Rompous, im really going to miss this greenland!

Now take into consideration i wrote this on April 25th
Leaving Dublin is a bittersweet feeling. Ofcourse I want to see everyone (Especially my cats) haha but I do not want to leave my family. I do not know why it has not hit me yet. I am a very sensitive person but for some reason I am not sure how to feel about everything. I am worried that when I get home the reverse Culture shock will hit me. Living in Dublin for four lifes seemed like an entire part of my life. I got use to the ways, the people and what not. I liked my freedom of being able to do what I want and learning how to be more independent! SO here are a list of things I will and will not miss.
Will Miss:
1) Walking into my neighbors rooms in my cheetah Pajamas with my retainer in and no bra on. No one ever judged me for looking like a scary cheetah.
2) All the people I have met are beyond amazing. Everyone in the American group was great. I loved everyone living in Blackhall. It was like my own family and I always had someone to go too.
3) Being able to take the dart to the countryside for a little getaway to think and ponder life. That is where the true Ireland lies.
4) Butlers Chocolate Café. Umm can we say DELICIOUS. This place had the most amazing hot chocolate and my newest obsession, “Iced Chocolate!” I discovered it a few weeks ago, thank god. OH my ROMPOUS I can honestly say I have never tasted something chocolately as amazing as this. It tasted like a cold brownie. Also every time you get a drink there you get a free chocolate. Life is good!
5) Diceys!!! This was the place for savage Craic on a Wednesday night. It was the best club ever. Yes there was cover but we had it worked out that if we got there early enough it would be less. Us girls were always the first ones on the dance floor. That’s how we roll. Although I will not be missing the jager bombs all my friends peer pressured me into! Hahaha. OMG but we did discover an amazing beer there called Desparado. I am not huge on drinking beer but it was pretty grand with a lime in it.
6) I will miss all the pubs/clubs in general. I will miss Porter houses Strawberry beer and live music. I will miss Turks Head, the real Temple Bar, H. Mathews where we sang Karokee everynight, and the local pub the Glimmerman.(My faborite bartender was Stewart) I always tried to convince him that they need to have a popcorn machine there!!!
7) The random people you meet on the streets. Some of the strangest people. Drunk or druggies or just people in their own world. Also I will neverforget the “tooting” man as I like to refer to him. Lauren and I had a good laugh from him.
8) Dame Café and Spars 3 euro Chicken Baguette. It was cheap and delicious and we ended up here many nights after being out. Also Apache Pizza was quite amazing but not as good as blackstone back home, but it worked.
9) Not having to do homework and only having class 3 times a week. That was epic. Schooling here was much easier and more relaxed. It was nice to have a break, but it might have given me a bad habit. We’ll have to see.
10) Sleeping in whenever I wanted (Mostly)
11) Not having a job. Although I honestly don’t mind working if I enjoy the place. It is money
12) The accents! They all vary. The irish from the south have such strong accents I cannot hardly understand them. But you fall in love with the accent. Especially when the older people call you “love” For example, “Have a good day love. It was so nice to hear.
13) The Irish phrases. Again this varied by location. Haha I will never forget “WHats the craic” or “That was savage Craic,” that’s some good Craic” and many more. Also the Irish swear like its their job. Its quite funny hearing them swear with their accents. Also banter to them means fun!
14) In general everyone here was kind and helpful.
15) My Irish friend Lauren and Jenny and my big boy British friend Connor (Eighty niiiiinnne)
16) PENNY’S- The cheap and amazing store which has everything you need. Cutest clothes shoes and jewelry ever!!!
17) Walking along the beautiful liffey at night when the lights are shining on all the bridges.
18) The nightlife
19) Jogging at night with my roomie Monika. I hate jogging so this is a big thing for me. We both loved jogging at night because less people could see my rolls jiggle and my endurance seemed higher.
20) Finding places through names of bars! Forget a map just learn all the bars!
21) Going to eat after being out at night either at Ricks Burgers, Apache Pizza, or DameCafe/Spar!
22) Talking to all the different people and learning about their life
23) The walk to school(Sometimes)
24) The Chocolate(Lion, Double Decker, Cadbury) and all the gummies! Thank god I walked a lot!
25) Centre(Little Shop across the street open 24 hours) I will miss the 2 euro pizzas!

