wet Vette

It's pouring rain outside; I don't have an umbrella with me. Yup - that's thing #1 that I forgot. Let's see how many more things I didn't pack in my gigantuan bags.

However, I did make it to the grocery store today - I'm rather proud of myself for this feat considering I didn't wake up till around 3pm Dublin time (yay PST still hanging on!). The revels lasted till 5:30 this morning in my apartment complex so someone was having a mighty fine Guiness and I wasn't tired anyways.

I must say - I do like grocery stores here - it's nice to have a different selection that looks much fresher than what you'd find in the states. And I even finked out and went to Marks & Spencer for my wonderful food stuffs.

So much for wandering the city to find my office - I need an umbrella before I do that. Perhaps waking up before it's dismal out would help too. I guess that's what May Day shall be used for. Thank goodness I love walking.

Am I really in Dublin? [email]

Thank you to everyone for your phonecalls and well wishes during the "is she going or isn't she going" past 2 weeks of determining if I was really going to Dublin or not. Well, apparently Ireland let me into the country because I'm sitting here looking out over the Liffey with no sleep in me. I'm exhausted and not at all ready to sleep (although I foresee a shower at the end of this computer stint - airplane grunge does not suit me).

I don't really feel like I'm in Dublin right now because I'm not seeing anything different than when I left Seattle I-don't-want-to-think-about

-how-long-ago. It's 11:30am here (it was 10:30am when I left my house in Seattle); the same amount of sun is out; the temperature's the same; it's a city.

Oh wait, that's right - so I was on my way from the airport to meet up with the woman who was to let me into my apartment and give me the keys etc (I'm still not sure I'll be able to get myself back in - there are a friggin' lot of keys to this place). I had this awesome taxi driver who was going on and on about how much he thought I was going to love Dublin. I was staring wide eyed while going around roundabouts on the left side (I'm so glad I didn't rent a car for that very reason) and all of a sudden he says to me "love, have you eatten breakfast this morn?" I dumbly shook my head no and next thing I know we're making a right turn, he's turning off the engine and he's got his cell phone to his ear to call his wife and ask her to put on coffee ("or do you want tea, darlin?" "tea" "milk, sugar?" "sugar") Whoa - stop for a moment and think about this - I've just spent the past 15 hours travelling and a 60 year old taxi driver with a nice healthy Irish accent is having his wife make me biscuits and tea for breakfast. His wife was lovely and he was quite the gentleman. After a really quick stop (off the meter) we headed downtown and I'm not happily at my apartment trying to figure out if this is real again.

I guess it's time to get myself ready to go wander around Dublin for the day.

Hugs,
Yvette

Itty Bitty Combo Washer Dryer

Itty Bitty Combo Washer Dryer
Originally uploaded by yvettemn.

Welcome to Yvette's apartment. In exploring I noticed the obvious. It's a 2 bedroom, one bath, rather spacious by what I've seen in other European cities for an apartment. I was shown the fridge (college dorm room size for me) but I'd been warned that it would be small. After getting my very brief tour of the place, I started looking around to figure out what I'd need to make it habitable. I started in the kitchen. I opened up one of the cabinets - and voila - there was my washer/dryer. It's a miraculously tiny all in one machine under the counter in my kitchen. I'm staring at it and shaking my head. The Irish are going to say "silly American" about me - but there are some things that I'm lazy enough to like supersized so I don't have to spend all weekend washing things.

explosion of stuff

My room is a disaster area of piles. Everything's exactly where it needs to be, but I hope I don't have to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom or I might die tripping on a pile.

I spent the past 2-ish hours piling things - I systematically went through every corner of my room for necessities that I don't need the second I land and creature comforts and made piles and piles and piles. (my piles contain far too many shoes and books - hrmmm)

I'm petrified of going to Ireland at this point. Part of me wants to be like "nope, staying in Seattle, the city I love and adore" but I'm getting on that plane Friday morning. And tomorrow morning my stuff is being boxed up and I'm mailing the customs forms to Ireland.

I've spent my week at work doing paperwork. I didn't realize moving to a different country would be this much paperwork. I am completely inept at faxing a foreign country (especially if it's Ireland to sign my short term housing lease).

gimme a daisy

Off again, on again, off again, on again... I need a daisy to see if I'm going to Ireland at this point. Right now, I have less than 10 days in the states. Let's see if I actually get to leave or not.

This means that I need to rethink about what I need to do because I lost this past weekend to thinking I wasn't going. Woe is my swimming brain.

