France

Hiya. Well here I am in Colmar, France. I don't have wireless but at least I have internet. Kinda sad how I like need the internet lol. I've literally just been eating and sitting around all day. I mean it's been wonderful but omg, I am gonna gain so much weight, oy vye. I eat breakfast after I wake up, get ready or just hang out and then an hour later eat lunch. After that I either hang out at home till dinner or go into town and walk around. Thank god for those excursions or else I would literally way a ton. But really, what else would you expect with christmas at your grandparents. Off to Strasbourg for the New Year to celebrate with friends.

I kinda miss Ireland when I look at pictures. And since I don't have internet on my laptop, I usually just listen to music and go through pictures before bed. It turned out to be a wonderful semester after a bit of adjustment. I kinda do wanna go back. Wouldn't have minded staying one more month at least. Any more than that, I think I woulda been ready to come home.

K, gonna go be social w/ the grandparents. I'm trying to cram my brain with all the Alsacien recipes I can. I kinda really want a kitchen when I get back to SMCM. Kinda don't wanna come back ironically since I so wanted to be back at the beginning of the semester. I refuse to let myself get insanly stressed again.

Frantic Rush

These past two weeks have been a little nuts. I've spent them cooped up in the library, but really it needed to be done. I had a great relaxing semester where I didn't do much so those 2 weeks weren't all that bad. I did really want to go out however because no one wants to spend their last few weeks in a foreign country studying. However, I know that everyone has been doing this - people in Spain and Argentina had the same work issue.

It worked out really well for me however. I essentially finished my 50o0 word paper on Thursday night along with my physics and this other paper. The kitesurfing and surfing club were having an excellent night out so I was definitly trying to go to that Thursday night. I did and had a wonderful night. Out to a pub w/ some free food and free shooters and then to Bodega for the snow ball which we got in for free. Friday was 12 pubs of christmas which was AMAZING and a highly class and messy night. Was great craic. Started at 3PM. Half hour for a drink at each pub. Saturday was off to Dublin. Brought in my birthday there at Temple Bar, sightseeing on Sunday and back home Sunday. I really wanted to celebrate my birthday here in Cork and I'm glad I was able to. Sunday night after I got out met up w/ some friends at Sober Lane. After that headed over to Liquid Lounge to meet up w/ some more friends and join in on the ISS Party (International Student Soc.). That was great. Got tons of birthday wishes and plenty of drinks of course.

Yesterday wasn't very productive but did some studying. Doing some more now for my Marine Mammals exams, but needed a quick break for food. Back to work as it is 1 and the exam is at 3. Despite all the work, it wasnt too too stressful and it all ended well. All's well that ends well - haha I think that's the saying whatever it means. Tmr is my last night here :( Most definitly going out.

Trinity College - Book of Kells was closed :(

St. Stephens Greens near Trinity

Surprising but welcomed

So on Friday I was working away on research for my paper and stayed at the library till 8 (that's quite late here by the way). It closes at 5:45 on Friday's but they had a reading room open till 9:45. While waiting for the bathroom and listening/speaking with some other Irish folk I heard them say "Well, life before exams right?" and "In my five years of college, I've only been here twice," meaning in his five years of college, he has only stayed at the library "that late" at 8 twice. How amazing is that?!? I've actually noticed that when people tell me they are staying till 10PM I actually think how ridiculously late that is and that when they woke up at 5AM how absolutely crazy that is - this coming from me man!! I kinda like it. I'm realllly reallly hoping I won't revert back to SMCM thought in the Spring and start to think that 1o isn't late and 5 isn't early.

Apart from that, no other interesting things. Oh, yaa, I've had multiple cultural clashes may I add while here. Ive managed to royally piss off one person and I think slightly aggrivate another. I have no idea if it's because I don't know when to keep my mouth shut, if the Irish are just oddly sensitive (which they totally are) or if it's because they don't know me like my friends do and don't really understand what I mean (I do believe it's this one). Ok, that's all I got. Off to bed.

The River Lee that runs through the city.

The living room of my abode.

Me and Amy's room - check out the double bed man.

Ephiphany??

So I think I realized something today. It's great to meet local ppl when you go abroad, but at some level you kinda do have to make friends w/ ppl from your own country as well. You really do need them to bounce your feelings off and kinda just to share your experience with. On another note, I think I'm actually finally becoming friends with the guys on the team which sucks cause now I have to leave of course.

On another note, I have had the most impossible time getting myself motivated to do any work. I literally just waiste time online but I'm not even doing anything online, just looking for something to do. And I couldn't even motivate myself to get ready for class this morning so I therefore was 15 min late. It's rather annoying I must say. Ohhh well. Here are some pictures:

Farran Woods - Where I had my head race this week right outside of Cork.

Novice Men Rowing

Picture from Dingle - Driving along right after leaving Inch Beach.

Inch Beach

Random stop while in Galway - like completely random place to find this.

Cliffs of Moher right around Sunset. I didn't get to go as far as I wanted on the Cliffs cause I was with someone who was cramping my style :( Iactually don't think I woulda had enough time anyways but still! It's the principle.

Chillen in Cork

So nothing new really has happened. No trips or anything, which is usually the only thing I ever write about. Probably won't be any more trips. Still need to go to Dublin but we will see. Had a regatta last weekend near Dublin in County Wicklow but just hung out on the Blessington Lakes most of the day.

