Back Tracking

Alright, I know this is a little out of date, but I’ve been rereading some emails I’ve sent since I’ve arrived in Galway and realized those things are worth mentioning in this blog, too. This should explain the conflicting date on the blog and the actual text. Hope you don’t mind. Also, I’ve rewritten the text in the blog so don’t think you’re getting a sneak peak into one of my emails.

One thing I should explain before we go further is the NUI Galway week of introductory classes. Technically the first week of classes isn’t really a week of classes at all. I wasn’t even registered for any classes when I sat down in my first Irish classroom. The whole point of the first week of classes is to “shop” for classes. First you go to the different departments you are interested in and pick up the timetables they have for their classes. After that you go and sit in on the classes you’re interested in. It isn’t until the next week that you stand in line to register for classes you will be taking for the next semester. It’s actually a pretty good system because it gives you a good idea of whether or not you would like or could handle the course load for some of these classes. There’s also the chance to assess your lecturers (got to call them lecturers and not professors) and whether or not you like their method of teaching. The only complaint I have is the actual registration process. Apparently NUI Galway has not graduated to paperless registration. Once you write down what courses you want on a registration form you are expected to stand in line and be registered. Thankfully, international students can turn in their forms early to the international office and the secretary registers the students. This cuts out standing in long lines UNLESS you want to attend seminar classes. Seminar classes are what Americans would call discussion classes. They’re smaller and therefore more competitive. The most competitive are the English seminars. I’m an English major. This means I’ll be standing in line an hour or more before registration for English classes even start. There are rumors of people bringing sleeping bags the night before. It’s crazy.

Anyway, the following description is one of me running around campus and figuring out registration processes for different departments.


January 15th


While I was walking around campus today going to classes and turning papers in something unexpected happened. I was in one of the buildings looking at my schedule when suddenly a little black puppy ran out from behind me! He was so cute and just about two and a half feet long! I think he was a black lab. Even though he was wearing a collar it didn't look like he belonged to anyone and it was so weird he was in the building. Everyone petted him but no one picked him up to take him outside.

Anyway, I giggled and watched him for a bit, but then I had to go to the international office. To leave the building I have to open this very heavy door, but when I did the puppy came outside too! He followed me down the stairs on the outside of the building and through the parking lot and to the international office where I finally had to shut the door on him! It was so sad! I wanted him to find his home! He had a collar! I told the women working in the international office and they assured me campus security will find the dog and send him home to his owners. They also laughed and made me promise not to let the dog follow ME home. They called me a big softie.

Later, it was another wild night at one of the clubs in the city center. It was the Monday after all the Irish students came back from winter break so the clubs, pubs and bars were PACKED. My friends and I didn't have much fun so we left the club early even though we paid 5 euro to get in. We ended up walking towards the pubs when we ran into these two guys asking for directions. We couldn't help them seeing as we still weren't familiar with the city, but to compensate we invited them to come to the pub with us instead. They agreed and the rest of the night was spent talking to these guys and drinking some hard cider. The boys actually drank water. They said it was their New Year's resolution to drink less. That was interesting because most of the college lads (slipping into the vernacular is fun) I’ve seen so far love their Guinness and other beers. These boys were nice and harmless, though. At the end of the night the girls and I took a taxi home and said goodnight to them. They were actually students from Dublin and only in Galway for the week to visit a friend. One was named Kevin and he was 19 years old and liked to read my friends’ palms. The other one was named Colin and was 20. He wore a silver chained bracelet that he said his Grandmum gave him.

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I never saw the black lab after that day.

Currently listening to: Beauty and the Beast score --- Alan Menken & Howard Ashman

Friends in Ireland

These are my Irish roommates! From left to right:
Me, Clairemarie, Maryclaire, and Emer










These are the Arcadia girls (aka my American friends)! Top left is Caitlin, bottom left is Alicia, middle is Meagan and right is Frankie.