Things I WON’T miss
1) The children. Ok so you might think im crazy but there are many sassy children here. They actually call the Farrel Children. They swear and throw rocks, sticks and snowballs at anyone even their own Irish people. It is sad but it is said that they will go nowhere in life. All I can say is they scare me more than a pack a men.
2) Druggies/prostitutes on our street
3) Anti American comments. If I heard one more person say Americans are dumb I might have drop kicked them! But these comments came a lot from other foreigners from other countries as well.
4) The smells of poop and poop on the sidewalk. I wonder if people with animals have heard of a poop bag.
5) The long walks to everything. I actually did not mind it in the end but some days when the weather was bad it seemed forever. Darn it I better have some muscle by now.
6) Laundry. I felt like I was back in the 18oo’s washing my laundry in the sink. The pants were quite a pain to wash. Also I will not forget Andy the kinda crazy maintanence housekeeper who always and I mean ALWAYS told us when using the laundry you “empty yourjhzflkjhaj pocketsjhklaj, then you SLAM THE DOOR kjhfahfj and then you put your token in, but make sure you’ve SLAMMED the door kjfhklajhlkjh. The extra not making sense words are because normally you couldn’t understand a word he said. Moni, my roommate and I would always giggle when he came in.
7) ENERGY CARDS! These are the most pain in the arse thing ever! I disliked them so much especially when they went off at night and kept beeping. You had to grab a chair and climb up in the dark and shove in a new card.
8) Never having heat!
9) No ventilation in the bathrooms so the growth of mold was crazy Also the toilets never flushed properly!
10) Runnning out of toilet paper.
11) Having to know codes and have 5 different college buildings in all different areas. Also the steps were a killer for some reason! Haha
12) The aggressive men Grabbing at you! I do not mind aggressive but there is a limit, men!
13) My foot getting stepped on every single night we are out. I am pretty surea bone in everyones foot has been punctured while being here. The Irish girls love their high heels. High heels + alcohol= your foot getting smashed. Which then equals ROMPOUS!!!
14) NO ONE is ever on time!
15) Having to cook for myself…. Well I guess it made me learn how too because I still have too! I tried to eat healthy! Hahah
16) Lack of street signs(They are on the buildings in the tiniest scratched off writing ever!

Overall these are not complaints I mean well they are but only minor. My experience has been one that is unforgettable and life learning. I am sad as I write this on the plane back home. I am thinking that maybe Ireland and all the European countries could move a little closer to the U.S. I don’t think that is too much to ask? Is it? The more I write the more emotional. Well I knew it would hit soon. I was getting worried for awhile.
My life will forever be changed by everyone and everysingle thing I did while in Ireland. I was able to see 5 plays, “Little Gem,” “Off Plan(a little weird),” Christ Deliver Us,” Les Liasons Dangeruses,” and “Macbeth.” I will never forget these plays. It was such a cultural experience seeing plays in a different country. After each play I had to write a critique. It really made me focus a lot more on the play itself.
The classes were quite different. I only met three times a week with each class being two hours and only having a few papers in them at the very end. Actually since we were leaving all ofus Americans did not have to take the final exams, which I hear are really hard! WooooHOOO! Also no one is ever on time to class especially the teacher. So weird!
Oh Blackhall(The apartments) I will miss your one minute showers and coldness! Haha Actually I loved it. We each had our own room which was nice. I will miss being able to walk into everyones room and just talk to them. Everyone was so friendly. We all have this bond that no one will ever forget. The apartments were run down but we brought the party/life. I loved sitting out on the decks with some girls just observing and taking in the Irish air.
I am so thankful for everything I have encountered on this trip. I would love to travel back. Yes Volcanoe jkhzjhajk put a damper on my Germany plans but I know I will see my god friends from there again someday. It gave me more time to experience and explore the different parts of Ireland. When asking for advice where to go abroad, I will always say Irealnd. Sure I may seem bias but I look at it like this. Ireland is near so many other European countries and the U.K. The Dublin airport is great. The people are the kindest you will meet(Well most of them, minus some of the sassy children haha). Yes they like their drinks, but they are so laid back and willing to talk to you and are actually interested in why you are there and what you think of it. The elderly men with the missing teeth and Guiness bellies are quite cute as well. I was fortunate to make friends with two Irish ladies Angie 65, and Eileen 81. I met them at karaoke Mondays and I have a feeling we will be staying in touch.
I feel like I am missing so much. lets sum it up
While in Ireland I traveled outside to Scottland, Rome, Athens, Santorini, Budapest, Berlin and London. Within Ireland I was in the northern parts like Derry and Belfast. In the south I was in Galway. I was able to take the dart(the train) to little towns along the water Dalkey, Brey, Howth, Dun Lerie, and a few more. I experienced the nightlife, the fresh food markets, the people both wonderful and some a little crazy, the food(Especially my favorite: VINEGAR!! I will have to carry a bottle around with me in the states! ), walking on cobblestones causing all of us to go through many pairs of boots, codes to get into buildings, Grocery shopping less and more often and having to walk a long distance with the groceries, Making sure to look the right way when crossing the road(I hope I wont look the wrong way when I get home now!) jogginf to beautiful Phoenix Park, walking down Occonnel Street and so much more.
Hahah One note id like to put are the walk signs that tell you when to walk and when not too. There is a certain area where you meet in the middle of the road and have to wait for the other cross walk. Now the beeping is for those who cannot see, which is smart. But in this one area you can easily get confused which one is beeping. I have always been curious about that one!
Maybe I have too much time to think while on the plane!
Friends and family. Thank you for following me on my amazing Cheetahlicious journey. I am so fortunate to have this opportunity in my life!!!

