Is This Real Life?

Week 1

      Flying for the first time on my own was a little nerve-racking to be sure but it went as smooth as could have been possible.  My transfer was easy, I sat next to a very kind, funny man on the flight to Ireland, and found my luggage and a taxi very simple once I arrived in Ireland.

 My first glimpse of Ireland from the plane

      I realized on the flight that I was more nervous about traveling to my host home that I hadn’t thought about what was to come once I finally arrived.  My first impressions of Ireland: not as green as I imagined, not as historic looking, using public transportation will be difficult, the accents were wonderful but hard to understand, many different words that aren’t American English, and has felt like a dream that I haven’t woke up from yet.

      Thankfully first impressions are usually not representative of the truth about people or places.  I’ve found I’m getting better at understanding the accents and I’m enjoying the bus rides through the towns on my way to work.  Also, I look forward to getting outside of the city bounds to see more green, hopefully I’ll make it to Galway next weekend.  

I took a trip to the city on Monday before I started working and took an unintentional walking tour of Dublin as I tried to make my way to the train station.  It also so happened to be the day President Obama was in town so the town was full of blocked off areas and hundreds of police.  After about an hours walking I finally found where I was going.  The picture above is the River Liffey which separates North Dublin (left-side) from South Dublin (right-side).

These pictures are of Grafton Street, another place I wondered into when I was in Dublin.  This street is very popular for tourists as it has many quaint shops in one location.

      The Curran family is dad-Kieran, mom- Sharon, son-Adam, and daughter-Georgia.  I have been so welcomed by them and enjoy spending my evenings hanging out with the family.  In the evenings, I watch movies or TV and play Wii with the family or love just chatting in the beautiful living room.  I really couldn’t have asked for a more lovely family to spend my months here.  Georgia has asked numerous times if I’ll stay until her birthday in December.  

The Curran Home

A glimpse of my bedroom

 The beautiful living room and kitchen

      I started work at 4pm on Tuesday for a Sales and Marking internship.  4pm is a website design company that is working on launching a huge public template offering website which is backed by their realty products and personalized websites.  Their website is 4pm.ie.  The picture in my head of my experience is a little different than the reality of my job.  

This is my company's sign on the door. My friend's name is Sarah which was given to me by a friend to travel with me since she can't.

      4pm is located in an old house behind a Laundromat, with five rooms including the General Manager John’s private office.  The designers, accountants, developers, and sales and marketers each have their own room.  I share the sales and marketing room with five other people with my desk being a nice folding table, only a slight contrast from my cubicle job last summer.  My responsibilities for the summer include revising the company’s business plan as well as proposing a new format for it, sales calls promoting a realty product, marketing research for the realty and website design products, and brainstorming and planning a charity event that the company is sponsoring.  The people are very friendly and kind and my first week was wonderful; I look forward to learning more and expanding my knowledge of business.

      This weekend has been relaxing which is what I needed after a busy, unusual week.  I’ve been able to sleep in, go for a couple long walks, watch my brother’s soccer match, and enjoy a few films with the family, if only it didn’t have to come to end so quickly.

      Please continue to pray for me as it has started to become real that I am away from home.  I’ve missed home a lot this weekend and am reminded of my friends and family everywhere I go.  Specifically, pray that I would be a light in deed and word to my family and co-workers but especially to 12-year old Georgia who is dear to my heart already.  Also, that my character and integrity would stand strong in the light of cultural pressures as well as a continued strong walk with God as I find it hard to be without a community near me.  God has been faithfully teaching me that His hand is steadily guiding me and He will never abandon me.  Thank you for your prayers and support!