To My Second Family.

I have, inevitably, been changed again. I'm sitting here at my desk, back at school, trying to figure out how to put into words what has happened to me this week. It's difficult to explain...words fail a little bit. Oh, I went on a service trip and made some new friends? That's nice. But that devalues the experience. I have learned. I have learned that I have a spirit that needs to serve, in my own unique way. I have realized how I have been waiting for a community of like minded individuals to share my life with. 

People are strong, so much stronger than even they might know. I saw it manifested in the resilience of the homeowners we served, so thankful for their lives even though their houses had been ripped apart, possessions scattered to the winds. I saw it in my beautiful new family, so willing to open up and tell their deepest stories to people they met days ago. They make me laugh and cry. They break my heart with the painful experiences they have gone through, then put it back together with their kindness towards a world that has sometimes been unfair to them. Everyone is so much more complex than I could ever imagine. Even the people I thought I had all figured out. 

I struggle to express my love for my new family. Nothing seems to have enough power. To those of you reading this, know that I care so deeply for each of you, so much deeper than I can express. Life is magnificent and tragic and more than I ever could have hoped for. I'm a little scared for the future, but right now, I'm settling into a feeling of peace. I can face the future. We can face the future. 

Spring Break Travels

Yo homies, it's been too long. It's nice to know that Dublin has become one of my homes. And yes, you can have many homes. Even certain people can function as home...it's being able to experience a certain level of comfort in its/their presence. So welcome home to me. Dublin greeted me with a torrential downpour so my super productive errands day was cut short, since I didn't want to spend more time walking around than I had to. But I ended up so wet that I could feel the water squishing inside my boots. Ew. Anyway, spring break. 

 

 This is the Cliffs of Moher near Galway in western Ireland. The weather was especially horrible, which is why it looks so gloomy. But it enhances the creepiness, which is appropriate, considering that this is where Harry and Dumbledore go to look for one of Voldemort's horcruxes. I, unfortunately, didn't find any horcruxes. Or even see a puffin!

 Incredibly bizarre. Outside of Limerick, we (not my choice) made a stop in a tiny town of 300 called Moneygall, and the "ancestral home" of President Obama. We sat around in a bar completely covered in Obama memorabilia. Photos, videos, cardboard cutouts. Weird.

Yes! Pulled pork sandwiches in Scotland. I had mine with haggis and apple. Haggis is not as scary as people make it out to be. I mean, I wouldn't eat it all the time (it's kind of unhealthy) but it was pretty salty and tasty. 
 

 Edinburgh Castle. It looms over the city...today in more of a friendly way, but in the past I can imagine that it was pretty menacing. Edinburgh was a fairly violent place back in the day

 Loch Ness! So beautiful, I couldn't stop smiling. I didn't spot Nessie...she was probably busy doing something important. You know how those lake monsters are.

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The St. Patrick's Day Parade! It was honestly the strangest parade I have ever attended. Why are Hawaiian shirts Irish? Every float was like this. It was kind of like a bunch of people sat around discussing their nightmares and weirdest dreams they've ever had and made them into a parade.

Pretty sure all I did in Budapest was eat. It's hard not to when everything is so cheap and delicious.

 The view from Castle Hill. You can see the Széchenyi Chain Bridge and St. Stephen's Basilica off on the other side.

 Climbed alllll the way up inside the tower of the Basilica. It was worth it for the amazing view.

 

The inside of the Basilica. I could stare at that ceiling all day. 

Lángos! Deep fried bread with sour cream and cheese on it. Honestly, what's not to like?

Kürtőskalács, or, since that is impossible to pronounce, chimney cakes. I want to make them so much, it looks like an exciting challenge. But see? I told you all I did in Budapest was eat. 

Hope you enjoyed these pictures. We will return to your regularly scheduled program shortly!