THINGS I'VE MISSED ABOUT AMERICA:
1. Family + Friends: Duh. Sorely missed, however I secretly wish that everyone could just join me in Ireland so I could get the best of both worldz. However then I wouldn't have...
2. My house: Nothing beats waking up in your own bed, rolling out of said bed, stepping over mounds of clothes piled on your floor, skippin' down to the kitchen, pourin' yourself a nice cup of joe (whilst batting the dog away from the cat food) and watching t.v on mam and pap's bed / living room couch with kitties perched on your shoulder and the family dog going ape shit that someone else is awake. Substitute "your" for "my" and "kitties" for Shoo Shoo, Wally and Macy, and "family dog" for Murphy and t.v for "Bravo" or as I fondly remember it, "Channel 44".
3. Pandora: Ireland/ Europe in general should hop on the Pandora bandwagon RUL QUICK. They don't know what they're missing. But I do.
4. Wings Over Burlington: I CAN'T QUIT YOU.
5. Vermont: Next best thing to Ireland in terms of beauty and people that generally rule.
6. SMC: Because you stimulate my mind and offer me free chicken patties on the weekend.
THINGS I'LL MISS ABOUT IRELAND:
1. Irish time: Which differs from real time and by real time I mean whatever your watch or cell phone or whatever other form of technological time table offers. Irish time is slower, real-er (and by real-er I mean what your watch or cell phone or whatever other form of technological time table offers doesn't offer which is just LIVIN' and gettin' there when you get there) and doesn't just pertain to idle minded lazy sleepy heads as you might think be thinking. Grown ups follow Irish time too. Heck, they almost enforce it! I don't think one of my professors was in class before I was. Restaurants and cafes don't rush you out and make you feel weird, they wait for you to ask for the check and pay at your own convenience. They let you REST..aur..ant...
2. Animals : Especially Sheep maybe. Especially lambs. Especially lambs takin' naps with their bb brother or sister or cuddled next to their mam. Or a lamb jumpin' and runnin'. So cute and soft lookin' and makin' cute noises and decorate pretty much every road in Ireland.
3. Ruins: Give me an old stone castle or church with a roof caving in, covered in ivy and flowers at any time of day and you'll have me gushing and gasping at its beauty.
4. Green EVERYWHERE: Just incomparable.
5. Taking walks past any of the above said things, especially with Isabelle, Brenna and Liza (we took many throughout our sojourn here) singing the Sound of Music, or attempting to sing an irish song, or simply Rihanna.
6. Dare I say it, Ryan Air: Only because it brought the lolz (the countless times I somehow messed up checking in and having my boarding pass almost being rejected and me almost being fined but not) and for allowing me to travel easily enough to nearby beautiful countries.
7. Pubs: And how its totally normal for families to hangout there, toddlers and babies included, enjoying the best trad music ever, which also happens to serve delicious soup to boot, and some even have adorable middle aged people irish dancing in the middle of the floor, who at times will dance up to you and ask you to join in. You can also strike up a conversation with virtually ANYONE and most often that not, they rule and make you happy for humanity.
8. The Doughnut man: I wish I could stuff you in my carry on and have you create those doughy balls of heaven on the daily.
9. NUIG: Because you were practically optional and gave me lots of free time to wander around Galway.
10. FRIENDZ; American or Irish, I'll miss everyone so much. Which is weird because we didn't know each other for that long, but we did in a way. And I wish I could see everyone often but I know I can't. Which is actually the saddest thing. And how I miss my family and friends now is how I'll miss you guys. And how I skype my family and friends now is how I'll skype you guys. Which is weird. And Sad.
And I'm not ready to leaveeeee but I am. But I'm not. And I'm sure within the next few days I'll think of more things to add to the Things I'll Miss List.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
How ye gettin' on?
This weekend was spent in Donegal with Cara and the lads, and was possibly my favorite weekend in Ireland. Friday afternoon Isabelle, Brenna, Alex, Odhran D. and myself took the bus which passed through some gloriously picturesque fields and hills, sprinkled with many adorable sheep, cows and horses (whom I will dearly miss when I'm back in America. I dread driving along a highway that doesn't involve passing by old ivy covered ruins and farm animals, but instead mini malls and parking lots LIVIN' ROOMS BEDROOMS DINETTES HAY HAY. Anyone? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ3oHpup-pk ...I digress.) When we got to Donegal Town we met up with Cara, who just arrived herself from Dublin, and we went to a cafe, drank cups of joe and made a plan for the night which involved taking a party bus to Killybegs for their friend's birthday party (but more on that later. And by party bus I guess I mean a kind of taxi bus but party bus offers a more accurate description). Odhran D. and Alex walked to his house, as they were staying there for the weekend, and Cara's mom picked us gals up and drove us to their house. About a 5 minute drive from town, we barreled through what looks like a one way windy street decorated by a canopy of trees to their house which over looks Donegal bay and flowery hilltops. Most of the lads live next door to her so we "dandered" (which means a "wee walk" according to Odhran D.) over to Odhran N.'s house and jumped on his INGROUND trampoline overlooking the bay and played with his cat (jealous?) . There are donkey's in the front yard and her family pretty much shares a dog that actually belongs to Brian's family who lives next door to them but is love with her mom so the sweet lil dawg instead splits her time between both homes.
