Feeling Irish like.....

We had lunch at McDonald's after church today. I feel compelled to mention that McDonald's is a rather recent addition to the city of Killarney (well, at least it wasn't here 14 years ago when I first came here). There was a part of me that hoped beyond hope that Mickey D's wouldn't make it to this corner of the world, but who was I kidding? It was just a matter of time. Their menu is limited, but tastes just the same. Well, except for the blessedly delicious Coke. Don't get me started on the Coca-Cola here!!!! Y-U-M!!!!

My meal today: The Big Tasty with bacon. Holy COW - literally - it was a HUGE hamburger. I was only able to eat half of it. I felt like the entire restaurant was staring at me with looks of disapproval and/or amazement. I'm now pretty sure the only people who order that meal are construction workers or some other hard labor types. I started to wonder if I was standing out more than ever as an American in that scenario....just like an American to order the oversized hamburger! Haha....oh well. Lesson learned.

Later on today, to work off some of those undoubtedly numerous calories, I took a walk. The afternoon was lovely. The temperature was quite nice and the clouds even cleared here and there to reveal patches of bright blue! I figured I should try walking into downtown Killarney by myself, for the first time! It was a surprisingly quick trip, which I will now happily repeat multiple times per week.

Once I was there, in true McDonald fashion (my family, not the restaurant this time!), I decided to see a movie. I was a few minutes late to Surrogates, but I was okay with it. The movie was pretty good, but mostly, I was just excited to see my 2nd film in Ireland. Yesterday, I saw Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs with my friends and their kids. (Cute movie, by the way.) Being a McDonald in my family basically means you love movies. So I knew that I couldn't live without them, even here in an interesting place like Ireland. Good thing they built a nice new, but smallish, cineplex right in Killarney! How fun!!

As soon as I left the building to head home, I popped in my earbuds to listen to some tunes from the new iPod. I was relaxed and happy. Feeling quite adjusted to life in Killarney and having just enjoyed a movie, I must have had a look of satisfaction and confidence on my face. A young man with an Irish accent (but not a Kerry accent, I'd say), came up to me and asked for directions to a local pub!!! (For Steve - "pub" is short for "public house", as you had guessed from seeing that place in DC.)

It was a great moment, erasing all my earlier angst from eating that enormous hamburger and feeling like I was waving an American flag over my head. Don't get me wrong. I love being an American and feel thankful to call it my home. And, mostly, Irish people love Americans. But, Killarney is literally crawling with tourists most of the year and I don't want to be perceived that way. I'm not here on vacation, I'm here for other reasons. So, needless to say, I really hated to disappoint this guy with my American accent which confirmed the accuracy of my response, which was "Sorry, I have no idea."

But, he just smiled and laughed when he realized I wasn't a local. I wanted to hug him for thinking I was, though. It made me feel right at home.

I have this feeling that it's going to be really difficult to leave in December.......

Love,
Katy