cristiona9

Today is my last full day and night in Ireland.

Jan came to get me and my stuff, as I was warned that I needed to vacate my dorm room by 12 Noon or else the doors would lock on me.  Apparently they jumped the gun and locked them at a quarter till while most of us were still getting our stuff out.  WHAT-ever!  Luckily I didn't trust them ahead of time and kept my door propped open while others had to go to security to get theirs re-opened.

Next Jan and I drove into Rathmines and met up with Stephany at her work.  We walked over to Eddie Rocket's to have some lunch and so Steph and I could say a final goodbye.  It was so hard - she and I became very close and I will miss her so much!

The goodbyes continued as Jan dropped me off at Balazs and Karin's new place and we had a prayer gathering / farewell Chris party.  I was trying so hard to keep it together but then they presented me with gifts (a beautiful group picture from a reflection gathering at the Baha'i Centre, a CD of Traditional Irish Ballads and a box of Swiss Chocolates) and I finally started crying.  I had been holding that in and finally needed to let it out.  The rest of the time we just laughed and enjoyed ourselves.  It was so much fun and a great and memorable way to part with such wonderful friends, who truly became family to me.  ;)

This evening I took the bus out to Dunboyne to head to Jan and Pat's house.  Timmy, a student at UCD, is here as well (he had to vacate his room yesterday).  We had a lovely BBQ steak dinner out on the patio, as the weather has been just grand all day long!  Then we went to Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Pat and his band performed.  I love traditional Irish music, so this was a really wonderful way to spend my last night in Dublin.

Tomorrow morning I fly home to San Francisco departing at 9:40am.  I'm trying to decide whether to stay up all night and then sleep on the plane.  It's a tempting thought, but I'm already pretty tired and don't know how long I can make it.  Maybe I'll go to the Aer Lingus website and see if I can find out what movies will be shown on the flight.  ;)