This week has been pretty cool though. I think I'm slowly realizing that I have less than a month left. 3 weeks of class. Absolutely ridiculous, where did the time go? Went out a couple times w/ friends this week, which was fun. Last night was pretty chill (needed it). Me and Alessa went over to Peter's house (like a real house house) which I haven't been in in like 3 months now - it was weird but nice. We hung out there, had some food and watched a movie and hung out. We walked to the movie rental place and on the way back we ran into this cat. It was sooo cute!! So I was playing with it and then after it was following me back to Peters when I was trying to catch up w/ Peter and Alessa. Cutest cat ever! They thought they were gonna have to come get me lol. When we got back into the house, I was asking how to unlock the door and Peter thought I was trying to get out to go back to the cat lol but really I just had a rock in my shoe. I had some tea cause I got sick this week and Peter Irished it up for me. T'was lovely. They have these tissues here, it's Kleenex, but it's Kleenex for men specifically. It says like manly sized tissues and 50 years of manliness. It's totally ridiculous! I took a picture of it.

Practice today was kinda shit. Crappy weather, but I also feel like we always have a bad row when I'm there. Who knows. Everyone is gone for the weekend again. Alessa is mia so can't go over to her place :( Kinda lonely here but whatever. Going to a friends tonight to make dinner. Totally learning how to cook - it's great, I love it. I kinda eat a lot of the same things all the time though which gets kinda old but oh well.

Some of the rowing girls and I at Club Classic.

Me and Amy on the way home taking a pit stop at my store.

Galway Trip

So I've been just as bad as this as Molly, except I have no reason because I'm not off traveling for 2 weeks!! Jealous, sounds aammmazing. Not complaining though. Life has been kinda hectic (in a good way) and just all over the place really. I went to Galway last Friday at 5PM and got back on Sunday at 7PM). Since then, I had the weekly mad rush to get my physics done by Tuesday night so that I could then go out. Of course, hadn't started it till Monday but as usual, it worked out fine and got it in. I left my place at 11:30 (last night - Tuesday) and met up with some friends. We went to Sober Lane Pub for about 10 minutes where a lot of drunken soccer players were. Didn't stay for very long and headed over to An Brog for the rest of the night (till about 1:30). It was ok. Night of awkward conversations w/ a french friend. But I did meet a cool American girl so something came out of that. It was us sitting and talking and feeling like 4th wheels to our other American friend and her Irish boy. Umm got home and thought it would be a good idea to watch the 7th episode of Desperate Housewives. Oh ya, did I mention, I'm addicted now?? So anywho, did that till about 2:30. I then lied in bed till about 3:30 unsuccesfully trying to fall asleep so I decided to text my roomate who was still out. She came home right around that time which was grand because I was awake, she was very drunk and it made for some great entertainment (including me pulling her pants off b/c she couldn't do it, me being told to stay awake so I could hear her story, being told to tell her what to do before she went to bed and the like). So, considering it was about 4 when I finally fell asleep, I decided, fuck getting up at 8 for Irish history and so therefore I slept. It was lovely. I should actually be doing physics right now before my Irish language class at 4. Going to trampoline after. Yayyy!! It's so fun. We did flips on Monday so I'm very excited for today and hopefully it won't be a let down.

Now, as to Galway. Yaa this is one of those long posts, sorry. It was ok. We left super late on Friday which I thought was dumb. We stopped at this dumb castle to take "night shots" as the german guy who runs the club kept repeating. Of course, most of us don't have the crazy suppet up cameras so those "night shots" were really just shit. The trip wasn't nearly as organized as the International Club one. When we got to Galway, we all went into town together but then all kinda branched off. It was just kinda boring and not very interesting. No one on the trip was really trying to meet others. It was basically groups of Spanish people, French people and German people. Kinda lame. Luckily, this time I knew 3 girls so we roomed together but at night 2 of the girls would go off on their own so me and Marie would stay together.

Saturday we took a bus tour of Connamara. It's an area, not a place as I found out. It's very baren and I thought it was ok. After Dingle, nothing really compares. Well, it's just different is what it is. Not as green I guess. So did that all day. Saturday night was fun. We went to a Pub and sat and hung out. Didn't have anything to drink. This really awesome DJ came so we decided to dance before we left. That was really fun too. We went to bed at about 12:30 and this is when the weirdness starts. We roomed w/ this Irish guy from Dublin and let me tell you, he was weird! He would just go off on tangents about nothing!! Like "If I stopped drinking and smoking, I think I would grow 10 centimeters." Ummm yaa I doubt it. He was doing some form of master in "planning" whatever that is. I mean he had interesting things to say about Ireland but there were just so many facts and random shit that really, I just wasn't really listening when he talked. So anywho, we're all sleeping and at about 2:30 he comes in, turns the light on and yells "Wake up french girls, it's time for a house party!!" So me, being asleep, assume it's 7:30 AM and that it's just time to get up. I say out loud "Well at least he didn't wake us up last night" to which someone proceeds to explain what is actually happening. Of course, he passes out in his bed w/ the light still on so Virginie goes up to turn it off. He then starts snoring insanely loudly to which Virginie yells "Ta guele!!!" super loud. Literally, it means "your mouth" but basically it's "shut the F**k up." He actually does shut up which was marvelous. Oh did I mention that the night before, he slept in like a speedo like underwear only? Yaaa that was great. Apparently that isn't weird here but umm I just think it's weird for a guy who is rooming w/ 4 girls and doesn't know any of them to do that. Maybe it had been boxers it woulda been a little better (or maybe worse, I'm not sure). In the US, most guys would at least keep their pants on. Well, cultural differences I guess. The thing that actually kinda bothered me about the trip is that we woul stop at random places for "photo opportunities" and I just hate taking pictures of random things when I don't even know what they are. I guess what was I expecting going w/ the photo soc? The organizers were also just kinda really socially awkward lol.