Beginning

Whoa. It’s been a while and I apologize. There have been lots to do and lots to get used to, but here I am ready to share my experience so far with you all!

Once in Galway we were immediately taken to our apartments and what a delightful surprise that was! The apartment community is called Gort na Coiribe and it’s only 15 minutes away from campus and the city center (that’s what they call downtown). My apartment is #19 and it is lovely. I have never stayed in accommodations so nice! Just to give you an idea of how nice it is, the floors are tiled, the rooms are carpeted, there is a granite fire place in the living room which is connected to a balcony. Everything looks practically new. There is a GRANITE FIRE PLACE! We also don’t have keys, we have key cards. I actually don’t like that so much because I feel like I’ll lose the card easier than a key, but that doesn’t make much sense. It’s just an irrational fear. Also, it’s another card to add to my wallet which is FULL of cards that I have received since coming to Ireland. So far these are the cards I have to keep on me at all times: certificate of registration, NUI Galway student ID, International Student Identity Card (ISIC), student travel card, emergency numbers with my study abroad university, emergency numbers for my university, student health card and all the other cards I keep from before such as credit, debit, driver’s license (yes, I still need it), blood type (it’s a smart thing to have!) and other insurance cards I don’t feel like taking out. The reason why I need my driver’s license is because some stores ask specifically for that when you use an international credit card such as VISA. That’s enough about cards. Oh, I also empty my wallet of all receipts at night because there’s a chance I’ll be refunded a percentage when I leave the country. It’s because I shouldn’t have to pay taxes here or something like that.

Alright, so the apartment is awesome and my room is great! There are actually not enough clothes in my baggage to fill my closet and dresser at least half way. It’s pathetic and really appeals to my shopping urges. No worries, I’ve already added a few articles of clothing to my collection. They were practical! You know good rain coat, rain boots, etc. There’s another reason for shopping. Irish girls know how to dress and they do it often! I feel so outclassed sometimes. It’s all about the tall heeled boots here and funky tights under a skirt of some sort AND they have really trendy coats that obviously do not repel rain but look SO CUTE! God, I wish the US economy was doing better now so the dollar wouldn’t be so pathetic compared to the euro. It’s gonna kill me in the end, but right now I’m enjoying myself!

My Irish roommates are just as awesome as the apartment. There are three Irish girls here in #19 in addition to my roommate Caitlin (from Illinois) and me. Their names are Maryclaire, Clairemarie, and Emer. I know and yes, that’s how you spell their names. It’s nice that Maryclaire has auburn hair and Clairemarie is blonde. Emer’s a brunette. They all have known each other since grade school and grew up together. It’s their last year at NUI Galway and they’re all 19 years old. The reason for that is Ireland universities work on a three year system and I think the cut-off dates for little kids to start school is different. No matter, these girls are TONS of fun. The very first night they came back from winter break they insisted I come out dancing with them. It was a blast and they took really good care of me concerning drinks and taxi fare. Most nights I go out it’s with them and a few of my American friends from the study abroad program. Okay side note: I’m going to start referring to my study abroad program as Arcadia just because it’s shorter and that’s really what it’s called.

The only down side to the Irish roommates is that they often come home drunk and make a mess in the kitchen and living room. They always apologize the next morning and clean up before the day is over, but it’s just a little scary walking into a big mess before you go off to school.

The girl I share a room with is Caitlin. She’s really nice and we get along as roommates just fine. We mostly hang out with different people so we don’t see each other much unless we’re in our room at the same time.

Well friends, there’s tons more to tell you, but I won’t overwhelm you like I did last time. More on Galway coming soon!

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Oh, I’m gonna start leaving random things at the bottom of my blogs like songs I’m listening to while I write or shout outs or whatever. It’ll add a little flava!

Currently listening to: Of Angels and Angles – The Decemberists

Dublin Before Galway

January 8, 2007

Hello Friends!

