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.