Hardcore Catholic?

So I almost ended up being hated by my fiancee's entire family when they discovered that quite out of the blue we are having a wedding in October. Not out the blue to me...since we had planned on getting married before leaving the states...but anyway...

My fiancee's mother, who is extremely religious from what I understand, was very angry that Douglas hadn't invited his family (which I understand completely) except nobody really ever explained the circumstances or the fact that we are planning to have a huge wedding/both family celebration next year! Grr...

Just how Catholic are they? I grew up Protestant Lutheran....we were pretty conservative...but nothing like what I might be dealing with. What I may think nobody would mind (due to things I am aware of that go on in the family) are really VERY serious. Yes, wedding is a big family affair. I TOTALLY agree...so why the heck didn't my fiancee (no MATTER how tired he was) go ahead and explain the whole truth right then and there? I think they genuinely hate being on the phone. Dougs and his mother both. Maybe thats it.

These people just aren't good at communicating unless it is face to face...whereas I am so accustomed to picking up my phone and calling or texting whoever and explaining whatever...anytime.

I'll figure this all out about them soon enough....

Need a Translator???

So usually I am very good at understanding what everyone is saying in Derry...when they are in the room with me.

If you aren't aware, these lovely people have a very interesting accent that one who is not from the area must tune their ears to. A very interesting video that I came across on youtube explains how this poor accent has been treated by others. Not so good. Check it out! It is very interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzh7j0ReZaA

This is kinda funny too...even though my fiancee is not from Belfast...I have totally heard some of this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JII3leWb1Y&feature=related

I think it is rather musical myself...at first I must admit I felt like quite a fool when I had to ask my friend if he was speaking English and subsequently have her translate what he was saying for me.

It isn't only the accent itself...it's all of the vocabulary that they have that I don't understand. See second video.

I recently started working on a website to advertise and promote my private music studio that I will be trying to start as soon as possible when I get over there. I realized I am going to have to make phone conversation with these parents! Eeeeeek! I am now super nervous!!!

Just one of the many things I'm going to have to adapt to quickly and pray I never change the way I speak LOL

What's This?

Hello out there!

Hi, my name is Diana.
I'm an American who lives in Washington, DC who will soon be moving to Derry, Northern Ireland.

I have been there only once in my life for a short week in which I saw very little of the place but the reason I am moving there is because of my soon-to-be husband. He is from there and absolutely cannot imagine raising a family anywhere else. I mean, I wouldn't want to raise kids in America right now either.

So here is the deal. I am setting up this blog as a way to "deal" with moving and adjusting to life in another country. I have heard that this is going to be extremely difficult....so I think a creative outlet (or at least somewhere I can bitch and my friends can keep up with me) would be a great idea!

It's definitely a new chapter in my life requiring it's own blogspace....and I hope that sometime in the future it would help others making such a move. Not that Americans move to Ireland very often...but maybe they do...or not just Americans. EVERYONE who has to take a giant step in their lives. A Giant, scary, intimidating step.

So, what made me decide to do this? I very dearly love and adore my fiancee and want to see him happy. We are getting married soon (still not date grr). So I'm not starting anything with the embassy's until we get that marriage certificate.

How do I plan to make money?

I am also an opera singer. I don't want to say professional yet...but I was pretty darn good when I graduated with my masters from Catholic University. I have a Masters Degree in Music and hope and strongly believe that artistically I will be happier in Ireland. I love teaching and currently have several piano and voice students and hope I will have as many over there as I do here. I hope to sing and teach and enjoy a slower life as a musician. I WILL sing more opera once I get settled. That is one of the goals. The first step is getting my butt to an audition! If anyone reading this knows of any resources for over there...PLEASE hook me up.

Anyway, I hope someone reads this someday. It's okay if nobody ever does, because it's kinda just therapeutic at this point.

Until later!