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June 24th, 2009
07:30 pm
I just bought a train ticket to DC from July 9 to 14. $120 and 10 or 11 hours each way. I can't believe I'm doing this, it's not like I have an excess of money or anything to warrant a random 4 day trip. I'm a tiny bit worried that Denise, my friend from Ireland, isn't coming after all or I got the dates wrong, or she meant Washington state instead of Washington DC. But I haven't seen her in over a year and I've really been missing Ireland lately so I think this will be good.
I also leave for another farm type place next Wednesday; a restaurant/inn in New Hampshire that grows their own food. It'll be cool to see a differnt type of farm, and to be honest if I stay too long at this one they will drive me crazy, especially since Willis the other volunteer left yesterday so I'm on my own :( I almost feel bad writing that because they are really nice people but it's true.
Ok well this was going to be longer but the library is closing so time to go
Current Location: Wendell library
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/neko/kaokitty/hungry2.gif) hungry
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June 17th, 2009
02:16 pm
I borrowed a bike and rode into town to go online. It's about 5 miles or something but felt much longer, haha. I'm so out of shape, I haven't been on a bike in weeks.
The last week or so has been pretty good. The other volunteer is pretty awesome (and cute) so it's been fun. He's only here for a few more days though, boo. Then I'm on my own again, and hopefully will not be driven crazy by Nina. I think I'm going to try to find another place to work on in July, which is a restaurant/inn in NH that grows their own food. It'll be interesting I think. Although my friend Denise from Ireland just sent me a message saying she'll be in DC in July and we should meet up. Except I'm not there anymore! wtf. bad timing. I might try to get back to see her, even though that would mean 8 hours to DC and then at least 8 hours back up here, and however much money it costs. It's been over a year since I've seen her though so I think it would be worth it. I'll see.
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June 9th, 2009
01:22 pm - Farm Update!
I'm at a cafe right now for a couple hours so I can finally update. I feel a little bad because the husband is picking me up and I think I made him rearrange his day a little bit to do so; also it means I'm not helping around the farm at all this afternoon. They said it was fine though, so maybe I'll just work extra hard tomorrow to make up for it.
Anyway, it's different. I don't love it as much as I thoguht I would, but I did have really high expectations. The farm is close to a (verrry) small town, but there isn't really anything to it, except houses and a town hall, and a library that is open 3 whole days a week. They are very proud of it though, which is really endearing. This cafe is kind of close, but not really close enough to be able to bike there very easily, which is too bad because its right over a stream and rally pretty. It's hard being so isolated,especially with no internet and I get tired of being around the farm people sometimes.
The farm was started in the 70s as a commune, though it isn't anymore. two ofthe original people live there, along with their daughter and her family, their son, and two other families. They are all really nice but get to be too much sometimes; our personalities don't mix too well. I'm kind of worried they don't like me and think I'm weird. I was hoping that there would be other volunteers, but there was only one when I got here, who only lasted 4 days, haha. Another one came last night and he seems pretty cool, but is only staying a week and a half which sucks cause I don't like being the only one.
The farm has a few gardens, a field for hay, a couple cows and lots of baby chicks which are adorable! They have a rooster and two older hens but they aren't laying eggs anymore :( Mostly they just grow food for themselves, but I think they sell beef sometimes. The first day I came I helped move bales of hay, and since then have been helping to plant things and weed, and look after chicks. I like the work for the most part, I feel very accomplished afterwards, though I wish they sold the food at farmer's markets or something, I think that would be fun.
I had wanted to stay all summer but I'm not sure I want to stay that long. I had thought about trying to find another farm to work on but I ended up packing the directory to be shipped cause I'm dumb, but maybe I'll figure something out.
I have a cold, my feet are soaked cause it was raining earlier and the music in here is really distracting so it is really hard to concentrate and I have no idea if this post makes sense. Ireally tried not to make it rambly but I don't know if that worked out.
Current Location: Somewhere in Western Mass.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/neko/kaokitty/groggy.gif) groggy
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June 5th, 2009
02:06 pm
I am in Massachusetts! I'm in a cafe in a town nearby that has wireless but wasted my time reading LJ so don't have time to update but I will one of these days
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May 31st, 2009
09:58 pm
Goddammit I hate moving, hate hate hate. I mean I'm sure everyone feels the same way pretty much, I'm so stressed out right now, I can't believe I'm leaving in less than 10 hours! I'm in too shitty of a mood and way too tired to feel excited about it, I'm just really looking forward to getting on Amtrak, ha. I am so looking forward to being able to relax and sleep and not have to worry about what else has to be done because by that point it will be too late. Once I'm on the train I'll be excited about the farm I think. It is definitely time to leave DC.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/neko/kaokitty/stressed.gif) stressed
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May 29th, 2009
01:18 am - panic time!