Tomorrow is the day! I’ll be hopping on a bus and heading west towards the green hills and coastal waters of Galway! The last three days have been spent in Dublin for my orientation. Ugh.

First, let me apologize for not writing immediately after landing in Ireland. I’m sorry, but I do have a good reason. I’ve been stuck in a youth hostel in Dublin without any internet access AND I had to put my laptop in a safe behind the front desk to prevent theft. Welcome to Dublin, where the drivers hate pedestrians and every corner has a pickpocket ready to screw you of your money, cell phone and/or passport. But, don’t get me wrong, Dublin is pretty awesome. It’s a huge city with lots of big stone buildings, popular retail stores, pubs, bars (not the same thing), businesses, a river running down the center and LOTS of people. It’s fascinating but not what I signed up for when I wanted to come to Ireland.

The first day (Jan. 6, 2008) was a blur of events. After a seven hour flight, four of which I slept, I grabbed my luggage from the conveyor belt, found the Arcadia (my study abroad university) representatives, sent 2/3rds of my stuff to Galway on the west coast and then jumped on a bus to Dublin, which is on the east coast. There are about 54 students in my Arcadia group and we are all studying at the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) for the next semester. Most of us don’t know each other and come from different states and time zones.

For the first three nights we were to stay at the Abbey Court Hostel in Dublin right next to the Liffey River which runs through Dublin. The hostel is actually a lot nicer than I expected. The bathrooms are very clean and we have a key card to go through every door. My room is really narrow with three bunk beds and one bathroom at the end. This meant six girls (all from Arcadia) in one very tiny room. Somehow we’ve made it work and no one has bitten anyone. Actually, we all get along really well. There are storage bins underneath our bunks with locks and keys, but it’s still encouraged to leave your laptop with reception. I have the bottom bunk nearest the door and bathroom. Location is key.

Breakfast was served in a restaurant next door, during which I chatted up two girls from my program. Frankie is from Montana but attends a small women’s school in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has dirty blonde hair in a short spiky haircut, magenta rimmed glasses and some freckles. There are fragments of previous pale pink highlights. I liked her instantly. Lauren is tall with brown hair. She has a cute smile and is going to school in York, Pennsylvania. Apparently this is where the York peppermint paddy originated. Guess what she brought as a gift for her home-stay family. She’s nice, too. It turns out all three of us are English majors with a second major. We also all picked Ireland over New Zealand. I never really told you guys, but I seriously considered New Zealand for awhile. Any Lord of the Rings movie will tell you why.

After unpacking, Frankie and I walked around Dublin for half an hour before lunch with Arcadia. We went straight to Temple Bar which is kind of like the Pedestrian Mall in Iowa City except the shops are way more upscale. Through an alley (not as scary as it sounds) and past a cobble stone street, Frankie and I found a book peddler in a courtyard surrounded by coffee shops and restaurants. Frankie’s English major got the best of her and she went straight for the books. She even chatted up the peddler and got a few recommendations from him. I resisted the impulsive shopper urge and checked out the different coffee shops and what the other streets connecting to the courtyard might have to offer. Everything is really close together in Dublin. The streets are tiny and all the buildings are squished up against each other. Remember how pictures of buildings looked from the Great London Fire (late 1800s or early 1900s)? Well, that’s what I thought of when I first saw these buildings; most of them are made of stone though, so I don’t think a fire will catch quite as quick. Oh wait, it always rains in Ireland, scratch all concerns of massive fires.

Lunch was nice. I ate as much as I could since it was all paid for by Arcadia. I am not looking forward to buying my own food. One euro is a little less than two US dollars. Sterling, what the UK uses, is even worse. Note to self, don’t stay long in London.

