Greetings from Ireland!

Well, I'm in Ireland. And it's pouring! I'm currently sitting in my new office with my new coworkers and we are eating "cheese gouda rolls." Yummy bread with melted gouda on it.  We are trying to "work" today, but only Molly really knows what to do. This was our first actual day, so there's a lot of transitioning from last year to this year.  Oh, Molly did the two-year contract so she was here last year.  And I was offered two years, but declined.  So they are now asking the other two newbies if they will consider staying to work as house director next year. So you only have one year to visit me! 

Here are the bios of the people I'm living with...

Molly Mattingly, House Director

Molly graduated from Notre Dame in May 2011 with a Master’s of Sacred Music. Originally from outside Chicago, Molly completed her undergraduate degree in music education and music theory at Ithaca College. She has extensive experience in liturgical leadership positions, both at the Newman Center at Ithaca and as an assistant rector at Farley Hall. She was a key part Notre Dame Vision’s Band of St. Cecilia for two summers, serving as assistant music director her first summer and music director the next.

Emily Puscas

Emily is from Connecticut. She graduated from Saint Mary’s College in 2011 with a double major in French and Theatre and a minor in music. She loves everything having to do with theatre, from costumes to acting, as well as playing piano, any available percussion instruments, and singing. She has worked with the 5-Star program in South Bend and Notre Dame Vision, programs that help young people connect to each other and to their faith. Emily was a 5-year member of the Notre Dame Folk Choir, and worked after graduation as the Campus Ministry music intern at Notre Dame.

Nick Galasso

Nick comes to Teach Bhríde from Pennsylvania. He graduated from Notre Dame in May 2012 with a major in theology and minor in liturgical music. He was part of the Notre Dame Folk Choir for all four years of college, and served as the business manager for the choir for three years. His senior year, he also led a scripture prayer and discussion group for the Folk Choir. Nick also served as the music coordinator for his dorm’s chapel choir. He loved his experience leading small groups and being part of the Band of St. Cecilia at Notre Dame Vision for two summers. Nick’s love of Church life has led him into ongoing discernment of the priesthood.

Okay, I had to take a break from posting.  Now I'm at home in bed at about 11 pm...

Molly, Emily, and Nick are all very nice and fun people and I'm excited to live with them!  Our house is nice too! It was built 3 years ago for this organization and has a washer/dryer, dishwasher, 3 bathrooms, 4 bedrooms, a great big kitchen, and it's all so new looking!

So, we just got here last Wednesday, settled in.  Thursday and Friday were retreat/orientation days at a lovely retreat center on the beach where they filmed Saving Private Ryan.  Saturday and Sunday we relaxed and had a house meeting for about 4 hours and kept settling in.  Sunday night we went to a pub in Wexford town (a 2 mile walk from our house, we are kind of in the suburbs).  They had traditional Irish music and it was great fun! Today we went into work and then had a few people over for dinner and entertained them until recently.  

The next big thing is the ND football game in Dublin! We are going up to Dublin Friday morning and staying until Sunday afternoon! I can hardly wait! Friday there's a huge pep rally/event where Martin Short is telling jokes and a famous Irish group is singing with the ND folk choir, and it's being televised here.  But maybe not in the states? Not sure? Then Saturday we are singing for a Mass on the lawn of Dublin castle in the morning, going to the Temple Bar district to tailgate after the game, then going to the game and then shmoozing all night long! It will be so exciting to see the Irish people freak out at the mayhem! Our parish priest here was trying to find a room and couldn't find anything cheaper than 250 euro for a single bed for one night! So many people! Fun!

Anyway, not homesick yet.  Still love you all and am dying to hear about your lives! Still have free texting to apple products! Still have skype! And will be checking this blog!

Sorry if I rambled, let me know if I left anything out!

LOVE,

Nicole

http://www.visitwexford.ie/

http://www.houseofbrigid.org/ (this is the organization..we are forced to post on this blog twice a week)