Finally a new update!

Okay so I figured it's about time to update you all! First things first: Here are 10 things you need to know about living in Ireland.

1. They don't say excuse me, they say sorry. Excuse me can actually be negative and in fact, rude at times to use. (That's the big one I'm trying to work on cause I say excuse me all the time!)
2. They don't say twelve thirty or five thirty, they say half twelve or half five instead.
3. You don't leave a tip when you're done eating. Kinda nice compared to the states!
4. Shops around here close super early, like 5 or 6 early. Even the malls will close around those times. But you can be assured that those pubs will stay open really late!
5. They call a cell phone a mobile and text each other WAY more than we do in the states.
6. People usually walk everywhere to go places. Yeah, people have cars, but it's just more convenient to walk.
7. When greeting, they sometimes say "hiya" and when saying thanks or just saying goodbye, they'll say "thanks a million."
8. I heard this one today. The Irish can usually tell who the Americans are. They are the ones who walk through town making eye contact and keeping their heads up when they walk. Many of the Irish keep their heads down when they walk (not all the way down but they can usually spot Americans). =)
9. The cash register is called a till.
And last but not least...
10. They call a movie a film and they call the movie theater a cinema.

Okay so those were really random but they are some things I am getting used to while living here! I know there are so many things that are different than America but I just can't think of them all...oh wait, here's one (and this is so sad): they don't put pickles on sandwiches and hamburgers. That makes me very sad cause I love pickles (however, there is a Subway right across the street from me so I guess if I'm really missing them I can get them there!)

Well, I am sure you all are wondering what I've been up to for the past week! Where to begin, where to begin. Let's see, last week we started working in the coffee shop. Oh my, can we say overwhelming. First off, I must explain that our busiest time of the day is between the hours of 1 and 2. This is when the kids get off for their lunch break. The schools are very different here and they allow the kids an hour for lunch but don't provide lunches like they do in the states. So An Tobar Nua appeals to the kids because they have great and cheap prices for good food. So a lot of the kids will come in and eat.

There are a couple of different stations you can work at during the lunch hour. You have the front where the till (cash register) is and where orders are taken. Then you have the people in the kitchen making the food, and then you have people out on the floor who deliver the food to the kids. When the kids make their order, we put their names on the slip of paper then when the food comes out we can take it to them. Well, for our first day of work, we were put on the floor, in the thick of things (right where all the action was). Oh my word, it was so intimidating and hard. The kids were messing with us saying that the food in our hands was theirs but they were really just lying to us. I even ended up giving one of the plates of food to some girl that it didn't even belong to. It was so frustrating cause I didn't know any of the kids! Oh well, the other staff said that usually happens. Anyway, I made it through that day and I was so happy!

Last week, I spent of lot of time working in the bookstore as well. I took over for Deirdra, the woman who works there full time. It's nice and quiet in there, which is great to have sometimes. They wanted one of us to be the person that knows how to do pretty much everything in there so that ended up being me. I had expressed a lot of interest in wanting to work there so that's why. It's cool cause it's really personal working in there (however, the coffee shop is really personal too)! It's fun being able to help people find a CD or book or talk about a certain book in the shop. Good times! =)

So yeah, back to the coffee shop. There is so much work that goes in to running that place everyday. They clean so thoroughly in there. Oh my word! Mr. Muscle becomes your best friend (ha, that's the stuff we use to clean with)! And there are so many small things to learn...don't do this, don't do that...remember to say this, remember to say that...the list goes on and on! Very overwhelming but just today, I was starting to feel like things were finally clicking. I still feel new but not as new as I did. Today, I worked in the kitchen for the first time. I helped get the meals ready and was trying to learn as best as I could how to put the sandwiches together and cook things and this and that! It actually doesn't seem bad but I just gotta remember the little details of things. And oh my word, the only downside about working here is that there always seems to be little sweet treats floating around everywhere...someone's got cookie dough left in a bowl that we can have...this cookie is broken, go ahead and eat it...this brownie is falling apart, eat it, etc. Ah! It's so good but I just hope I don't go on sugar overload! Ha!