COunting down the days :(

Well folks it has been a very busy week in the life of Tanya Sue Cheetahlicious Pollard As you all know jhalkfjhajkhfjkdh volcano kept erpting shutting down the airports for quite a few days. NOT GOdd. SO many of my friends flights were cancelled and what not. It is crazy how mother earth can turn the world upside down so quickly. Our taxi driver today told us there is another huge one next to the current one that they say once it erupts flights will be stopped for 2 years. I really am not sure if that is accurste or not but if it is, “Holy ROMPOUS!!”

Anywho since I was unable to make it to Germany I had planned a few day trips. On Wednesday I went to Cork to kiss the Blarney stone. Yes, I know there are stories of people going potty on it but I was willing to take the risk. I needed the luck somehow and I was hoping my kiss would help get flights back on track! Ha! We climbed the million spiral tight/small steps to get to the top of the castle. Boy oh boy if I lived back in that day and tripped down those steps it be the end of me. ANywho once to the top there was such a beautiful view. An elderly lady was going to kist the stone but they couldn’t even get her to go down on her knees. She was ooohhhing and screeching! Hahaha Watching her reminded me of my Grandma Sue because im a almost positive she’d be the same way! She was a cute lady who cheered everyone else on! Now folks I did not know that you had to lay on your back and bend backwards to kiss the thing. 1) I am afraid of heights. 2) my shirt rose up a little displaying my rolls. 3) my legs were the only thing holding on , everything else was hanging. There was a man who helped us there, but still I thought I might wet myself a little. I really hope that stone is goodluck. It was not what I was expecting but I am so glad I made it there. After we wandered around for awhile and went to the witches steps which you have to walk up and down with your eyes closed and only thinking of your wish you want. Well I did this but my friends got busy taking a photo of themselves , did not tell me I was at the top because I cracked my head on part of the rock. But the good news is I did not open my eyes. After that we went to a Dolmen, a huge rock tent looking thingy having to do something with the Vikings. It was cool. Ive decided to call this whole area BLARNIA. Haha it reminds me of the world Narnia. We had a nice lunch in the park while we were surrounded by ducks who decided to attack eachother. I was quite scary. That night was our last night at Diceys, our favorite club. We had become regulars there. I will really miss that place. It was savage Craic!

OMG I also forgot to mention I traveled to Howth again on Sunday because I wanted to hit up the fresh food market one more time! I was on a mission to eat!!! Your only in Ireland once. We got there and I got a crepe with egg, ham and cheese. It was splendid. Then I got a huge brownie probs the best I have ever tasted so far in my 21 years of life. Finally I found myself a mixed berry scone. DELECTABLE!!!! We went and found the seals this day. They were so darn adorable, I cannot even explain. There were a lot of them, maybe 10. They were right by the shore area and people were feeding them fish. The seals got so excited about the fish that they were making squeally noises and flapping their flippers/paws/ whatever you call them. I fell in love with them. Also they are pleasantly plump like me… I told them that I know how it feels! Haha. I probably looked crazy talking to them but I don’t care. I prefer animals over people most times because they always love me! Haha –Seeing them made my day and made me feel better about my double chin because they had a triple one.

Then jumping ahead again on Friday I took a day trip with Wild Wicklow tours. We traveled up into the Wicklow mountains and to Glendalough. IT WAS BREATHTAKING. In the mountains you could look down upon a pure blue lake. Then at Glandalough there was the two huge mountains with the beautiful water between it. It was so surreal. I could not believe it. We also saw the oldest Celtic cross in all of Europe in the cemetery there. We learned that the pope and other Catholic leaders have nothing to do with Celtic Crosses because they have the sun around the top which represents a god for the Pagens. Interesting. This was a really cool bus tour and I also got an amazing blueberry cinnamon scone and Avocca. I will miss scones. The only problem about this trip is that I was very sick on it. I had the terrible aches and swelled up tonsils with a horrible sore throat. I do not know why I am cursed to always being sick when traveling. It is so bizarre and kind of getting old.