Lunch ended around 2 PM Greenwich time and I wanted to pass out. Jet lag was a bitch, but I refused to give in. After getting back to the hostel I piled on more layers, it was cold and looked likely to rain, and headed out to explore Dublin on my own. The only thing that really held my interest was shoe stores. Thankfully nothing caught my eye enough for me to spend any cash. My eyelids were heavier and the weather was getting pretty intense when I decided to find a coffee shop, something Iowa City has made a comfort to me. The first one I found was a cute little place called Insomnia Coffee Company. One shot of espresso later and I was sitting at one of the tables, writing Aaron a letter. I love you, Baby.

Three hours later (I also read a bit) and it was 6 o’clock. I started heading back to the hostel and the sky started to pour. Oh Dublin. Rumor has it that Galway gets the most rain out of any Irish city. I can’t wait to buy a good raincoat and boots. Never mind an umbrella, the wind will tear that up.

Dinner was hot soup at a bar called The Bachelor. Most of the Arcadia students were there and I’m pretty sure our one waitress hated us because some wanted American beer, some wanted Guinness, and some wanted water (that was me). Needless to say, I turned in early that night (8 PM). The bunk bed is actually quite comfortable and plenty warm, but half way through the night I woke up and couldn’t sleep again until two hours before I was supposed to get up. Jet lag, you wily devil.

January 7, 2007

Today was not very eventful. Most of the morning was spent in a conference room at the Davenport Hotel in Dublin. Things discussed: Irish culture, housing (my apartment), safety, home-stay (3 days with an Irish family in the country), and some other basic orientation stuff. After that we all were given a bus tour ticket and a map of Dublin. The Dublin bus tours stop at 23 major Dublin landmarks and work on a hop on hop off system. The ticket has a scanner on the back so you just slide it through a reader every time you get on. The buses have stops near the landmarks and are about ten minutes apart. The best thing, besides the landmarks, is the bus driver/ tour guide on each bus. They all have a constant dialogue that is full of history, funny anecdotes and puns. My favorite driver was in his 60s and sang an Irish song about girls, commented on whiskey, the Spice Girls, and Molly, Dublin’s favorite character. Molly was a fishmonger during the early 1900s, but that wasn’t all she sold, at night she had other wares. There’s a bronze statue of her (very flattering chest) and for some reason she’s extremely beloved by the city. She’s the most photographed woman in all of Dublin. The driver also mentioned that whiskey’s Irish translation means “water of life”. That little fact is for you, Megan. Don’t ask me to spell the Irish pronunciation, it’s ridiculous.

On the tour, Frankie and I visited the St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Guinness factory. Both places were amazing in their own way. St. Patrick’s has gorgeous architecture and tile floors. There are so many famous Irish people buried in it. Jonathon Swift was the dean of St. Patrick’s school for a while. They have a cast of his face and skull. Celebrities often had their faces cast after they died. The cathedral also has a famous Irish door with a hole in it that is responsible for the Irish saying to “chance your arm”. Back in Irish history (probably 1900s) two important Irish men were feuding for a long time. It finally escalated into a big sword fight that led to one man closing a door on the other. The one that had the door closed on him realized how ridiculous the feud was and tried to call a truce, but the other man didn’t trust him. So, the man who had the door shut on him chopped a hole in the center of the door and extended his arm through it in an attempt towards reconciliation and trust. The other man saw how sincere this was and shook the hand through the door. It’s now tradition to become friends and shake hands with someone through this door. I shook hands with a French woman. I think she got a real kick out of me asking her if she wanted to be friends.

The Guinness Factory was HUGE! It actually takes up several Dublin blocks. The tour is very impressive. It details the process of making a Guinness, why it’s so special, the history of Guinness and at the end there is some beer tasting. The highest bar in Dublin is actually a part of the Guinness factory. It’s called the Gravity Bar and has an excellent view of the city. I wish I could write more on the factory, but it’s honestly one of those things you have to see for yourself. It’s a definite must, and the bus driver says it’s the stop where everyone always gets off.

I wanted to go to the Jameson distillery after Guinness, but part way there jet lag snuck up on me. Frankie was ready to turn in too, because she started off the trip sick.