Friday night everyone came over and we hung out in the shed behind her house blasting tunes and waited for the party bus which certainly delivered. Good times that is. To give an idea of how much fun the party was, I found out the next day that there were about 3 rooms and free food I had no idea about since I literally only left the dance floor a handful of times only to use the ladies room. We then took the party bus back to Cara's and hungout until the wee hours of the morning. The next day we hung around, laughed about the night before and listened to what the boys did after they left Cara's (holy water might have been involved) walked around town a little, watched Doritos Ads (which, you're right dear reader, doesn't sound like a typical pastime. But you see, Cara and some of the lads entered an ad contest and we were taking a looksie at their competition. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iLF5qpBQMQ&feature=related ...watch it and weep suckers). We then went to the town over for an outdoor concert which featured bands and singers from the area, but the grand finale was this Harry Potter Hagrid looking character whose guitar skills are greater than or equal to my map skills (see below). We then got shuttled back into Donegal town and went to the Abbey Hotel bar and then to the dance club Sky. Which in a word, ruled. We finished off the night with some Shamrock Chinese Food, yes thats right, Shamrock. Chinese Food. If that doesn't bring the lolz I'm not sure what does. Then more late night convos at Cara's ensued until the wee hours of Sunday. We woke up for a second to wisely decide not to take the 9:45 am bus back to Galway but instead the 4:15 pm, and then ate a gracious and delicious and massive brunch prepared by Cara's little sisters.
We were seriously sad to leave as Donegal is one of the most beautiful/ fun places I've ever been and Cara's parents, sisters and brother could not have been more generous, hospitable, or sweet. This weekend has made me even SADDER to leave Ireland, and I'm already planning on moving here next summer. I could gush about the weekend and Ireland in general forever but I have things to do and by things to do I mean take a walk to what we coined the "fairy forest" which is a castle and accompanying magical forest land about 40 minutes from my house which we found last week and never want to leave.
Friday night everyone came over and we hung out in the shed behind her house blasting tunes and waited for the party bus which certainly delivered. Good times that is. To give an idea of how much fun the party was, I found out the next day that there were about 3 rooms and free food I had no idea about since I literally only left the dance floor a handful of times only to use the ladies room. We then took the party bus back to Cara's and hungout until the wee hours of the morning. The next day we hung around, laughed about the night before and listened to what the boys did after they left Cara's (holy water might have been involved) walked around town a little, watched Doritos Ads (which, you're right dear reader, doesn't sound like a typical pastime. But you see, Cara and some of the lads entered an ad contest and we were taking a looksie at their competition. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iLF5qpBQMQ&feature=related ...watch it and weep suckers). We then went to the town over for an outdoor concert which featured bands and singers from the area, but the grand finale was this Harry Potter Hagrid looking character whose guitar skills are greater than or equal to my map skills (see below). We then got shuttled back into Donegal town and went to the Abbey Hotel bar and then to the dance club Sky. Which in a word, ruled. We finished off the night with some Shamrock Chinese Food, yes thats right, Shamrock. Chinese Food. If that doesn't bring the lolz I'm not sure what does. Then more late night convos at Cara's ensued until the wee hours of Sunday. We woke up for a second to wisely decide not to take the 9:45 am bus back to Galway but instead the 4:15 pm, and then ate a gracious and delicious and massive brunch prepared by Cara's little sisters.
We were seriously sad to leave as Donegal is one of the most beautiful/ fun places I've ever been and Cara's parents, sisters and brother could not have been more generous, hospitable, or sweet. This weekend has made me even SADDER to leave Ireland, and I'm already planning on moving here next summer. I could gush about the weekend and Ireland in general forever but I have things to do and by things to do I mean take a walk to what we coined the "fairy forest" which is a castle and accompanying magical forest land about 40 minutes from my house which we found last week and never want to leave.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
I Survived a Volcanic Explosion and All I Got Was This Stupid T-Shirt
Sadly, after 17 days of traveling I did not receive a T-shirt. However, I did make new friends, see new places, eat new foods, learn new things and ultimately had the most unbelievable experience. By new friends I mean the many people I stayed with at the many hostels I called home for a few days at a time (I also think I fell in love at first sight at least 3 times. My theme song during the trip was Roxette's "It Must Have Been Love (But Its Over Now))." By new places I mean Venice, Florence, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, and the side streets, parks, museums, apartments, cafes, gardens, boardwalks, docks, metro stops, bus stops, and train stations sprinkled throughout each. By new foods I mean dragon fruit, cactus flower, and fois gras (HUUULGH). (That was me evoking a vomit sounding noise). By learn new things I mean, for example, how well I navigate myself through a new city thanks to my newly discovered inner compass and shockingly good sense of direction. I'll humbly admit that I kick ass and take names with a map. Its like I'm the Kanye West of map reading. A little bit cocky but rightfully so. Dare I say, I'm the Cesar Millan of maps- The Map Whisperer. A topographical wizard, as it were. Want to to the Vatican? BAM your'e already there and back and took the scenic route. Lost and looking for David? Don't worry guys let me just get my map, oh wait I don't even need it I'm that good.
I also learned that good company can make a seemingly horrible and frustrating situation perfectly fine. I'm sure you guys watched the aftermath of a practical joke MN pulled on us a few days ago (MN= Mother Nature, keep up with me here):
Mother Nature: Knock knock.
Humanity: Whose there?
Mother Nature: Eyjafjallajokull.
Humanity: Sorry what? Did you sneeze? Ethwjhgojsngejgn!@% who?
Mother Nature: Lol. You guys crack me up. Enjoy finding your way home after this ash cloud seeps its way into your perfectly organized lives and transportation plans.
