Northern Ireland

so, firstly, you should probably be warned that I had all of these pictures in Order, and then when I uploaded them, they got all randomized, so...sorry. But this is what is know as the Peace Wall, or the wall that separates the Catholic and Protestant communities in Belfast

They really dislike Bush over hear, they are like also really interested in the upcoming elections, and pretty much the first thing they ask you after they find out you are American is "Hilary or Obama"

Us with our Black Taxi that took us to the Catholic and Protestant Communities in Belfast

A mural thats in the Protestant Communities 

This is the scariest Mural...the gun will follow you wherever go, even straight down.

A mural in the protestant community of Oliver Cromwell, whom they love, and the Catholics in Ireland hate

The peace wall. 

This sign was copied from the sign that hung in Berkley during the Vietnam war, that said you are now entering Free Berkley. Derry is one of the most violent areas during the Troubles, and was the sight of Bloody Sunday

This is a mural in Derry of Bloody Sunday, and it shows a priest waving a white flag, carrying a body through the crowd. 

This is a mural of Burnadette Devlin who was the youngest person to ever be elected to Parlimnet, she was 21. 

This is actually a picture of the Scots Presbyterian church in Derry. James Monroes ancestors used to go here, and who knows, maybe some of the Ervins who were on the Ulster plantation went here too, 

Me sitting in the head chair of the Town council of Derry, This building was blown up by the IRA during the troubles, the only thing that survived a statue of Queen Victoria, which to this day, still stands in the building.  Also-the guy who blew the building up, is now a member of parliment. 

This is giants causeway, it is rumored to be made by the Giant Finn MacCool. 

Kylea and I on the rocks at Giants Causeway

A view of Belfast City hall and the Belfast Wheel.

Again

I though it was funny, that this was the Belfast Tourist Information center, so I had to make a picture

The beach at Port Rush, which is absolutely gorgeous and the waves are so huge, that it is considered the place to Surf in Ireland.

The Beach Again.

Dunluce Castle

Me in front of Dunluce castle, which was inhabited until the Kitchen fell into the sea! 

Emily, Kylea and I at the rocks on Giants causway, it was so windy, and slippery, that I was scared I was going to fall and die. haha, but I didnt, so thats good.

This past weekend we visited Northern Ireland. 

IT WAS AMAZING.

The countryside is actually one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my whole life, and the history is extremely interesting. It was also neat, because Ervins have some ties to N. Ireland, ad we lived there for a while in between leaving  Scotland.  

I definitely think that everyone should go to N. Ireland at least once, because it is just so 

completely different, there are times when in Belfast, you could swear you must be in the West Bank security is so high, and everything is so segregated, but the surrounding areas are absolutely beautiful.

TUAM!!

Larkin, best friend of our host brother playing guitar hero!

Kira, the other girl from our group who was in the homestay with me!

My turn!

Conor, our host brother, rocking out! He was soo cute!

Conor, Me, Rachel, and Mary! They were SO NICE!

My bathroom at school. It is acutally this small, and that curtain is the shower! 

My bed!

My desk!

My living room, I'm still not sure what the stick is for!

Kitchen area, after my roomates cleaned it!

This weekend I went on a homestay in Tuam (pronounced Chume) about 20 minutes outside of Galway (and 3 hours from here). It was so much fun. My host family were so nice, and I really liked them alot. We pretty much just hung out and walked around, played a little guitar hero, and watched a movie. It was so nice to have a home cooked meal! I definitely am going back to visit them before I leave Ireland. And am trying to talk them into visiting us over here! The loved the rice and the Jo Jeffords pottery I brought them, and are excited to try the Grits (I warned them to be sure to add lots of butter and cheese) It was a great weekend! Next weekend I think I am going into Dublin, So I am sure I will have loads of pictures! 

Love and miss you all! 

This is Bunratty Castle, which is one of the oldest in Ireland, and in the bog here they found some of the oldest remains in Europe. 

Me, Dea, and Emily with some boys dressed up as Superheros for the England vs. Wales Rugby match in Dublin! 

Me, Emily S., Kira, and Jen in Dublin

Me and Em with our new french friends! They were really funny dancers!

Derrick me and Kylea in Limerick. 

Me on my throne in Bunratty Castle! 

This tour guide of bunratty castle made me believe in Leprechauns. He was so cute, and liked to sing and dance. 

Me and Emily in our hotel room in Limerick.

There are always ads for Guinness wherever you go, the one sign says "10 to 1, its Guinness time!" 

These are some of the girls in my group on the first night, Dea, Leah, Jen, Kylea, and Me.

This is King Johns castle in Limerick.

Now that I finally have internet, I figure that this will be an easy way for me to keep everyone up to date with what is going on while I am in Ireland. I have been here for almost two weeks now and I really love it! 

I realize that the picutres are from all over the place and in no real order, so I'm sorry about that, I'll try to do better next time. 

Last Monday I arrived into Limerick, and met the other Americans that are also studying in Maynooth this semester. Limerick was a really beautiful place and I hope I can get back there soon.  

This week has been really busy because I started all of my classes. In one of my classes we are studying the US Presidential elections its really weird to hear about it from an Irish perspective, apparently, in America, we dont really have a liberal party, its just really conservative and moderately conservative. 

But I like all of my classes, and am slowly learning to understand the Irish accent. 

My flatmates are so nice, and I had taken some pictures of my flat but they got deleted, so I will make some more and post them later. 

I live with 3 girls and 1 boy, whose name just happens to be Joe. So it's not like I can forget that or anything. 

The girls are Lorraine, Dierdre, and Ashling, and I will try to get a picture with them soon. 

Everyone here is so nice and friendly! 

I'm having a great time but I miss all of you bunches!

Elizabeth