Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Chicago O'Hare

Hello everyone! I'm sitting in the terminal at the Chicago airport... my flight left San Fran at 6:15 AM!!! Getting up at 330 in the morning defiantly doesn't agree with me. :o) But I'm here waiting for my flight to start boarding... and I already missing Visalia a little bit. Lets see today is Wednesday and if I was still at home I would be at work right now. I'm really quite glad to be out of that job because I was not that great of a store clerk. Facts and numbers aren't really my thing. But being a nanny... that's something I'm good at so I'm very optimistic about the next 6 months! I absolutely can not wait to get off the plane and see Ireland. I wonder what we will be doing first, well first I have to go through customs but then Ill be meeting Catherine. We wont be able to spend any time in Dublin but it will be an experience driving to Belfast. I hope Ireland is as green as it is in my imagination. I hope I make some friends in Belfast, the time will fly by if I have a couple cool people to hang out with during my off time. And I hope my mom will be able to come out in March, that would be so great! Even if she just came to see Belfast and some of the places in Northern Ireland... just to have her there would be awesome. I am starting to get anxious but I think I'm more anxious about being away from my parents, friends and everything that's familiar to me. I have a fear of the unknown but now is the time to get over that! Soon enough Ill be just at home in Belfast as I am in Visalia... hopefully. :o) Well that's about it for now, Ill be boarding my plane for Dublin in about 45 minutes, keep on reading... more to come later.

Friday, September 25, 2009

4 days till Belfast

Well I only 4 more days till I leave California for Belfast Northern Ireland. Im so excited! Today was my last day working at Kaweah Delta and now I just have 3 more days of working with my Dad. Tomorrow is my bon voyage party... I cant wait for that too, alot of my friends and family are coming and the best part is knowing theyre all there to support me. I know this is what God wants me to do because everyone I love belives it will be a good step for me. Im so excited to see where this new opportunity will take me. I'm hoping to find a language class in Belfast and hopefully even a kick boxing class. It will be a great way to get some cardio in. Making today even better, I went to my final weigh in and I lost 4.2 pounds this week. I've lost almost 40 pounds since April! Hopefully Ill be down another 4o pounds when I come back home in April next year...
Well I'm pretty much packed except for what needs to be washed Monday, but after that Ill be all packed up. My Mom, Dad and I are leaving for San Fransisco Tuesday afternoon and then I fly out Wensday morning. I have a 7 hour layover in Chicago then it's on to Dublin where Catherine will meet me. 4 more days to go...

Monday, September 21, 2009

9 days till Belfast

September 21st, 2009

I'm starting to get more and more excited as they days go by... and they are flying by fast! I have one of my huge suitcases packed but I still have some shopping to do and more clothes to pack... plus Ill have to pack my carry on Sunday. I've been starting to worry about my meds being delivered in time but thankfully they came today. I'm not sure if Ive mentioned this but I am bi polar.... thats one of the hardest things about giving up my job, it came with health care but I figure I can come home every 6 months and see my doctor, and order my medication online. Its a higher cost but I can travel with my meds and not have to worry. Its the one option that will let me do what I have always wanted to do... travel. Well I would write more but Im meeting my parents for sushi! Yum :o) More to come later... keep on reading.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

10 days till Belfast

Greetings from Visalia, Ca. My name is Melissa and I am 25 years old. I was born in Visalia and have lived here my entire life. I'm about to do something Ive only dreamed about... Im going to move to another country. I took a job as an aupair for the Shortt family in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Ive quit my job and moved out of my apartment so that I can come and spend six months with Catherine and Olley and Ive never been more scared and excited in my life. The Shortt's are a sweet and nice couple and the one comfort I have is that I will be staying with people who can help my acclimate to the new culture. Im starting my last week of work Moday and will be spending time with friends Sunday night at the local county fair... I leave for Belfast from San Fransisco at 6:15 am on Wen. Sept. 30th. I'm not yet packed but I still have some clothes to buy before I can do that. Im mostly looking forward to the Irish weather. I hope it rains and snows alot! Well its after midnight and I have a full day ahead of me tomorrow... keep reading and I know this isnt the most interesting post but hopefully I will have more worldly experiences to write about in the future.