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.