We first found out about the ash cloud while in Barcelona after we visited the Guell Park and wanted to know how Antonio Gaudi died (freak tram accident), Conor was using his Black Berry to settle our morbid minds and read an email that the heads of our program sent informing us travelers about the explosion. We hardly batted an eyelash as we thought there was no way it would affect us. Silly, stupid mortals. Of course it would. It would spread and settle and infiltrate its way pretty much all across Europe, stranding thousands and frustrating even more, as everyone's parents and professors grew worried for our well being and safe return. We were able to fly to Madrid, which was supposed to be the last leg of our 2 week vacation, and what was supposed to be 3 days ended up being 8. I felt like a cartoon character being followed like a shadow by a thick, ominous gray cloud; once they smugly think they finally got a way, the sonofagun cloud pours and soaks them to the core. When we found out that our return flight to Ireland was canceled, our friends rallied against the imminent cloud hanging above our heads, not an ash cloud, but just a cloud of gray gloom which turns a good mood into a bad one and ruins appetites. Food was ordered, wine was poured laughs were had and somehow last minute plans to get back to Ireland 5 days later were made. The ordeal made us a tight little family, and now leaving in two weeks is an even sadder prospect after this.
We passed the time by hanging out in Parque del Buen Retiro everyday, picnicking, reading aloud to each other from Witches of Eastwick, giving each other haircuts, and eating ice cream. Although we wanted nothing more than to be in Ireland enjoying the good weather with our friends, I kept reminding myself that there much much much worse things in the world than being stuck in Madrid for a few days.
I also learned that the world is so much smaller than I could have ever imagined. This might have been attributed to the fact that since I had my traveling eyes on and was taking in everything wide eyed and observantly, I ran into at least 5 people I know and countless people I had seen on a bus or train or plane which delighted me to no end. Like, what are the CHANCES that right after I try getting in touch with my only friend staying in Florence (but of course our phones won't connect) I run into her on the street? What are the odds that I run into Sam, who I have barely seen since Israel, at the same museum? Who would have ever thought that I would brush shoulders with a girl I went to high school with while running to catch a train to Rome? These encounters won't stop blowing my mind. Especially because there are so many that happened within the past few days.
I also learned that people rule. But then sometimes they don't. Take for example, Susan Rogers, a Spanish high school teacher from New York. We met her while waiting online to get our money refunded from the bull fight that was canceled. (Talk about major bummer. Although we were apprehensive and sad for the bull's imminent death, it would have been such a cool experience but WHATTA YA KNOW a RAIN CLOUD ruined it). Anyhow, if it weren't for the rain cloud we would not have met Susie, who bestowed lots of Spanish knowledge, shared great tidbits of information and words to the wise, as well as acting as a much needed mom-like figure all of needed in the midst of the ash cloud (she even gave us her number, the doll). Then again, there are people like the ones who sat behind us on the overnight bus from Madrid to Barcelona, who kept us up. The entire. Time. A sleepless 7 hour bus ride can really spoil a mood, especially when caused by four loud disgusting drunken men. I think I felt my blood actually boil. I wished desperately that I knew how to say anything besides "Hola" and "Gracias" because there was so much I wanted to scream I mean say to them.
But I am finally finally finally back in Ireland and it feels so good to be in my own bed. Although, I really do miss our hostel in Madrid, which was like someone's apartment about 20 people happened to be staying in. They would play records all day and it was so cozy and I want to live there. But nothing beats here. And I'm sure nothing will beat when I'm home home. But anyway, I need to go to the market and catch up with friends but I will give actual details about the trip later. Hope everyone is as happy and cozy as I am now!
I also learned that good company can make a seemingly horrible and frustrating situation perfectly fine. I'm sure you guys watched the aftermath of a practical joke MN pulled on us a few days ago (MN= Mother Nature, keep up with me here):
Mother Nature: Knock knock.
Humanity: Whose there?
Mother Nature: Eyjafjallajokull.
Humanity: Sorry what? Did you sneeze? Ethwjhgojsngejgn!@% who?
Mother Nature: Lol. You guys crack me up. Enjoy finding your way home after this ash cloud seeps its way into your perfectly organized lives and transportation plans.
We first found out about the ash cloud while in Barcelona after we visited the Guell Park and wanted to know how Antonio Gaudi died (freak tram accident), Conor was using his Black Berry to settle our morbid minds and read an email that the heads of our program sent informing us travelers about the explosion. We hardly batted an eyelash as we thought there was no way it would affect us. Silly, stupid mortals. Of course it would. It would spread and settle and infiltrate its way pretty much all across Europe, stranding thousands and frustrating even more, as everyone's parents and professors grew worried for our well being and safe return. We were able to fly to Madrid, which was supposed to be the last leg of our 2 week vacation, and what was supposed to be 3 days ended up being 8. I felt like a cartoon character being followed like a shadow by a thick, ominous gray cloud; once they smugly think they finally got a way, the sonofagun cloud pours and soaks them to the core. When we found out that our return flight to Ireland was canceled, our friends rallied against the imminent cloud hanging above our heads, not an ash cloud, but just a cloud of gray gloom which turns a good mood into a bad one and ruins appetites. Food was ordered, wine was poured laughs were had and somehow last minute plans to get back to Ireland 5 days later were made. The ordeal made us a tight little family, and now leaving in two weeks is an even sadder prospect after this.
We passed the time by hanging out in Parque del Buen Retiro everyday, picnicking, reading aloud to each other from Witches of Eastwick, giving each other haircuts, and eating ice cream. Although we wanted nothing more than to be in Ireland enjoying the good weather with our friends, I kept reminding myself that there much much much worse things in the world than being stuck in Madrid for a few days.
I also learned that the world is so much smaller than I could have ever imagined. This might have been attributed to the fact that since I had my traveling eyes on and was taking in everything wide eyed and observantly, I ran into at least 5 people I know and countless people I had seen on a bus or train or plane which delighted me to no end. Like, what are the CHANCES that right after I try getting in touch with my only friend staying in Florence (but of course our phones won't connect) I run into her on the street? What are the odds that I run into Sam, who I have barely seen since Israel, at the same museum? Who would have ever thought that I would brush shoulders with a girl I went to high school with while running to catch a train to Rome? These encounters won't stop blowing my mind. Especially because there are so many that happened within the past few days.
