Settling In

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"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." Anias Nin

Over the course of the last two and a half months, I have found this to be true. So many new worlds have opened up to me in the new friendships I am forming. Worlds where I am a little more brave, a little more comfortable in my surroundings and worlds where I am accepted and loved in this new country where I reside. My new world is beginning to be sprinkled with new friends who are opening up other new adventures for and with me.

The last several weeks here in Galway have been busy with the Arts Fetival and then the Galway Races. Lots of people from all over in town to catch these very fun events. I was lucky enough to go and see one of my favorite singer/songwriters named David Gray. He played at the Galway Arts festival and it was an amazing evening. As many of you know, my love for music runs deep and it was so great to be able to see one of my favorites live. He put on an incredible show and we were quite close to the stage. One interesting fact was that the only beer you could get was Coors Light. I found that a bit ironic beeing at a concert in Ireland, that the beer of choice was an American Beer. In a related note, it is strange to see Budweiser and Miller Gebuine Draft listed as imports. They are quite popular over here. I am enjoying that perspective on the stateside brews!

As for Race Week...it was just a tad nuts around town. Apparently it was a bit more tame than in past years, but still crazy none the less. The Galway Races are quite well known. Think Kentucky Derby, but then imagine that it lasts for a whole week. There are races every day and celebrations every night. Thurrsday is always a highlight as it is Ladies Day. That is quite a big deal. All the ladies attending get dressed to the nines...elegant dresses, shoes, purses. Ladies get all tanned up, hair done...the works. There is even a contest for the best dressed and the winner gets something like 10,ooo Euro in cash and several other prizes. Then everyone just gets completely off their face the rest of the night and it gets quite messy that way in town. I stayed away from all of that. However, I did hit town on saturday of the races and had a FANTASTIC time. We were able to snag a table in a pub and had many laughs that night. I enjoyed solidifying new friendships and re-establishing old ties with a classmate from Palmer. It is a truly blessed life I am leading.

There are many adventures I am looking forward to in the coming months. A good friend of mine will be coming to visit at the end of September and then I will be visiting my home in the states for a week. Shortly after that, more family and friends will be coming over for Thanksgiving. I am planning a trip to Madrid at the beginning of December for my birthday and then will hopefully be in Edinburgh for Christmas. Christmas will be tough as I will be on my own completely for the first time in my life....but who knows..maybe another new world will have opened up by then!

I have been asked many times what/who I miss from back in the states, so here is a small list!:) The most obvious would be family and friends and the hugs that I would get. I also miss silly things like People Magazine, my radio stations, and ranch dressing. I am sure that once college football season starts, I will be missing that, as well as tailgating and such.

Although there are things that I miss, I am still amazed and overwhelmed at the opportunities and experiences here. Trying to live in the moment is something I continue to work on and I am finding that relishing each moment is extremely more enjoyable than worrying about what is coming next or worrying about what someone else is thinking. After all, it is up to us to explore the new worlds presented to us and to be open to the possibilites; the doors just open when I do that!:)

Until Next Time!

Cheers!

Sal

Two Months Has Flown By!

"Virginia Woolf wrote, "Across the broad continent of a woman's life falls the shadow of a sword." On one side of that sword, she said, there lies convention and tradition and order, where "all is correct." But on the other side of that sword, if you are crazy enough to cross it and choose a life that does not follow convention, "all is confusion. Nothing Follows a regular course." Her argument was that the crossing of the shadow of the sword may bring a far more interesting existence ...." Taken from the book "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. (my all time favorite book!

I cannot be more happy, excited, grateful, that I chose to cross my own shadow, leap and land here in Ireland. I have been stretched. I have been challenged. I have expereienced more moments of pure, unadulterated joy than everbefore; moments where I actually feel like my heart cannot possibly hold another ounce of joy but then it expands a little more and makes room for the next moment. I love catching myself in those moments...recognizing that I am perfect and happy and savoring every nanosecond of it. I think that has become my own little meditation....recognizing those moments, being completely present in them and being grateful all the way down in to my mitochondria that I have this life to participate in! I am truly blessed!

Galway is beautiful city. It sits on Galway Bay and there is always something going on it seems. The City Center and Eyre Square always seems to have a buzz about it. There are cobblestone streests lined with all sorts of shops and street performers. There always seems to be something to look at or do. Not to mention there is always great pub somewhere close: and YES! The Guinness really is better over here! The weekI arrived here, The Volvo Ocean Race was on a stop over. There were seven boats that docked here for two weeks. These boats have been racing around the world for the past year and Galway was one of the last stop overs, but the largest one of the whole entire race. They estimate that 650,000 people came to Galway over two weeks to see the boats. there were concerts every night, events daily it seemed and just a wonderful buzz about the city while it was going on....quite a time to move here.

Right now the Arts festival is on and it is one of Europe's best Arts festivals. There are musical performances, theater, visual art and so much more! Tomorrow night I will be going to see David gray in concert..I am soooo excited for that! He is one of my favorite musical artists and is playing. In just over a week, the galway races start and apparently that is quite the time! I am looking forward to experiencing that.

The practice I have joined is wonderful. I have had a lot to learn in a short amount of time, but it has been worth every second of it. I have grown in so many ways and I love the patients I am working with. Not to mention the clinic owners and fellow staff I get to be associated with. it is truly humbling and amazing watching how the body can heal when there is no interference to the nervous system. I love watching people get better with chiropractic care....I am truly humbled to be practicing this profession.