Ok last paragraph I swear. So Sunday we drove around the Buren. Another area. This was much cooler, I thought. There was about half a mile of huge limestone rocks all the way up to the coastline. Hard to explain. Look at the picture. But basically, we just ran along the rocks and screwed around. Super windy. We then drove to the Cliffs of Moher (pronounced More) which apart from Dingle, was the other thing I wanted to see before I left Ireland. The cliffs are sooo high it was kinda creeepy but fun and glad I got to go. So that is it. Going to Dublin for the day on Saturday for a regatta. More on that later.

Me, Sabrina and Virginie at part of the Buren - Muirineach

At the Cliffs of Moher - how could I not go ; ) I had to see the view.

The cliffs. This is the opposite direction of where it said don't go. So view if standing where you shouldn't be.

Bank Holiday Weekend

So I had written this post before, but it was disdainful and angry because physics was depressing me so I rewrote it and of course it got deleted cause my internet is just silly. So, one more time.

Last weekend we had Monday off. It's called a Bank Holiday and I have no idea what that is. So I wanted to take advantage of the long weekend and wanted to go somewhere so thought maybe I would go to Dublin for one night with Anne and her sister, but then me, Yuki, Pierre and his g/f decided to go to Dingle Peninsula. We made the car and hostel reservations on Friday night and went that Sunday morning. So it was a bit last minute, more like spontaneous but everything worked out great and nothing was more expensive because it was done at the end.

Friday night, the International Club had a night out at the Thirsty with Irish music. I was at Alessa's baking most likely, so went late which was fine. Got there and they had karoake and music playing. I convinced my french friend, Caro, to come sing w/ me. So her, this other french girl, an Italian one, and I sang "Staying Alive." Sounded horrible but whatever, it was fine. Had practice the next day. Row kinda sucked but oh well. That night was really fun. It was Oktoberfest so bunch of crew people went. Not many, but it was still great. Hung out w/ some of the guys on my team and they were very nice and walked me home and all. Sunday had to get up early though to get the 8:30 bus. That was a little painful. Woke up at 6 for some reason, and just sat in my bed for 1.30 because I just felt sick everytime I moved. But ya, everything worked great. The driving on buses is a little crazy so just didn't eat anything and I was fine. We got to Kerry Airport from which we rented a car. Renting a car was so fun!!! It was this cute, tiny red nissan and it was just so cool to have a car.

Yuki driving!!!

Felt very independent. So drove up to Dingle Peninsula. We did Slea Head Drive, which takes you all along the coast of the peninsula. It was great. The most beautiful place I have by far ever seen!!

A lot of people here love it as well. I want to live there when I'm old and retired. Well, might get kinda bored after a while, but the view was just soooo pretty.

That same day, drove back to Killarney (near the airport) and stayed at a really cool hostel. It was very small and cosy and run by very energetic Swedish people. Stayed for the night and the next day we left and drove along the Ring of Kerry again. It was raining at first but cleared up so we were actually able to see this time. Ring of Kerry after Dingle really wasn't that amazing but it was still nice to actually see it. Like Dingle, having the car was awesome because we could stop wherever we wanted unlike when you are on the bus. Returned the car and took the bus home. Got home at about 7:30.

Since then, nothing very exciting. Just around Cork. Oh Halloween. Everyone went out thursday here. The lines for the clubs were nuts!! Didn't really go out Thursday. Happened to run into some crew people (Peter and Alessa) on Thursday and they were in line for a club so made me come with them. After like 30 min we decided screw this so went next door to "An Brog" - a pub we go to often. Very chill, everyone is really friendly and they have good rock music there. Friday night, Alessa's flatmates were having a birthday/halloween party so was gonna go to that. Was too lazy to dress up but then I got sad because it didn't feel like halloween so I threw something together super fast. Borrowed my roomate's cowboy boots, braided my hair and wore a collar shirt and TAA-DAAA: cowgirl.

Last night made brownies with Alessa and Peter and just hung out. Practice wasn't too bad today. Had it's moments. Was in a bow-loader so get a bit wet. Oh riiiight ummmm yaa, fell into the disgusting Lee River yesterday. I was on the slip and not paying attention, well just didn't realize that the slip ended sooo kinda just fell in, kinda how Liahna did at HOTO. Soo yep. That was fun. Was kinda funny really. All the girls had their backs to me so no one really reacted. I was like trying to get out of the water but i wasn't very succesfull. Peter saw me fall in and ran down and pulled me out by my lifevest. Haha it was interesting. People who weren't even there yesterday were coming up to me today being like, soo I heard you fell in. Oy vye. It's ok though, just kinda funny. Bout it. Crew night out Tuesday. Yay. That's really the only time I go out lol.

Yuki, Pierre, Marjo and I on top of Slea Head. I love it, I want to go back. Is maith liom Dingle.

Nil maith liom fhliuch - I don't like being wet.

Yesterday it rained like all day. Stupid sideways rain. My jeans got all wet and that was just not fun :( Oh hahah and my umbrella riped out of it's metal steam - it was kinda funny really. I almost didn't go to my 9am class yesterday and I probably shouldn't have lol. My 11 o'clock class got cancelled so I coulda stayed at home till noon. Meh, whatever it wasn't that bad.