Ok also we celebrated my good friend (Baby) Becca's 21st at Spy! Holy romous was it fun. It was a skins party where you paint your skin with glowy stuff and get glow necklaces and what not. It was so epic and fun! I basically looked like an indian chief!

Yesterday was my last day in the city. It was sad. But I feel that I am ready to come home for a break and to see everyone again. I miss them.

Im thinking a cruise looks good about now. Darn Ash Rompous.

Hello all. If you have not been aware of it i will let you in on what rompous is currently taking place. Basically Ireland and most other European countries are covered by a huge cloud of Ash from Eyjafjallajökull a volcano in Iceland. Yes that is its name folks. What the crack. Also, EUROCONTROL estimates that approx 16,000 flights have been cancelled in European Airpace TODAY. Rompous. WHat is this world coming too. Also i do not like people talking about that 2012 end of the world rompous. I DO NOT beleive in that but it makes me worried. :(
Anywho i am quite dissapointed right now. I was supposed to be seeing my host family in Germany whom i have not seen for 4 years. Well thats not happeneing anymore thanks to WHatever its name is. I am so fortunate for this trip, do NOT get me wrong, but it was one of the most special trips i was looking forward too. But, i guess Everything happens for a reason and hopefully ill see them again soon. I would rather not be flying in a plane that sucks in too much ash.
Too look on the brightside i get to spend time with my wonderful family here in DUblin. When thinking about it i wouldnt choose any other group of people to be stranded on this island with. Were kinda like a Giligans Island crew just a few 20 or 30 more people. Mother nature is just stomping on Europe but she will not tkae our high spirits away. We stand United as one! Anywho why not celebrate and explore the beatiful green land some more. I might just have to watch the monetary spending but i can do it.
SO to lighten this blog i would like to let ya all know how i almost wet well kinda a little did this weekend. While in London we met these really cool girls from O.C. who are studying in Spain. They are currently in DUblin so we met up at Diceys(The most amazing club ever) Wednesday night. While saying goodbye we were walking down the road/alley and i heard someone just rip major rompous. Now this was not a soft short toot but a long carried on one. AT first i thought it was Lauren until i looked to the side and saw a man in the doorway kinda croutching. I burst out laughing i could not hold it in. I really think he needed to check his pants!!! hahah I guess it might be one of those moments that you have to be there to understand how funny it is! Anywho that completed my night.
Also Yesterday the 17th was my German roommate, Moni's birthday! Gahd i love this girl. She is one of the most sincere and honest person i have ever met. We had a little celebration in my neighbor Ryans room(The one that cooks for me :) ). Then after that we had a Blackhall social at the GLIMMERMAN the pub nearby with my favorite bartender Steward. it was so nice just haning out with everyone, the French, irish, Americans, Germans, and British. I loved it.
Today i went bumming around and finally bought a few things at Penny's. I waited this long before caving in. oh also the other day we did voluntary work. So we had to wear Orange bright vests and work along O'Connell street the main and most busiest Street in Dublin. We were raising money for the homeless. Genevieve the lady involved had us singing songs and wlaking around. It was crazy and fun... It was for such a great cause. What was sad was how rude people were and how they couldnt even spare a few coins. I mean the money was going to a good fund. SO today while walking along Grafton street i saw people out collecting Donations for animals and i totally gave them some money. I love animals and they deserve help too. Also, last week I went with my friends Suzy and Olivia to Dun Leary to see the movie "Remember Me." Gahd it was wonderful then broke ones heart at the end. Rompous.
Oh my goodness i almost forgot to mention i went to the LEPRECHAUN MUSEUM!!! It is about 4 weeks old. It was so cool. They told you the history of leprachauns and fairies and giants, then we went into a room set up like a giants place and everything was loads bigger then us. I loved sitting in the huge chirs. it was like a bed!!! It was such an experience one should do when in Dublin!
Anywho folks, ill be seeing you in a week if the smoke decides to blow away and let me leave. The Cheetah is ready to see everyone back home. I love Ireland but right now the Luck of the Irish is missing. I might have to go searching one last time for that Leprachaun. Wish me luck!!!Love you all!!
xoxox, Stranded in ireland.