I also learned that people rule. But then sometimes they don't. Take for example, Susan Rogers, a Spanish high school teacher from New York. We met her while waiting online to get our money refunded from the bull fight that was canceled. (Talk about major bummer. Although we were apprehensive and sad for the bull's imminent death, it would have been such a cool experience but WHATTA YA KNOW a RAIN CLOUD ruined it). Anyhow, if it weren't for the rain cloud we would not have met Susie, who bestowed lots of Spanish knowledge, shared great tidbits of information and words to the wise, as well as acting as a much needed mom-like figure all of needed in the midst of the ash cloud (she even gave us her number, the doll). Then again, there are people like the ones who sat behind us on the overnight bus from Madrid to Barcelona, who kept us up. The entire. Time. A sleepless 7 hour bus ride can really spoil a mood, especially when caused by four loud disgusting drunken men. I think I felt my blood actually boil. I wished desperately that I knew how to say anything besides "Hola" and "Gracias" because there was so much I wanted to scream I mean say to them.
But I am finally finally finally back in Ireland and it feels so good to be in my own bed. Although, I really do miss our hostel in Madrid, which was like someone's apartment about 20 people happened to be staying in. They would play records all day and it was so cozy and I want to live there. But nothing beats here. And I'm sure nothing will beat when I'm home home. But anyway, I need to go to the market and catch up with friends but I will give actual details about the trip later. Hope everyone is as happy and cozy as I am now!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
...modernism and postmodernism are not entirely different, although have stark differences.
What does the title mean you ask? Just a snippet taken from a paper I've been working on today. What's that? The sentence is trite, trivial and nonsensical and I should delete it and write a new sentence? I'm aware and hardly care enough but my brain is melting and so I'm going to finally get out of the house. But not before writing more trite, trivial and nonsensical nonsense here! However, since my brain is half melted (I really have nothing to be complaining about- I wrote two papers yesterday, almost done with another one today, and then have two more due by tuesday and then I leave for Spain and Italy for two weeks. What's that you say? Shut up your spoiled and lucky and have nothing to complain about just get your work done and then have fun exploring two beautiful countries? Okay.) from writing papers which is difficult since my brain hasn't been in academic thinking mode since roughly about last semester. My writing methods have included such activities as me staring at the computer screen with an expression looking something like this:
0_o
or this:
>_<
or this:
-_-
and then I check facebook 500 times even though nothing new has happened, or I check my email for the 60th time even though I have no new emails or I read blogs or articles or ANYTHING that has NOTHING to do with what my paper is on.
But anyway. Mam and Lizzie left a couple days ago after we had the BEST GURLZ ROAD TRIP EVER (sPriNg BreaK '10 wo0o) and I have stories and pictures and videos up the wazz, but I won't have time to share those until I'm done with my papers (see how responsible I am?) and am back from Spain and Italy. So wait patiently please. Also, I booked a trip to Scotland in May! Hopefully I have time to travel to Prague, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Berlin before I come home but I doooon't know if I will. But then that just means I can wait for another trip. Also, another great cool (or should I say, grool) thing that happened is that I found out that I got the summer research grant that I applied for which means my summer will consist of me living in Burlington, getting paid to read and write, AND most of my friends will be in VT. What's that you say? Best summer ever? More like after these god forsaken papers are done, best LIFE ever. Idk. Sorry. Going now.
0_o
or this:
>_<
or this:
-_-
and then I check facebook 500 times even though nothing new has happened, or I check my email for the 60th time even though I have no new emails or I read blogs or articles or ANYTHING that has NOTHING to do with what my paper is on.
But anyway. Mam and Lizzie left a couple days ago after we had the BEST GURLZ ROAD TRIP EVER (sPriNg BreaK '10 wo0o) and I have stories and pictures and videos up the wazz, but I won't have time to share those until I'm done with my papers (see how responsible I am?) and am back from Spain and Italy. So wait patiently please. Also, I booked a trip to Scotland in May! Hopefully I have time to travel to Prague, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Berlin before I come home but I doooon't know if I will. But then that just means I can wait for another trip. Also, another great cool (or should I say, grool) thing that happened is that I found out that I got the summer research grant that I applied for which means my summer will consist of me living in Burlington, getting paid to read and write, AND most of my friends will be in VT. What's that you say? Best summer ever? More like after these god forsaken papers are done, best LIFE ever. Idk. Sorry. Going now.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Fo Shoenfelt
Hello dears. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW FAST TIME IS GOING. Sarah just left Friday and now I'm expecting Mom and (COUISNS) Lizzie on Wednesday. I am beyond excited to see them and had such a lovely time with Sas, but I feel like I had been expecting them to come for so long but time is whizzing by and I only have 2 months left which sounds like a long time but I can assure you, at the rate things have been going, by the next time I blink I'll have been graduated from SMC and married with kids or cats and living on the moon (or something futuristic and weird to think about, IDK) . Another gauge of how fast time has gone is by looking at the ipod playlist, "Ireland Travels," I created when I first got to Galway. What was at first only about 6 songs (yes, including 'Galway Girl' and banjo beats) to get me in what I thought was an Irish mindset for roadtrips and plane rides is now 100 and something songs that have been recommended by my Irish friends (who in fact don't enjoy listening to Galway girl or banjo beats) or just cool jams I found from t.v commercials (which I think could be a field study in itself for anthropologists). All I can do is continue what I've been doing: absolutely adoring it here while having so much fun roaming through Galway and the country hills talking to cows and not wanting to leave (sorry mam and pap). I've already started looking into doing Graduate school here. I was talking to Tyler yesterday who is in Costa Rica, and it's the same deal with him. It's just so funny to think about 3 months ago when we knew NO ONE here and felt weird and almost like it was freshman year all over again, but even before a month it felt like home and I already didn't want to leave. It's hard to explain. But even being in a pub with strangers who are mostly 20 years older and playing the banjo (at least the demographic of ages 36-90 share my love for banjo beats) feels so comfortable and like you belong there (I can see how that statement can be frightening and alcoholic seeming, but I swear its a healthy love affair between me and this country).
