Don't Forget to Breathe..and after that, put things into Perspective

I hate to preempt this blog with a statement that is negative towards the blogging world-but I would like to say that I am not a blogger, and chances are, when I am through with Ireland and have put a close on this adventure of mine-I will also put a close to this blog because I really don't feel it necessary to tell the whole world about my life and my problems ...that was a huge run on sentence. For now, however, here I go.


I have chosen to title this blog "Don't Forget to Breathe.." because it is something that I have had to constantly remind myself to remember to do in such a new place. Please don't take this too literally. No, I have not actually forgotten to breathe while I have been here, I am quite alive, and have been doing quite a bit of breathing.

In some instances, however, I find myself completely overwhelmed with feelings of frustration, homesickness, sadness and complete misunderstanding. I start to cry..in public..in my room..really anywhere this happens. And for those of you that know me, many of you have never seen me cry because I am not a person that likes to lose it in front of just anyone, and if I do, I usually express it through anger.

So? My advice to myself? Take a deep breathe. Put things into perspective, and don't sweat the small stuff (as my dad would say). I have a tendency to micro manage my life, I like things in order, I like things to be done quickly and efficiently- and If I don't have an answer when I want it I feel like I may burst. Needless to say- Europe, and especially Ireland- does NOT run this way. The irish like to dance around all subjects, all conversations and all answers- unless it involves going to the pub, in which case the answer is obvious.

Although I may find this tendency for things to work slowly here extremely arduous and annoying, I think- rather I know, that this will be a tremendous learning experience for me. I am not a patient person. And if I can come out of this with even a little more patience than I came into it with because I have remembered to take my deep breaths and go with the flow, than I need to be grateful.

Not everyone gets the chance to get up and go to a new country to study just for the hell of it, and sometimes I forget how fortunate I am. I am fortunate that I am here, that I have a support system of FAMILY and friends that skypes and emails and calls me a million times a day just to check in. I have people that miss me, and people that I miss back. I have a safe place to sleep, and food to eat, and some brilliant Irish roommates to help me in times of question...and to ask anything more would be quite foolish of me.