Introduction: My Sister

"What's the good of news if you haven't a sister to share it?"  ~Jenny DeVries

Bachelorette of Engineering

Christmas Dinner with You

Hey poo head!

So, as you (but not any other internet readers) already know, you've been accepted to do your Masters degree in Durban, South Africa. Which is pretty awesome, I have to say. Did I ever mention how proud we are of you?

I have no idea when this was taken

But fifteen months is a long time, right? And you're excited I'm sure, but nervous as hell, as you should be. It's a big step for you, saying goodbye to regular college life and jumping into a whirl of research and odd hours and hands-on poo patrolling. (At least that's what I presume it's going to be like.) After a degree in Environmental Engineering, working on a landfill all summer and coping with all the idiot bosses and annoying customers of Reads (of Nassau Street!), I'm positively sure you'll be well able for whatever comes your way.


As for us, the ones left behind, well I have to say the house is gonna be pretty quiet without you. This is the biggest step to independence that any of us have taken yet. Sure we've done the generic three weeks in Gaeltachts, and Matthew moved out for a while at some point, and I had my Wexford working weekdays last summer, but this is obviously a much bigger deal: moving away from home, long term, to an entirely new continent, to be entirely self-sufficient. I dunno, I always just presumed all of us kids would stay in the nest forever and ever amen.

Oh the embarrassing pictures...

But that's not a very 'in the now' way of thinking. It's great that you get to do this. Do you even know how amazing it is to actually know what it is that you like, and to get the opportunity to study it even further? I mean, you picked the poo project as your thesis when nobody could understand why you would want to be studying shit like that. Literally. And now, poo seems to be where it's at!

That time you experimented on my hair.
(I still haven't decided if I like it or not.)

This really seems like the perfect thing for you right now. And I'm glad you get to go but Jesus Christ I am going to miss you. All the clothes and nail polishes I won't be able to borrow, all the outfits I won't be able to ask your opinion on, all the advice I won't be able to ask of you. I started this entry with a quote that seems to define the idea behind this blog perfectly: for what is the good of news if I can't come home and run upstairs to find you watching your shows in bed to tell you it, or drop in on you randomly for the chats? And we haven't watched Gossip Girl in AGES.


Which is why I'm going to blog to you. I mean, I've been trying to find a reason to blog for a while now, and I seriously can't keep it up without a motive. And you moving away seems to be the perfect opportunity. You know I'm bad at keeping in contact, and I basically have a phobia of talking on the phone. But hopefully, this way I can at least keep you updated on what I'm up to.

For now, all I can say is that I miss you already. Love you big sis, and good luck in Durban.