Ok I'm leaving in 3 1/2 days and still need to get rid of my bed, desk, bike, rug, drawers, and pack/ship everything else up. It's finally hitting me and I'm just now starting to freak out about it, shiiiit!
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/neko/kaokitty/scared.gif) nervous
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May 27th, 2009
03:30 pm - Writer's Block: Places to Lay Your Head
I've lived in Tucson, DC and Galway. My favorite was obviously Galway because it is as close to perfect as you can get, especially in the summer when it's light out until 11 and not cold. The last week there I was staying with three of my Irish friends in this cute little house near campus, and it was sunny almost everyday and just like, the most perfect situation in the world (except that Shane had already left for Canada so that sucked). I know it isn't always like that but still- the times when it is make up for all the rainy dark dreariness of the winter. Even in the winter there are pubs and Irish music and Irish people. I miss it so much, I kind of wish I had tried to go over there for the summer. WWOOF has a branch in Ireland so I could have worked on an organic farm there, but I figured it would be more complicated to try to get a visa and if it turns out I absolutely hate farming it would probably be better to find that out in the US rather than overseas. I really, really want to go back to grad school at NUIG because I will be in Ireland and also be able to kayak for free, since I'd be enrolled in school and so covered by insurance. I just need to figure out specifically what I would do since they don't have an anthropology program there. Hmm.
Least favorite...um Tucson because it sucks, although I do not miss living in a dorm room either and Tucson does at least have my moms bookstore.
I know this was the Writers Block thing for yesterday but I can't pass up a chance to talk about Ireland.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/neko/kaokitty/nostalgic.gif) nostalgic
Current Music: Mary Black
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03:12 pm
I meant to update after graduation, but kept forgetting. so here it is lots of days late.
Anyway it was pretty cool being out on the National Mall, and I liked seeing Rahm Emanuel speak. It was a little anti-climactic in a way though...I only talked to two people, and most of the pople I know I'm probably not going to see again, which is a little sad. I also didn't see my old roommate Lisa before she left which honestly pissed me off since I've hung out with her approxamately twice this entire year. I really tried to keep in contact and hang out, all she had to do was meet me half way, especially after finals how hard could that have been? Especially because we were roommates for two years, and good friends, I thought.
Oh! I also found out I got an A in economics. Whaaat?? I was so shocked when I saw that-I thought I had done pretty well on the final, but I had no idea what grade my paper got...I still don't know exactly but it evidently wasn't bad enough to bring down my final and midterm grades. This is also the first time I've gotten an A in econ (except for in Galway actually, but that doesn't effect my GPA and I'm pretty sure they grade study abroad kids easier,I didn't feel like I understood it that well), which I'm really proud of. My overall GPA was 3.76 for this semester too, I think that's the highest I've ever gotten. Im sure the fact that I only took 4 real classes this time helped a lot, but still, yay! It turned out to be a good semester gradewise apparently...maybe when I apply to grad school in Ireland they will see that and decide they want to give me admission and money
These last couple weeks have not been nearly as good as I had hoped they would be. But I will be on a farm this time next week so I suppose it does not matter.
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May 11th, 2009
10:23 pm - DONE
I just sent my final draft of my research paper to my professor....I'm not totally satisfied with it, but that was the last thing I had left this semester! holy crap.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/neko/kaokitty/happy.gif) happy
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May 5th, 2009
05:33 pm
I went by City Bikes this morning to use their bike pump and the sales guy asked if I'd be interested in working there, even though I don't have sales experience. I definitely would if I wasn't leaving in less than a month. I always thought it would be cool to work at a bike shop but figured they'd never hire me since I have no sales experience and don't know that much about bikes. So that was cool. He said they'd still be hiring in the fall, so maybe if I return to DC then I'll apply
I also finished my development econ paper today. It is not good and probably offtopic and honestly I'm just hoping I do well enough on the final Thursday to pass the class. I should probably start to study for it if I want that to happen though. Right now I am deleriously tired.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/neko/kaokitty/sleepy.gif) sleepy
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April 28th, 2009
06:38 pm - Things That Make Me Happy Day 3-4
I think this is supposed to be like day 5, whoops. So I'll put two:
Primates
Cuddling
These don't have anything to do with each other except they're both represented in this picture from Gibraltar
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April 24th, 2009
07:20 pm - Stupid, stupid stupid
this day started off so well! And then I left the house without my keys, couldn't meet people for drinks because I didn't want to leave my bike unattended and unlocked...2 hours and a 7 mile ride later I am finally back home. X_X
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April 23rd, 2009
08:28 pm - Things That Make Me Happy: Day 2
There is nothing better than a cup of Irish or English breakfast tea with milk after a long day or when it's rainy and cold out, it's so refreshing and peaceful.