I'M SO EXCITED FOR THIS WEEKEND!! Ok but no, I'm gonna try and not get too excited and keep my expectations a little low so that it's not a huge letdown lol. I have practice tomorrow morning, which I'm walking to for the first time. I usually get a ride from one of the guys but I don't feel like asking. I'm sure I'll get a ride back however so that's cool. Then I'm going kite surfing (hopefully). Tomorrow night the crew team is going out again to a Pub. We went out on Tuesday night and hung out at a Pub and then all the novice went to a club. But this Saturday is Oktoberfest, like the German Oktoberfest. It's sorta a mini-version of it I think. This weekend is also the beginning of the Guiness Jazz Festival, which is the third biggest in the world so that should be pretty chill. Sunday I'm not going to practice cause we're only taking one boat out and so I'm taking the bus to back to Kerry. This time we're going to the airport, renting a car and driving down to Dingle Peninsula. We're gonna spend the whole day there and then drive back to Killarney and spend the night in a Hostel. Monday is a Bank Holiday (don't ask me what that is) so that's why we are able to do this. So anywho, Monday morning we're gonna drive the Ring of Kerry which should be cool because we will be able to stop wherever we want since we won't be on a Bus. It's going to be Me, Yuki, Pierre and his girlfriend.

Making apple cinnamon muffins with my friend right now. Yay for learning how to cook.

Old picture from Cobh:

Us and the statue of Annie Moore (umm I think that's her name) and her brothers. They were the first to land on Ellis Island. And yes, the little boy is "picking" Ben's nose. That's Ben from Bethesda, my friend from high school, here, in Ireland!!!!

Weekend to Killarney

So I'm not lonely anymore. Hehe, I know they are just phases, just like I would get at home, but I think they mean more here and I am more aware of them.

Went to Killarney this weekend. It's a city in County Kerry. I went by myself and I'm veryy veryy glad that I did. Well not completely alone. I went with the International Club but I didnt sign up to go with anyone I knew. I tried to get friends to go, but really glad that I didn't. I sat next to this Finish girl on the bus. She also came alone so we talked and roomed together for the weekend. We had to be in houses of 6 so this french guy, Pierre, asked us if we wanted to room with the person he was sitting next to (Tim - the only other american on the trip) and his two girl friends. We did end up rooming with them for the weekend and we spend all weekend together basically and took pictures together and what not. It was really fun and they were all really nice. One of the girls was from Japan but studying in the US and the other from Poland (Yuki and Monika). There were a ton of French people on the trip and a buncha Italians. Italian people are just nuts. They were the life of the party.

The bus ride to Killarney was about 1.30. Once we got there we went food shopping and then to our Family Vacation Homes. Then into town for a bit just to walk around. The homes were really nice. It was a living room with a full kitchen downstairs as well as a bedroom with a double bed. There was a bathroom for them downstairs as well as a shower. Upstairs it was two rooms with single beds, one toilet and another room for the shower. So ya, was pretty sweet. There even was a backyard. Friday we all got together at the people's house who organized the trips and had a little party. They taught everyone flip cup and the Italians went nuts over it. It was Italians against French but friendly game. They started calling one French guy Zidane and an Italian one Materrazi so they took pictures of "Zidane headbutting "Materrazi" and then made "Zidane" leave the room. One of the Italian kids actually lives in my building so he Saturday he started teaching me Italian. We are doing one phrase a day and so far I know "Hi my name is Sheena. What is your name" and "How are you? I'm good. Thanks and you?" Also learned "cheers" in Finish and Swedish.

Saturday we rented bikes for the day and biked around the National Park in Killarney. We went to Torc waterfall and Ross Castle. Had another good party that evening. Sunday we did this bus tour that everyone does. It's called the Ring of Kerry and you drive around the coast. It's just suppose to be gorgeous views but it was raining and foggy so we couldn't see anything. I'm glad it rained on that day however because biking in the rain would have been miserable. So overall, great weekend. Met lots of cool people and it was fun.

This is the National Park. It originally belonged to some peeps and then was donated to the Gov. when they kurked out. Started as 11,000 acres, kilometers (I have no idea) of land and now it's 25. It was the first national park in Ireland. And yep, that is a boat. It's a rowing boat. It's a 5 person rowing boat! The cox could stand up in the boat like it was nothing. It had a much wider base and only 5 PEOPLE!!

My roomate, Anne, for the weekend at the Torc Waterfall.

Ross Castle.

This was also at the Castle. It's the amazing view if you have your back to the castle, and those are some of the people I lived with. Yuki, Me, Monika and Pierre.

At the Atlantic Ocean during our Ring of Kerry tour. It was so windy that you would get pushed when walking.

Earlier this week I was kinda getting kinda tired of hanging out with International Students but this was really fun. I was with a wide range of Nationalities and I think it was cool because it wasn't only French people that I was hanging with. Pierre also didn't want to talk French because he is here to improve his English so that was cool. Funny because when I first got here I found it soooo weird to be in Europe and talk English. I still like practicing my french but just hearing people only talk their native tongue seems a little silly considering they are here to improve their English.

: (

Poop.

Double Poop.

I feel a tad but lonely. Not like fully blown, I'm sitting-in-my-room-crying hating every minute lonely, but just like oh it would be nice to have someone to talk to lonely.

A friend was/is trying to visit me in November and just thinking about what we're gonna do and where we're gonna go out is sorta just making me sad because it makes me realise I don't really have anyone that I would go out with. I can't decide if coxing the men's team was a really bad idea. I think doing it at home would have been fine because I have all my amazing friends, but here I don't meet anyone coxing the men. They're all very nice, don't get me wrong, but it's not like I would call them up and ask them to hang out - it's just not like that w/ your boat. Or at least w/ a boat full of guys. I feel like maybe if I was on the women's team I would legit have friends? I dont even know.

Ok, I do have friends. I have international people I hang out with which is all fine and dandy, but I still would really like to meet some Irish people. I love the internationals, I mean at home I'm the one who always becomes friends with them, but here it's like it would be nice to have other friends as well.