People ask me how things are different, what things are different, etc.... so I will try and shed some light on things. A major change for me has been not getting around in a car. I do not have a vehichle here and walk alot of places, take the bus or take a taxi. I miss getting on the open raod sometimes, but I love that I can walk around or hop on a bus and go somewhere. Just last weekend we went up to a beautiful area called Connemarra and Clifden. Absolutely gorgeous scenery and it was only an hour away. We are heading to Dublin for a weekend at the beginning of August as well....just another short bus trip. Of course there are different words for thing...here is a brief list:

Chips= fries

Fries=Fries

Crisps= Potato chips

Prams= Strollers

Lorries= Big trucks

Everything is "lovely" or "grand" here. There are all sorts of expressions I am learning. I think my favorite is "thanks a million". People say this all the time here. I just like it because it seems to go above and beyond a general thank you....rather I am thanking you a million times because I am so grateful...it is just something simple that expresses so much gratitude.

Well, I feel I have rambled enough for one session. I will be more diligent about updating this. So many exciting things are coming up and I can't wait to keep you all posted! I hope you enjoy the pics I have posted on here....I have loads and loads of them, trying to pick out just a few was tough!:) I also included the pic of my new haircut! I love it!

Cheers!

Sally

Less Than 48 Hours

WOW!! So here it comes...the big move. I am officially into the last full day here in the states. It has been a whirlwind of a couple of months....hence the lack of a new blog, so I will do my best to make up for that.

As I said...a whirlwind of activity has happened the last two months. I was honored to be a part of Caitlin and Brad's wedding in april and then spent two weeks at the beginning of May out in Iowa for Part IV National Board Review and The exam itself. While stressful (the studying and exam taking),it was wonderful to be able to spend so much time with my Iowa friends (aka Iowa Family). It was also wonderful to be taken care of in such wonderful ways as they all did.

It has been a month of goodbyes as well. It has been hard to say goodbye to so many wonderful people..family and friends. I am truly blessed to have so many people that I love and care about and that feel the same about me. I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the outpouring of good wishes, promises of prayers, gifts and most of all LOVE that have been sent my way. In fact, overwhelmed doesn't even begin to describe it...it has been truly amazing and humbling for me!

So, now I stand just hours away from leaving and embarking on my wildest dreams. For those that don't know, my wildest dreams were to work in Ireland or England and be able to travel a little around Europe...guess what?!?! DREAMS COME TRUE!! The Universe does conspire on your behalf when you have clear intentions on what it is that you want and the Omnipotent does make something seemingly impossible, possible....AND bigger and better than you could have ever wished for. How lucky are we?!?! I am so excited to take what I have learned and serve the people in Galway. Not only do I get to do what I love...I get to do it in a place I have always wanted to be. My Aunt told me to just leap and the net would appear....it has and it has been a large, finely knit one that has just fallen into place. I have never been more sure of any decision I have made or any more sure of what I supposed to be doing at this exact moment. I could wax philosophical forever, so I will spare you all....but living your wildest dreams can happen...you just have to leap sometimes and trust that it will all work out when you follow your gut.

To my fellow Vassarites that will read this....I can't begin to thank you enough for acceptance back into the community I have recieved. I will miss my nights on the sidelines and behind the bench at the high school, the smiling faces in the office and everyone that I have reconnected with or established new bonds with. Your friendships have meant so much since my return two years ago.

To The Iowa peeps that read this.....you guys continually amzae me with your generous friendships. I remember moving there in 2001, not knowing a soul and look what happened..I made some of the best friends a gal could ask for. It gives me the courage to know that I can go somewhere else where I don't know anyone and be ok.

To my family...I don't even know where to begin. I have the courage and bravery people see because I know you stand behind me no matter what. Thank you for loving me unconditionally and supporting me in living out my wildest dreams.

I know I am a bit sappy, but as a good friend told me today..it is not a goodbye here, it is a "See you later"...and it is! I just want you all to know how grateful I am that each of you hasplayed in my life. I CANNOT wait to update you about all the amazing things that will be happening practice wise and personally. Hang on kids...it is goign to be an amazing ride!!

I can't wait for visitors in Ireland!

With that......Galway Ireland...HERE. I. Come.!!!!

Sally

I am Swallowing Life Experiences Whole

Hello All and welcome to my first blog entry. Many of you will have read some of this stuff already or have been told about it, but for those that haven't...I am moving to Galway Ireland on Monday, May 25th. I have been given an opportunity to join a practice there for a minimum of two years. Galway is a city of around 80,000 people on the west coast of Ireland. (directly west of Dublin) It is considered the cultural center of Ireland and it is also the safest city in Ireland for all of you that are worriers out there.

I have been asked by many people upon finding out about my decision to move over there, "Why would you want to do something like that?". My short reply is usually "Why Not?!". There is also a longer answer to that. I am 33 with no strings and the opportunity of a lifetime just presented itself. In my wildest dreams, the thought of living in another country has always been there as well as the chance to travel around Europe; enter this position. I have also always had a sense of adventure, and although I stifled it at times, it was always there...chiding away at me. When this chance arose, I knew if offered the position, I would go. Of course there is a part of me sad to leave family and friends behind and of course there is a slight fear of the unkown. However, the overwhelming emotions are excitement and happiness at the thought of following a dream of mine and the opportunity to build a practice in Galway.

I do not have a place to live, but will find one when I arrive over there. My mom and sister Kate will be taking me over there. I am excited that they will be able to see where I am going to be. I am looking forward to using this space as a place to share my experiences, feelings, triumphs and anything else that comes my way. I look forward to feedback, questions and anything else anyone wants to send my way.

Talk to you soon!

Sally