360, minus 10, degrees

We have just about made it full circle. We are in our final month in the land of 1,000 greens. We have 1 1/2 more weeks here and then we shall embark on an exciting journey to visit Prague, Krakow and London! We have found that most of our favorite memories have been created while we have been traveling this year so we're greatly anticipating this trip.

Over Christmas we were really lucky to have had an excellent reason to come home. You see we were originally not going to come home for Christmas as the cost of the flights were exorbitant. But 2 friends (that I, Christina, have known since high school) got married to each other and we wouldn't miss it for the world, after all, I got to be a bridesmatron! The whole 2 weeks that were home was just about non stop traveling as we attempted to see as many people that we could, we didn't do as great a job as we hoped since 2 weeks is actually not a whole lot of time after all... Seeing both of our familys around the Christmas holiday was so sweet. Gosh we REALLY miss everyone. Then the wedding was just one amazingly fun moment after another.

We got back to Ireland to some classic winter weather and are doing our best to make the most of our last weeks here. Work has been tricky to go back to for only 3 weeks. Its almost not enough time to get into the swing of things before I start to pack it up, hand my patients over and say my goodbyes. I've had contact with people all over the hospital, people who have helped me during my major transition time, even if it was just a kind smile or pointing me in the right direction as to where to find a chart. People who i get to see just about daily on the ICU, the nurses, physios and care attendants. Some people impact you more than they can know and its hard to know just how to say goodbye to everyone...

Our living situation has changed drastically over the last 2 months. Our landlord moved out in the beginning of december after getting married. We had the place to ourselves for almost a month, it was bliss!! But when we got back the landlord rented out all the other rooms and now there are 6 of us!! whoa! God had prepared both of us well for this though through both of our stints as full time volunteers in Atlanta, thank goodness, other wise it could be quite the shock. So far, so good with everyone here, which is such a blessing. We are all young 20-somethings and get along surprisingly well.

During our last week here we are planning a few nights out with friends that we've made during the year here. One last hurrah at set dancing at Monroe's and then a real proper goodbye party on the Friday night before we leave. People have been really sweet about telling us that they'll miss us, and they seem so genuine. I think it hasn't fully hit us yet, but i know we'll miss lots about this place. I'll especially miss tea breaks, gotta love a half hour break at 10:00 everyday!

Well, here is what our plans are for our travels post Emerald Isle:
Ryanair to- (by the way, we got this flight for .01 euro!)
Prague- 5 days
Eurail to-
Krakow- 3 days
easyjet to-
London- 5 days
HOME throught JFK on the 13th of February.

If you have any suggestions about highlights so see in any of those places we'd LOVE to hear from you!