For the 1,000th time "Mind the Gap!!!"- Dear London, I Love you!

You know how people joke about the saying "Mind the gap" Well they are not lying. I believe that while on the tube you are reminded of this about hmmm let me see 38 million/trillion times. Now i understand if there was a huge gap, but there isnt much to it. Anywho, just thought id fill you all ion that! London was purely A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!
I was able to see one of my wonderful roommates Kelly and my sorority sister, little miss sunshine herself, Anna! They were so hospitable to us. it was so nice and appreciative. We arrived and me and my friend Marie toured around the Chelsea area. My friends live in South Kennsington, the nice, rich part of London... NICE. ANywho we wandered around to some stores and had to make a stop at Mcdonalds. Now dont judge until i tell you! They had there something called "GO for the goo." It was a smashed up cadbury egg in vanilla icecream. We could NOT pass that up. It was actually quite splendid. Then we sat in a park area with water squirtter thingys and watched all the people and cute children... I have noticed something. The men in London dress so stunningly. I was impressed. Quite a few have that RObert Pattinson scruffy rompous going on but others dress so neat and nice. Maybe that wave will hit American bnoys. J/K. We met up with Kelly and Anna that night and went to dinner. It was in the area by all the musical places and what not. Lancester square We also went to Picadilly Square (A smaller version of time square). I love saying that over and over:Picadilly hahaha I cant remember the name. we then wandered around to Buckinham Palace and climbed the Lions nearby there. They were huge lion statues and those buggers were hard to climb up onto, but i did it! Also that night me and Marie did not realize we were staying in a hostile room with men and women. We walked in to find an older man sleeping in tight undies with his legs open. You can picture what we saw and it was not a pretty sight! haha. I still giggle about that.
The next morning we went to Portobella road. On the way we found a store with everything for 5 pounds!!!! I couldnt beleive it... Also i found a CHEETAH dress there for only 5 pounds. Brilliant! Then we walked through to all the cute stands of different things. We tried an amazing cupcake with chocolate and cheesecake and then frosted with cream cheese. It was delectable. After that We ate pasta at the girls apartment then me and Kelly went and saw "Avenue Q." It is a play involving sassy puppets, but it is so funny!!!! Later that night we went to another musical called "Priscilla, Queen of the desert" OMG it was a bunch of drag queens heading across Australia. The plot wasnt the best but the costumes were out of this world. Also it is so sad how good men look in dresses with their nice legs and bodies. I was jealous! lol. I was so pumped for hitting up 2 musicals, because that is what i wanted to do while in London. I just love musicals!
The next day we toured around town seeing Buckingham palace in the daylight along with Big Ben! Also the London Eye was quite a sight. I was on a smaller version of the London eye in Belfast because Northern Ireland is modeled after Britian and has many of its ways. We also went and had High Tea near Princess Dianas old Palace. OMG At first i was like, "I dont like Tea." Well let me tell you it was not just tea. Along with my cinnamon tea(WHich tasted delicious after 3 sugar cubes) there was a three layer stand with first plate holding four finger sandwiches(ham,cheese, and cucumber). The second plate had a huge amazing orange scone which we ate with butter and jekky. I was looking the most forward to eating a sco ne while in London and i finally had one. FInally the third and highest plate had a little chocolate cream donut and a passionfruit tart thingy. DEALICIOUS!!!! It was so worth the 14 pounds it cost, It was a true English experience. I cannot beleive that so many people have high tea everyday later in the afternoon. I think i could get use to that. ALso ummm i got to see the arena/stadium the SPice Girls performed at in their movie "SPice World." ALl the areas i saw reminded me of that movie for some weird reason. Another note id like to make. The english men dress so stylish! I Love it. There are 2 styles. The scruffy Robert Pattinson style(Thats ok) But then theres the Stylish nice jeans shirt rompous. SO classy! Another thing we did this day is found PLatform 9 and 3/4. I wish i could be like Harry Potter and run through the wall! Maybe in my later life.
That night we went on the "Jack the Ripper" or as i kept referring to him, "Jim the Reaper" walking tour. The man who gave the tour has written a few books on this mystery and was really good at telling all the stories. The scary thing being that no one ever caught this sick murderer who killed 5 prostittes and would slit their throat to the neckbone, then cut them up from their crootch to their chest. SICK. We got lost in this sketchy area after that so that was great. Also on the way to the tour we met some crazy man on the tube. I think he had elephantitus in his feet and he was drunk. He threw his can out of the tube on a stop and would not stop harrasing the peopl across from him calling the one guy a hippie! It was quite funny/scary at the same time.
That night it was off to the airport for a nice rest.... haha NOT. ALso we got our phone booth picks which everyone has to get when there. Those red phone booths are quite classy looking.
I absolutely loved London, minus the bathrooms in our hostile. While in the bathroom one would be able to reach their hands out of the shower to wash their hands and sit on the toilet at the same time. ALso seeing the older man in his tight underwear sleeping was unforgettable as well! How precious! hahaha ANywho when traveling to London, please do NOT forget to "MIND THE GAP!"
Love you all!
Remember "Tanya Sue Loves you!"

