As it’s half-way through the year and a new crop of IES students are soon to be arriving in Dublin, I figured now would be the opportune time to do a write-up of what (feminine – sorry, I really can’t speak for most guys here) clothing items a student might want to have. Some of these things are better purchased in Dublin, however, for the sake of your luggage weight if nothing else, so this is divided into three parts: What to Bring, What to Buy Here, Just Don’t Do It.

Leaving summertime in beautiful South Africa, and coming home to the dead of winter in Detroit was quite a shock in itself. The days are much shorter, and I still can’t accept how cold it is! I miss that South African summer sunshine more than anything, and I am holding on to my summer glow with everything I’ve got. It is very nice to come home to my wonderful family for the holiday season, but the consumer madness of the states during this time is quite different from the attitude in Cape Town.

After a couple of long plane rides and three different time zones I have finally arrived home.  It is great to finally be home with friends and family and to be able to sleep in my own bed again.  I know in a couple of weeks I will be ready to head back to Milan as I loved the city and miss the people, family, and friends I made while abroad.  It has been a crazy adjustment getting back into the swing of things here though as I had one day off before I went back to my job at small gift shop in my hometown of Sumner.  Working and

I’ll admit it – once the initial excitement of being home passed (Mom! Dad! Brother! Snow!), I was in a bit of denial. My watch is still on Chilean time, I’m drinking tea I brought from Chile, listening to Latin music, and reading the newspaper El Mercurio from the day I left. I know this stage will pass though, and even when the tea bags are finished and the newspaper is out of date, Chile will still be a part of my life.