Before we moved cross the ocean to a little green island, the first thing others would tell us about Ireland is how nice the people here were. And they so are! They cant stop throwing us parties wherever we go! We spent our first week in Clontarf, which is a charming seaside village with things to boast like a bird sanctuary, a dazzling rose garden, and parks that sprawl for ages. And they must have heard we were there, because on that Saturday they held their yearly food festival! Just for us, Ive decided. The zoo was there with crocodiles, someone was juggling fire, and there was even a car show for Jon.
When we moved into Dublin on the next Friday, we were greeted by one of the biggest parades we'd ever seen in person! Because our windows face a main street, we got the best seats in the house! Rather than throng on the streets with thousands people, we made coffee and sat on our sill to watch it all go by. It was Dublin's Pride Week, and it was a MAJOR party that lasted all night. I can personally tell you it lasted all night (and into the morning too), because our main-street-facing windows have their setbacks. They may be double-paned to keep heat in, but they dont do much to keep the sound out. Lets just say our sleepless night was fitfully filled with club music and sparkles, and wing-wearing men who apply their makeup with way more skill than I ever could. I bought earplugs today, just in case Dublin decides to throw us any more welcome-home parties this Saturday.
And it really does feel like Home. We made it all the way here, and I can honestly say I love my city. I cross the street with a quick sure pace, because I know where Im going. But look both ways twice because I keep forgetting just what side the cars will come from. I call the bathroom The Toilet, but it still sounds weird. I do my laundry in the kitchen, and keep the softener next to the sugar. But I moved it to the closet because it made my potatoes floral-scented. I buy food for just one day at a time, but its better that way because my fridge is only 3ft high with no freezer in sight. When its time to cook, I switch on the power to the range so the burners will heat up. Then I switch the outlet off again. When we talk about the weather, Ill tell you it got to a glorious 20 degrees! Celsius, meters, and grams are becoming normal parts of my speech now. I spend 5-ers and 10-ers, not 5 bucks or 10 bucks. Wording here is more proper, and Jon has adopted the word 'quite'. Dinner was QUITE good. The weather is QUITE nice. Even a tv ad for toilet paper seems prim when you say 'O-wer tooy-lett pay-pa is new soof-ta than eva'. When I go out, I wear full leggings and a skirt, with flip-flops and a scarf. I tuck sunglasses next to my umbrella in my messenger-bag purse, because the weather changes every fifteen minutes, and I am prepared. The TV is a Telly, the cops are the Gardai. I dont say 'parking lot', I say 'car park'. I love the rain, but I cant say so without strange looks. And you cant call us tourists anymore.
Because we totally live here.
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