Operation SOS!

Saturdays in Belfast have quickly become my absolute favorite day of the week! All the students from Northern Ireland go home on the weekends - they used to feel lonely but have become a wonderful quiet time to chill out. Saturdays begin with a trip with Ally and Robyn to the St. George’s Market, my favorite part of Belfast! The Saturday Market is a wonderful fusion of farmer’s market, craft show and international food festival. I purchase my produce for really cheap, eat a delicious and inexpensive lunch I could never hope to make for myself, listen to music to local musicians and just enjoy the morning! After the Market, Ally and I head to a core workout class at the gym, another one of my top favorite places in Belfast. The gym at Queen’s is state of the art and the classes are great and free. I am obsessed! After core I get some work done in the peaceful, quiet common room of my apartment where I can be super productive…if I feel like it. :) Lexie comes over from her campus and we make dinner as we watch X Factor with my English apartment-mates. X Factor is the greatest reality TV show on the air!! It is similar to American Idol only a million times better. I am completely and totally hooked! Do me a favor and youtube Eoghan Quigg. He’s my 16 year old Northern Ireland love who is destined to win X Factor. Just you watch. I warned you I was obsessed...Finally in the Saturday line-up, Operation SOS begins at quarter to one. Lexie and I bundle up, meet up with some other friends, and head down into Belfast City Centre to raid the SOS bus. The SOS bus is an awesome charity organization that sets up a bus with a medical centre to provide medical attention, refreshments and rides home for anyone in need (though mostly people coming home from pubs and clubs). We don’t go out on Saturday nights because it’s not particularly safe for students but we still benefit from the tea, candy, crossiants, doughnuts, cookies, soup, etc. that the SOS bus hands out! Don’t worry though, we volunteer with SOS once a month so we’re not terrible people.
Saturdays are an amazing day of weekly rituals and fun times relaxing with friends – I love them and my experiences in this city in general!!

Preparing for Operation SOS

Success!