And they expect me to concentrate at work how?

Anyone got a daisy? It might work better than the Magic Arby's Mitt at work.

broken dreams & broken plans

So, my work visa was rejected on Thursday. What this translates to is that I can't go to Ireland. The Irish government isn't giving out work visas to non-EU citizens as of this past Mon. I was supposed to leave 2 weeks from yesterday.

I'm beyond shocked at this point. I might end up going to Ireland anyways because they can petition to get me a work visa or send me for 90 days to do a different task. But I don't know if or when that will happen. I haven't cancelled anything yet - I'm waiting for more info.

*heart attack over housing*

I just got my temp housing assignment for Ireland. Helllllllooooo Hotel Yvette: Dublin. I'm so unfocused now.

My schedule (since I'm asked about it constantly):
- sometime around Tues April 25 drop my car off at Uncle Rick's (need to call and figure out when that's going to be exactly - could be Mon - could be Wed afternoon - we'll see!)
- morning of Wed April 26 packer/mover people make me a box or 2 to ship
- afternoon of Wed April 26 Yvette does prelim packing exercises and laundry
- 12:30pm Fri April 28 depart SeaTac for Dublin
- 8:30am Sat April 29 land in Dublin and go to my temp housing
- sometime Mon May 1 go to work for the first time at the Dublin office
- June 9th-ish Amy comes to visit for a few days
- August somethingish I take off for a week in France
- Labor-day-ish Susan, Ellen & Laura hopefully come visit
- late Sept - early Oct Mom visits for 2 weeks and Amy's parents for 1 of Mom's 2 weeks
- November sometime - return to the states

Other places I'm pondering travelling (I doubt I'll make all of these, but they're on the list of potential need to make plans for):
- all around Dublin
- Germany
- London
- Scotland
- Barcelona
- Greece
- Amsterdam

My living accomodations have been finalized. I'm staying in Dublin 1 which is the financial / shopping district that's at the heart of Downtown Dublin. It's a 15 min walk from work and a 5-10 minute walk from the fun parts of town according to my insider who already works in the Dublin office. I have a 2 bed / 1 bath furnished apartment. It's associated with the Clarion Hotel which is next door to the building so I get to use all their facilities as well. Hotel Yvette: Dublin - here I come!

So now I think that's everything other than getting all my packing done. Sah-weeeeet!

I'm psyched.

what to pack?

I'm sitting in the LoveSac watching my RENT DVD. And I'm trying to figure out what to pack for Dublin. I keep going through these lists in my head so I figure it might be useful to finally write it all out. Y'see, it's harder than moving to Seattle since they won't pack everything. And it's also harder than going on a long vacation because the longest my vacation has ever been has been a month and then I knew what distractions and homie-nesses would be there. It's almost like when I did Semester At Sea and had to pack for 3 months to live on a ship - actually, that's a good analogy - and then I spent the entire summer planning for the trip and shopping and packing and making sure I'd be comfy.

So here we go, I'm going to start making my list. I have 3 weeks left (less than) until I leave. Box packers come on 4/26 and my flight leaves on 4/28. OMG!

Flight Confirmation + Lack of Passport + new camera = reality is I'm Dublin bound

Certain things about this entire "move" event make it more and more real and make me say "Oh My God" everytime they happen... First there was the paperwork signing; then sending away my passport for a Visa; then answering a gazillion questions from my new boss; then getting a camera and Ireland atlas for my birthday; and today we have a new level of OMG! Today, the travel reservation was made and confirmed.

I fly into Dublin on 4/29. This means I fly out of Seattle at 12:30pm on 4/28, land in Chicago and get on a bigger plane and then take off again for Dublin. And at 8:30am (Ireland time) 4/29 I'll be on the ground and in shock and hoping I didn't forget anything (like my passport, visa or teddy bear).

Yup - it's still official!

Northwestern Ireland Hike

So, I'm thinking that if anyone comes to visit this summer who's up for an extremely long (16 mile) hike, well, this would be a good place. CNN Article about Blacklion Ireland However, I'm figuring that cutting down the route would be in my out-of-shape-body's best interest. But hey - it looks pretty. Thanks for the article, Ali!

Am I excited about Dublin?

So, people keep asking me "are you excited yet?" or stating their jealousy factor. Frankly, I'm still in shock after signing the papers commiting myself to at least 6 months in Ireland. And I haven't had time to digest the news really since my current psychocrazyscheduledproject is eatting my life, soul and brain. But when it launches, I plan to be thoroughly obsessed.

