of been full steam ahead for the past year now, and I reflect so less often than I used to. Usually, this is an incredibly good thing. But I've changed so much recently without reflection that I almost feel disconnected from the Allyson who didn't have clear, aggressive career goals over two years ago.

I feel like this is also why I write less. Why I blog less.

I have less time in my head.

I don't even know what my emotional outlet is anymore. Huh. That's weird. Is it crying? Do you cry more when you have less emotional outlets like writing or singing or things as such?

I don't know. Maybe I've just been emotionless lately. The feels. I lack them. #INTJ

I just think I'm losing touch with who I used to be. And that's confusing to me. How are you supposed to explain that to someone you used to know. 

But I suppose it's okay, because we're all different... right? Humans are not meant to be stagnant creatures. But how are you supposed to remain close to someone who isn't experiencing your growth? 

And frankly, my dear, I am so ready for a glass of wine.

2012 Favorites: Albums/Concerts

Albums:

1. Mumford and Sons // Babel

Well, I certainly don't claim to be the only fan who claims that Mumford owns a piece of their soul, but gosh. I am very much certain there will never be a year in which they make an album that isn't my number one. 

2. Passion Pit  // Gossamer

This came out in early summer, and I still just let the whole album play out. It's just brilliant for every mood.

3. Coldplay // Mylo Xylo

Not my personal favorite Coldplay album, but another solid and brilliant record.

4. Sigur Ros // Valtari

Also soul owning. Seeing this live so soon. I may burst from elation.

5. Alt-J // An Awesome Wave

Okay. I can't believe this is top five, and maybe it's because it's still fairly new to me... but I am becoming increasingly obsessed with it as I listen. Just, give this guy a shot.

Highly Honorable Mentions:

Sleigh Bells // Reign of Terror

Stars // The North

Regina Spektor // What We Saw From the Cheap Seats

Ben Folds Five // The Sound of the Life of the Mind

David Byrne & St. Vincent // Love This Giant

Andrew Bird // Break it Yourself

*cough*

One Direction also Taylor Swift okay?

Concerts:

1. Needtobreathe // Dublin, Ireland

I still get goosebumps when I think about this night. I have never danced so much in my life. I just. Best night of my summer, best night in Ireland, best feeling.

2. William Fitzsimmons  // Madison, Wisconsin

3. Ingrid Michaelson // Dublin, Ireland (The Ps. I Love You pub)

4. St. Vincent & David Byrne  // Chicago, Illinois

5. Andrew Peterson // Green Bay, Wisconsin

Highly Honorable Mentions:

JJ Heller // Green Bay, Wisconsin 

The Hush Sound  //  Chicago, Illinois

Christmas Eve Musings

(Pretend it's still Christmas Eve. :] )

Today I am an only child. Today I am an only cousin. I’m in no concerts this year, no services, no big family gatherings, and presents won’t be opened this evening.

My biggest decision of the day was whether to watch Spy Kids or stay festive with The Santa Clause and recite every line.

Traditions shift. A few years ago I feel like this would have massively thrown me off. But that’s what you get for being the youngest by far, right?

I remember the first year traditions started to change. I was 13, in 8^th grade, and we spent Christmas in China. China was our present, so there weren’t really any gifts to open, Christmas Eve was in an apartment, and Christmas Day was with thousands cramped in one of the only legal churches. The service came with a two hour Chinese sermon and Santa on the altar.

From there, traditions just… shifted. Presents moved from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day.  Siblings had their spouse’s families to attend and we didn’t always leave for Memphis the week after.

Then, two years ago were in Memphis for my grandpa’s funeral. Christmas Eve was in an assisted living chapel and Christmas Day was spent in an airport.  I think people watching in airports on Christmas Day is the most interesting type of people watching I have ever encountered.

But. This isn’t meant to be a sad post. It’s a… hmm… growing up sure is a weird thing post.

Anyway, there are still peanut butter balls in the refrigerator, so all is well.

How have your traditions changed since you were a kid? Have they?

Merry Christmas, dears. :]

Ooey Gooey Love

As my social networks grow and expand, I have been realizing more and more how much this blog means to me. There's something incredibly special about it. About you guys. I like this. I like you.