Anyhow, last weekend our program took us to the Aran Islands which was one of the best days filled with bike riding, picnics, stopping every 5 minutes to pet and feed horses, playing on the dunes, laying in the grass, visiting a 2, 0000 year old fort, sitting on the edge of a cliff, speeding downhill, and witnessing an old irish man herd baby cows across a residential neighborhood/ street (I can't tell you how delighted I get when I see things like that, the old man herding cows I mean, the sitting on the edge of the cliff was whatever. Just kidding obviously it ruled.) Lily captured a moment one of the horses and I had and she submitted it to the Arcadia newsletter which won herself 10 euro and the horse and I a spread in the newsletter/ online website. Booya.
Anyhow, last weekend our program took us to the Aran Islands which was one of the best days filled with bike riding, picnics, stopping every 5 minutes to pet and feed horses, playing on the dunes, laying in the grass, visiting a 2, 0000 year old fort, sitting on the edge of a cliff, speeding downhill, and witnessing an old irish man herd baby cows across a residential neighborhood/ street (I can't tell you how delighted I get when I see things like that, the old man herding cows I mean, the sitting on the edge of the cliff was whatever. Just kidding obviously it ruled.) Lily captured a moment one of the horses and I had and she submitted it to the Arcadia newsletter which won herself 10 euro and the horse and I a spread in the newsletter/ online website. Booya.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Strands of Doolin
Hello all. Again, so much has happened that I hardly no where to begin. Although matters most fresh on my mind are how I need to replace the DVD Everything Is Illuminated to the school library before march 15th or else I'll be fined $75 dollars. See, I rented it the last week of last semester to have some R & R in the midst of packing and moving out/ finals. And see, I usually refrain from renting movies from the library due to my utter forgetfulness of returning them which results in a fine of a dollar a day which results in me getting lots of fines which finally resulted in me relinquishing my DVD renting privileges. A self inflicted punishment. Responsible, if you ask me. However, flash forward to me ultimately forgetting to return the ONE DVD I rented the entire semester (I actually returned the box, but left the dvd in the dvd player which belongs to Liza, which she packed and brought home, which her parents now can't seem to find, which leaves her and I in Ireland and me incapable of producing said DVD and the school library emailing threatening emails about outrages fines). However, of course I can count on dear old Dad to simply buy a new one, mail it to SMC and laugh at my endearing mindfarts.
Also fresh on my mind is how I REALLY need to find time to write my final papers which aren't due until the end of April-ish yet I really cannot seem to find anytime to write them. Life is so hard isn't it? I've had VIRTUALLY no work to do at all, and now that work is upon the horizon I already can't find time to do it. You see, this week is RAG week (Raise a Grand) which means that from now until the end of the week, every student in Galway wakes up, greets the day and drinks all day and night. For the entire week. The clubs are open at noon, pubs are even more filled than usual, and every dollar they make is donated to charity. Drinking for a cause. Oh those Irish. And although I can't even PRETEND to keep up with them, I don't think I'll be getting any school work done. The week after that my Best Friend Sarah Cunningham (alter ego Scott Cunni) will be visiting, and then immediately after that Mom and perhaps and hopefully Ben and Lizzie will be visiting for eight days. And then after that is spring break which I was planning on spending in Spain and Italy and then after that my papers are due. And so there lies my dilemma.
But anyways, this weekend I went to Doolin with Brenna, Liza and Isabelle. A small town of about 500 people, three pubs and many cows, it's only about an hour bus ride away. We got there Friday night (during the day I walked to Salt Hill with Audrey and had ice cream cones, and a nice chat beside the water while people/ dog watching, and then went to a cake contest in the museum where we got to sample every cake fo free! Teal and I go to a cooking class every Thursday and our teacher is a local baker and invited us to it. And as if we would pass up free cake) and whipped up a quick meal, drank tea and lounged by the fire and then went to one of the pubs which is famous for its live music. The next day we woke up and Matty, the owner of the hostel, drove us to the market so we could buy milk and cheese, and after a fast breakfast, his wife Carmel drove us to the Cliffs of Moher which offered exquisite views and fun photo opportunities. It also wasn't too crowded so it was even more enjoyable and even peaceful. Then we walked the seven miles back into town along the water and farms. We stopped by one of the farms to talk to the cows make make googely eyes at the bb cows. I don't think they enjoyed our company too much because they would make eye contact with one of us and then proceed to unload what looked and sounded like 30 pounds of urine and cow pies. We walked onwards and stopped in to one of the pubs for some soup and browsed in the few shops that were around, and stopped off at the Clare Jam Shop to buy some homemade jam. Of course I got one for Nonnie, I know how she loves her jam. I bought myself Blackcurrent and Port and Nonnie Strawberry Champagne. Nothing but the best for my girl.
On the way back to the hostel we passed a beautiful white friendly horse who I had a moment with, and then we took a glorious nap, woke up for dinner (I made my famous Riceotto) and then we sat by the fire with tea in hand while Matty whipped out his projector and slides of photos he's taken of the area over the past 15 years and explained every slide and answered our questions. I was so impressed with him- he fixes the roof/renovates the hostel by day, and somehow finds time to work for the coast guard and take beautiful pictures and learn/ teach about the history of his home to passing by tourists. He also has a lot of work cut out for him as the coast guard because the Cliffs of Moher has the highest suicide rate. Although its a beautiful place, its also so sad and almost creepy because of all the signs urging people to call for help and there is a memorial on one of the cliffs. That night we went to one of the pubs where a 21st birthday was taking place, and then this morning we woke up to watch the sunrise and went for another walk to an old graveyard and then went to feed the horse down the street.
