And Each Heart is Whispering, "Home, Home at Last."

I've been at Anaverna for 3 days now and already feel at home. It's not very difficult in a place like this. A call for communal living seems to permeate every part of the house, particularly the kitchen. From the very first day it was clear to me that I was not considered a visitor or guest, but was instead invited to take care of myself- cook whatever and whenever I want, work hours that suit me, and freely explore the grounds without any boundaries.



 There's a joke amongst the people living here that once you come to Anaverna you can never bring yourself to leave. From what I see there is a great deal of truth in that. Currently, there are two WWOOFers and a young pianist living here. Each has a goal to accomplish and has extended their stay several times.

Monica is a 26 year old young woman from Spain who came here in October and planned to stay for 3 months. She's set on learning English and would like to stay here until December the latest (but we know how deadlines go around here). Monica, is a natural beauty with tons of energy. She likes to sing at the top of her lungs in the garden and roll around on the floor whenever she feels frustrated. "It makes me feel better," she says. Her English sounds pretty damn good to me, but she would like to expand her vocabulary. There's something so lovely about the way she speaks. Her accent makes everything sound romantic.

Sarah is a 23 year old American from Michigan. She is possibly the cutest person I have ever met. Her smile lights up her entire face and her cheeks are so rosey you'd swear they're covered in blush. Sarah is a writer and painter who has been here since the winter and plans to stay until August when her Visa expires. She and Monica have the most charming friendship. I often hear them from my room trolloping through the house, giggling like little girls. They're actually on their way to Dublin right now for a double-blind date.

Daniel is a soon-to-be 19 year old Irish lad. From what I've heard he is a fantastic pianist with a very bright future. He's living here in order to dedicate his time to music. About a year ago he perfomed in a concert at Anaverna and was granted permission to live in the barn. Daniel has a slim build with fair skin and beautifully innocent blue eyes. He is incredibly sweet and is always laughing.

There's something oddly familiar about the three of them. Perhaps it's that they remind me of my friends back home. They're relaxed and open hearted like my college roommates, and they have the depth I've found in many of my artistic friends. Also, Monica's accent and energy remind me alot of my friend Carlos who has a way of making everyone he comes in contact with fall in love with him.

Two nights ago all 4 of us snuggled up in Sarah's queen sized bed to watch Edward Scissor Hands (the first American movie Monica has ever purchased!). It was a tight fit, but not the least bit uncomfortable. I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by such interesting people. Each one of them has a dream they are passionate about. And each one of them is incredibly courageous to be creating their own path in life. For them, Anaverna is a place that offers everything they need right now- privacy,peacefulness, inspiration, and opportunity. I didn't anticipate fate bringing me to a place like this, but I plan on soaking up all it has to offer.

The first thing Anaverna offered me was an opportunity to come to Ireland. I've always felt a strong connection to this land for some mysterious reason. The least hokey explanation would be that some of my ancestors hail from Ireland. On my grandmother's side, I think. The other reason could be that the film P.S. I Love You has enticed me into believing that my one true love is a sexy hard-working, James Joyce-reading, music-loving Irishman who will write me poetry one minute and then build me a wine cabinet the next. Wouldn't that be a dream? Another reason could simply be this inner knowledge that something is here for me, calling me to discover it. Who knows...

One thing's for sure I'm technically here at Anaverna to put on a piece of theatre. My host Vere has a performance space above the Barn that fits about 80 people. Musicians, actors, poets, and artists are invited here for performances a few times a month. Originally I had signed up for a volunteer program called World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms which allows you to connect with organic farmers who will host you (house and feed you) in exchange for several hours of work each day. I've always been interested in learning about cultivating my own garden and eating healthy so I figured this was the perfect way to experience the culture of Ireland while learning something new and traveling on a budget (a recent college grad, student-loan-paying budget).

When Vere saw my application for his farm, he replied saying that he should really tell me he had no vacancy, but after seeing my website he was impressed and wanted me to put on a piece of theatre. I jumped at the opportunity and began researching for the perfect play. At first, we were thinking a children's piece, but that would require other actors. I asked every theatre contact I had for suggestions. My former professors Dr. Trauth and Susan Kerner both suggested a piece by William Luce titled Bronte: A Solo Portrait of Charlotte Bronte. That's the author of Jane Eyre. Vere thought this was a brilliant idea since one of his most devoted patrons is the head of the Bronte society.

Now, I'm not gonna lie- I'm scared shitless. I've never performed a solo piece let alone a full 57 page one woman show. To make things more intense, my character speaks with an accent and lives in the 1800s. This should be interesting.