Whomever said a stroll in the park is supposed to be relaxing is somewhat incorrect!! ROmpous!

HOPPY BELATED EASTER everyone!!! Boy ogh boy you really miss the family and appreciate them more when away especially in a different country. It was a splendid day though. Some girls and i went to Christs Cathedral Church.... where we did not have to pay to see inside it and enjoyed a nice mass there. The singing was amazing but they sang such depressing never ending songs!! But yet, they were amazing. There was also a million preists and other holy leaders there! After that we took a stroll because it was a beautiful sunny day with NO RAIN!!!! That night the girls and i gathered together a nice dinner consisting of my favorite, deviled eggs, ham, salad, garlic bread, beans, assortment of cheeses and ofcourse a chocolate dessert. To say the least it was splendid!!! My friend Becca and i exchanged little easter gifts. She got me this awesome Easter bag full of candy and coloring pages with crayons and sweet Liger/tiger/panther huge tattoos. I might be sporting one when i arrive home! hahaha.
Anywho, my time is dwindling down here and i am sad..... But so excited to go home. OMG a few weeks ago i was surprised with being asked to be the queen of TKE a sweet fraternity on our campus! I was so overjoyed i jumped around in my pajamas in my room by myself. It was quite classy, if i do say so myself!! hahaha! I am so excited to go home and see my boys!!!
Now on to my story pertaining to the title of this blog. So i have been going for a jog everyday to try and get back into shape and try to loose some of this darn weight i have put on even though i already walk everywhere else and it makes no sense. ANYWHO! I was jogging to the Lovely Phoenix park where i met my friend Julie. She told me she just got attacked by a bunch of 12 year old children. SHe was sitting by the monuement doing some homework when the children started spitting on her. While walking away they were throwing sticks at her and a big one hit her in the back of the head. Now let me tell you all a little about the young Irish/ghetto children here. When we first arrived and it would snow the children would come out of nowhere and throw snowballs at anyone walking by. I seriously could have thrown one back... but i resisted. ANywho theres a little insight. Julie and i were walking around the park for my cool down and just talking. We came across the playground and she pointed saying there are some of the children. I asked her if she wanted to go up the other way and she said no. We both said they wont bother us because there were so many adults there with their children... BOY were we wrong! As were walking by the oldest 12 year old boy starts yelling to his friends! 'There she is, Sky, there she is' Next thing you know all these children in their highschool musical jumpsuits/trackee outfits come running at us. Julie and i start walking up the steps and they trap us on both sides. Im thinking to myself, "Seriously there are like 10 12 year olds right now waiting with huge sticks in their hands... nice." ANywho let me tell ya the language they were using was just so sick i have heard little children swear before but never like this. Theri words were so vulgar, i still cant get over it! Nex thing i know they are grabbing sticks and what not and right next to us. I am talking to the 2 little high school musical girls and asking them why they are doing this to people they do not even know.
They were very sassy back and so innapropriate to us. I tried talking calmly even though it was pointless. SOmeone with a baby carriage came down the steps and they stopped throwing then but that person didnt ecven help us, just swore at the kids. I cannot beleive that the parents in the park saw these children doing this and didnt come to help us. Finally a adult Irish woman came and apologized to us about the children. SHe said they do this to so many people even her. SHe said she use to take it personally but not anymore, she said you cannot. While we were standing down below the hill they kept throwing rocks at us hitting us here and there. i did not turn my back because i didnt want to get hit in the back of the head. I can honestly say i wanted to go after those children. The lady told us that they call children like that a certain name, fannies or something and that they will sadly never go anywhere in life and they are just like their parents. I felt sorry for them and so angry with their parents. As a rock hit my foot it was time to leave. As another rock hit my foot i had enough and we began walking away after ignoring them for a long time. The Irish women turned and snapped at the children after another deragatory comment and she said " Your Irish and so am i and you are making our country look bad to Americans!" They replied with a horrible comment back to her. We kept walking. SHe looked so sad like she wanted to cry she was just so embarrassed. But Julie and i Love it here and know that not all Dublin is like this.
So off we go home trying to get over what just took place when a beggar gets all up in our grill... It was just so crazy, i mean us out of all the people around us and he bothers us! Then there was a special ed girl walking across the Luas tacks with a gaurdian of some sort. The girl trips the lady and keeps walking. The lady is laying on the tracks yelling at the girl!! I felt bad but i had to laugh.... What the CRACk was going on. Thank God me and Julie were able to experience this other crazy world together... No one around could have went through and saw what we did that day let alone everyday!!! Theres the outside world and then our world!! hahaha
Just the other day i went to Dalkey with some friends of mine who are staying with a host family. It is so beautifuol there and Bono from U2 lives there. Enya also lives there in a huge castle, my dream house!!! We were having a photo shoot when a cute cat reminding me of my handsome boys because its colors were put togwether the same as my cats! He was so precious and loved the camera. I had a spklendid meal at their house... Huge portions! It reminded me of home!!!! hahaha I love Olivia and Suzy. They are such kindhearted girls!!
Anywho, my week has been pretty much amazing... and interesting. I am off to London tomorrow to see some friends!! I am so excited for scones!!!!!! Yummy!!!!
Hope all is well! Also remember a stroll in the park may not be as peaceful as one may think. When you see a gang of little ones here is my advice: TURN AND RUN!!! I know this sounds crazy and your thinking why are you afraid of a bunch of 10-12 year olds. COme to DUblin and i will show you!!!
Remember, " Tanya Sue Loves You!!!!"