Oh also this last week Brenna, Isabelle, Zach and I threw Liza and Teal a 21st birthday surprise party which went perfectly according to plan (except for the part where Zach was supposed to have them over for dinner/distract them while we got my house ready and I ran to the store to buy birthday candles. Good ole Zach lets them out of his sight so they could run to the store, so I had to hide in the frozen fish isle for 15 minutes so they wouldn't run into me) we had the homemade vegan red velvet cake we made at my house, went to a house party as Isabelle's and then went out dancing. A good time had by all.
Also fresh on my mind is how I REALLY need to find time to write my final papers which aren't due until the end of April-ish yet I really cannot seem to find anytime to write them. Life is so hard isn't it? I've had VIRTUALLY no work to do at all, and now that work is upon the horizon I already can't find time to do it. You see, this week is RAG week (Raise a Grand) which means that from now until the end of the week, every student in Galway wakes up, greets the day and drinks all day and night. For the entire week. The clubs are open at noon, pubs are even more filled than usual, and every dollar they make is donated to charity. Drinking for a cause. Oh those Irish. And although I can't even PRETEND to keep up with them, I don't think I'll be getting any school work done. The week after that my Best Friend Sarah Cunningham (alter ego Scott Cunni) will be visiting, and then immediately after that Mom and perhaps and hopefully Ben and Lizzie will be visiting for eight days. And then after that is spring break which I was planning on spending in Spain and Italy and then after that my papers are due. And so there lies my dilemma.
But anyways, this weekend I went to Doolin with Brenna, Liza and Isabelle. A small town of about 500 people, three pubs and many cows, it's only about an hour bus ride away. We got there Friday night (during the day I walked to Salt Hill with Audrey and had ice cream cones, and a nice chat beside the water while people/ dog watching, and then went to a cake contest in the museum where we got to sample every cake fo free! Teal and I go to a cooking class every Thursday and our teacher is a local baker and invited us to it. And as if we would pass up free cake) and whipped up a quick meal, drank tea and lounged by the fire and then went to one of the pubs which is famous for its live music. The next day we woke up and Matty, the owner of the hostel, drove us to the market so we could buy milk and cheese, and after a fast breakfast, his wife Carmel drove us to the Cliffs of Moher which offered exquisite views and fun photo opportunities. It also wasn't too crowded so it was even more enjoyable and even peaceful. Then we walked the seven miles back into town along the water and farms. We stopped by one of the farms to talk to the cows make make googely eyes at the bb cows. I don't think they enjoyed our company too much because they would make eye contact with one of us and then proceed to unload what looked and sounded like 30 pounds of urine and cow pies. We walked onwards and stopped in to one of the pubs for some soup and browsed in the few shops that were around, and stopped off at the Clare Jam Shop to buy some homemade jam. Of course I got one for Nonnie, I know how she loves her jam. I bought myself Blackcurrent and Port and Nonnie Strawberry Champagne. Nothing but the best for my girl.
On the way back to the hostel we passed a beautiful white friendly horse who I had a moment with, and then we took a glorious nap, woke up for dinner (I made my famous Riceotto) and then we sat by the fire with tea in hand while Matty whipped out his projector and slides of photos he's taken of the area over the past 15 years and explained every slide and answered our questions. I was so impressed with him- he fixes the roof/renovates the hostel by day, and somehow finds time to work for the coast guard and take beautiful pictures and learn/ teach about the history of his home to passing by tourists. He also has a lot of work cut out for him as the coast guard because the Cliffs of Moher has the highest suicide rate. Although its a beautiful place, its also so sad and almost creepy because of all the signs urging people to call for help and there is a memorial on one of the cliffs. That night we went to one of the pubs where a 21st birthday was taking place, and then this morning we woke up to watch the sunrise and went for another walk to an old graveyard and then went to feed the horse down the street.
Oh also this last week Brenna, Isabelle, Zach and I threw Liza and Teal a 21st birthday surprise party which went perfectly according to plan (except for the part where Zach was supposed to have them over for dinner/distract them while we got my house ready and I ran to the store to buy birthday candles. Good ole Zach lets them out of his sight so they could run to the store, so I had to hide in the frozen fish isle for 15 minutes so they wouldn't run into me) we had the homemade vegan red velvet cake we made at my house, went to a house party as Isabelle's and then went out dancing. A good time had by all.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Don't worry guys I'm alive.
I think this was just about the shortest month ever. In this short month I've realized that time flies when your having fun. And that life just gets in the way sometimes. And that life is what happens when your busy making other plans sorry cliche vomit. Actually, I have been so busy that I haven't even had time to take out the garbage in our bathroom which actually contains a moldy avocado pit. Sorry Liza.
Anyways, I just got back about an hour ago from Belfast and the weekend before that I was in Paris so we have SO MUCH so catch up on. I hardly know where to begin but I guess I'll start with that today is the first day of the rest of your life. And by that I mean another cliche. But I guess I'll start with Belfast because it was a short trip and fresh in my mind. Our program organized it so they picked us up bright and early in the morning. It was only a 5 hour drive which was a pleasant surprise because there were rumors that it would be 9 hours. We had an hour long break at a mall which made me feel like I was in America because a) a mall is a mall is a mall and b) they too have annoying salespeople in the middle of the mall who barrage you and who I have to quickly walk by and lie to ('SORRY I'M MEETING SOMEONE' is my go to excuse) and also the women who curl little girl's hair whose scalps are covered in millions of bejeweled hair clips and fake hair extensions.
