Life goes on...

Well, I'm back. Not much has happened since I last wrote but I wanted to keep the blog up to date. So, I remember last time being frustrated with everything and everyone. I've gotten better at learning and accepting things as they are and as they come our way. Even though it's not easy it makes life a little more bearable. So, our situation right now...
David's money for school is still not here and we still have no idea when it'll come. David still likes his classes but he does think that what he wants to do is not what they teach him here. The degree will open doors for him but it doesn't seem to teach him much about teaching folk dance. It's more about researching and living with the people that he should study and understand. His desire is to teach and instill a love of folk dance into his students and I feel that he will be very successful at that. He has the personality and a great desire for it and he loves folk dance and dancing.

Our apartment is still nice even though we found quite a bit of broken pieces of furniture, including the main bed. One evening, as I was getting into bed the frame underneath broke and hurt my leg in the process. I still have a nice bruise on my right leg from that experience. We reported the problem but no one has taken any action yet even though it's been over two weeks. I also wish that the microwave was working because I'd love to have some popcorn. :) Otherwise the apartment is nice and comfortable. We are experiencing some difficulties with our neighbours underneath. They like to listen to their music very loudly. I have no doubt that they have a nice stereo that has a great base that resonates through the walls and keeps us awake until late at night. The longest it went was up until 1:00AM which might not seem that late if it wasn't for David having to get up early for school the next day. Well, I wrote a polite note to them which didn't have the desired effect so we might have to start looking for a different apartment. We really don't want this because at least we are comfortable and would like not to have to worry about an apartment right now. I don't know what we'll do yet...

Limerick has nice weather still. I'm still able to wear my flipflops and short sleaved t-shirts, which is nice. It's gotten a little bit colder but not a whole lot. The leaves are starting to turn yellow at places and the sky is more cloudy most of the time but the weather is still nice. Speaking of nature, one thing that really amazes me is our river... the Shannon river. It changes every hour and every day. In the morning it's full almost bursting, a few hours later is half full, to the point where the rocks on the bottom create waves and crazy waters, to only find it to its fullest in the evening. Sometimes it is so shallow that one could walk right through it, while other times is is so high that we worry that it might flow over. I'm not kidding that this river fluctuates more than any river I've ever seen. I know it's the tide, since we're so close to the ocean but it still seems pretty weird.

One thing that I'm very greatful about is the help of some people from church. It takes us about 50 minutes to walk to church on Sunday so it doesn't make it very easy and pleasurable, especially when it rains outside and it's cold and windy. But there are a few very nice and friendly people there. One family lended us money so that we could pay our rent, another man built us a small desk for our computer and another family helped us with some money for food. It's been a trying and humbling experience so far being here and we really hope not to have to receive help from others but it was very nice to have this help. My sister, Irina also helped us with some money, David's family from Japan and his boss, Sharon back in Utah also sent some money our way, for wich we are very greatful. We really hope that we'll be able to show our gratitude and thanks to all these people without whom we'd be homeless and starving.

What else has happened... One other good thing was that we finally were able to pick up our MAC computer. We left it in Utah with Carl and Karina and they mailed it to us a while back but when it got here the customs said that we had to pay almost 200 Euro to pick it up. We called them and they had us send it back to customs and when it returned there was no charge attached to it so we were able to get it. We are so happy to have it here safely and to be able to watch our favorite movies and TV shows that we missed all this time.

Well... I think that I covered pretty much most of it... I can't think of anything else. I like the food here, I like the green grass and trees and the Shannon river. I love being here with David. We might have to leave this country if our situation will not improve soon but we will remember these hard times that strenghtened us and drew us closer together.