The little things that I love

Since there is so much to discuss about Belfast and what I am doing here, I will keep the next couple of posts dedicated to the different parts of my week.  So it is only fair that I give each type of group I work with, their own post.

On Wednesday and Friday mornings, I work with Strand Playgroup. Playgroup is for children age 2 1/2 to 4 years old. They meet from 9:15am to 12pm. I work with two other ladies there and have an absolute blast. When they first come in, they get an hour of free time which includes playing with sand or water, painting, coloring, jigsaw puzzles, playdough or reading. They then have snack time which consists of toast with fruit and either milk or water. They get singing time next and then race around a gym-like room that is called a hall. They have trikes and cars and a slide so they can be a little more active. Story-time is the last thing that they do before they leave. I have absolutely loved being a part of this group of 16 children. I have been able to learn a little Polish because one of the children is Polish. The children are so attentive and ready to play and learn. It has been a highlight for my mornings and seems to keep me energized.

On a totally different note, I was able to go to Ballymena on Saturday with the Presbyterian Women (PW). By the way, most things in Belfast seem to get an acronym and I might start to do that also in this blog because I think its somewhat contagious. So just comment on an acronym if I don't explain it. Anyway, I took a coach (really nice bus) with the women involved in PW to do what I found out would be shopping. It turned out to be a beautiful day, though while we were waiting for the coach it was raining. The women were fantastic and extremely funny. I felt as if I was on a bus with the Golden Girls and some of the women off of the British sitcoms. They provided entertainment on the 45 minute ride back to Belfast by doing a fashion show down the aisle of the coach, with the items that they bought that day. One woman read a couple of funny sayings that had been on church signs.

The picture is an example of some of the newer murals that have been put up and it is my favorite of the murals that I have seen. The mural stands on the outside wall of the post office and directly adjacent to that post office is a local bakery. After the bakery is Strand Presbyterian Church, where playgroup is held. It is the brick building behind the mural in the picture. Oh and the bakery is quite amazing. I have to make a somewhat large breakfast after I run in the mornings that I go to playgroup because I might tend to gorge myself on their delicious scones.

Blooper of the Week: People in Belfast refer to time differently than in the US and very rarely say the actually numbers. They say half-nine or quarter past three and now I fully understand and don't have to translate in my head what that means. The first time I heard it though, I just assumed that I knew what time they meant and had to wait an extra 25 minutes because I was early.

Word of the Week: Mizzly which is a hybrid of drizzling and misty and has become one of my favorite words. That's good too because it is often mizzly in Northern Ireland and I had the benefit to experience it today.

P.S. I like mail... so feel free to send some, I can definitely give you my address friends!!!

Settling In

I have been in Belfast for more than a week now and have really enjoyed it. We just finished orientation on Tuesday and I started work on Wednesday. I am working at two great places. They are Strand Presbyterian Church and East Belfast Mission. Both places are dedicated to reaching out and being a vital presence in the community of East Belfast. The only major obstacle at this point is scheduling, mostly because I want to be at both places at once and they wouldn't mind that either. I have noticed both sites changing and growing to accommodate the community at-large. I will give you a better idea of what is going on each site (AKA what I will be doing) when I have a more "concrete" schedule. I put that in quotes because from what I can tell, my job will be changing also, to accommodate the needs of the sites and the community.

I am living with a girl named Patricia, who is from Jacksonville, Florida. She is working at Garnerville Presbyterian Church. She and I have gotten along quite well and seem to be quickly becoming good friends. The other Young Adult Volunteers are scattered throughout Belfast.

BLOOPER of the week: Pants are called trousers in Northern Ireland and when you mention pants, you are referring to underwear. I mentioned at one point last week that I wasn't going to change my pants when I meant to say trousers, naturally laughter ensued. 

WORD of the week: Braces- what people in the US call suspenders (to hold up trousers)

From across the pond

Well,
I'm here, more on that later.

Orientation

I was so proud of myself today for getting all of my bills paid and everything situated before I leave for Northern Ireland on monday. I have had such an amazing week and will be sad to see everyone depart, but I know that I will have so much fun with my Belfast crew. We have had such an amazing worship experience and if we ever made a recording of it, I would definitely buy it. 

What am I nervous about?

Integrating into a new surrounding with subtle and sometimes obvious differences

Making Irish friends and having a chance to hang out with them

Well, I can't wait to go but I will miss everyone at home!

It's Almost Here!

As I sit in Hilton Head, I realize how much I have been given. I was loved and still am by so many people. They have given me so much support and I am sure I will rely on this while in Northern Ireland. While I get ready to pack and think of everything I need, I get more excited. As a college graduate now, I can't wait to see what will unfold. While some of you have asked, "Are you nervous about being there for a year?" I think what we sometimes forget is that this is our first foray into the "real world". While we are doing things a bit different, I can't help but remind myself that I will not be joining many other friends or people back to college. This is the landmark that defines that I am a student no longer and means me shouldering me a whole different responsibility. I am hopeful that this time in Northern Ireland will allow me to grow into this grand step in my life.  I can't wait to see where this takes me! The international volunteers will be meeting for orientation, starting on Monday and it makes me realize how such little time I have to pack! 

June is almost half over!

As I sit here today I realize that this summer is somewhat half over. This is an exhilarating and yet scary thought! I decided my last class of college would be Harry Potter. No lie, my college offers this as a humanities credit through the English department. While I love the class, I worry about still not being able to find a job for the summer to help fundraise for this crazy adventure of a year to Northern Ireland. I miss having that sense of security that I knew somewhat what was happening. With the huge task of fundraising looming, I begin to see that not only do I need to ask for help more often but I need to rely on others, so that I can focus on what is truly important. 

Graduation Day

Today, is graduation day for the College of Charleston, unfortunately I have one extra credit that I need to take so I did not qualify to graduate. In retrospect, I am glad it gives me an opportunity to take some classes that I have always wanted to take! I get to take sailing and sculpture this summer and I can't wait. I start sailing on tuesday. I also am moving this weekend which will be interesting with all the traffic. Oh and Nina is coming to visit this week! I can't wait. I love that I will be in Charleston this summer before heading off to New Mexico and then Belfast for a year! Maybe, I can store up the warmth of this summer for Northern Ireland. This summer should be fun!