As of now, I don't think there is a single person here I would stay in touch with and I guess thinking of it that way just makes me sad.

Well, here's another old pictures from Cobh. Or not. My computer and the internet hate me.

Headache

I think I'm getting into a rhythm here. I haven't taken pictures in forever and I really don't have anything new to right about anymore. I guess that's a good thing? I do still want to take more pictures though - I feel weird not having anything new to put up. I am going to Killarney, it's in county Kerry (where Dingle Peninsula is) so I should have some awesome pictures by this weekend. My roomate and her american friends have been going to different places every weekend. They are going around Europe as well. I don't feel bad that I'm not going, most of the time. I think just settling in and being here on weekends sorta helps to have more of a normal experience? I guess I want something different from being abroad than they do. They really only hang out with each other - I'm looking to meet new people and Irish people, and I would rather enjoy Ireland. I do have crew which is on weekends, which keeps me here but I think it's better that way. I feel more acquainted and more "in" a normal semester. It's hard to describe, don't know if this makes any sense.

I've been getting a lot of headaches though which is really annoying. They always start in the afternoon. I have multiple theories. The first one was that I was having too much chocolate and tea. I was having about a bar of chocolate a week and tea maybe once or twice a day - both of which I never do. I've cut down on both, I think. Sometimes I eat chocolate and half way through realize what I'm doing. Someone told me maybe I'm having too many carbs so the rest is turning into sugar, resulting in the headaches. I guess that could be true as well. I feel like I eat the same 3 things here - grilled cheese, stir fry, and pasta. I really need to find something else. I bought fish but it won't frickin work. I think it's cause you're suppose to make it in the oven, which I realised today. I bought a pomogranate and opened it but I have no idea if it's ripe - it tastes kinda biter.

Crew teams don't get decided till this week. So I will legit find out who I'm coxing. It's fun w/ the guys, I mean ya, good for my coxing I think b/c there is a coach so I can hear their comments to the rowers but at the same time, it's just so much easier for me to be friends with girls that it is with guys. And the novice practice at a different time than us, well everyone has different times, so it makes it hard to meet the novice. I guess practice tmr would be a good time to talk to some of them. I'm still sick so I think I might take it easy tmr but still go. Well, I need to write a paper on Easter Monday 1916: Rebellion or Rising? Yay. Ugg.

I hate not having pictures, so I'm putting some from Cobh, which I just realized I never put up before. Of course this stupid thing only lets me upload one picture b/c my internet sucks so another one from Cobh next time.

We walked down their main street which runs along the water. It took about 20 min to walk through their main street

Crew

So had land practice today. Should not have gone. My nose is killing me and it's bloody evertime I blow my nose (sorry for the details). We had practice on Tuesday as well but I just sat that one out. Practice this weekend too. Have no idea who I'm coxing. Last weekend I did the Varsity men. It was fine but a bit weird. I didn't get a single one of their names and it just felt very unteam like. They also do their 2k's on their own and I offered to cox any of them but my own fault - most of them don't have my number. Saturday night the team went to a Bar and went bowling. It's cool cause here the school pays for all that so free bowling and free food. It was a good way to get to meet the novice since I didn't get to meet them at practice bc they're at a different time.

Nothing is really new here. I've just been going around w/ my daily life. I spend a lot of time on campus just cause it takes 30 min to get there and it doesn't make sense to go home a lot of the time so I just bring a shit ton of stuff w/ me which gets a bit tiring. Wanted to go to a salsa lesson today and then was gonna go to a Pub to meet some Surfers but my friend adviced me well and told me it was probably not a good idea. After practice, my nose was just all kinds of crazy so I decided that ya, she was right. I'll go dancing next week. They also have ballroom. And I really want to go to the trampoline club practice as well. It's soo hard to fit so many things into a day. There are so many things I want to do but just not enough time. I just need to be a little more realistic and maybe switch off during weeks or something. I'm realizing that 3 months is nothing. I have 2 months left and my weekends are all booked w/ trips and practice. I try and space the trips out so that they I'm not flacking out too much on the team.

Going kitesurfing this Saturday. Probably a bad idea w/ this cold. But I'm not getting in the water as it's only a land training - learning how to work the sail and all so it should be ok. Surfing club is going this saturday as well. Reeaaallly want to learn but I guess it is better that I commit myself more to crew which is more regular and has more potential for friend making.

Just because I haven't had pictures in a while:

I walk by this everyday to get to school and I dont understand it. Pot isn't legal here yet this store exits. I mean, hemp is just another part of the same plant. And at night, they definitly have shit growing in the two upper windows. You can see the fluorescent heat lights and the plants. It's very strange and mind boggeling.

Holding My Breath

I dont understand why everyone smokes here. What is so attractive about the idea? I try and hold my breath when I walk people at the bus stop who are smoking but even when I feel like I'm far enough away, I still smell it. It's even harder when I'm walking behind someone - I can't hold my breath for the duration of their whole cigarette man, especially when I have a cold and can't already breath. Everyone is getting sick here. During my "Making of the Modern Irish State" lecture, I couldn't hear anything because everyone was coughing.