My semester ended yesterday. I worked really, really hard this semester and probably reflected upon it zero amount. I just. Kept. Pushing. So, as I face this next month of nothingness, I will probably be jumping to the other end of the reflecting spectrum and reflect much too much on life stuff and growth.

Especially since I feel like you guys have seen and witnessed my growth from the most realistic perpective. More than anyone who follows me anywhere else and in many cases, IRL friends too.

So, guys, I dedicate my entire portfolio site to you. My blog friends who have been with me since the start. I just made my portfolio live this week and I would love to show it to you.

allysonkate.com

Time to catch up on each other's lives, okay?

Letterpress Love

I am quite fond of letterpress and woodtype. It's like the best of both worlds, handmade and digital. I'm in a printmaking class right now that consumes my entire life, and it's actually showed me that I enjoy it less than I thought. It's much more illustration heavy, and drawing is not my strong suit. I love how minimalistic and geometrical type is. Perhaps that's a cop out. 

Anyway, this font was originally a letterpress typeface. I'm working with it all semester in my Intermediate Type class. I'm also applying for an short internship over winter break at a wood type printshop, so I wanted to cater to that. This is digital, though. Don't get confused. This was printed by a printer, not with a press. 

SO I'M SHOWING YOU MY WORK! 

Gosh. That doesn't happen very often. :]

Ladeda.

A Letter

It's weird to think about how I'm in a place where I feel comfortable addressing this properly. Wasn't it yesterday I was stuffing dining hall cheese curds in my body every night, when "working out" was like talking in a foreign language, and skipping pointless classes to play Super Smash Bros with my new boyfriend who I was only semi-interested in was actually a thing I did with my life?


"I am having such a hard time balancing school work, social life, living healthy, and getting enough God-time."



Dear Lovely Friend, 

This is a letter to you. You're not alone. 

There's that oh-so-overused annoying infographic that looks like this:

I mean, fine. I guess it makes sense. Woe is the college student. We're too busy to do everything. Whine whine cheese whine. But I want to think that instead of whining about it, more people should just plain take initiative in their lives to work on fixing that bits and pieces that are more difficult or lacking.

Let me address the topics you mentioned and how I deal(t) with them:

1) School Work

Remember that you are in school to learn. You are paying so much money. Get everything you want to get out of it. The resources you have are crazy convenient  Use. Them. Now, obviously, if you would have told that to me while I was sitting in the back of the 200 person Geography lecture hall texting the boy I swore was my soulmate, I would have retorted a wittism about how my professor had her master's degree in dirt. True story. I didn't care about that class. I did minimal work and skidded by as apathetically as possible.

And it's okay to have classes like that. If you know you can do well enough in a class without caring, this is great. You know why? Because if leaves more time and brain space to pursue the crap out of the subjects you care about.

It's okay to not do as well in subjects you feel aren't worth your time. You don't need to know everything. It's true.

With that being said, self-discipline. Miss a night out. It's okay. Trust me, everyone understands and there will be more.

2) Social Life

There was a point in my first two years where I felt like I was losing friends back home more rapidly than I losing hair in the shower. I had a lot of best friends. It took me a really long time to readjust and become comfortable with accepting the fact that all of my friendships were shifting. But guess what?

The good ones will always be there for you. It's honestly honestly the truth.

And that goes for friends back home and friends at college (and on the internet, and in foreign countries...)

And if it comes down to it, force yourself to plan around social nights. Like, if you know you're getting boneless wings at BDUBS on Thursday night, force yourself to get more stuff done the night before.

Also, what helped insanely much and my best friend and I still think of fondly, were comparing schedules and planning on campus lunches with our friends. Middle of the day friend time is a weirdly therapeutic.

Also, for the record, let me tell you all one thing. Ahem. YOU DO NOT NEED A BOY TO TEXT EVERY DAY. IT DOESN'T SUCK AS MUCH AS YOU THINK IT WILL.

Oh, I'm sorry. was this a letter to past me or you? ;]

3) Living Healthy

Buy. A smaller. Meal Plan. This forces you to not only think in terms of feeding yourself, but it also is a fantastic way to make sure you're aware of portion control and what goes in your food. Fit as much real food in your frig as possible. Eat. Real. Food.

