I made it!

Hello Everyone!

After a 4 hour delay at Minneapolis/St. Paul airport and a very short and panicked 5 minute connection in Newark I safetly landed on the ground in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Thursday morning! I am slowly getting over jet-leg and soaking in all the beautiful scenery, kind people, and great conversation one day at a time!

I am living in a very nice student accomodation at the University of Ulster. I am lucky to get my own bedroom AND my own bathroom! Even better than at home! My group of 13 just finished a great dinner prepared by a couple of the talented cooks on the trip and we all crammed into one living room. It has been a great time to eat all together.

The weather here is not by any standard worthy of 'Minnesota Cold,' however, the wind and damp rain make one visicous combination. It even snowed here last night! I guess I brought the snow with me. I think I will survive as we did the mile walk to downtown Coleraine there and back a couple of times without a problem.

We offically start our program on Monday begining with a 3 day retreat on the Northern Coast. I am very excited because I have heard by many...even the native Northern Irelander sitting next to me on the plane that it is one of the most beautiful spots in the world. I already have about 100 pages of reading and tomorrow shall be my first study day in a very long while!

I will write more later after more exciting things happen, however, for now I can only tell you that I think this trip will be something very special!

Love from across the Atlantic,

Sara