Long overdue update - Rome, Barcelona, Sligo, and oh yeah, school

Every moment over the past month has been packed like a Subway sandwich (random analogy but it's the best I have at the moment). School continues to be intense and I am so aware of how short my time left here is - I barely have 2 1/2 months left!

I am making the most of my location by doing a bit of traveling. I was in Rome a few weeks ago and it was fantastic. I felt like Rome itself is a living thing. It allows people to inhabit its space but it felt like Rome would be Rome whether or not anyone else was there; the people are the diamonds around its neck or roses on a wedding cake - beautiful decorations but not essential. I walked for 3 days, stopping in the sunshine in piazzas and cafes and pizza shops and watching people going about their business.

One example of the interesting graffiti found all around the city.

My second trip was to Barcelona which I fell completely in love with. It is a wonderful city with a great vibe. I met up with a close friend there and we spent 4 days eating delicious food, admiring architecture, and enjoying to warm sunshine. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera so I don't have any pictures right now (my friend took some so I'll get those).
I'm continuing to do some traveling within Ireland including heading to the Sligo area on the west coast last weekend with two friends from my program. I spoke at the Sligo Rotary Club on Monday so I invited my friends along to make a long weekend trip of it to explore the area. The weather was not great but we made the most of the infrequent sunshine and the wind made the ocean really dramatic. My pictures cannot do justice to how amazing it looked but that did not keep me from trying.

The coast in a town called Strandhill.

As great as traveling is, it has required careful juggling to fit in my other responsibilities. Based on the results I got recently on two essays, it looks like I am doing pretty well at it right now. The term ended last Friday so I have a few weeks to catch my breathe, catch up with friends and family, write two essays and seriously start working on my thesis idea. I met my supervisor for the first time today and I am really excited about working with her. Her research background and interests are very similar to my own. I'll write more on that when I get a few more details figured out. There is a lot going on but I'm having a good time.