I get not going to the gym. Boy, do I get it. (I mean, it's an insanely long process, amirite?!) But you can, believe it or not, walk up the stairs to your forth floor class.

Sign up for 5k races. This is kind of like using the Law instead of the Gospel. The law shows you your sin, right? In the same way, it will be quite evident if you don't ever work out when you're huffing your way through a 3 mile jog. Hahaha. What did I just do with that comparison.

Anyway, 5k races are usually really really fun.

4) God-Time

From what I understand, you are in a pretty awesome environment of supportive people in this department. Just like school work, this is just something you need to make time for. Join a Bible study. Yes, it's weird the first few weeks. Yes, you might have to scavenger your way through 2 or 3 Christian groups before you find one you're comfortable with, but doooo it. Do it. Do it.

Bring it up in conversation with friends. It's way more awesome than talking about how much boys suck. 

Also, read that Bible app on your phone during Geography. For goodness sake, your professor has her masters in DIRT.

When you make TIME for God, he will bless you from it. You will never regret making time for Him, I promise.


What you're insterested in matters the most, your friends will always love you, eat real food, and make time for God.

Love,

An Ever Learning College Girl

Post Perk Feels

"...But mostly, I thought that your being sad was much more important to me than Craig not being your boyfriend anymore. And if it meant that I would never get to think of you that way, as long as you were happy, it was okay. That's when I realized I really loved you."

She sat on the floor with me. She spoke quiet.

"Charlie, don't you get it? I can't feel that. It's sweet and everything, but it's like you're not even there sometimes. It's great that you can listen and be a shoulder to someone, but what about when someone doesn't need a shoulder. What if they need the arms or something like that? You can't just sit there and put everybody's lives ahead of yours and think that counts as love. You just can't. You have to do things."

"Like what?" I asked. My mouth was dry.

"I don't know.  Like take their hands when the slow song comes up for a change. 

Or be the one who asks someone for a date. 

Or tell people what you need. 

Or what you want."

xx

Now is the Start

Hi, friends.

Right now I'm sitting in the classiest Starbucks I have ever set foot in. It's one of the ones that has an evening menu and serves wine, small dinner plates, and desserts. With the classical music playing, you can't help but feel at least a little relaxed.

Actually, right now it's rather ironically theatrical. There's a train station a block away with a fire truck/ambulance ordeal. So, while I sit here in peace, my mind drowned with the classical music and my body filled with the warmth of the season, there are sirens going by and goodness knows whats wrong causing delays all over the city in the heart of rush hour.

Not that this is abnormal. Just ironic that I'm witnessing it from where I am. Kind of like when the band kept playing on the Titanic, no?

Can I share a new song with you? Okay, cool. :]

Here are thoughts:

I get discouraged a lot. "Comparison is the thief of joy."

I wish people in positions of authority were better e-mailers.

I wonder if my future boyfriend will wear cargo shorts.

Passing Panera every day helps me understand a little of what Adam an Eve felt passing the Tree.

Sometimes eating meat makes me feel sick.

Sometimes it doesn't.

I've met more people in the last two weeks that since probably my first week of college.

Neopets still hasn't gotten me my birthday. I think I might call them.

My legs are never properly shaved.

Design. Consumes. Me.

Also, with my new website (yes, I have the allysonkate.com!!) which I am currently in the process of coding to make it pretty and live with my portfolio. But I had to make a blog for it. So that will be my design related blog. This is perfect, because I've always wanted this to be more personal. And Tumblr is too silly to be my actual design blog. Nothing there really, but I'll basically just be posting three bits of inspiration a week for class, for now. That's at allysonkate.com/blog

Okay. Love love!

Things Big and Small

"We were together. 

I forget the rest."

Kids. Friends. Lovlies.

One week of school has passed and these are things.

I live in the same apartment, but I have one new roommate. Her name is Flo. Cute, right? She sings. And has an album. And is like, good and stuff.

By the end of the semester I promise to give y'all a link to a portfolio designed/coded/filled with me and everything I am doing. No more hiding my work. I need to start spewing it to you lovlies.

