articulate.

Some conversational confusion here is caused by a serious language barrier, others by our own stupidity. Here's an example...

A few nights ago I was playing a game similar to Catch Phrase with my roommates and some of their friends. I was paired with a boy named Johnny because for some reason they decided he needed a handicap. Language barriers:

Johnny: Right. Um, this is a winged horse...
Me: (thinking... Pegasus?)
Johnny: No, wait. Okay, this is what you use to put clothes out on the line when they've been washed...
Me: Clothespins! (riotous laughter)
Johnny: Okay, forget that. Oh! What do you use to hold a tent into the ground?
Me: A stake! (more riotous laughter)

By this point, the timer has buzzed and I'm completely confused, everyone else is peeing their pants. APPARENTLY, the right answer WAS Pegasus after all and the Irish would use the word peg in both of the above situations. Who knew. Now, for the stupidity...

Me: Okay. This is a city... in ... Germany?
Johnny: Um, Hamburg? Berlin? Munich?
Me: No, no... okay, who invented the printing press?
Johnny: Oh, um...

Time. He was trying to guess "Johannesburg" which (who knew) is APPARENTLY in South Africa, not Germany. Here's another one:

Me: Oh, okay! What do people light off at the Fourth of July? (knowing they don't celebrate it here, but hoping this American tradition might be well-known)
Johnny: Um, cannons!

Oooooookay. So it was an amazing game and hopefully we'll play it again soon. In reality, sometimes I do feel like I'm speaking a different language. My roommate Jenni and I harrass each other constantly for saying the "wrong" words. Paper towel = kitchen roll. Cutting board = chopping board. Faucet = tap. Dishsoap = washing up liquid. AND SO ON. You can see how making lunch (or should I say.. dinner?) together can be quite a task :)

Things are going well here. I saw Bill and Jean Sullivan on Friday night!! It was so random, unexpected and LOVELY. We had a wonderful meal together and I think I got them completely lost after they dropped me off at my house. It sounds like they're having a great trip and are successfully driving on the correct side of the road, most of the time :) I'm so glad I got to see them - it was definitely a highlight of the past few weeks.

I spent tonight with the Italian guys I met on the street, and it was so fun - we were sitting in their kitchen listening to flamenco music and singing and eating too many pastries. One of them, Marco, is going to Rome tomorrow ... I've been thinking about different places I could travel on weekends. Possibilities: Paris, Prague, Italy, Spain, Galway, Derry, Donegall, Eniskillen (all in Ireland). Belfast is still lovely, but it's feeling a little bit small. I went for a drive with another roommate, Nicola, and her family this weekend and it was SO good to get out of the city and see some of the countryside. The Irish coast is absolutely beautiful. We saw a lighthouse at a little town called Donaghedee (Donna-ka-DEE .. a fun word to say) and went for lunch at the oldest pub in Ireland. 1611, I think - amazing.

Other news? It's been great to hear from so many people via email. I'm doing my best to keep up. Probably no one will care but me, but the Buena Vista Social Club is coming to play in Belfast! SUPER exciting.

I went to a Vineyard-style church today, same as last week. Somehow, it's inviting but not welcoming. I don't really know what I'm looking for in a church here, or if I'm looking for anything. It's been interesting to go to a few different ones, and I'm not sure if I'll actually settle at a particular one or not. I'll let God lead me...

Anyway, lovely people - I'm off to bed. It's been nice chatting at you. I love you!