Fiestas & Fun

      Life has gotten just nuts lately. Returning from Derry & Belfast I was prepared for another wonderful adventure this weekend, but decided to cancel :  ( My roommates are off in Kerry and Dingle having fun exploring the area, while Morgan and I planned on going home with Joannie. Unfortunately, Morgan's program planned a trip and I reevaluated my travel plans and schoolwork. With the family coming in less than two weeks, I've got lots to finish. Not to mention I'll be traveling for 7 days with them. The morning/afternoon they leave I'll give a large presentation, welcome my dear friend Amy flying in from Spain and the two of us will head off on a surf trip for the weekend the next morning. Upon returning from my 10 day vacation, time will be limited with deadlines approaching quickly. I know myself well enough to say I am miserable under pressure when it comes to writing papers. Therefore staying home this weekend to work on my papers may be a bummer now, but will most definitely pay off in the end.

So what exactly have I been up to these last few days I've miserably failed to update everyone.

     Tuesday evening we invited Arturo, from Mexico City, to join us for dinner. Giving us lessons on authentic Mexican cooking he taught us to make flour tortillas. Yummmm! How am I ever going to eat a store bought plastic tasting tortilla anymore? I have been spoiled! Warm homemade tortillas, chili peppers, fresh tomato, onion and ground beef sautéed together...does it get any better?

Master Tortilla Chef Arturo

      We are blessed to have been stocked with a full kitchen upon moving into the apartment. However, we don't have a rolling pin, this meant a little creativity. Nearest object, long and cylindrical in shape? Wine bottle? Didn't work quite as nicely as a rolling pin, but certainly good enough. 

Success!

Roll away!

         Before leaving home Arturo asked if Abby C. and I had chili peppers. Nada, the extent of our Mexican dishes include tacos with store purchased tortillas and taco seasoning...impressive I know. Brining his chili peppers along we were in for a treat. Who knew such a small vegetable could pack quite a punch. Throughout dinner we discovered we each have a different tolerance level for what we consider spicy. Arturo obviously beat both Abby C. and I by a long stretch.

 As we sat down to eat I asked Arturo if they ever just use taco seasoning to add flavor to tacos. Starring at me blankly he shook his head in confusion and began laughing. He's never even heard of taco seasoning, let alone tried it. I could be wrong, but I'd say it's a safe assumption he wouldn't like it. Packets of taco seasoning aren't exactly what you'd call authentic. We had a great time getting to know one another and learning similarities and differences between our cultures.

Thursday:

      So close to the weekend, yet so far away, Thursdays always seem difficult to get through. After class   grabbing my bike whizzing through the spring breeze, Villy's house was my final destination for a South African picnic. Calling Durban, South Africa home Villy shared with us their traditional picnic food. Upon arrival smoke billowed from the small charcoal grill as friends mingled enjoying drinks and conversation. The scene was straight from a snapshot of summer. Wow it's the first week of march and we're having a picnic, fantastic! Villy manned the grill, cooking up steaks, chicken and sausages.

   With 25 to feed, Villy's budget was limited, meaning the steaks weren't of the highest quality, leaving them a tad chewy as you can see from my facial expression...

During our picnic neighbors called the Gardai, not once but twice! You know, the Christian Union is known for rowdy wild street parties...NOT. Anyway it was older neighbors who've become fed up with Rag Week needing any and every excuse to call the Garda to end the relentless celebrations.

Finishing our tasty picnic we filtered inside to watch the film Everybody's Fine. Waiting for everyone to get situated Morgan, Abby C. and went exploring around Villy's home. In the backyard we found a stone wall standing around 7 feet tall. Entering the backyard I could hear silly noises coming from Abby C. and Morgan as they attempted to climb, jump and struggle their way up the wall. 

Fail

    Bending on one knee Abby C. braced Morgan and boosted her up onto the wall. 

We got one up!

Okay so how do we get up now...?

Strategizing

Just like Abby C. had done for Morgan I was able to boost her up as well.

Success for two!

Here's the real problem, with two on the wall and no one to boost me. How is this going to work? Morgan and Abby C.  reached out their arms as I used them to walk up the wall perpendicularly. It was a bit nuts, but worked like a gem.

Overlooking a rugby field with city lights in the background the view from the top was beautiful. Quite an adventure getting all three of us up, but it proved to be a great time and most definitely worth the swollen, smashed up pinky it took to hoist us all up.

     My roommates are gone traveling in Dingle leaving me a peaceful apartment to tackle all of this work. Studying from 9:30am-5:30pm I was able to get a large portion finished. Ipod, sticky notes and colored pens in hand I am ready to go to work!

With Love from Galway