only three days...

aaaaahhhh!!! it's so crazy that I'll be leaving on friday! even though there are some irritating people in the course (when are there not irritating people?) I'll miss the whole experience. fortunately I'll get to come back and visit the family during the year, and some of the people in the course will be at nui galway next year.
the most amazing part of this has been meeting karen. the two of us are soul mates, in a platonic way. we like the same subjects (irish, history, latin, etc), we enjoy the same movies, and we're able to communicate without speaking. karen was talking to this guy and he asked if we had known each other before the course. she said no, why? and he replied that it looked like we had known each other for years. we're dancing partners, since dance classes tend to be short on guys. we've been going blackberry picking for the past two days, and it's amazing how something so simple can be entertaining for the both of us. she goes to school in ohio, and even though I've only known her for a month, I know that she's the kind of person who I'll be friends with forever. kindred spirits, that's what we are.
anyways, even though I'm sad to be leaving, I'm also excited because I'll be meeting with my parents in London and then we're going on a cruise on the baltic! I can't wait for russia. but for now, I have to go. blackberries are calling my name.
slan
kate