I have arrived!

I have arrived in Ireland! I got here about 7 am this morning (which is midnight Utah time and 11 pm Washington time!) I stayed in the airport with 3 other students from my program until about 1pm when the shuttle from our program picked us up. We went to the airport Starbucks, which is exactly like any American Starbucks, and chatted, ate, read, and snoozed on the couches. Then we met up with the whole group and got on the shuttle to Dun Laoghaire. Dun Laoghaire is a suburb of Dublin, 7 miles south on the coast. We met up with our host families then. I met my host mama Margo! She's a hoot! So nice, talkative, and funny! She showed me around town a bit and we came back to her house where I met Cheeky! Cheeky is Margo's little Yorkshire terrier. So sweet and pudgy and little. Margo took me out driving around Killieny and Dun Laoghaire Killieny is beautiful, right on the seaside. Gorgeous homes and breathtaking views. I saw the gate for where Bono's house is, and also Enyas. Exciting! Then I came home and napped. Margo went out to her sister's 50th anniversary party. She felt bad having to leave but I understand! I have a babysitter staying with me though! Margo's friend of 50 years, Mary! She's sitting with me tonight so I'm not alone! She is so funny. She's given me a brief Irish history lesson. She's very sweet. We took Cheeky out for a walk around the Rudgby park. Very pretty. It's humid but cool here, a bit breezy. There are palm trees in the yards which I find hilarious! Now I'm just hanging out with Mary and about to go to bed. Hoping to conquer my jet lag!