By the end of the semester I hope, fingers crossed, to have prints in my Etsy shop. I'm in a printmaking class and by the end of the semester I will have inked 50 prints. I do hope I'm proud of them. You see, next week I will be physically etching my design into my woodblock. Sharp tools, so help me Lord. We will see.

I found out I only need to take three classes my last semester, next fall... and I really don't want to cram those classes in this year. For many reasons. So I'll be a part-time student my last year. Fun, eh?

Wheezywaiter's girlfriend goes to my school.

I am blessed to be part of a group of women who all love Jesus so very much. I've never met a single one of them, but it is singlehandedly the most encouraging thing I have been a part of in too too long. The internet is great, guys.

If you follow me anywhere else on the internet you will know that my time has come. I have given into the Time Lord. The TARDIS has taken me. I am one of you, whovians.

And finally, I'm nearly finished with Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. I would be done by now, but the silly woman keeps deciding to run away from the most loving, attractive man ever to be placed on a page. Sigh.

xoxo

Edinburgh

My first visit to the United Kingdom was brought to you by Edinburgh, Scotland.

I love Edinburgh, Scotland. 

IT WAS SO WONDERFUL.

The architecture was so beautifully gothic. The way the city was set up was entirely picturesque, and my travel companion and I meshed really, really well.

Basically, we saw the entire city in two days. We walked. And walked. And walked. And climbed. And explored. And walked. And ate. And took so many pictures. And hiked. And skipped. And got drenched. And smiled. And drank tea. Also walked.

It blew my expectations out of the water. On the plane ride over, I was afraid that I was going to regret choosing Scotland as my one weekend out of the country. But I think what made it even more special in the fact that it really is a little less well known. It isn't London. It isn't Paris. 

We climbed the olympic rings (illegally, whoops!) We visited 3 museums, we climbed a mountain, we explored castles, cathedrals, libraries. And we ate some of the best food in existence.

We probably talked about how perfect the weekend had gone a dozen times shortly before we were leaving. But we needed one last dinner. As we were searching for a nice place to eat, we saw this.

See what that window says? Do you SEE WHAT THAT WINDOW SAYS?! J.K. spent much time here when she was writing the first three novels. So, um. Yeah so yes we ate there. And it was fantastic. Then Erin, the girl I was with, went to use the bathroom. She came back and said, "Allyson. Go to the bathroom." 

The WHOLE bathroom AND hallway are COVERED in thank you letters to J.K. I ended up not even using the bathroom. I just stood there taking pictures of ALL the things. It was so beautiful. I ended up scrounging for something to write with, came back with a crayon, and w

rote, "Always. Love, Allysonkate."

So, the weekend was wonderful, and you should all visit Scotland someday. I am back in Chicago now, and quite happy about that fact. I just need to write a few more blogs on my summer so I can remember these things. :] 

Also, I don't know if I've ever said this but I love keeping in touch with all of you and Blogger is hard. I do know some of us follow each other on Twitter/Tumblr/ etc... but here are my links in case we don't. :]

Twitter

Tumblr

Keeping the Peace: Thoughts on Belfast

A mural in a Catholic neighnorhood

Belfast

Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Disclaimer: If some of this is culturally incorrect or sounds ignorant, it's because it probably is. I have one days knowledge of a complicated history. These are just thoughts and observations. :]

Yesterday some friends and I crossed the border to Northern Ireland to visit Belfast. Now, before coming to Ireland, I not only had no idea Northern Ireland was a different country and part of the United Kingdom, but I also knew nothing of Belfast and its history. Conflict and violence consume the city's history. However, we were assured from many Irish friends that it was completely safe now. With that being said, we just decided to take a day trip. 

Our tour guide for both our bus and taxi drive were both being extremely sarcastic about the violence, to the point where we honestly had absolutely no idea if the city was safe nowadays or not. I think they get a kick out of scaring tourists, but let me tell you... this is what I learned:

The conflict is between the Catholics and the Protestants. It's not a conflict of religion, however, it is a conflict of politics. The Catholics are Irish and believe their city/country is Irish. The Protestants believe it is fully Great Britain and hail to the Queen. 97% of the city is separated like this. 97% of the city does not interact between the two groups. The catholics have their neighborhoods and the protestants have their neighborhoods. The schools are separated. The workplace is separated. They are separated by giant walls they call "Peace Walls." Every night gates close between the neighborhood. Young kids from both sides approach the gates. They hate each other. They don't know each other, but they know they hate each other. 

