With my adventures in the amazing land of the green coming to an end in a few short weeks, I wish I had more time.  Time is of the essence.  I hear that, well time and time, again, and usually, I disregard it and find that phrase to be insignificant, but now, I know there is much truth to that statement.  It seemed weird to be living in a foreigncountry.  I knew I would assimilate to it easily, haha I didn't even have jetlag.  I just wanted to GO GO GO.  Time is limited.  I assimilated to college lifestyle, easy peasy.  How hard could Ireland be, especially since they speak English here anyways, and they are the country of the most friendly people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
But, I think the quick assimilation to the weather, the scenery, the pace of living, just came in stages for me.  There were no bumps in the road, just bogs.  Wetlands that were smooth, smushy, funny to step in, haha.  First, came the excitement, the thrills of being in a new place, marvelling at everything, the architecture, the food, the amazing apartment that I'm staying in, the thrills of being a foreigner, going out to a pub just to get a breath of fresh air, coming across strangers, sharing a nice conversation.  Moments like these you don't wana forget.  Then comes that stage of, you do not feel like you are living in a foreign country, it's almost like home to you.  Everything is a routine, you sometimesgot bored.  You didn't need to talk to your friends/family as much.  I got busy with homework and juggling an extra class, and busy just going out and living a Dubliner lifestyle.  Some nights were quiet, others were filled with laughter and good cheer.
Finally, finally, I am at the stage that I miss Berkeley.  It's not even my home,but it is my home away from home to me.  While biking in Phoenix park yesterday, I saw little Irish kids running around and playing with their families, and it just made me miss my nephews, who are little bundles of joy.  I miss the food, I miss the people, I miss just being home.  LA isn't really my home.  It's my hometown, but it's not my home.  It is like I went through reverse homesick, in which, I get homesick at the end of my journey.

How lucky I am to have had this opporunity.  Some said, I'd completely change as a person.  I don't change that easily.  I guess there are little nuances in my personality that have changed.  I've become even more open to spontaniety and living in the moment, not trying to plan every calculated move.  It's not healthy to control your life in every single aspect.  I'm just gonna let it be.
And this weekend, I'll be off to madrid!  Sunlight and tapas and lavapies, ole!

And yet a part of me, is still longing to go back to berkeley.