Dishwasher started without major hassle!

April 21 - Continued
In order to post those last couple days and get internet access, I packed up my computer, took a train to another town and got comfy at a coffee shop. Only to realize about 5 min. later the coffee shop wireless internet was not working. I chugged my coffee and went walking around town to find anywhere that said they had wireless internet. The only place I found was a bar...Hmmm. In order to use their internet you need to buy something and I wasn't hungry, so I sat in a bar with a glass of red wine in the middle of the afternoon so that I could use the internet. Funny what lengths I will go to in order to communicate!

I invited the girl from work over for dinner and actually had a fairly successful cooking experience. I made this chicken dish from Marks and Spencers that was chicken in a white wine and mushroom sauce and added some asparagus and pasta and it was yummy! It was really nice to make a meal and sit down and have someone to talk to!

April 22 - Day 11
I returned to the church that I visited last week and the service was unique. The church service at 11am in English speaking and then the church is used again at 6pm and the service is in Romanian. This Sunday, they combined the congregation and everything was translated. The music we would do one course in English and the second in Romanian. There was an amazing vocalist that sang in Romanian. I have no idea what he sang, but it was absolutely beautiful! The sermon was done in Romanian and then translated into English. After the service was over, the Romanian congregation brought food to feed everyone...I would guess about 100 people. I nibbled on the food, and everyone said it was wonderful, but I have to admit my stomach was not quite ready for that. There were several types of stuffed cabbage leaves and a few soups. My true American colors came out, because after church, I grabbed some McDonalds chicken nuggets to hold me over til the next meal.

My next event was to find sheets. My understanding is that my apartment is funished with basics like a bed and a sofa, but doesn't come with bedding/towels/rugs/pillows, etc. I went to the main shopping area in Dublin called Grafton street and it was mobbed! I guess since the stores do not stay open in the evenings, everyone must go on Sat and Sun. I went into Brown Thomas (or something like that) which is a main department store and MY OH MY did I have complete sticker shock!!! The first fitted sheet that I picked up in basic white was 275 Euros (over $350 US dollars) and it was one single sheet. Not even like a set. I talked to the clerk and explained that I was only here for 6 months and asked if there were more economical sheets. The ones she showed me were still 100 Euros per sheet.(about $140). I stood there bewildered! I wandered around a couple more stores and had trouble even finding stores that sold sheets. I ended up at TK Maxx (their equivalent to TJ Maxx). There was a very small selection of sheets, but I found some and then I set out in look for somekind of blanket or cover. I have to tell you that even though it is TK Maxx, their prices are equivalent to a very high end department store at home like Nordstroms or Macys. I guess they are still 1/2 price of their competitors, but man it is going to take some time to get over the cost of living over here! These basic sheets are still more expensive than my very lovely, ridiculously high thread count sheets at home! I have been told by people at work that at some time I will stop converting everything to $ and just think in Euros and it is a bit less shocking that way. I don't know when this change will happen?!

One more note. I was expecting really rainy weather and I am happy to report that I have not yet used my umbrella. We have had 11 days of dry weather. Definitely more cloudy days than Denver, but there have been some sunny dry days. I am really enjoying it and I have been told that it does not last and even though I am tempted to stop carrying an umbrella everywhere, that I must continue to carry it because it could rain at anytime and I need to be prepared.

Oh, I almost forgot. I titled this entry Dishwasher, because I ran out of silverware and plates last night. I am drinking water from tea glasses and eating everything with spoons. So, even though the dishwasher was only 1/2 full, I had to run it because I had no more utensils. I am happy to report that I put soap in it and closed the door and hit a couple buttons and it started. Hip Hip Horray! There is one appliance here that I know how to run!!!