Well, it's been a while, hasn't it?

My sister was over here for the holidays and her birthday. We had a lot of fun running around and doing tourist-y things and over-eating at Christmas.

For New Years, Kelly, Daragh, and myself went to a party at Dana's house. Since it was a day after Kelly's birthday, we made sure she received her 21 kisses. Kelly acted embarassed about it, but I know she loved every second of it.

The search for work has not been going very well, and my visa is up in exactly a month. I am tempted to have a consult with an immigration lawyer, but it's just so expensive...

Wow! It's been quite a while since I've posted anything!!!

I've been busting my butt trying to find work (not so easy in this economy), I'm going to see Electric Six at The Academy tomorrow (early Christmas gift for Daragh), and my sister, Kelly is coming to visit for the holidays (and her 21st birthday) next week! And...that's about it. Other than the fact that I met a girl (my new BFF) in Fibbers who is good friends with one of my closest friends from back home. Small world, huh?

So next weekend Kelly and I are venturing out to Galway. I can't wait! I love that city so much! I can't wait to have a bowl of Galway Chowder and see the Burren and Cliffs of Mohr again. I'm also going to stay in a hostel for the first time ever. Scary! I had the opportunity to book a private room for my sister and I, but decided that scenario would be far too boring, and booked us a pair of beds in the 12 bed mixed dorm. May insanity ensue.

You can also now find me at: meghanmullen0886.myhostelworld.com

So, after running around in circles, calling just about every office I could think of to find out just HOW to stay legally in the country post Working Holiday Visa, I finally talked to a nice gentleman at the GNIB (Garda National Immigration Bureau).

So here's the deal, Americans who want to move to Ireland!

Getting a green card is a little tricky, and most trades are not eligible, so the easiest thing for a young American starting out to do is get a work permit. Now, the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment website (www.entemp.ie) is a tad confusing, so I had the guidelines verified for me by the helpful man from GNIB. So, I quit the job I had just started (it was not eligible for a work permit), and started job-hunting on the FAS website (www.fas.ie/en/) because those employers are the only ones who can apply for a work permit for you.

So in short: To get a work permit, the employer MUST advertise the position on the FAS website.

A little less than a week ago I thought I was feeling perfectly fine, a little stressed about money and my lack of job prospects, but fine for the most part. Then I called my mama on skype and proceeded to start crying about how much I missed my friends, my bar, the USD, and how I'm so broke that I actually felt guilty about buying ice cream. My mom told me that I shouldn't be so hard on myself when looking for a job, and (for the first time) actually suggested I get a regular ol' retail job just to start making money. See, my parents have pushed me to live up to my potential my whole life. Working in retail or in a restaraunt just would never cut it. My mom then moved $200 into my checking account, which I told her not to do, but hey, she's my mum. And she also told me that no one should ever feel guilty about buying ice cream.

Not even an hour after I finished my conversation with my mom, I received a call to schedule an interview for a sales and marketing position. So this week I've started my training to sell Sky TV services door to door. Sounds not that great, but after shadowing someone for a day and meeting some of the people I'll be working with, I'm pretty confident that this is where I should be. Also, they have some pretty awesome travel opportunities. 

Anyways, after I spoke to my mom I texted Daragh to pick up taco stuff for dinner. When he got home I cried on his shoulder about how lonely and homesick I was feeling. He gave me cuddles and made me tacos to make me feel better. And things have been looking up the past few days. I have a whole TWO friends now over here, and I'm surrounded by really awesome (sometimes really cute) people at work. 

So, I've put my CV in for about 7 or 8 positions, and I'm hoping to hear something by the end of this week. There is one job for a recruitment agency that I REALLY want! It's right up my ally, it's an entry-level position, and it pays really well. Oh, and some of the benefits include travel opportunities!!! If I can get an interview with the recruitment agency for the job I really want I have a good feeling that I'll get it. I have all the personality traits they are looking for. And if I can get that job, Daragh and I can move into a much bigger apartment.

Now, don't get me wrong, the people over here are really nice and curious about where I come from for the most part. I am asked about the election and about Americans in general A LOT. The Irish are really friendly, though you will always have a few jerks wherever you go.

Saturday night I went out to a pub with a Canadian girl I met through a Work In Ireland social that was held last week. We met up with a friend of her's (another Canadian) at the pub and things seemed to be going peachy. Over the course of the night it seemed more and more like I was trapped in a gauntlet of anti-American ideas.