Now, don't get me wrong. I got 2 books (Culture Shock! Ireland (Culture Shock! Country Guides: A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette) & Lonely Planet Dublin) for my upcoming adventure for myself and was gifted 2 more (Lonely Planet Ireland & Gutsy Women: More Travel Tips and Wisdom for the Road). I've finished reading all the sections I feel like completely devouring before I go of LP Dublin and Culture Shock Ireland is one of my beddy-bye books that alternates with good ol' fantasy standbys.

Now - all I have to do is make it to the point where I can be obsessive more than I am. Meaning: finish project!! Back to work for me!

And we have a tentative date.....

Apparently, my first day of work in Dublin is April 17. This means I'll be leaving around April 15 - just in time to do my taxes!!

FAQ [email]

Q: WHAT?
A: I'm going to Ireland... didn't you get the e-mail?

Q: WHEN?
A: The date hasn't been finalized by any means. The time frame is late April for my departure.

Q: What's up with this 6-9 months thing?
A: My new boss is already trying to bribe me into staying through Q4 (aka "the holiday madness") so that they have someone experienced over there.

Q: Can I come visit?
A: Duh!! YES!

Q: What about your housing in Seattle?
A: My roomies rock and we're still working out the details, but I won't lose my pad here - verymuchsoyay!

Q: Will you fall off the face of the planet?
A: No, I'm just going to Dublin... I'll be camera crazy and will post the pics to Flickr; and I now have this blog.

Q: Do you like Guiness?
A: No, but the brewery is literally right across the street from the office, so this could be funny. And apparently Irish Guiness is different from that which we drink here - so you never know.

Q: Are you coming back?
A: I plan on living in Seattle for a very long time - this is just me being insane and doing something fun for a change. Seattle is my home - this is my adventure. So yes, I'm coming back to Seattle. Then again, Irish boys do have cute accents..... (Now someone in NY, make sure my mother's still breathing after that last sentence)

Q: How are you doing this?
A: I'm signing papers, reading stuff, talking to people, packing my stuff and getting on a plane when my ticket tells me to.

Q: What will you be working on in Dublin?
A: Short answer: cart stuff. Long answer: training and mentoring new hires; being the lead engineer to start with until someone with more overall experience can join me in that role; working on improving the cart on a confidential project that I'm very psyched about because it's hard but lets me interact with all these cool new parts of the company and actually lets me use a lot of what I've already learned and all my existing connections; being oncall (ouch!)

Q: Where is the office in Dublin?
A: In the City Centre - right across the street from the Guiness Brewery if you find that on a map.

Q: Are you going to travel at all?
A: Yup - I already know I'm spending a weekend (at least) in London and probably a week in Paris. Plus I'll be taking train trips around the rest of Ireland on my other weekends and exploring Dublin like mad.

Q: Do you like pubs?
A: Umm - yes - verymuchso.

(some of this was blatantly stolen from my e-mail to peeps - if you want on that e-mail list, then e-mail me and ask)

earlier entries are being transferred from my old blogger account I just found

I just found my old blogger password which I'd previously forgotten. So I'm moving all those posts (with their old dates) over into the beginning of this blog with the intention of keeping this blog going even when I head back to the States in August.

-- written 25 July 2006

the power of e-commerce

There are a lot of people surfing the web today browsing e-commerce sites. I am absolutely amazed by how many donations Amazon has taken on behalf of the Red Cross for disaster relief after the tsunamis. I just refresh and watch it count up and watch the numbers grow. I am wow-ed by it.

One day more! Another day another destiny...

"One Day More" - Les Miserables the musical

VALJEAN
One day more!
Another day, another destiny.
This never-ending road to Calvary;
These men who seem to know my crime
Will surely come a second time.
One day more!

MARIUS
I did not live until today.
How can I live when we are parted?

It is another day till we are parted: my students and I. Tomorrow I teach my last class indefinitely. Tomorrow at 8:05 I take my last attendance and cheerily wish the kidlings a goodmorning to their grumbles and glowers. Tomorrow is a great class (hopefully!)

I shall have food and guests and robots and kids tomorrow. It's scary to invite the entire school to your last class ever. It's fun to know they're interested. I've made it.

Today I bid my last 9th grader adieu, and the quietest girl was the first to say goodbye and wish me goodluck. Today I interviewed another candidate for my position; tomorrow another phone interview with a different candidate.