My friend Libby signing the Peace Wall

Peace through segregation. It's their answer. They live with it. At one point our taxi proudly announced Belfast was the 5th safest city in Europe. 

Peace through segregation.

(picture from The Guardian)

On a happier note, we visited this beaut of a museum in the afternoon. It's only been open for a few months. Built to commemorate the 100th anniversary, this museum is the largest Titanic experience in the world. Belfast (again, I knew nothing of this before coming here) is where the Titanic was built and launched, so much of the museum has to do with the construction of it. But can we just take a moment to admire how phenomenal of an architectural structure this is? Holy moly it's great. It reminds me of some architects I really love, but I looked the guy up. No idea who he is. 

Goodness I still get goosebumps when I read about the Titanic.

Anyway Anyway, 7 more scones until home. :]

The Great Irish Coffee Dilemma

Insomnia. There are more Insomnia cafes in Dublin than there are Starbucks in Chicago. For example, I am sitting in one right now and I can literally see one across the street out the window. Just in case, you know... this street is too treacherous to cross. 

------------------------------------------

“I’ll just have a coffee, please.”

“How would you like your coffee?”

“Excuse me?” I said, still not quite used to the stronger accents.

“How would you like your coffee?”

“Oh, just black, please.”

*le making coffee*

“One black Americano.”

I take the beverage I was just handed, smile, and look down into it. It has a white top.  Sigh, they got my order wrong.

So the next day, I try again.

“Just a coffee, please. Black.”

This time, I watch.

Disclaimer: What happens next is a bit shocking. Not suitable for the faint at heart.

She makes my coffee from a steamer. My coffee is coming out of a steamer. Stop it. Stop that. I said coffee. WHAT’S HAPPENING TO MY BLACK COFFEE.

“One black coffee.” She said as she slides a white topped beverage I just saw birthed from an espresso machine.

THIS IS BLACK COFFEE?!

I took it. I smiled. I think. It was probably the most uncomfortable smile ever.  Coffee comes out of a steamer. They call it an Americano. Sometimes. And it has a white top. My coffee. My beloved black coffee. I had to get to the bottom of this.

The Irish proved no help.  I had to find answers elsewhere.


I calmly asked my friend back home, also a coffee lover and who has family in the UK. And by calmly, I mean I freaked out, of course. He just laughed. He laughed. The nerve. I was appalled. Surely out of all people he would understand. After he got done laughing he simply said, “Oh yeah. I forgot to tell you. They make coffee from a fancier form of a French press.”

-_-

Fine. Whatever, I get it. But it still doesn’t make sense. I order a black coffee and they serve me an Americano. Which, I may add, isn’t an Americano from the states. There has be a way to get coffee coffee. Black coffee coffee.

So, I went to Starbucks. Their coffee is a bit strong black for me, so I usually get a syrup shot in it.

“A tall caramel coffee, please.”

“Frappachino?”

“No, just coffee.”

He looked at me.

I tried again, “Like a shot of caramel in a cup of coffee.”

He looked at me.

The barista at the register saw that I was having troubles and said, “Caramel just in a cup of filter coffee, you’re saying?”

A lightbulb went on in my head. “Yes!!”

Filter coffee. FILTER COFFEE.

I got to the register, then, and the helpful barista (notably picking up on my accent and flustered state) said, “Sorry, I don’t speak English.” I told him to shut up. We’re friends now.  (He asked me if I was around a certain area in citycenter the night before. A bit caught off guard I replied, “Well, yeah, actually… I was.” He said, "I thought that face looked familiar.” Creepy or adorable? You decide.)

So, there I was enjoying my first real cup of coffee. Filter coffee. Not all cafes have it, and certainly not on the menu, and it’s hardly ever freshly brewed, so I usually just order “an Americano” now. I am much more okay with it now that I know what it is.

In conclusion, filter coffee is coffee coffee. An Americano is what they call coffee and it's espresso beans, and Irish Coffee is something entirely different with whiskey.

