Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Culture Shock-o-rama

So I’m on the first leg of my 12 hour flight… I don’t think it has really sunk in yet, but I’m getting there. My ass is numb from sitting here for so long, and I am trapped next to the window and won’t go pee because I feel guilty having to climb over the two gentlemen to my left. At least the airline fed us some fruit. Thank God for iPods and neck pillows. Last night was a barrage of feelings… sadness (to leave my loves), excitement (I’m going to Dublin for 2 months to work with an amazing arts organization and travel like mad), anxiety (I have public transportation anxiety and fear of being lost), and immense gratitude (does this one need explaining?)
I was so blessed to have my wonderful cohort member Lydia host a fabulous going away party for me, and thank you so much again to everyone who came as well as sent their well wishes. I will truly miss you this summer, and am so glad that you have good instructors… I feel slightly less guilty now J
Day One:
Off the horrendously long plane ride. We’re all haggard and running on very little sleep, and its 6:55 am in Dublin. The first thing I see after I get through customs is a giant display of Jameson (including all the different bottles). Down the escalator, more Jameson. Try to exchange all my American coins, they shake their head at me. Into my suitcase pocket it goes. All my luggage made it through in one piece, thank God. Wait 1 hour for the bus to take us to the apartments. Get to the apartments. Decide I’m probably going to get another tattoo while I’m here…. Because I’m so freaking lucky, I’m Irish, and I can. Walk into the bathroom of my apartment and there is no shower, just a shower head on the wall with a fold-down chair attached to the wall next to it. The toilet is padded and has side rails. I realize I got the handicapped room. Sweet roommate Colleen so graciously switches with me so I can have shower walls. EXHAUSTED. Go buy toilet paper and lunch. Unpack. First orientation: walk to bus stops, local shopping center and grocery store, Dublin City University (with the most incredible, green, giant expansive rolling hills-filled park I have ever seen), a beautiful stone building with bright purple rows of flowers and a giant blue door, the pharmacy and health center, and back to the apartments. Go to shopping center to buy bath towels and hangers and pound some juice. Back to apartment, hook up internet, take shower, PASS OUT.
Day Two:
Up at 4 am. Sleep schedule still adapting obviously. Having fun spending money that looks like it came from a fancy board game. Looking up tattoo parlors. Will also buy a new nose ring. Planning weekend trips to the Galway Arts Festival, Amsterdam, England, Stonehenge. There are no plug ins in the bathrooms. Second orientation today at the National College of Ireland, and then meeting with the head of the Education department at the National College of Art & Design. Hooray! Feet are killing us all from yesterday, going hunting for a massage parlor. Nutella and bananas for breakfast, yoga afterwards…. And off I go into my second day! Was a big culture shock yesterday… but its already getting better. And so the adventure begins….

Much love and gratitude,
Emily Jo

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Between Adventures

Back in Seattle for the moment. Drove from Montana all day in 90 degree heat and no a/c, but accepted the gracious footrub from my driver and hung my toes out the window for most of it :)
I'm officially a quarter century old now. What made it the best birthday yet? My almost-3-year-old nephew leading the party with the most adorable rendition of 'happy birthday to you' I've ever heard in my life. Brought a tear to my eye, and oh how I wish I'd had a video camera. Even better would have been the birth of my niece, but she liked it in that cozy womb. Last night, the night before I was scheduled to head back to Seattle, she made her dazzling appearance into our world. While I missed the birth of my nephew, there was no way in blue hell that I was going to miss the birth of my niece. Ashley has been miserable for nearly a month, and watching her pain increase as the day drew near was so torturous to watch... I just wanted to take it away for her. 12 hours after the induction yesterday morning, it was time to push. She was so amazing, so strong... the epitome of a beautiful woman. Seeing her baby's head for the first time was the most intense, emotional, fascinating and spiritual experience of my life. I feel that an attempt to describe it in words is so feeble... as in the moment all I could do was cry for pure joy and amazement. I am so grateful and blessed to be a part of a moment of so much love, beauty and perfection. How did I end up with such a wonderful woman as my best friend? Someone that I admire, respect and love so much it brings me to tears just to look at her sometimes? I still get teary just writing about it. Most who know me know that I'm an emotional sap anyway, but my God... that moment takes my proverbial cake. With ice cream.

