preparation

Connemara countryside from our first trip to Ireland, Nov. 2006.

After a couple of months of settling back in to American life, it’s time to get ready to leave the country once again. Jon and I depart for Ireland at the end of this month – almost 3 weeks away now.

All around me I see little reminders of what’s to come. I keep passing Irish-named streets and developments around the Twin Cities, such as Donegal Street in Woodbury and the Galway Estates in Lake Elmo. This coming weekend is the annual Minnesota Irish Fair and Jon and I plan to attend. And Irish pubs abound.

I’m also reading a little bit to begin learning about my future home. Right now, I’m reading a book that was prominently displayed at our local bookshop in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago, called Galway Bay. The novel follows the Kelly family from the “Before Times” in the 1830s through the Potato Famine of the 1840s to the family’s emigration to the United States. I’m about 2/3 of the way through, and the family has landed in Chicago. When Jon and I first picked up the book, we were excited that it focused on life in two of “our” cities – Galway and Chicago. And indeed, that has been one of the most fun things about reading the book. I’m learning a lot too – a lot more about Irish life under British rule (worse than I had imagined), about the Irish culture of storytelling and music, and about the early history of Irish revolution. For the most part, I’ve really enjoyed the book, and reading it always makes me more anxious to get on the plane towards Galway.

Lastly, we’re beginning the process of preparing logistically to leave once again. Today, I bought a nice raincoat so that I can survive Galway’s weather. We’re starting to think about what we’re going to bring, and how to pack all of our junk. And I’m getting more and more information from the Mitchell people about what’s to come, which is constantly exciting.

The next couple weeks are going to be full of preparation for the next big move. I’m excited to go (except for the inevitable goodbyes to all my friends and family in the States. We all know how well I do with those). More thoughts as we get closer…