Things to Miss

-Really good sanwiches.
The people of Northern Ireland sure do know how to make a good sandwich. The first day that I got here, I went into a cafe called The Sandwich Shop which had so many different choices that I was completely overwhelmed by them and ended up ordering a muffin instead. Although you can't find Eggs Benedict to save your life, the sanwich options are endless.

-Accents.
Boy oh boy. They are fantastic. I think that I am going to have accent withdrawal when I get home. And I may never hear the word 'wee' used again. Or if I do, it will most likely mean something different (you know.)

-Walking.
I could count the times that I've ridden in a car in Ireland on two hands. Almost never. There's no need to drive anywhere in Derry unless it is raining like crazy (it probably is), and you don't have an umbrella. Ooh, and another thing about walking in Derry is that you are likely to see at least one person you know every time you go into the city. True story. I mean, it's a fairly big city (well, the second biggest in Northern Ireland. Which means that it's not big at all.) You wouldn't expect to run into people that often. But you do. It's friendly and great.

-Being an international student.
For one thing, it gives you instant friends or at least friendly acquaintances. There is a certain of bond among people who are all away from home, especially when most of us can't understand what is being said by the Irish people at least half of the time (I'm telling you, the Derry accent is crazy. But in a good way.) Plus, being international makes you more interesting to other people. I like being more interesting.

-Cohn's Sandwich Shop.
I've never eaten a sanwich here, but I have gotten multiple cups of coffee. Ireland can't boast about the quality of its coffee, but for some reason, Cohn's filter coffee is delicious. I get a cup everyday. The shop is in the library, and it has huge windows that look out over the campus and the River Foyle. I generally sit at the window counter three or four times a week and drink my good drip coffee and eat some chocolate (I am trying to try as many different types of UK chocolate as I can before I go home. Because it is so much better here. Way, way better) and look at the window, watching everyone who comes into the library. It's one of the best people watching spots. And sometimes, there is a table full of people behind me speaking Irish to each other. And it's fabulous.

Things I Have Accomplished

Mr. C. Gore was the first person that I met when I got to University of Ulster-Magee. He is the man who works in the reception office and looks like a disgruntled Macy's elf. His job seems to consist of three things: creating poster about various housing issues (like the one by our vacuum cleaner that says DO NOT REMOVE THIS VACUUM FROM THE FLAT!), conducting random room inspections to make sure that we have not defaced our living space by using sellotape on the walls, and giving out mail. I'm not sure which of these jobs is his least favorite (he's pretty dour, so it's hard to tell), but I personally have done my part to make one of them his most favorite. At least I'd like to think so.

I check my mail a lot. Like every day. Sometimes twice. For the first two months of the semester, Mr. C. Gore refused to acknowledge the fact that I came into his office every day. Every single day. He stubbornly continued to ask my name, block number and flat letter every time I asked for my mail, even though he obviously knew who I was. He had to know. Because I came in every single day. Every single day. And each time that I came in, I told him my name, block number, and flat letter.

About three weeks ago, I went to the reception office to get my mail (as I am wont to do), and Mr. C. Gore didn't ask my name. Nope. Instead, he just started searching through the mail for things belonging to me. I still had to show him my school ID (you have to show it every time that you pick your mail up), but I figured that I was making progress.

Now with one week of school left to go, Mr. C. Gore and I get along just fine. We have even progressed to exchanging witty, mail-centric banter when I go into his office to get my post. He has put out some little chocolate oranges for students to take when they come in. I feel like I've made serious progress.

I threw a Christmas party (co-threw, actually.) And it was fabulous, in my opinion. There was a Christmas tree, and pretty lights, and a poinsetta, and eggnog and food (lots and lots), and there was...A CHRISTMAS CAKE! From Marks and Spencer! I bought it myself! And I put fake holly in my hair because if I can't do it at Christmas, when can I do it? It was the first Christmas party that I had ever done, and I was glad. Especially because both of my siblings are having Christmas parties in their new, awesome living spaces while I am not yet at home. So I was like, "Phss... whatever guys! I'll throw my own Christmas party! In Northern Ireland! Yeah!"

And I did.