I love you beyond words Ashley Rose Day, and happy one-day-old birthday to Saraya, your beautiful and perfect creation. I am deeply humbled, and beyond grateful and blessed to be in your life, and in your family. I will see you soon :)

With so much love and gratitude,
Emily Jo

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Sleepless in the Daybed

6 days until the official due date and my birthday. She had contractions all day, but the last one was 7 hours ago, so here we are trying to get some rest before the inevitable trip to the hospital takes place. Who can sleep? Not me, obviously. We're all ready to go, but clearly the star of the show isn't ready to make her debut. I can't blame her... I've heard we Geminis can be stubborn ones. I lie in bed meditating, praying, concentrating, musing, pondering, trying to force my eyes closed... only they don't want to so I end up with a slight headache. The only other thing on my mind besides Ash is the impending trip overseas. I nearly have a mental orgasm just thinking about it. The experience, the people I'll meet, the knowledge I'll gain, the food I'll eat, the landscapes, the music, the art... people tell me its going to change my life. Of course it will, for the better I'm sure. Not that life now is in any way negative. Life is amazing and gets better every day. I have incredible friends, amazing family, a wonderful love who does nothing short of worship me, and a solid yet ever-intensifying spirituality. Life is beautiful... and at the rate my happiness is increasing, I may just end up keeling over from pure ecstasy when its my time. I don't think that would be so bad.
Still not sleepy... though it is only 10:55 p.m. Usually I can cure this by reading one of my semi-useless textbooks. Fortunately, the quarter is over and I have none of those at the moment. So I try to mentally pack my suitcases for Ireland and coordinate outfits in my head in an effort to pack as lightly as possible. This may have increased the headache. I want sushi. In the sticks of NW Montana, this is hard to come by. What is available right now however is really good thunderstorms. Seattle is definitely slacking in that department. The magnificent scent in the air just before it rains in Libby, MT on a hot summer day is something that I can't describe, nor have I ever found a comparison to. The best way to welcome that scent is to drive up the old haul road where the asphalt is smooth and hot from the blazing heat and wait for the dips to fill with the clean, warm rain. Then proceed to laugh, frolic and play in the puddles like a freaking 5 year old. Life doesn't get much better, I promise.
I'll leave you with that, and encourage you to reflect on an equally joyous adventure or 'happy place' if you will.... :)

Love and gratitude,
Emily Jo

Monday, June 8, 2009

Big Sky Love

So it looks like I can't put pictures on here, but I will try to figure out another way to share aside from Facebook :)
Ash is 12 days away from her due date (aka my bday) and now that the baby shower is successfully completed, we are officially trying to get Saraya Day to make her appearance. We hiked up SkiDale yesterday, and now my ass hurts. Labor inducing massage today, still no dice. Fingers crossed, folks.
I am officially done with school for the quarter as of last Thursday, and oh does it feel so very very good. Next step after the baby is Ireland for my internhip with CityArts (http://www.cityarts.ie/programme/youngurbanarts.html) which is going to enable me to lay the groundwork with my research for my Masters summary project and my future research goals around my Ph.D. Hoo-Ray!! :)
Being in Montana is so incredibly relaxing and wonderful, and I am so grateful to be here right now. I know how beautiful it is, and I tell everyone I know all the time, but I sometimes forget how truly magnificent it is until I'm here again. Big blue sky, amazing sunsets, sandy beaches in the mountains, green fields and trees, surreal mountainscapes, blue water... surrounded by family and friends and all the love that comes with. It doesn't get much better than this... and I have been making a serious effort to be present with it. I forget to do this sometimes, because my mind is always 10 to 1,000 steps ahead of the moment. I keep thinking I will be able to live in the moment more often once graduation hits...I truly hope it won't take so much effort. That is all for now...
And please, get the new DMB album. It is amazing :)

With gratitude,
Emily Jo