We got to Belfast around 3 where they called out our names and room numbers. Of course I got put in a room with 22 other girls. TWENTY TWO. I'm all for hostels and saving money and kind of living in squalor but 22? girls in one room? That means 44 feet, about 15 pairs of Ugg boots which collectively smell like 879 feet, and at least 15 girls I knew would be coming home at an ungodly hour which was a horror to imagine because I was still EXHAUSTED from Paris.
But I of course smiled and took my key, put my things down and then walked around with some friends to explore. However, it was cold, rainy and the 9 euro boots I bought at Penny's (the equivalent to Target) were living up to their 9 euro reputation and pretty much asked mud and cold water to slosh around and inside my feet. Even with the dreary weather the city was still bustling and my friends and I wandered around City Hall, the Theater and did a lot of people watching (which I think is one of the best and most interesting ways to get to know a new place). The next morning we woke up early and went to the Giant's Causeway (ranked the 4th greatest natural wonder in the UK, BOOYA) which was very cool and so beautiful. The weather cleared up which was really nice, blue skies and sun so we could see the Causeway in all its glory and listen to all the funny myths and also learned about the geology of the place. Our tour guide is also a geology teacher at a nearby secondary school- she told us how Gaint's Causeway used to be a volcanically active place which is why the rocks look the way they do (like flat 6 to 8 sided cylinders) because the water that ran down them cooled them into how they look today. She also told us the myth, which the trusty and true Wikipeida explains as, "Legend has it that the Irish warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool) built the causeway to walk to Scotland to fight his Scottish counterpart Benandonner. One version of the legend tells that Fionn fell asleep before he got to Scotland. When he did not arrive, the much larger Benandonner crossed the bridge looking for him. To protect Fionn, his wife Oonagh laid a blanket over him so he could pretend that he was actually their baby son. In a variation, Fionn fled after seeing Benandonner's great bulk, and asked his wife to disguise him as the baby. In both versions, when Benandonner saw the size of the 'infant', he assumed the alleged father, Fionn, must be gigantic indeed. Therefore, Benandonner fled home in terror, ripping up the Causeway in case he was followed by Fionn." And there you have it.
When we got back to Belfast we went to a pub to watch the rugby match (don't laugh, I actually get really into it albeit I don't understand, I just scream loudly and mimic everyone else's reactions). The heads of our program did warn us however not to go into one pub because it would be extremely unsafe as they are a Loyalist pub. Of course that pub was located directly across the street from our hostel. But we found an Irish one which was warm and welcoming. Then we had a big dinner at a nearby Hotel which was exciting and fancy seeming. We went to pub next to it after and but when everyone else left for a club, I stayed with a couple of people to finish our Guinness and then hit the hay. That night I was so tired (and also made a make shift curtain/fort with towels) so I had a very good night's sleep. This morning we woke up and went back to the hotel for a lecture about the murals around town depicting the politics of the area. It was so interesting and really sad, some of them are so disturbing and violent. The lecturer is a professor at the college in Belfast and as a hobby has been documenting the murals for the last 30 years. He explained it not as Protestants vs Catholics but Nationalists vs Unionists, which makes it a political issue not so much religious.
Then we had a bus tour of all the murals, some areas we had to drive by because it wasn't safe enough to go out. They told us that its safe nowadays, but just in case they only let us walk around certain areas to take pictures. We also went to the place where the Titanic was built! It looked waaaaaay smaller than what I was expecting, but I can see how in the early 20th century it was mindblowing. Then we journeyed home and here we are.
Moving right along. I left with three friends last Thursday for Paris. Remember my London/Uezbakistani boarding pass mix up? Well this time I typed my name as Abby Moly Robbins instead of Abby Molly Robbins. Not that big of a deal you would think especially because of how graciously they reacted towards my more major mistake on my last boarding pass. It was no big thang on the way TO Paris but on the way back? Wow. First of all the airport was a zoo with lines up the wazoo and then once I was almost through it, a man told me I had to go ALL THE WAY BACK because it said Moly but my passport said Molly. I felt that wave of panic I've described before because I just waited on that God forsaken line and what if I missed my plane and what if they charged me because it was spelled Moly but alls well that ends well and it ended well.
I'm not sure why I started describing the end of my trip either. But we landed in France and had to take an hour long bus to get to Paris which was easy enough, and then had to take the metro to our hostel. Not so easy. After 5 years of French classes I'm embarrassed of how little I remember, but being in France made me realize I remember more than I thought, I just need to move there I think and be forced to speak it all the time. But anyways. We get to the metro, I ask for my ticket, and then its Audrey's turn which ends up with her getting yelled at and money and a ticket thrown at her. Teal and Dayna somehow manage getting yelled at but not money thrown at them, and then we stared at the metro map for far too long and then realized it was the wrong map and then called the hostel for directions. We soon made it and the hostel was a few blocks away from the Eiffel Tower which was all lit up sparkles every hour on the hour. It was such a pleasant sight. We checked in, ran to a small food store to get things to make dinner (always tryna save a buck) ate real quick and then ran to see the Eiffel tower. I was just so happy to be there and hear French and see beautiful old apartments and cafes and wishing I lived on every block I walked past.
Now I'm sleepy and will make this a To Be Continued Post. Keep you on your toes and asking for more.
Liza just informed me she took out the trash and that the avocado pit looked like it was growing cotton on it. What a gal.
Until tomorrow!
Anyways, I just got back about an hour ago from Belfast and the weekend before that I was in Paris so we have SO MUCH so catch up on. I hardly know where to begin but I guess I'll start with that today is the first day of the rest of your life. And by that I mean another cliche. But I guess I'll start with Belfast because it was a short trip and fresh in my mind. Our program organized it so they picked us up bright and early in the morning. It was only a 5 hour drive which was a pleasant surprise because there were rumors that it would be 9 hours. We had an hour long break at a mall which made me feel like I was in America because a) a mall is a mall is a mall and b) they too have annoying salespeople in the middle of the mall who barrage you and who I have to quickly walk by and lie to ('SORRY I'M MEETING SOMEONE' is my go to excuse) and also the women who curl little girl's hair whose scalps are covered in millions of bejeweled hair clips and fake hair extensions.