But Ireland, your coffee. Comes out of. A steamer. 

Glendalough, Kilkenny, Galway

Galway

I've already been able to do quite a bit of traveling within Ireland, since many of us are kind of over Dublin. This sounds silly, but... it just doesn't compare to the countryside/smaller towns.

The first Saturday we took a day trip to Glendalough and Kilkenny.

Glendalough proved to be a pretty little secret (and by secret, I mean one of the most popular attractions in ireland... but shush) in the countryside. It was a nice stop to take pictures, pretty when the sun came out, and stayed dry for at least a few minutes. There's legit history and such, but let's be honest. It was pretty. However, our nice walk back from the lake to the bus was pouring and flooded. Never put your money on a sunny day, folks. 

However, upon arriving to the bus after the damp walk we were greeted with some freshly baked scones. Enough to make the dampest of dames a happy camper.

Kilkenny was freezing cold and raining. We only had about 3 hours there, so really we just looked at the pretty castle and then went into town to eat. Also, complain. HOWEVER, we are past that part, remember? This was the first weekend and a hard day. 

I think we've asked ourselves a million times how the Irish remain the friendliest of beings when their weather is enough to make any human unpleasant feeling to the bone.

Now we fast forward two weekends to GALWAY, by far my favorite destination thus far. Galway is on the opposite side of the country as Dublin, on the Atlantic coast. A two hour and 15 minute bus ride away. You make know it by that song. You know. This one. 

Anyway, we were told all the hotels/hostels were booked because it was the first weekend of this big boat race/festival. We were like, meh.. okay. Turns out it was a BIG DEAL and we got a room on a fluke right smack dab on the harbour where the festival was taking place. 

I kept on thinking the was the first day or something and involved little sailboats or something. Then I noticed it said, 2011-2012. This confused me. 2011 was so 7 months ago. 

Guys, this is a 9 MONTH RACE around the WORLD and it ends this week. Several countries have teams. It's called the VOLVO OCEAN RACE and we felt like the most ignorant human beings not knowing this was a thing that existed. 

Anyway, so walking around the festival and stuffing our faces between downpours was fun. Then we ventured into the actual town and fell in love. It's adorable and quaint and so lovely. 

I finally gave in and bought a giant Irish woolen sweater because my lips were 50 shades of blue and I was freezing my knockers off. Guys, it literally smells like a farm. I'm pretty sure the sheep is still alive in my sweater. It is unbearable. I already frighten boys off. I don't need a farm to help. This is my current life predicament.

Anyway, that night I had the best fish and chips of my life. So there's more calories I consumed.

The next morning I woke up and went down to grab some breakfast in what is usually a slightly offputting but generally acceptable state to grab a continental breakfast. We took one step into the breakfast room and went straight upstairs to change. For lands sake, Ireland. Cool your class. 

This was the first time I've actually had a traditional Irish breakfast offered to me, so I took full advantage of the giant chunks of Brie cheese and tried the "pudding" with an open mind. 

This day was supposed to be better weather, but to no one's surprise, it poured all day. We explored a little more, I had the best tea I've had all trip, (a London Fog... Earl Grey, Steamed milk, and a shot of vanilla) and a big ol' garlic and herb brat (more calories?!) and headed home. 

Alas, I did lose my lens cap. This is something I managed to do.

The Unsuccessful Search

Anyway, Galway, we're coming back.

Harbour

Ps. I hear it's consistently unbearably hot in the States right now. Lololol funny joke.

A Week to Process

I feel like...

I'm happy and thankful to be here.

I feel like I've been forced to do a lot more self evaluation then I thought I'd have to do in the past week. It's been a little over a week now since I've arrived in Dublin, and it wasn't until just recently I felt like I was able to properly process the experience so far in any form of coherent conversation.

My internship is not what I expected, entirely insane, kind of sketchy, kind of frustrating, kind of awesome, and entirely confusing.

My roommates are friendly, personable girls who lead lifestyles entirely different than mine.

Dublin is cold, I didn't pack correctly, and our apartment is kind of gross.

The program I went through needs improvement.

It's hard to think about Chicago.

These are the thoughts and conversations I had with the other girls last week. In fact, we went on a day trip on a cold cold rainy Saturday, sat in a pub, and basically drowned ourselves in pessimism.