The best cup of tea ever was when I was in Gibraltar, I had been walking around the whole day and my feet were killing me. I was also really homesick for Ireland since I'd been in Spain for about a week by myself, and Spain is obviously a very different place. They also don't drink a lot of tea there. Gibraltar felt a little familiar since it's a British colony so there was tea and chips, and Britain's obviously not Ireland but there are a lot of similarities. Anyway, I staggered into a pub and ordered fried eggs and tea and it was seriously the best thing ever. I felt so at home(I may have posted about that here at the time and it's not terribly interesting, but it made me happy so i don't care)
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April 22nd, 2009
02:58 pm - Happy Things: Day 1 of 8
Name something that makes you happy each day for eight days in a row.
To distract myself from getting too annoyed stupid people online and from all my school work I'm stealing this from ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) pretzelcoatl
Day 1: I bought my Amtrak ticket to the farm in Massachusetts last night, so my plans are official! I'm leaving on the 1st of June and getting into Amherst in the afternoon. Also its 9 hours which is long, but I was worried I would have to take Greyhound and have like a super long ride with lots of bus changes, similar to my 30+ hour round trip to Ontario last August. Compared to that 9 hours is nothing. Plus trains are fun.
Current Music: Blackmore's Night
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April 20th, 2009
09:01 pm
I had my last cello lesson today, sad! I'm really glad I got back into playing again, even though it did take up time. I just hope I can continue playing; since I'm gonna be on a farm for the next few months I won't be able to play it for a while, hopefully I don't get too out of practice again. My teacher gave me a graduation gift at the end, she's so sweet. :)
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April 15th, 2009
11:00 pm
I have summer plans! I am volunteering on an organic farm in Massachusetts starting in June :D I'm pretty excited, I get to grow things and milk cows and raise chickens, it'll be cool, I think.
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/neko/kaokitty/excited.gif) excited
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April 13th, 2009
04:21 pm - India's Farming 'Revolution' Heading For Collapse
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102893816
Basically, the agricultural heartland of India is on its way to becoming a wasteland in the next 10-15 years if farming methods there don't drastically change. The Green Revolution, which was supposed to solve hungerand help economic development, basically, has meant that Punjabi farmers replaced traditional crops w/high yield crops that need much more water and pesticides. It worked for a while but now farmers have to buy way more fertilizer than they used to, and pests are a huge problem as they've become resistant to more and more pesticides. Underground aquafers are dropping at a huge rate so wells have to be dug deeper and deeper, which obviously cannot go on for very long.
Yet we're still pushing green revolution type policies on everyone. According to my econ professor, if economists can figure out how to make the GR work in Africa we'd solve poverty. I'm not quite sure if he truly believes that or not, but still. At least more people are starting to question that mentality
Current Location: work
Current Music: Joe Pug
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02:33 pm - Boring semi-weekly update
The past couple weeks have been really stressful. I haven't been very productive school-wise and I really need to be at the moment. I also still don't have my summer figured out which is really frustrating. I got in contact with a farm last week that i wanted to volunteer at and they sounded interested but I haven't really heard back since. I'm stressing myself out about it probably more than I should but I really want to have it figured out, I'm worried it's not going to.
Also my eyes are feeling horrible right now, fucking allergies >:(
This weekend was a little better though. It was way more sociable than usual, although that also meant i didn't get too much work done. My mommy sent me a package for easter with choclate and cookies ^_^. I also heard back from one of my Irish friends, Meadhbh, which made me really happy, I haven't really heard from her too much since I left. Ireland keeps seeming more and more like a dream; its almost been a year since I was there. It's really hard to believe that this time last year Galway was my home. I really miss it and I don't know when I'm going to be able to go back, so it's nice to hear from people so I can still feel a part of it a little bit.
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April 4th, 2009
04:35 pm
I went to Tryst to get some work done and had too much coffee, and now I'm too jittery to study. I really should stick to tea. lalala.
I emailed a few farms about volunteering there over the summer. I heard back from one which already has enough volunteers, which sucks because that one looked pretty awesome. Another woman emailed me back asking what time frame I'm interested in, but I haven't heard back from her again, or any of the others I emailed. It's only been a couple days for most of them I suppose, but I'm really anxious. I'd like to figure out what I'm doing for the summer.
I think the gale force winds have finally stopped though so that's good.
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March 13th, 2009
07:26 pm - Urgh!
I went to Macy's after work today since I have a gift card, and in the process managed to lose my hat and gloves. I thought maybe I left them in the dressing room but I went back and looked everywhere and didn't find them. I have no idea what happened, and I feel like someone must have taken them or I would have found them. If that't the case then they can go DIAF because seriously, who steals someone's hat and gloves when its 35 degrees outside??
Also our heat appears to not be working, again. What the fuck. It was fixed less than a month ago. At least its warming up in a couple days anyway :/
Current Mood: ![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/neko/kaokitty/pissed.gif) pissed off
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