Who I am and what I want: an informational post

My name is Erin. I'm 20 years old, will be 21 in December while I'm in Ireland. I go to Indiana University where I study English, mostly poetry and creative writing, though I've been known to thoroughly enjoy reading novels and tackling particularly difficult papers. My favorite piece of literature is Beowulf, which I hope to learn to read in the original Old English at some point. Hopefully they'll let me do a graduate class as a senior, because they don't offer OE to undergrads. But if you must read it in modern English, I highly insist upon the translation by Seamus Heaney, whom I also adore as a poet. Pick up Electric Light, if you need a good book of poetry to read. Or anything by Billy Collins.

Why I'm going to Ireland: There are several reasons. We'll start with the boring ones.

1. I want to do a study abroad, and Ireland offers the program I want in a language I speak.
2. This is the best time to do a study abroad; going this semester, I'll still be on-track to graduate when I'm supposed to do so.

Now, the more interesting ones.

3. I have never truly been on my own. Sure, college, but my older brother is up here, and it's not like I even left the state. My family is only two hours away, and I can go home and come back in a day if needed. In Dublin, I will really and truly be alone with myself, and though it is only three short months, I hope to learn a little more about who I really am. I am not looking for outside validation, but just a stronger sense of...knowing myself, I suppose, and if I am looking in the right direction for the rest of my life. Even if I can't find out everything about myself, I will at least know more than I know now. My high school English teacher once told me that the greatest advice she could give was this: "Live alone at least once. You will learn more about yourself than you thought possible." And I believe her. Though I won't be alone fully, I will be sharing an apartment, it will be with people I do not know in a place with which I am wholly unfamiliar. I do not think I can be any more alone.
4. My family is from Ireland, on both sides. I have always felt drawn to the place, in a way that I can't quite describe. I have studied and learned about a county that is half a world away, and now I will have a chance to live in that world. Of course, the Ireland I read of is old Ireland, from the days when the island was inhabitated by Druids, and more than a handful of the people spoke Gaelic all the time, but I believe in magic, and that Ireland is a magic place. And magic never fully dies, just goes in to hiding. So I will be exploring the land of my roots. And I realize this sounds silly and American, and I don't want to pretend that I am Irish, because I know that I am not. But I would like to know about the people who are.
5. There is another reason, far deeper and more personal than these, which I cannot put here, but to whom it concerns: I will do everything I can do show you who I am.

What I hope to bring back from Ireland with me:
1. Okay, I won't mess around...I want the accent, even just a little lilt in my voice. :)
2. A cute boy with red hair and a sheep...but that's a gift for my roommate.
3. A taller walk, the ability to look everyone in the eyes.
4. Peace in who I am.
5. Affirmation that I am doing the right thing by pursuing a career that may not pay much but will make me happier than anything else I can think of doing.
6. Graduate school possibilities...sorry, Mom.
7. A sense of where I belong in the world...it is easy to think that one is important among one's own circle of friends...but when I am surrounded by strangers, it will be easier to be humble. A global awareness, if you will.
8. A readiness to be still. I have felt...antsy, eager to move and shake and do something these past years, and finally, I am. And perhaps once I have, I can be content. Or perhaps I will want more.

A pre-travel update

I've just been emailed my address for my stay in Dublin...you can check it out at the bottom of the page. No word yet on roommates or anything beyond pre-registration I did a long time ago for classes, but I suppose I'll take care of all that once I land. I also got a phone number for my apartment, and it has 17 numbers, which I find interesting, and more than a little unnecessary. In any case, that number shall not be posted unless I see reason to do so. No need to tempt the masses with long distance calls that no one can afford. But if you would like it or feel that you need it, you can leave your email address in the comment section, and I'll get it to you. I'm not posting my email address here, because...well...I don't know who all's reading this. I've given the address to several people, and rumor has it I've been made an assignment at Gibson Southern, so the email address will remain unposted. So, leave your name and address in a comment box, and I'll get the address and then delete the comment, so your address doesn't stay around on here either. I'm a little nervous about things like that. But. I'll post again either later tonight or in a couple days, an introduction of sorts, so that those of you who don't actually know me can get to know me a little better. And I highly encourage comments. So. Comment away!

Another test post.

Aww...me and Mike from senior year before Snowball. Aren't we cute? But enough of that. Let's see what this bad boy looks like in the blog.

Testing.

This first post is just to see how the blog looks and what changes need to be made. That's me! And I can get images on here. Awesome. Okay so with this side set-up, I wonder if I just keep typing and typing and typing if the text will eventually get down below the picture and center itself out, or if I should go with centered pictures over the top of the text.