Guten Tag- Ed, WHat ya doing on the Bathroom Floor??

GUTEN TAG!!!!! Wie hast du?
Well friends it was off to Berlin, germany this past weekend. Boy oh boy was i pumped. We were fortunate enough to stay with one of my sassy German friends. He has been interning at a company for awhile in Berlin and was leaving a few days after our visit so timing was perfect. I was excited for my girls to meet this sass. We arrived in the morning and headed straight to the Brandenburg Gate, basically the center of Berlin where the government building (Bundestag) is near. Gahd i realized how much i had missed this place. it had been 4 years since i was last here and all the memories were flashing back into my head. I came four years previously with my German teacher Frau Grimes and some class members and we were able to experience the world cup and everything Germany had to offer. I kept thinking back to meeting everyone and remembering how close we all got. It was grand to be back but i wish my sidekick Jason was with me. I could picture all his funny impersonations!.
We took the free 3-4 hour walking tour, the same one we took in Scotland. Again it turned out to be purely amazing. I remembered each place we hit. The place of the burning of the books, the wall, Check Point Charlie, The holocaust monuement and more. We were also able to see where Hitler's bunker is(Well its underground). It is a parking lot and our tour guide said often times people walk their dogs to the spot and the dogs have a little job to take care of. haha. Thats right.
Anywho, after the splendid tour we hit up the jewish museum which was right underground. It was very informational and sad. I am very interested in this subject but am always left feeling so sad and wishing things could have been different. After we met up the famous sass of them all Christoph. it was so nice to see him after so long. Even his voice seemed deeper... could he possibly have grown up... hmmm No! haha jk. Anywho we went to dinner and i had my first Becks. Gahd i have missed that stuff. I am telling you it for sure beats Guiness!!! Also I need to mention, I love Berliner Weiss. frau Grimes got me hooked on this precious raspberry beer four years ago. I wish you all could try it, it tastes like juice. Anywho it was off to bed, we were all pooped.
Next morning us three girls woke up and hit up the concentration camp called sachsenhausen. Words cannot describe how me and the 2 others felt walking in and around the place. I have never been in a colder, darker place. By the end i wanted to run out because i was so scared. I do not know how to describe it. I felt just sick and awful and i wanted to leave and never return. I cannot even imagine how those poor people felt. I will never understood how people could do such awful things.
We met up with Christoph after he was done with work.... It was his last day so we went oout and celebrated at this disco called Lido!! it was so much fun. it unfortunately down poured on the way there but we worked it out. I love traveling with Allison and Alexis.... never a dull moment. The next morning was probably a moment i will never forget. haha I laugh just thinking about it. Christoph fell asleep in the bathroom and Lex had to use the bathroom so i had to wake up the snoring bear. It's one of those moments when you have to be there to understand the extent of funniness! After that we were up and out the door. I was so pumped me and Lex shared a huge bratwurst. The Brat was so long with a tiny bun, but sadly there was no sauerkraut... What the crack? Anywho we hit up the German museum. It was so big and had lots of information. It was well worth my 5 euro! On a random note i would like you all to know that Mc Donalds here sells chocolate cake, yes that is right my friends, CHOCOLATE cake. Lex and i may or may not have eaten one before hitting up the airport. ANYWHO....
That night our wonderful host, Christoph brought us to the Ritte Sport place! Can we talk about temptation..... I love German Chocolate. All the bars were .79 cents. I had to limit myself to three. Then you know we couldnt pass up the desserts they made with this chocolate. I was in heaven. it was pure rompous.
Also id like to mention that we were unaware of this time change taking place if it hadnt have been for Allisons alarm on her blackberry. We would have missed our flights.... But we made it! Im telling ya, its the luck of the irish.... it is starting to stick with us...
SO over all this trip was more successful then Budapest(although Budapest was funn we just had horrible luck). I was sad i did not get to see my other German friend Malte, but im sure we will meet again sometime. The whole trip was better because we got to stay with my friend. He was such a sass but so hospitable. But i cannot say too much without his head blowing up! hahha
I felt that having my german roommate Moni has helped me remember some of my German, ein bissen ( a little) at least. I love Germany and i LOVE the people. It is a place everyone needs to check out. Also the food such as breads are pure amazing..... Thank gahd i am not living there. It be temptation city.
Hope all is well!
Ich Liebe Dich!!! xoxoxoxoxo

