It's a bittersweet symphony

I can't believe it, but this is it. The last day. The last supper. The final countdown. The end. The fat lady's singing. It's over. Donezo. It's a fact, listening to Bing Crosby's rendition of "Galway Bay" on repeat does not help the situation.

I spent this morning shopping in town a bit, yesterday I had a perfect day. I read by the Spanish Arches (and got a ridiculous sunburn) and went shopping, lunched at 4, ate banoffi pie, had a pint, and then went for my last trad at the Crane Bar. It was perfect. Today, I'm obviously procrastinating packing by writing this last post. I had coffee and a muffin by the bay today after I finished getting some last-minute items, and it was glorious. Still though, I guess Mom's right when she says I'm melodramatic. I kept thinking, "This is the last time I'll..." fill in the blank with every possible thing I can think of. But I think I'm just emotionally attached to life and people. I took this quiz online that said I'm too emotional because sometimes it can take me days to get over a story from a movie or book. So I guess it will obviously take awhile to stop missing Galway. Running around with rugrats in Maine all summer should help.

Things I'm leaving behind (on purpose, of course...they're just 'misplaced')
a pair of my favorite earrings
half of a pair of another favorite
4 earring backs (not including the aforementioned earrings)
facewash, that could have been stolen by an Australian couple in Cinque Terre
holey sheets and socks
old towels
2 umbrellas, snapped by the Irish wind
a couple pictures that were eaten by the wall behind my desk
a camera case
a pair of flats, mourned in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
a sweet bike...that wasn't really lost though it was returned for 50 euro (Score!)

So really, Ireland can never forget me because I have all this crap all over the place.

I could write a list of what I'll miss, or what the high points of the semester has been, but that would be too long. I'll just have to talk non-stop about Ireland for the next 5 years, and maybe then you'll hear the whole story. Maybe even the non-censored version! (Yeah, I'm wild and crazy and hitchhike and stuff) (I'm kidding, I don't hitchhike).

Tonight the last meal will be fish and chips at McDonagh's and pints at Tigh Coili. Can I just say I am so sad to leave my Irish bartenders? What lads. They're class. I don't know what I'm going to do about it...maybe Fairfield or Rutherford will get an influx of Irish bartenders? Maybe Shane will open a proper Irish pub in NJ instead of Poland? We'll see.

I cannot wait to see everyone. I am so excited to be home even though I hate to leave. I miss everybody so much, that is why Galway could never be perfect. I am so glad there are two family events before I move to Maine so I can see everyone. and of course, First meal of beefsteak! First breakfast, chocolate chip pancakes! First chance, hugs for all! I miss the U.S. of A.

In parting, lyrics to 'Galway Hooker' (remember, it's a boat, not WT)

At the end of the day down in Galway Bay
We set sails for the very last time
Now I cannot believe for you and me
It's time to say goodbye...

oh yeah, seasonal affected disorder

What I MEANT to also add in that last blog is I think I have seasonal affected disorder (SAD), because I get infinitely happier when the sun is out. Apparently it is an obvious transition when the weather changes. I guess I'm never going to live here for life.

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN...Derry, Iron & Wine , and seasonal affected disorder

All I have been hearing in my head the last week has been the lyrics to the Final Countdown...like the part that sings "IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!" I need that out of my head, because every other minute it's this:

All my bags are packed
I'm ready to go
I'm standing here outside your door (Dunaras student accommadation)
I hate to wake you (roommate) up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breaking
It's early morn
The taxi's waiting
Hes blowing his horn (calling my Irish cell)
Already I'm so lonesome
I could die

So kiss me and smile for me (little leprechauns)
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
cause I'm leaving on a jet plane (Aer Lingus Airbus)
Don't know when Ill be back again
Oh babe (Galway), I hate to go

Sometimes I feel a little sick over it.