Thankfully, I'm not going at it alone. Vere contacted a friend who will be acting as my director, stage manager, lighting director, and sound technician. His name's Ultan. He's a warm and intelligent Irishman in his 40s. Vere said he is experienced in the amatuer scene, and from what Ultan says, the amatuer scene is actually pretty damn good seeing how every renowned Irish actor has passed through it on their way up. Plus there's no major acting schools in Ireland so many of them learn their craft here before breaking into the professional scene. Anyway, I feel like I'm in good hands. Really good hands. I mean you've gotta love the arts to put your name on a one-woman show starring an actress who's never done one before and only has 2 weeks to prepare. You've gotta be a little coockoo too, but at least we're nut-cases together!

I've begun memorizing my lines and preparing for our first rehearsal on Monday. It's a pretty sweet deal. I get to wander the estate looking for a scenic spot, work on an interesting play, cook myself meals with veggies straight from the garden, and then hang out with 3 other young people on their own adventures. "But Ireland isn't paradise," you say, "What are the drawbacks?" Well, the weather's a little unpredictable, and it's ridiculously cold and rainy, but that's a small price to pay for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. And who knows- I've got about 6 more weeks left. That's plenty of time to sift through the Irish hotties in search of my one true love...or even just one true kiss. I'll take that too.

Live the life you love...

"I Think We're Okay" - En Route to Ireland

The flight to Ireland was interesting. I'm kind of suprised I made it! First of all, I barely got through security with all my carry on items (you're only allowed two: a bag and a personal item), but fortunately the man at the checkpoint was feeling cheerful and let me through with my 2 bags, travel pouch, and reading material. Then, once I got past security my gate kept changing, sending me and all my fellow passengers scurrying through the airport, like gypsies, belongings in toe.

After the 2nd gate change I was finally checking in. While standing on line I heard a young man behind me ask where I was off to. At this point I was in survival mode and not in the mood for idle chatter, but my defenses quickly melted when I discovered he was also traveling to Ireland for the first time by himself. A travel buddy! He told me he was a junior at Boston College and was going to Ireland to launch a new iPhone app called Ulysses, which guides the user through Dublin, using the same course depicted in James Joyce's novel. Apparently, Louie helped his professor do the research for the app and was a part of its creation. He said the process isn't that difficult- you come up with an idea for an app, get the necessary information and then present it to a company who handles the technological aspects. Of course, you also need about $10,000 and 2 years worth of preparation for it to materialize. I'm brainstorming nonetheless.

 We caught up with eachother after the first flight landed in Toronto. Because the flight to Canada was delayed we had just minutes to catch the one to Ireland. Panick set in after hearing the final boarding call while we were still online waiting to get through Canadian customs. Neither of us had a clue about what to do if we missed it. After finally getting past customs... I bolted! ("sorry Louie, I can't afford a new plane ticket!") A man on a tram car passed by and whisked me away towards the gate. Luckily, Louie was speed walking not to far behind. "I think we're okay," I called out from the back of the car, pretending not to be caught red handed saving my own ass. Anyway, we both made it onto the plane! I scrambled to shove my massive carry on into an overhead bin with the help of a kind man (yes, I was that person), I took my seat next to a young red headed woman and spent the entire 6 hour flight watching romantic comedies (karma).

When I arrived in Dublin, I had no clue where to meet my host Vere who was kind enough to pick me up at the airport. Fortunately, the girl sitting next to me on the plane offered to guide me out to the exit where her friend was waiting.

After spotting a man who resembled the Facebook photo, I approached him with a smile and sense of relief. He looked a little confused and unsure if I was his girl. "Are you...Lizzie?" he asked. My jet lagged appearance probably looked nothing like the glamorous girl on my website. I scanned him up and down, determined he wasn't a creep, nodded and proceeded to his car.

The car ride was about 40 minutes. I was waiting to get that feeling of wonder at how beautiful and different Ireland is, but alas, a highway is a highway. It was just as bland as NJ- only there was less trash and the cars were cuter.

Things started looking up once we entered the town of Ravensdale ("raven" pronounced like the bird). The streets were lined with stone walls, and some of the houses had the iconic red doors.

We pulled into a long winding dirt driveway which lead up to the lovely Anavera estate, consisting of one main house, a gate house, a converted old school building, a veggie garden , and a cobblestone stableyard, all sitting on a few acres surrounded by forest.




After getting a quick tour, Vere brought me right to my room in the main house with powder blue walls, crown molding, high ceilings, and the most gorgeous window overlooking the property. I unpacked my clothing into an antique vanity and then snuggled up in my twin size bed for some much needed sleep.



While lying in bed I began to worry about the logistics of preparing a one woman show in the next 2 weeks. I've never had so little time to rehearse. In fact, I've never even done a one woman show. Just as my heart started racing it suddenly dawned on me that I'm in Ireland and have no responsibility but to create art. "What a lovely predicament to find yourself in," I thought. "Let the challenge begin."