ST. Paddy's day, not Patty's-thats a girls name!

Ladies and gents, I experienced the most savage Craic because i was able to spend St. Paddy's day in the one and only Dublin, Ireland, home of the clovers, leprechauns and beer. Well, well well, where to begin.
Let me reverse back a few days. One of my best friends and roommate came to visit me. It was so splendid spending time with Rachel aka the Overgrown. We traveled to the beautiful countryside in Bre which was only a halfhour on the dart. We arrived towards sun down but were able to catch it while walking along the beach. We climbed halfway up the monster hill but then it was getting too dark and i did not feel like being one of those "gone missing" peoples. It scares me sometimes at night in areas i do not know. Anywho we climbed back down the hill and hit up what we thought was an Irish restaurant but turned out to be owned by a Polish couple. They were so sweet and we had nice conversation. We headed back into town and sang a few tunes at karokee. Here Rach tried her first Bulmers (Cider). Goodness i love that stuff. They have a berry kind now! it is pure Class.
The next day we went to St. Patricks Festival Ceili. Many people attended this and they were teaching us Irish dance moves(Celtic). It was fun prancing around. it reminded me of my good old days dancing celtic style. There were so many people from all over here to celebrate. i think their were more tourists out then Irish. Funny! Anywho that night i introduced Rachel to my favorite dance place called Dicey's. We had a blast dancing together just like back at SNC.
Rise and shine!! Next morning we were up at 8 a.m. My roommate Moni, Rach and i all applied green eyeshadow and put on our accesories. I wore my Irish Rugby jersey along with a cowgirl hat!!! Stylish! We hit the city and headed to Oconnel street to watch the parade. The parade started late and we were only able to catch a little bit of it because we had tickets to a hurling and Gaelic football match. What we saw of the parade was pretty crazy and fun. We saw St. Patrick himself, i felt so tickled. Anywho we headed to Croke par for the game. I did not quite understand the rules but the older swearing men behind us clued us in. All i know is that in hurling i would NOT want to get hit by one of their sticks. Also i do not understand how no one wears pads in any sports here. its so crazy.. They must be some really BIG boys here. I am so happy i was able to experience Irish sports and actually see them first hand! I have become a big rugby fan while here as well. Unfortunately Ireland lost to Scotland on Saturday( But i was secretly rooting for Scotland as well!! SHHHH.) ANywho we celebrated in Temple bar area St. paddy's night. There were so many people out dressed crazily in green and shamrocks and everything imaginable. I was kinda digging the short green bobbed hair whigs. Maybe next year ill invest in one! I also was shocked to see all the medical people out and about... My goodness how drunk did people get. but then again i am in Ireland so what kind of a question is that!!
Overall it was a wonderful celebration. I was so fortunate to be here in the native town. It was fun seeing all the different people although i am dissapointed i didn't drink any green beer!!! haha thats minor. I will forever remember being in Ireland for this special day. The pictures will always flash in my head. I am still looking for the lucky charm man and i only have a little while longer.. Wish me luck! I know he is out there! Hope all is well and remember "Tanya Sue Loves you!"
Have a grand day! xoxoxoxo