Sorry for the blogger delay, but this has actual been a hectic week. Last weekend I visited my friend Kyle from high school in Derry where she goes to school - and is graduating soon! In Europe college is only 3 years. Then I had a final Tuesday, Wednesday, and a paper to write that I need to hand in tomorrow. Wow who can believe it. I actually did so much work this week that I went out Friday in Derry and that not again until the other night..in other words, a week in between being in a pub. It's the closest I will come to detox in Ireland, I think.

Derry was fun. It is a medieval city with walls all around it, which we walked. The cannons are still intact in many places, and the walk is quite lovely. What is crazy in Derry is that the separation between the Unionists and Nationalists is still pretty clear. On one side of the wall, you can see the "waterside" where the Protestants live. Some neighborhood streets are painted in red, white and blue and Union Jacks are EVERYWHERE. Then you walk around the wall a little more and can see the "bogside" where the Catholics live, and where I was staying. There, part of the neighborhoods are painted with orange, white and green on the sidewalks. Kyle told me she was once in the waterside neighborhood for a school event with friends - with her "Southern" friends - and they got bottlecaps thrown at them. Derry is where Bloody Sunday took place, after all, is what she said. Two of her friends told me separately to not wander around Derry by myself, just in case. AH. Sunday we went to the Giant's Causeway. It's a World Heritage Site where all of the rocks are pentagon or octagon shapes, from a volcanic eruptions eons ago. Apparently on a clear day, you can see Scotland! Obviously, it wasn't a clear day when we were there. It was very beautiful, though. Very special. And there are many legends about the giants who made the causeway. Apparently the Giants on either side, one in Ireland and one in Scotland, had a fight, so the Irish giant (forgot his name!) scooped up mud to throw at him and voila! the causeway. It was beautiful. It was incredible to be in another country, really, but still in Ireland. The Northern Ireland accent is very tricky, I felt bad because my cab driver to the bus station was asking me question and I had to say "Excuse me?" at least 3x in the 7 minute cab ride. Whoops. It was so worth going though, and the 5 hours each way on the bus = optimum study time for my philosophy exam.

I had 2 exams this week, philosophy and Northern Ireland politics. Luckily, Kyle's friend Fiona told me all about Northern Ireland on a walk back from the pub one night, so that helped me catch up. I am a class crammer, that's for sure. Anyway, both went well. I went to the Claddagh by Galway Bay after philosophy and got sandwiches and a farmers tan with some of the other Fairfielders. What a fabulous day.

Also, no one in Ireland celebrates Cinco de Mayo. A lot of people don't even know what it is! But never fear, we Americans set the Dunaras population straight. The Corona was totally wiped from Dunnes that day, I had to get San Miguel instead, because the boys had bought it all. Never fear, pseudo-Mexicans are here! Feliz Cinco de Mayo.

Last night, Iron and Wine came in concert to Galway at the Blackbox Theater. I love it, Dad hates it, Mom likes it. It was a CLASS concert, absolutely incredible live. It was cool, I'm old enough to take beer into a concert now! I don't think they expected an encore either, because I have never clapped so long before the band reappeared onstage and then only half of them came back. He seemed pretty surprised and was really grateful for the applause AND that people were standing and dancing. I'm so lucky, I've seen 3 awesome concerts this semester. Wow. Anyway, they're kind of an indie folk sound, very relaxing, if I listen to it while I'm driving I'm likely to fall asleep. Check them out! http://ironandwine.com
Anyway, I think today might be a day to start packing. I had my last doughnut from the fried doughnut man at the market. I had my last Friday and Saturday in Galway. I had my last ride on my bike last week, it's returned. I probably rented my last movie in iTunes. (Thank goodness, they gouge you so bad). Somehow I have to figure out how to get gifts back to the United States without breaking them. Let's see, when I see you next, I'll probably talk to you about living in a risk society and the modern conservative view, because that's what I'm about to finish my paper on. Or how a chair is a Communist relationship.

Lots of love. One post to go. See you this weekend, or in 3 weekends. Cheers.