I think things are finally getting normal. Hopefully. Maybe?? Last night was the Crew meeting. Right after they were going to a Pub - originally The Thirsty Scholar, now just the Thirsty - and then to Fast Eddies aka FEddie's, which is a night club. Yaaa, I sat in the front during the meeting haha and talked to a couple people on the team. They have a PR, Jean, who is super cool and really fun and her job is basically to make sure the team has fun. Now I think we need one of those. I think our crew team needs to plan outings to the Door after general meetings, especially the first one. Not many people came to socialize, but after I went home and made dinner I just walked into the Pub by myself. I felt really awkward right before I walked in cause it wasn't crowded so I couldn't really blend in, but Jean was right there so it was fine. Met the men's coach, their president, who actually reminds me of Dwight, and a couple of the rowers. I'm going to their first learn to row practice Saturday morning. We leave at 10:30 but I'm actually going at 7 and gonna cox the guys and then the novice later on, so I'll basically be there from 7-2. I'm really ok with that though cause these people are the first who have finally made Ireland seem ok. And I've only hung out with them one day. Pretty crazy right?? It's kinda funny though because not a single one of these people would do crew if it was at 5AM. It's totally a cultural thing because they like to go out too much.

I've been contemplating doing Crew or not at SMCM in the Spring, and Jean said something that is so true and kinda reaffirms my desire (just a little lol) do still do it in the Spring. "What keeps you dedicated and motivated to keep coming is the friends that you make on Crew." Never thought if it, but kinda true. Of course, our 5AM thing resulting in lack of sleep is also a big factor.

At SMCM, my planner is always full of meetings or appointments I need to go to. I find it amusing that it's the same here but in a totally different way. It's full of meetings that are actually awesome (Surfing club, kitesurfing club, trampoline club...). Haha ya, all clubs that I really want to do. The thing was that the first 2 are on weekends and that's when practice is for crew. I was talking to them and yes I have to be commited, but I think they would totally give me a couple weekends. They said they can get people to cover for me so that means that I would be able to go travel one weekend or at least go surfing once or twice.

Last thing, the amount of blind people here is unbelievable!! I don't think I've gone one day without seeing one. I was sitting at the library and a man was trying to find the way out and it just made me think, can you image how hard it must be to not be able to see? They have scanners when you walk out (kinda like what they have in stores to make sure you're not stealing) and he was trying to get out using his stick. It was just very weird to watch because it was almost like he could see. He knew where to go and when he hit the wrong side of the scanner with his stick he knew to go to the right and not the left. I just think it's so crazy, I guess it takes practice? I've also seen a boy, a lad, or a gent (as they say here) who is clearly adjusting to being blind. It's kinda sad to watch. Anywho, just an observation.

Oh, I have tons of great new music. Yay.

Rain?

Oy, well this weekend was aight. Went to Cobh, pronouced Cove. Also went back to Blarney because people came to visit this weekend. Going rockclimbing tonight. Trampoline club also met today but I didnt go because I ran out of time. First Crew meeting is tomorrow. Gotta figure out if I want to do it. I do, but that means that I can't travel on weekends because they have practice then. Also means I can't learn to surf or kitesurf but maybe actually having friends is worth giving up those things. It's weird, I really thought making friends would be the least of my worries - I guess it's not like freshmen year when everyone wants to meet others since ppl have already been going here for 3 years. I hate lunch alone today haha. Don't know if I've ever done that.

I had one of those waistful days today. Woke up at 9, showered, went to the postoffice, went to Penneys (kinda like Hecht's). I was looking for shoes and skinny jeans and then I realized I really didn't need either of them right now. So I went and got the shoes I actually needed (rain shoes). I was convinced it was going to rain today, even though the forecast only said 20%. I've been here two weeks exactly and it hasn't rained yet. I aint complaining but it's just funny because normally it rains a lot here. Anywho, by the time I got to campus it was 1:30. I didn't have class today and I wanted to spend my day doing physics. So got to the library and they didn't have the book I needed so I ended up waisting my day. Went through the notes at least and then went to a friends for about 15 min. Walked myself back here (30 min) and now I'm actually doing physics put I told someone I would go rockclimbing w/ them so I only have an hour. I'm trying to be less flaky and actually follow through w/ my plans. I guess that's pretty important especially when you're meeting new people. It's kinda frustrating because I feel like I've forgotten my french (the girl im going w/ is french). I feel like every conversation I say something wrong.

Well need to stop procrastinating. Trying to stay positive. I just need to give it time.

I'm tired and I just wanna sit and !??@@!'1$%!!!!

I'm so tired. I'm ready to have a mental breakdown hahaha. Urrrrr I hate people!

They have 4 floors in this stupid library and a shitton of computers but only about 12 on each floor have seats!! All the others are standing ones. Just frickin buy some stools!!

I'm getting really tired of going to classes and them not being there. This happened Monday, Wednesday and today and im just sick of it. Yesterday I went to that stupid Pediatrics class which apaprently was today. So I went today and guess whhhat?!?!? No was was in the stupid room that the stupid timetable said it was in!! So we went to this other building like 15 min. away bc there was another potential room it coulda been in. Of course, it wasn't so we asked the info/security desk. They were really helpful and called around for about 10 min and no one in the FUCKING department knew where the class had been changed too. How lovely right?!?

I just got a stupid email from the stupid teacher being like it was in G10, I just finished. Well that fucking does me no good now does it? What the fuck am I suppose to do w/ that now? That's not even what I frucking asked you in the fucking email. I asked when can I meet you to catch up on what I fucking missed!!! AHHGHHH! Oh ya and of course, the room we were looking at was G7 so ha! it was like a couple doors down. And it ws 2 hrs so I missed a 2 hour class.

ANNND to top it all off Myerowitz, Jane Hambel, Susan Bennett and all of the whole fucking International Office won't fucking get back to me!! I just want someone to tell me if my fucking classes are approved or not!!!! I'm going to kill someone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm tired. Physics in 15 min.

The Irish

I cannot figure these people out. They're all crazy, some are kinda funny I must say, and some are just kinda rude.