We got to Belfast around 3 where they called out our names and room numbers. Of course I got put in a room with 22 other girls. TWENTY TWO. I'm all for hostels and saving money and kind of living in squalor but 22? girls in one room? That means 44 feet, about 15 pairs of Ugg boots which collectively smell like 879 feet, and at least 15 girls I knew would be coming home at an ungodly hour which was a horror to imagine because I was still EXHAUSTED from Paris.
But I of course smiled and took my key, put my things down and then walked around with some friends to explore. However, it was cold, rainy and the 9 euro boots I bought at Penny's (the equivalent to Target) were living up to their 9 euro reputation and pretty much asked mud and cold water to slosh around and inside my feet. Even with the dreary weather the city was still bustling and my friends and I wandered around City Hall, the Theater and did a lot of people watching (which I think is one of the best and most interesting ways to get to know a new place). The next morning we woke up early and went to the Giant's Causeway (ranked the 4th greatest natural wonder in the UK, BOOYA) which was very cool and so beautiful. The weather cleared up which was really nice, blue skies and sun so we could see the Causeway in all its glory and listen to all the funny myths and also learned about the geology of the place. Our tour guide is also a geology teacher at a nearby secondary school- she told us how Gaint's Causeway used to be a volcanically active place which is why the rocks look the way they do (like flat 6 to 8 sided cylinders) because the water that ran down them cooled them into how they look today. She also told us the myth, which the trusty and true Wikipeida explains as, "Legend has it that the Irish warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool) built the causeway to walk to Scotland to fight his Scottish counterpart Benandonner. One version of the legend tells that Fionn fell asleep before he got to Scotland. When he did not arrive, the much larger Benandonner crossed the bridge looking for him. To protect Fionn, his wife Oonagh laid a blanket over him so he could pretend that he was actually their baby son. In a variation, Fionn fled after seeing Benandonner's great bulk, and asked his wife to disguise him as the baby. In both versions, when Benandonner saw the size of the 'infant', he assumed the alleged father, Fionn, must be gigantic indeed. Therefore, Benandonner fled home in terror, ripping up the Causeway in case he was followed by Fionn." And there you have it.
When we got back to Belfast we went to a pub to watch the rugby match (don't laugh, I actually get really into it albeit I don't understand, I just scream loudly and mimic everyone else's reactions). The heads of our program did warn us however not to go into one pub because it would be extremely unsafe as they are a Loyalist pub. Of course that pub was located directly across the street from our hostel. But we found an Irish one which was warm and welcoming. Then we had a big dinner at a nearby Hotel which was exciting and fancy seeming. We went to pub next to it after and but when everyone else left for a club, I stayed with a couple of people to finish our Guinness and then hit the hay. That night I was so tired (and also made a make shift curtain/fort with towels) so I had a very good night's sleep. This morning we woke up and went back to the hotel for a lecture about the murals around town depicting the politics of the area. It was so interesting and really sad, some of them are so disturbing and violent. The lecturer is a professor at the college in Belfast and as a hobby has been documenting the murals for the last 30 years. He explained it not as Protestants vs Catholics but Nationalists vs Unionists, which makes it a political issue not so much religious.
Then we had a bus tour of all the murals, some areas we had to drive by because it wasn't safe enough to go out. They told us that its safe nowadays, but just in case they only let us walk around certain areas to take pictures. We also went to the place where the Titanic was built! It looked waaaaaay smaller than what I was expecting, but I can see how in the early 20th century it was mindblowing. Then we journeyed home and here we are.
Moving right along. I left with three friends last Thursday for Paris. Remember my London/Uezbakistani boarding pass mix up? Well this time I typed my name as Abby Moly Robbins instead of Abby Molly Robbins. Not that big of a deal you would think especially because of how graciously they reacted towards my more major mistake on my last boarding pass. It was no big thang on the way TO Paris but on the way back? Wow. First of all the airport was a zoo with lines up the wazoo and then once I was almost through it, a man told me I had to go ALL THE WAY BACK because it said Moly but my passport said Molly. I felt that wave of panic I've described before because I just waited on that God forsaken line and what if I missed my plane and what if they charged me because it was spelled Moly but alls well that ends well and it ended well.
I'm not sure why I started describing the end of my trip either. But we landed in France and had to take an hour long bus to get to Paris which was easy enough, and then had to take the metro to our hostel. Not so easy. After 5 years of French classes I'm embarrassed of how little I remember, but being in France made me realize I remember more than I thought, I just need to move there I think and be forced to speak it all the time. But anyways. We get to the metro, I ask for my ticket, and then its Audrey's turn which ends up with her getting yelled at and money and a ticket thrown at her. Teal and Dayna somehow manage getting yelled at but not money thrown at them, and then we stared at the metro map for far too long and then realized it was the wrong map and then called the hostel for directions. We soon made it and the hostel was a few blocks away from the Eiffel Tower which was all lit up sparkles every hour on the hour. It was such a pleasant sight. We checked in, ran to a small food store to get things to make dinner (always tryna save a buck) ate real quick and then ran to see the Eiffel tower. I was just so happy to be there and hear French and see beautiful old apartments and cafes and wishing I lived on every block I walked past.
Now I'm sleepy and will make this a To Be Continued Post. Keep you on your toes and asking for more.
Liza just informed me she took out the trash and that the avocado pit looked like it was growing cotton on it. What a gal.
Until tomorrow!
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