Tomorrow I stop being on a school schedule. Tomorrow I take on a "real adult" schedule. Tomorrow isn't the last day of school, it's just the last day of classes. Which in reality is so close to being the end of the end. I can count on one hand my remaining responsibilities at school (grade ET ads, grade robots, write advisor comments, meetings & other prof obligationy goodness, & tech workshop).

It's nearly the end of teaching indefinitely (yes, I do still wanna go back - I love the kids). It's nearly the beginning of my new job. I'm on the brink of moving to Seattle to become a Software Developer. One day more... of teaching and being a role model for kids... Another day another destiny.. a new job as a developer leading me to my next phase and role in life... letting me grow and live.

I'm sad; I'm excited.

See you tomorrow!

Eating in the Upper River Valley

Dartmouth is surrounded by excellent venues for dining. Of all sorts. There is not enough time in my 4 day retreat here to eat at all the establishments that I would like. There are even lovely new venues - two of which I've tried. However, this subtracts time I can spend eating in the old. However, last night I had a fusion of new and old in a very long eating jaunt.

The new:

• The Canoe Club - bar and funky resteraunt. A bit overpriced, but the food was delicious - especially the chocolate raspberry martini (alcohol) and the chocolate martini (dessert - mousse). And the live music and ambience were wonderful.
• The Wrap - all sorts of wraps which you can get with all sorts of options. And smoothies. Good option all around.

The old:

• Murphy's - one of my favorites - an Irish pub. The bread bowl of clam chowder or stew - so yummy!!
• Molly's - the one that I think I've been to the most - brick oven pizza, burgers, sandwhiches, pasta, and $2 margaritas that are very tasty.
• Ramunto's - new york style sauce, garlic knot pizza - 'nuff said.
• EBA's - also known as Everything But Anchovies is the local pizza joint - not as good as Ramunto's but caters to the college student. Everything's big and tasty and cheap and greasy and served late. They even cater to the fact that Dartmouth is so internet-friendly by having the best service given to the web site orders.
• Lui Lui's - yummy italian and brick oven pizza.
• Firestones - even better italian.
• Sweet Tomatoes - yes, even better Italian - the great thing is that these 3 are very different in options and atmosphere.
• India Queen - smile at the owner and look like a poor college kid to get free samosas. Order communally for 4 and you'll have enough to feed 8. So yummy. Chicken Shahi Korma babay!
• Yama's - Korean deliciousness.
• Jessi's - steakhouse goodness
• Lou's and Lou's Truck Stop - diners owned locally that are DELICIOUS!

So we can definitely say I'm having trouble choosing food options. Which is why I let my friend's choose and just tell them that I won't repeat a resteraunt during my stay. Fair? Mk - time to eat. Yama's is next!

*sing* bzzz bzzz bzzz went the cicada!

The cicadas are here. They emerge every 17 years in Baltimore (except the pathetic lil' guys who emerge early / late).

Cicadas have a very pathetic life: sleep for 17 years, come out of ground, fly around blind whacking into things and if you don't get stepped on by an annoyed animal (or eatten by a dog) then you have one round of sex, lay eggs if female, and die.

Being reincarnated as a cicada means you pissed the big guy off. And you did the pissing off with such style that you get to be taunted with one quickie in your life.

I haven't been "freaked out" by the cicadas, although one did try to freak me today. He flew up my skirt. He was a rude lil' bugger and I gave him the smack down and stomp out. I'd feel sorry for him if he wasn't such a player.

Cicadas create this humming sound that I can't accurately describe - sometimes it sounds like a lawnmower, sometimes not. I hear it constantly at work and it's "coming closer" to my apartment. I didn't notice it at first since it's a very "background" noise.

And did I mention that these bugs are ugly and stupid? They can't see but they have stereotypical red bug eyes. They're fat and they fly like drunken blind bugs. Poor pathetic cicadas.

I play softball tomorrow. I hope that the cicadas don't decide to join the game.... although if they did, I might actually catch the ball!

SPF 50???

Today I went to Hershey Park with the 9th graders. It was a day with much fun spent riding roller coasters and listening to the girls clamor to tell me something new. I also saw just how "mature" 9th graders are attempting to be - scary stuff.

In the meantime, I managed to get sunburnt even with only being outside for 4 hrs, and putting on 2 seperate and complete applications of SPF 50. Yo yo yo - I am a white girl!

Go me! I'm badass - 9th grade cool, red and white! Meaning, my official theme colors must be pink, red and white.