Time To Go Home

It's hard to believe it is soon time to start the journey home. It seems like a very long time that I have been here, yet the time has gone quickly. I have really enjoyed Dublin, even though there is so much more to the city that I never got to see. (Check Annie's blog for accounts of all she saw and did that I did not!) Working every day is a drag! The students left PA on October 25th (the same day I went to Phila for the World Series game!), so they have been here for a long time. I think they are ready to go home, ready to graduate, and ready to get on with their lives. They may never return to Ireland. I however, if all goes as planned, will be back. That is a bit comforting, as I have really enjoyed my time in Ireland.

We spent our last day packing and shopping, and packing some more. I have no idea how I fit everything in our suitcases. I must modestly admit that I have been blessed with great spacial and analytical skills (I kicked it on the GRE's, not so much with the math section), so I'm good at making things fit. Today was a real challenge, but we are all packed and ready to go. All that is left is a few hours of sleep and our early pick up. John Nolen will be here by 4:45am to pick us up, and then we will meet the students at Delaney's at 5:30. Our flight is at 9am and will be 7:43 minutes in duration, although due to the time difference (5 hours) we arrive at Newark at 11:30am. We connect at 1:30 for the final leg to Pittsburgh. Hopefully all will go well and by this time tomorrow I will have driven my CRV with heated seat, had a fountain Pepsi from Sheetz, checked email on my Blackberry, watches ESPN from my lazy boy, and fallen asleep to Dave Letterman in my own bed, with clean sheets. That will be nice...