One Week In Ireland

• It’s only rained two days that I’ve been here – I feel privileged! Although everyone keeps warning me that this week will probably be the entire summer, so I haven’t got my hopes up too far. 😉
• I’m getting used to the vernacular. Restrooms are toilets again; a biscuit of hay is still a flake; a hat is a helmet, although it’s also a beanie or a cap; ‘grand’ is the equivalent to the American ‘super’; driving a stick is driving a manual again; the workplace is neither a barn nor a stable, but a yard; most horses are transported in lorries rather than trailers or floats; a mobile phone is no longer a cell phone (and the structure of the number is back to being very similar to Australia!); tall boots are long boots again; gaiters are still chaps; a halter is a headcollar (although I can’t tell if that’s again or not, because the terminology changes in Australia and is actually variable everywhere); a hot horse is sharp (although he can be hot as well); and there are many others that I will try to memorise! I find this part of changing countries fascinating, and it never fails to amuse me!
• I have to drive on the left side of the road again, which is actually more terrifying than learning to drive on the right. I think it’s a combination of the fact that I was really focusing on being correct in America, and the fact that the roads around where I’m staying are narrow and twisty and I’m really not used to cars going the other way passing me on the right. 0.o
• I chased an 8hh teaser stallion down a semi-main road, and then spent about twenty minutes trying to catch the damn thing, ending in something that reminded me of calf roping (when the rider throws themself from the horse onto the calf while it’s running 0.o)
• I had my first real conversation with a 5yo today. Nailed it. (Although of course I’m living with two young boys that aren’t into dinosaurs – something that I’m sure I could really talk to them about!)
• Went to my first Irish event, which was apparently not a really fancy or impressive one, but was still fancier than some of the American (and Australian, actually) events I’ve been to. They definitely put in a real effort with dressing the cross-country jumps and making sure everything looked lovely! Although some of the scheduling issues they had were reminiscent of the old Australian PC events. -.-
• Rode again! Just a horse that’s not as green as most of the babies, bringing him back into work, but it’s a nice one to start on because I don’t feel entirely like I’m really awful at riding.
• Made a chicken and leek pie, topped of course with extra pastry spelling out YUM on top as a nod to my mother. 😀
• Went to two Irish pubs. Or I guess they’re just pubs because I’m in Ireland? They’re  everything they’re cracked up to be and more. 😀
• Drank my first Irish Guinness – I swear to god they’re not lying when they say it doesn’t travel well! It was definitely better than the one I tried in America.
• I still really love the Irish; their way of life is much more similar to Australians than Americans. It’s a lot more laidback, although everything still gets done.
• People questioned my sanity about moving from Australia and/or America to come to Ireland. But then, you don’t appreciate a place until you’ve left it I think; I definitely appreciate Australia a lot more since I’ve left. And Ireland really does have a lot to offer!
• Patted two foals today.
• Got a horse ready to be shown for sale from field to presentable in about fifteen minutes. (Go me! 😛 )
• Went to a rugby match! Leinster vs Ulster at the RDS Arena. Went in knowing nothing about rubgy and came out cheering for a particular side, so I count that as a win! (Like the last sports match I went to knowing nothing about – baseball – it was blue vs red and I was supposed to be cheering for the blue team.) It was actually a good match to watch for initiation, not too many boring bits. 😉 And the crowd was gold. One man was itching for a fight and the way the Irishmen behind us dealt with it brought me nearly to tears of laughter. They literally just took the piss out of him until the whole section was laughing at him and he sat down fuming. I sincerely wish I’d had the presence of mind to tape it; would’ve made YouTube favourites for sure. 😉
• Drove in a little Irish town and nearly died multiple times. It was a hilly town and I’m still getting used to driving a manual again, and the car is new to me so I’m not sure how wide it is and the streets were very very narrow. Still, I survived to try it another day!

All in all a very successful week. Looking forward to lots more to come!

Dreamin ‘Bout Gettin Gone

“he said ‘Bill I believe this is killing me’
as the smile ran away from his face
‘well I’m sure that I could be [everything]
if I could get out of this place…’”

I got out.

It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.

And now, I’m not only sure that I could be anything

but everything.