The weekend before I left to Ireland I was suddenly inspired to go see if there were any Kpop groups on Facebook related to Ireland. They didn't have one for Super Junior, but they did have one for Kpop in general, so I applied and was accepted. I made a blog post explaining that I'd be in Ireland on exchange and I'd love to meet up with people and ramble about Kpop or whatever. I went to a tiny university, but it turned out there was a fellow ELF there and I met up with her. 

Her name is Mary and she quickly became "My Irish Person". I do have a thing for adopting people to be "my"-something. I'm possessive like that. Anyway, we met up some times at the university and rambled on Facebook about everything Kpop-related. She has become a really, really good friend and I am so grateful that Super Junior brought such a person into my life. She definitely made my stay here both easier and more enjoyable; I haven't felt that awkward and weird since I knew someone else shared my love for Super Junior. And it has just made my day everytime we met up, just to be able to ramble freely and express all the weird feels and emotions Kpop can evoke in you. It seems like such a small thing, but to me it has just been highlights and our meetups have meant a lot to me. I made her a hat with "Kyu" written in Korean on it and I bought a Kyuhyun pillowcase for her since her bias is Kyu. 

While I've been here I have been seeing a therapist and one of the things we talked a lot about is presents and giving things to people. I do tend to buy stuff to people a lot, just... small things with symbolic meaning. There's always a meaning behind the gifts I give. And that's the kind of presents I love receiving as well. If someone bought me a car and said "here, car" and someone else gave me a painting they had made specifically to me, the painting would mean the most to me. Sure, a car is awesome, but when someone put time and energy into making or finding a gift that is perfect for me, that is when I feel so touched and sosososo loved. That is what means the most to me. 

Anyway, I visited Mary in Galway today. We went to a cafe and then just walked around for a bit, talking about all the Kpop and especially about Kibum and how we hope he comes back now that SM added him to SJ's site on they website. We just talked and had fun and it was so lovely but also so sad because I'm going home on Wednesday and I'll miss her so much. When I had to catch my train she gave me a gift and said I couldn't open it until I was on the train. It was a little poster of Super Junior, a lovely, lovely card that made me tear up and this: 

She wrote in the card that the giraffe symbolises Ryeowook and everything my tattoo symbolises as well (I have a giraffe tattoo on my arm) while the shamrock symbolises her because she is Irish. I love it sososo much. Like... I can't remember when the last time I received such a thoughtful and meaningful present was. And I adore the necklace. It's so cute on it's own and with the meaning behind it it just becomes perfect.