So I'm sure you're probably wondering if I'm even getting an education while I'm over here. The answer is yes. We just started class this week. (I know! Already mid-September and we're just starting class! Ha!) We are taking two missions classes with Arden Autry plus a living cross culturally course. I am also taking Celtic Christianity and Hill Climbing on Blackboard (online) and then I am doing my Psychology practicum. My practicum is working in the coffee shop (working with the ministry). So I am definitely staying busy with work and school (but still having fun too!) The people here are great! I work with an amazing staff. There are 4 other interns that are here working for a year. They are Leanna, Cat, Scott, and Maren. They are great, such a pleasure to work with! Then we have our Irish friends who work here and they are Megan, Donna, Paul, and Tommy. They are all hilarious, full of great craic! (By the way, craic, or crack as we pronounce it, is actually another word for fun, not actually the other stuff...and you know what I'm talking about). =) Then we have Susan and Kelly, the founders of the mission, and Mike, Deirdra, Anie, and I think there is someone else but I forgot her name! Ah! Anyway, they are all incredible! Such a blessing and a pleasure to work with! So welcoming here! And the youth coming in to the shop have been the same way. Even though I have had some trouble with the kids giving me a hard time cause I'm new, they really have been so wonderful and I really have been connecting with them. Some kids come in and hang out all the time, like Conor and Aine, Heather and Mel, just to name a few! It's great just hanging out and talking with them, getting to know them better and what's going on in their lives. Oh and last week, I totally became friends with two Italians and a Spaniard that were studying in Galway. It was so random too cause I was brining them what I thought to be an americano but instead it was an espresso. I said somethin about it being americano and the man was like "Oh no, it's not americano, those Americans, they only copy us." I realy didn't understand what he said but when I came back from getting him some sugar, I introduced myself. He asked where I was from and I said the states. Then he apologized because he said he made a mean comment to me and he was sorry about it. Of course I said no worries and that was the begining of our friendship! They called me back there later cause they wanted a picture with me! So fun! And the two women with this man even wanted to buy a t-shirt from our store which was cool cause most people aren't really interested in buying them! They came back the next day and I got the chance to talk with them some more which was incredible! They tried to teach me some Italian and we just laughed about things. It was a great conversation though and such a neat opportunity to have!

Okay, so hopefully this is it because I feel like I have just overwhelmed anyone who reads this! If you are still with me, wow, you are a trooper!! =) Thanks! Okay so here is a typical day for me. The coffee shop is open Tuesdays-Saturdays from 10:30-5:00. The staff gets together at 9:00 for devotions, prayer, or worship, depending on the day. Then, we finish and get ready for the day. I usually eat around 2, once it's slowed down a lot from the school rush. Then, if it's a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday, I go to class from about 3-5. If I don't have class, I continue working of course and usually don't get out till about 6 or 6:30. Then, in the evenings, I sometimes go out for a walk on the Promenod, which is a beautiful walk that takes you out by the Galway Bay. If it's not raining, it is a gorgeous walk! Very peaceful. I usually eat around 8 or 9 and then, if I can get the internet, try to get on that when I can. Sometimes I have movie nights with the girls, which is fun too and sometimes we like to walk in to town before the stores close if we can (like Thursdays and Fridays, the shops stay open later and that's what we ended up doing tonight after work).

Okay so I think that's enough info for now. As for me, I am okay. I have definitely been struggling a lot since I've been here but I am trying to rely on God as my strength. It's definitely hard living with people that you didn't know beforehand and trying to make it work. I am just praying for God's strength and wisdom through it all. He had definitely been faithful but it still doesn't make it any easier. Through it all, I am learning a lot about myself and areas of my life that I really need to grow and change (like pride especially). So yeah, God has a reason and purpose for everything and I have a choice to continue to move forward and let Him change me and grow me.

Thanks for all of your prayers and love. Please continue to pray for me. I am still getting over a sore throat that I had earlier this week. (plus I had flu like symptoms but they are gone now, praise God!) Pray for unity among me and my roommates and for God to really grip hold of our hearts and continue to just give us a thirst for Him and to be with Him. Pray for divine moments with people that walk in the coffee shop and that God will give me His words and not my own when speaking with people. Again, thanks for keeping me in prayer! I love you all so much! And please, PLEASE let me know how you all are! You can now leave comments on my blog page (no worries, you don't have to sign up for anything) or if you'd rather send an email then please do that! And keep checking my pictures page! Hopefully I can continue updating them often!

Well, thanks a million all! Catch ya later! Cheers!

-Michelle =)