Easter Traditions

Its EASTER! This is going to be one of those periods of time in the year that I am incredibly grateful that I work for the Catholic Church. The reason is simple and, as my constant readers will attest, the most important to me in my life. My Family.

They will 5286 miles away in Nottingham. They'll all be in the same house I would wager, and I'm here. On Easter Sunday I shall be working...In fact I'm working everyday, in part, of the Sacred Triduum. This is good because the distraction will keep me from feeling lonely...well TOO lonely at least.

Only 49 days to go...

So, instead of this being a self-indulgent "I miss my family" BLOG; I'd like to talk about Easter.

As you will know, if you read my St Valentine entry, I find it amusing (if not a little annoying) that most people in this World, religious or not, celebrate ALL the Christian Holy Days.
It might amuse some of you to know that the word we use to describe going abroad for some R&R (not you Americans - hey you got one thing right!) is derived from HOLY and DAY - HOLIDAY. Basically, the only time you were allowed to not be at work was when you were granted a HOLY DAY to be at Church, listen to the Word of God, got to Communion, and celebrate the life of someone who gave theirs for us (or in Saints for their Faith).

The biggest, most important week in the Christian (and Jewish) calendar is upon us. We are about to celebrate the Passover. The Last Supper in Christian lingo. I love this celebration because it unites us with our roots. Judaism. Doesn't it make you laugh when you ask some people what Religion Jesus was and they say: "Uh, Christian?!" - as if YOU'RE the dumb-ass!

As the New Testement states (and we hear in every mass we attend): The night before he died, he took bread... Jesus celebrated the Passover with his Disciples in remembrance of the Israelites journey from bondage in Egypt. They had no time to bake bread and wait for it to ris so they baked bread with no yeast (un-leavened) which obviously doesn't rise. They also have such things as salt water (tears) and bitter herbs to commemorate the suffering of their ancestors before they were delivered into the "Promised Land".

I love these traditions that we share. Our Mass is based on this, and this weekend we remember more clearly than ever the suffering of the Israelites and the suffering of Jesus.

I hope that, if you didn't know these small facts before, you learned something. I just like to write this stuff down every now and then...not necessarily to educate but to just have it out there. Also, if there is inaccuracies; I ask your pardon and request education in the form of a comment.

Have a happy and Holy Easter.

1 year down...

So, it's happened. I was intending to write this on the very day of my year anniversary of being "Stateside" but I was busy!

So, what has changed in the year since I've been here? Well, I like baseball (which I was expressly forbidden to do by my brothers), I've found a great circle of friends who I know I can rely on, I've settled into my job and been through some tough times with my Parish...I like Country Music! Haha.

There's too much to say what has changed. I'd like to tell you about 3 things that haven't changed, and I'm sure they never will:

1. I miss my family every day. This is the hardest and most rewarding thing I've ever had to do. Sometimes it feels like I've given up my family and I don't like that feeling. I'm missing out on all the things they get to do together and that makes me sad. The flip side is when I get to talk to them on Skype or when I get to go home - it's awesome...even if there's not much to say! Just to see them and hear them is great. 58 days until I head home!

2. My accent. I'm incredibly happy that I still have my accent. This is for a number of reasons really. Mainly it's that I'm still quite novel for people. It starts the most amount of conversations (some start like this: What part of IRELAND are you from?! To which I reply: NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND!!). It's also fun when I go into the lower grades in the school. If I say "Charlie bit my finger!" or "Give it back Malfoy, or I'll knock you off your broom!" it sends them into hysterics!

3. I still have strong links with my friends back home. It speaks for itself really.

So, America has affected my life, it's given me an opportunity I would never have had at home. It's taken me away from people I love most in the world...but it hasn't removed them. I'm thankful for the ties I have that keep me strongly attached to my roots.

Now, I have a question. Do I get a new Facebook page for my family and friends? It's getting difficult to post things with all the Youth Group on the other one! Answers on a comment!

Well then...

It's been a while! I think it's due to me being busy at work, happy at play, and never really having a free minute! I like that though. Being busy is always good as it makes time go quicker than it usually does - I know that's not possible but I'm sure you all know what I mean.

There's not really a lot to report I'm afraid. No poignant thought, no glimmer of inspiration for writing in my darling on-line diary. I do have a plan for what I shall write on Friday however so I hope you have a glance back then. You'll understand why when/if you read it!

I'll leave you with one thing. Cherish your friendships no matter how far, simply because you never know when another side of a person will come out and completely change everything you thought of them.