Exhibit A: I was in physics yesterday and had an extra piece of paper that we were filling out so I got up and give it to the girl near my b/c she needed one. Then the guy next to me who I "chatted" with (nothing of substance, just stuff about the class) said to me " Don't give your copies. You need to keep them." WTF? That makes no sense whatsover.

Exhibit B: In that same class, our lecturer had put pictures of herself in the power point and some kid whistled at a bunch of the pictures. I mean kinda rude right? She didn't do anything and didn't seem bothered. Ya, it was kinda funny and ppl laughed but then I just felt kinda bad.

Exhibit C: Ahh, the construction workers. Some things just don't change wherever you are.

Exhibit D: I overheard 4 guys talking and it was hilarious! This kid goes "There are only two black actors in the whole world - Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman." So this other kid replies w/ "Kenan and Kell are black too." And the other replies with "Who is Kenan and why is is his middle name 'and'. " He was obviously kidding but it was pretty entertaining.

Exhibit E: As I walked home today, these two guys (one was wearing a white skintight shirt to show off his muscles and the other jeans w/ bondage strings - just to get an image of who they were) walked by the girl and I'm assuming most likely said something to her. But anyways, as she walked away, they like turned around to stare at her as she walked away. She looked like she was 13 - she probably was older b/c she didnt have a uniform, but it was just gross.
Along the same lines, these kids not in college, so probably primary education - they had uniforms on (young high school about) - were walking on the street and started hollering at girls their own age. Ok I know I guess it's kinda normal, but it just seems so rude.

So since I just listened to our Crew songs from last year and just changed my background to a picture of the Wye eight, does that mean that I miss home and smcm??

No More Walking!!

Im tired. Walking is exhausting. It's about a 20 min walk to campus. Today my class was farther though so it took me 30 min and guess what?? I didn't have class!!! That woulda been great to know especially since I had to get up at 8:30. It really wasn't that bad. These two 3rd year Irish girls helped me find where I was going b/c they were going to the same place. So the class is actually tmr, but the stupid timetable said today. Hence another example of how this shit gets confusing. I have my Ireland and Rome history class at 4 so I gotta leave here in about 10 min to get there on time.

Anywho, I got back at noon b/c I stayed on campus and tried to find more classes to go to and printed some stuff for physics and went to the Society Day. I signed up for the german society haha - im trying to learn german lol - and random other shit like medical society and who knows what else. Oh! Photograhpy too! Tmr is club day so I can sign up for surfing and crew.

Went to the grocery store and talked to my mom when I got home at noon. I had a kick ass sandwich for lunch!! It was ham or some meat from the English Market so it was fresh and not jacked up on steroids, tomato, capers, onions, brie and ceasar dressing on a baguette! Was soo good, I'm quite proud of myself. Last night me and Amy made this awesome stir fry. Fresh chicken, onions, mushrooms, peppers, and baby corn with black bean sauce which is kinda like soy.

The clouds were so perfect today so I took some pictures.

Walking home at like 7

Classes Start

First off, it is soo weird to start now knowing that every1 at smcm has already been in class for 4 weeks already. The class system here is soo weeird. Well really, its actually only confusing for visiting students, which is just kinda stupid. So this week we go to all the classes but you don't register till next week. I mean ya, that's not that confusing and it's nice cause it's kinda like Haverford where you can test out the classes but at the same time they tell you the timetables change so that isn't necessary the time it will be. The professors however, called lecturers here - professors is only for the department head - all imply that those are the final times.

Then going on to language classes. They base them off of when everyone is free which is cool, but what makes no sense is that you have to give them your schedule before you register for all your classes. So like technically your schedule could change?? Oy gevalt.

Monday I didn't end up having my class because it got canceled and isn't starting till the first week of october. It's a Biology of Marine Mammals class and she wants to wait till the seniors get back. They went to Scotland for a fieldcourse yesterday and won't be back till next week. So I ended up wandering the campus for FOUR HOURS!!! I went to a bunch of different departments and found where my Mar. Mamls class would be. This is a picture off a bridge I cross to get to class and then through the park.

It's a swan! I know they're mean but I like them! And it was a pretty picture.

How I get to my Biology of Marine Mammals class - not having it for 2 weeks though :(

I actually met 2 french girls yesterday on my tour of the library haha. I went to dinner w/ them and one of their other french friends last night (at the BK lounge - that's Burger King for you non Dane Cook ppl) and then we hung out at a Pub. It was nice finally getting to know other ppl. At the Pub, their 3 other french friends were there so I met them as well as a german dude and 3 American Law students. I know, kinda random but really, like it was just nice hanging w/ nicer ppl. Got home at midnight and went to class at noon today. Oh ya, haha on Mondays I don't start class till 2! My earliest is actually tmr at 10.

So its funny because the amount of Subway stores here is almost like our Starbucks. There are 2 in about 5 min. walking distance as well as McDonalds. They also have Burger King, Hillbillies (fried chicken) but don't go there cause you get food poisining.

I have more to tell but this is getting long so I'll save it for tmr! Toodles.

Kinsale

So yesterday I went to Kinsale. It's a port city about 50 minutes by bus. We walked around, went into an International Wine Museum (it did not include wine tasting), went into a couple churches and ate at a Fish and Chips place. I really wanted to go to Charles Fort which is the biggest military port or something but it was a 40 minute walk and no one else wanted to go cause they thought we wouldn't have time. Last night we all watched Bourne Identity. View of Kinsale Port from a street up top - everything where the houses are was taken from the shore to make land.

Today we went to the gym which is soooo nice!! haha you have to use your fingerprints to get in! I went climbing for a little but the climbs here are so much harder than at home. Talked to the guy for a bit who told me when the Mountaneering club comes so he told me to come by too.