However, we're all extremely glad to be here. None of us regretted it, there was just a lot of stuff this first week that threw us for a loop. It's easy to take one or two bad days in the first week and let it bring you down.

But, all that aside. The very next day was probably the best day we've had here yet. Things are good. Ireland is good. I can make the most out of my internship, and the girls I've met are awesome. I'm excited to be here.

I just think sometimes going abroad is so idealized that you forget that it's still real life, therefore it's bound to be flawed.

Also in the first week, I was always ALWAYS around people, and this is not how I function healthily. The first time I got the chance, I went out on my own and started walking to find coffee. This is the first time I felt truly excited to be here. We always go places in groups, which is good and fun and I usually prefer this... but the past few days I've set out by myself to get lost and it truly has been the best.

Like, today I was determined to find fresh cheap produce, so I started walking. I walked and I walked until I found a farmers market... figured out which direction I was facing and walked and turned and walked until I found a street I knew and walked back.

This is how I work, I feel. So many plans are being made to go to all these important places in Ireland or Dublin, and I feel like pointing to a village on a map, taking a backpack... and getting there. Or walking down an alley until I find a tiny hole that sells food.

With that being said, I'm at Starbucks right now. This is because of a few things. One, Ireland has TONS of cafes.... that close by 3 pm. Also, I feel like Starbucks is home, and sometimes that feels nice.

These are my feelings. And now I have expressed them enough so that now I can move on! Things are great, things are far from perfect, and I hope you are enjoying your summer at home because you should be. :] I promise you will all have a chance to travel soon, please don't be jealous. Jealousy does no good!!

Exciting, completely optimistic blogs with pictures to come. Soon. :]

I Already Have a Man!

"Good morning, and welcome to Ireland."

So, I've officially been in Ireland for twelve hours now. I feel... tired.

I feel like Dublin is a big city... Europeanized. 

Things I have learned/observed:

The first two numbers of their license plates is the model year of the car.

The doors are all spectacular colors.

I need to buy a blanket.

Where the Topshop is. Heh. :]

That their parks are the most quaint.

That Oscar Wilde has the sexiest of all the statues and will be my man.

That my straighter might blow up.

That there are far too many coins in the euro system.

That everyone in my group has pretty much traveled to every country everywhere.

That sometimes you have to act like you don't see the man you have to pay to use the toilet.

That the ginger/Irish stereotype is, indeed, a true thing. We counted.

That 6 hours is the most inconvenient of all the time changes.

I'm so sleepy. I'm just going to sleep now and think in the morning.

Don't worry. Today was fun.

Tomorrow I get to wear Viking hats and ride around the city participating in deep-rooted historical stereotyping.

<3

Another Summer

"Don’t worry about if they read, if they don’t read, 

if they watch movies or if they’re into the wrong kind of music; 

worry about whether they care that you do." 

- this article

Well, today is my first official day of summer. I'm staring at a 40 work week, though... starting in three hours, so I'm not sure how summery I feel at the moment. 

My photo final book was a hit, thank goodness. It was called "Wrigley in (W)ruins" and basically a book of the crappiest parts of Wrigley Field.

Anyway, then I spent all day volunteering at the giant end of the year festival at my college, that's basically a giant senior showcase and extremely a big deal.

Towards the end of my shift, this boy cam with a bunch of food left over from the cafe that was closing, asking if I wanted any because it was the end of the week and they were throwing it all away. Somehow, within 30 seconds of knows this boy, I had a permanent smile plastered on my face. He was one of the friendliest, happiest, most genuine human beings I have ever met. I think I'm writing a blog on him later. He deserves his own blog. I personally feel responsible for making his dreams come true. 

Anyway, time for le summer goals.

- Read. Read. Read. 

The Hunger Games (because I am stubborn and have yet to read them)

On The Road by Jack Kerouac

The Great Gatsby, again.

-Watch tutorials about Adobe programs until I know ALL the things

-Spend an hour on at least one of the Adobe programs everyday

-Explore ALL the places in Chicago

- Try not to use the word "all" so freely

Hello, May! Hello, summer! Hello, Gap.. !... ?