the green isle

I fell in love with Ireland the moment I flew into it. well... not literally... :) I don't think I've experienced such love and hospitality as I have in the presence of some special people, the Bailies and the Hunsdales. Their selfless love, with tea and biscuits, is just what this chica had needed.

E.M. 5/26/07 (email message)

When I havent been using my mad translation skills to decode milkshake thick Irish accents, I´ve been spending my time so far doing nothing but... nothing :) I think this is first break I´ve had in months. It´s so great. I toured a beautiful castle in Belfast, crashing illegally into a wedding (w/my friend´s dad whos a pastor!), drank LOTS of tea and coffee, ate way too much chocolate and toast, and jammed w/some friends in an old manor that is gorgeous and has its own lake! my fingers hurt b/c I had no callouses... it was so sweet.

Belfast Castle w/the wedding inside - Surprise! Rain!, My gorgeous friend Laura en route to Drewstown

Bethany Bailie y Yo at Drewstown, A couple of lads we found wanderin' wit their guitars :)

E.M. 5/26/07 (email message)

So i was at the dublin airport trying to board the plane for madrid. my checkin was 10 kilo over and the attendant told me i would have to pay an 80 euro charge. i asked if i could transfer some things into my carry-on instead. the guy nodded as he waved me off and checked in the next passenger. still, 7 kilo over. the guy was cordial, but none too happy. i knew the whiskey and guiness i bought were heavy so i asked the guy if he drank guiness. a huge smile broke over his face and he exclaimed yeah! so i broke out two nice sized bottles of guiness and gave it to him explaining it was simply too heavy. as i tried to take out more, the attendant next to him was shouting something about a bottle for 'im! unable to sift anymore, i was ready to bite the bullet when the now elated attendant said that i was ok and let me go. lesson learned: guiness talks :) he was really sweet then and showed me where to go and such, and i was off on my way!

new things

It is not uncommon for me to travel to a new or exotic place. I am hardly new to the task and tend to have a pretty confident attitude regarding the whole affair. This presupposition is why I was shocked to discover a week full unwelcomed and uninvited anxiety, regarding all things new.

In the most random of places, including at airport security (at a few airports), ordering a sandwich at a cafe in Belfast, and riding in a car with a new missionary friend who would host me for the night, I found myself bombarded with anxiety, fear, and loneliness. I found this strange b/c I have done this traveling thing before... but like all things new, I think all of us can relate to the fear of the unknown, the insecurity in our capabilites to handle it, and perhaps the relief of looking back in hind's sight at what we may attribute to our own strength in handling a situation, or in my case, relying solely on the strength of something greater to see me through.

J.E. 5.29.07 (journal entry)

Bravery

Some people, when they look at me, claim that I am a brave person. Dos cosas (two things):

Uno: No. They are mistaken. I am not brave. At heart, I'm just a scared little girl traveling to familiar and unfamiliar places solely trusting that something bigger than me is watching over and taking care of me.

Dos: Si. I am brave. I am when you define bravery as not the absence of fear, but the perserverance through it.


I got onto the airplane in Newark, NJ needing a month and a half away. I felt like a damp cloth that had been wrung out very tightly, extracting all the water and all that's left was a twisted and crinkled piece of fabric. I need this time. I need re-evaluate my life. I need to spend more time with the One I love the most. I need to wrestle with questions in my heart. Despite all the hard stuff, I want this time. I'm thankful I have it. And I'm thankful I have such wonderful people to travel through it with.

about time...

At the request of a few and the recent necessity of convience, I've decided to try a blog to chronicle my comings and goings here in Espana y Ireland. I've never done a blog before nor have I any particular idea of what I am doing. :) Entonces, if this online service can offer an opportunity to remain in contact with loved ones over large masses of agua, and can act as a 'journal of sorts' as I share stories, pictures and enlightenments, then... why not?

The title of my blog was gathered at the memory of my last sunday in America before I left. I found myself in a house with friends, relaxing and communing together over a glass of wine and cheese. Therefore, in its spanish embodiment, "Queso y Vino Conmigo" is an invitation. It's an invitation to come a have some cheese and wine with me; as we look together at the world, life, love and everything in between.

Bienvendios.