Umm what else, ooohh today was International Peace Day so there was Peace in the Park. It reminded me so much of smcm!! All the hippies of Cork came out w/ their dreadlocks - it was great. I was smiling to myself and therefore probably looked like a crazy person. People like Dwight and Danny Tanner woulda fit in perfectly here!! This stupid thing won't let me put a picture of the people dancing :( so I will have to show you later.

Start class tmr. We don't register for classes till October 1st though so imma just go to as many classes as I can for now and then decide. That is all. toodles. Bed time.

Orientation

Well, really haven't done much these last two days (thursday and friday). Had orientation which involved sitting from about 9:30 to 1 PM. Not really sure what I did after that but by the time I got home it was about 3. Took at nap till 7. haha oops. It was only meant to be till 4. And ya, we went to a Pub called the Thirsty, because the International Club was having a thing there but it was impossible to meet anyone. Everyone just kinda stayed in their little groups so we left and wandered around town.

People here are friendly but at the same time not. Like at pubs, all they wanna do is get there beer and you better not get in the way. The american's have all been easier to meet. Like last night, two of them heard us talking from across the bar and came over to introduce themselves. We also went somewhere to use the bathroom and the guys behind us, who were Irish, got excite that we were from Washington. We didn't stay and chat but as we left we heard them say "Ya, they're from DC!" Ok, it's also really scary when you walk on the sidewalk because they walk on the left so when we walk on the right it's like a head on collision but they dont move out of the way!! It's just really scary to have someone coming at you.

Cork is really different than what I was expecting unfortunatly. I thought I would be surrounded by green stuff everywhere but this really is like a small city. It woulda been awesome to just take a book and go read somewhere w/ a nice view, kinda like we do at the waterfront, but there really is no where to do that.

This is Oliver Plunkett St. It's one of the two main streets of the town. I live off of this one along w/ Main St. Everything basically looks the same.

St. Fin Barr's Cathedral

So I put some pictures of w/ the other posts of you wanna check em out.

But anywho, so today we tried to get a bank account open but we're just gonna do it at orientation cause it's easier to do it then. Orientation actually starts tmr at 9:30. I pick my classes Friday.

We ran some more errands - went to the Old English Market. It has cheap meat and fruits, cheaper than the supermarket. That's it right here below. There's tone of meat and like fresh premade burgers and chicken patties so cooking hopefully won't be too bad.

After that we (me and 4 other american girls including my roomate) hung out at our place. I got really anxious sitting inside so we decided to go wandering. May I just add that this is the third day with NO RAIN!?!?! It was actually kinda warm out today which was awesome. We went on an adventure trying to find this used bookstore that I saw yesterday while on the bus. So we found it and kept exploring.

We went into this Cathedral, St. Fin Barr's Cathedral, which is a popular cathedral here. And after that we came home.

The outside of Fin Barr's Cathedral - not where we entered though.

This is called the ambulatory. It's behind the chancel. Along the sides it has family crests and dedications to family members.

That's the entrance. It's a rose window. If your back is to the ambulatory you see this. Just thought it looked really cool.

Actually gonna go eat now cause I'm starving!!

Blarney Castle

Hewwow!!!

Soo, my internet is completely lame can I just say. I'm at this girls house, Julie, cause she has wireless. She is one of the girls who I met on the first day. Amy is my roomate and whose room I just happen to put my stuff in.

So today I went to UCC, University College Cork, Colaisgte na hollecoisto (I think, that's from memory in Irish). It was pretty cool. Just walked around and went to the International Office.



This is the UCC Campus. It's the main quad.













At 10:30, me, Amy, Julie, and this other girl Quinn all went to Blarney Castle. I kissed the stone and what not. You have to hang upside down to kiss it. Ok im sorry, I'm being really bad at this right now, I'm just on internet overload. I've been on it for like 2 hours trying to do five million things since I can actually use it now and not have to go on my roomates. I'll try and be better tmr. Here are some picture.

The Blarney Castle. Me leaning over to kiss the stone.



So to get to the Blarney Castle we took a bus and they also gave us a tour of the city. This is the only synagoge in Cork and the bus driver has never seen anyone go in or out of it. I just thought it was funny.

Molly, this one's for you

So first of, i'd like to say that this is the second time im writing this. Yaa, I fail.

Anywho, I MADE IT!!! Everything looks very much alike. I already got lost for about 20 minutes - it was quite wonderful. Asked multiple ppl but that did no good so finally 2 "moco popos" helped me out. Of course, I was on my way to meet someone and since I was late they left!

Well here's what actually happened:

• got off the plane and went to my apartment, South Mall Court. It's about 11 o'clock



• the landlady (who apparently is the richest woman in Cork, and also happens to be the cheapest) says she can't be there till noon. That was lovely news.



• Luckily, right when I get to the front door, two girls are on their way out. They let me dump my stuff in their room just as they had to do with their stuff the day before.



• So ended up walking around the town w/ them and this is when i got lost. I left them to meet up w/ the landlady to get the key and of course she left cause i was late and lost.



• This time however, I was able to just hang out upstairs in the girls apartment

So ya, landlady=uber spaciness. Everything worked out well however, and the room where I dumped my stuff turned out to the where i'm living!

Wandered around Cork by myself to get familiarized w/ things so that we could avoid the whole getting lost thing again. Did some errands, got a buncha stuff - the usual.

It's strange. This whole thing is crazyness. Going to my campus tmr. Or well today in a couple hours. Uggg I need sleep.

This is main street. It's obviously at night while we went out to a Pub and a club. I did not drink however, thank you very much.