Apparently, the fact that I am an American means that I am all of the following:

-Ignorant of the entire world
-I do not travel (still trying to figure out THAT logic)
-I worry too much (well...I worry a little, but gave no indication of this flaw)
-I talk too much
-I voted for George Bush (WHAT?!)
-I am a redneck

Seriously, of all the nationalities I expected to get flack from, the Canadians were at the bottom of the list. Most of the people I've met have been fabulous, but after the proverbial beatdown I received the other night, I felt alone for the first time since I arrived here.  

So yesterday morning I trudged down to INIS (Irish Naturalization and Immigration Services) to register with the Garda. It wasn't as painful as I expected, but still time consuming. The queue to get a ticket was not all that long, and only took about 20 minutes to get through. After that, the wait for my number to be called was another 20-30 minutes. It was the supposed 10 minute wait turned hour and 10 minute wait for my card to be printed that was painful! Everything went smoothly, i think the wait was mostly attributed to language barrier. Which sucks, but that's what you get in an immigration office...

Today went much quicker and painfree when I went to Social Services to register for my PPS number. I was one of the first people there, and I was all done after only being there half and hour. Sure, I waited for 45 minutes outside before the office opened, but it was SO worth it to be done with that quickly.

Tonight I'm going to see Snoop Dogg with Lisa, so that should be a lot of fun! I've never been to a rap concert before, so I'm not really sure what I should wear. And I'm considering heels...but I might put some ballet flats in my purse just in case I can't stand in my heels anymore.

I still do not have internet access at home, since Eircom shut my phone line off AGAIN, and then chose not to call Daragh to let him know that they messed up AGAIN. It's getting really frustrating...

So, in my usual fashion, everything went smoothly during my travel within the US. I sat in Chicago O'Hare Airport for about 9 hours, but the time went by quickly enough. A phone call here, a meal there, another phone call....You get the point.

However, once I reached Ireland it was a completely different story. The Non-EU line through customs, while long and intimidating, moved rather fast and I handed over my passport and letter of declaration to the Immigration Officer within half an hour. The Immigrations officer looks at my paperwork from BUNAC (the company I worked with to obtain my Work In Ireland visa), and since she was unfamiliar with the Work In Ireland program and USIT, proceeded to give me a hard time. She called over two other Immigration Officers who both told her, "Oh, ya! We've seen these before, it's alright". She continued to interrogate me, asking me where I was going to be staying, which I had already written on the landing card I handed to her.

Today I went to the Work In Ireland orientation. Most of the information given were things I already knew since I had spent a good bit of time in Dublin a few months ago. To be honest all the information about getting a PPS#, a bank account, and all the tax information was very intimidating.

Tomorrow there is a Work In Ireland monthly social being held at the Sub Lounge for the quiz night they have there.

Daragh found a cozy one bedroom apartment on Marino Crescent earlier this week! It's located in a georgian home which is part of Marino Crescent, which was built in 1792. The house is 5 doors down from Bram Stoker's place of birth and where the Russian Crown Jewels were held during the 20's. Bones from the Battle of Clontarf were also discovered below Marino Crescent during an excavation. 

I am so unbelievably excited! 

2 weeks until I arrive in Dublin! 

So, yesterday I turned 22.

I wasn't really looking forward to my birthday, mostly because I've been so busy with the details of my move. A few weeks ago I received my work permit papers to show to Immigration when I arrive in Dublin, along with all the information I need about finding a job and settling into Irish culture. I was not expecting to get the paperwork until the first week of September, so I was so excited when I received an e-mail only 3 weeks after sending in my application that I would be receiving all my paperwork in the mail the next day. 

So yesterday my parents threw me a HUGE going away/birthday party. The reason for the early going away party is that my family and I are leaving for North Carolina tomorrow and will be gone most of the week. And then my sister, Kelly, moves back into the dorms at Clarion University next weekend. Then in 2 weeks my youngest sister, Caitie, starts high school. Leaving only 2 weeks until I leave and both of my sisters busy or gone because of school. The party was fun, and some people actually brought me gifts or cards with money in them. I was really shocked, but it seemed like some people just really wanted to help me out with my move. I don't think I could be doing this without the incredible support system I have backing me up.

The best part about yesterday though? Daragh sent me a REALLY nice bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates. I was absolutely shocked! Daragh is not really the flowers and candy type of guy. We're both really practical about that sort of thing. But, Daragh wanted me to have a gift from him on my birthday. He even remembered that my favorite flowers are lillies. :) And he said that once we get settled into our apartment that we'd go shopping for my region-free DVD player. 

So ya...the best boyfriend ever and best parents ever gave me the best birthday ever.