"Unproductive" is the word of the program so far. There is not that much motivating me to actually keep up with the program, though it might help for me to begin thinking about boosting my GPA just a bit. Yeah, guess I'll do that.
New amazing concoction: Nutella and Raspberry jam sandwich! Amazing! Amazing!
So not much in the past two days. Not much at all. We had 5 hours of class yesterday and today, and out of those four lectures, there was only one in which I didn't feel like dying a thousand deaths. I'm over these classes that are designed for 8th graders. That's why the most amazing thing about the past two days was the aforementioned deliciousness that was my breakfast. Oh man. I can't wait for tomorrow morning to eat another!
Everyone is sick in the program, and I always manage to sit in front of the same girl who has this piercing, high-pitched cough that drowns out every other word of the lectures. How do I get away?! Well, it's not like anyone else I sit in front of will be less sick. I'll just keep eating those clementines, I suppose.
Tomorrow all 41 of us are going on the Northern Ireland trip, which mostly includes Belfast and (London)Derry. I'm excited to go , especially to see what they have planned for us to see. I just hope I can whip out this paper on time, and perhaps I should prepare myself for having to be with the people for such an extended period of time...
It will be good to get away and do something with my life, I suppose. I've been either vegging or stressing myself out about the future. Everyone here is worried about summer plans, but man! Do they realize that I have to begin paying back my loans?! I'll have to get a real job with benefits and all that goodness?!
The situation seems to have gotten so bleak that I've been looking at positions in Bristol, CT. Bah! What if I DO end up there??? Ohhh...worry worry worry. I need to stop that.
So, if any of you know an easier way to get a work visa for the UK, do let me know.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Guess I'll Go Eat Worms
I'm being such a fatty, sitting here eating peanut butter straight out of the jar after devouring two clementines after 23:00 (you bet I'm using military time!).
Why do I always feel so hungry?
I'm not really eating all that much, I know, but I keep wanting to eat. The thing that is helping me is that I refuse to buy any snacks (more out of money's sake than self-control, frankly), so I usually have nothing to eat anyway. But I've found a new snack with the clementines. And apparently the peanut butter.
Well, the other thing that helps is that Tesco refuses to let me use a shopping cart without having to fork over even more money, so I use the shopping basket. I've figured out, after two times, that these shopping baskets only allow you about 30 euros' worth of groceries - it just gets too heavy or too full after that amount.
This is good and bad. The bad is obvious: not as much as I could get in one trip, which means another half-hour trek back and forth. But see, I stay away from the snacks and the fatty goods and only buy what is absolutely necessary, such as fruits, vegetables, seasoning, pasta, etc. I also have to walk/move more, which makes me feel better about aforementioned fatty-ness.
Oh yes, and I did get up to run for a bit again today. Another plus. Shall I do it again tomorrow? Perhaps, if I get up early enough.
See, Sociology class was canceled today because Playboy of the Western World at the Abbey Theatre took its place. That meant the entire morning and afternoon to ourselves! Would you fancy that!
But the play...ehhh. Of course I'd take it any day over our Sociology class, but honestly, it now feels strange to be in an atmosphere in which people are not constantly cursing and yelling at each other. I could definitely have done without all the yelling. Hehe...yet I still said to my history lecturer, "It was good." It was funny at parts, to be fair.
I did take a picture of the stage, and accidently left my flash on when I switched it back to the SCN mode. My fault. It was a bit embarrassing when the usher came over and asked me to put my camera away. Ah well...that's better than them either taking it away or asking me to leave, which I have seen done before.
So that was my day. Can you place the sequence of events in chronological order? Probably not. I made it hard for you.
Pictures!
Not much at all, but that's what the famous Abbey Theatre looks like on the inside. (Shhh...I didn't take this or post this!)
Why do I always feel so hungry?
I'm not really eating all that much, I know, but I keep wanting to eat. The thing that is helping me is that I refuse to buy any snacks (more out of money's sake than self-control, frankly), so I usually have nothing to eat anyway. But I've found a new snack with the clementines. And apparently the peanut butter.
Well, the other thing that helps is that Tesco refuses to let me use a shopping cart without having to fork over even more money, so I use the shopping basket. I've figured out, after two times, that these shopping baskets only allow you about 30 euros' worth of groceries - it just gets too heavy or too full after that amount.
This is good and bad. The bad is obvious: not as much as I could get in one trip, which means another half-hour trek back and forth. But see, I stay away from the snacks and the fatty goods and only buy what is absolutely necessary, such as fruits, vegetables, seasoning, pasta, etc. I also have to walk/move more, which makes me feel better about aforementioned fatty-ness.
Oh yes, and I did get up to run for a bit again today. Another plus. Shall I do it again tomorrow? Perhaps, if I get up early enough.
See, Sociology class was canceled today because Playboy of the Western World at the Abbey Theatre took its place. That meant the entire morning and afternoon to ourselves! Would you fancy that!
But the play...ehhh. Of course I'd take it any day over our Sociology class, but honestly, it now feels strange to be in an atmosphere in which people are not constantly cursing and yelling at each other. I could definitely have done without all the yelling. Hehe...yet I still said to my history lecturer, "It was good." It was funny at parts, to be fair.
I did take a picture of the stage, and accidently left my flash on when I switched it back to the SCN mode. My fault. It was a bit embarrassing when the usher came over and asked me to put my camera away. Ah well...that's better than them either taking it away or asking me to leave, which I have seen done before.
So that was my day. Can you place the sequence of events in chronological order? Probably not. I made it hard for you.
Pictures!
Not much at all, but that's what the famous Abbey Theatre looks like on the inside. (Shhh...I didn't take this or post this!)
Monday, January 26, 2009
Strolls and Shocks: Lock, Stock, and Barrel
Ummm...failed again at the weekend update. The north keeps me well occupied, what can I say? =)
Here we go! (And again, pictures down below)
FRIDAY
1) 5 months =)
2) Ran for a long bit - felt gooood
3) Packed, got ready to leave for N.I.
4) N.I.
5) Trinity Youth Club
6) Chill out
SATURDAY
1) Coleraine to shop for some boots
2) Lunch again with Simon and Amy
3) Walking around Portstewart
4) Dinner at Yoko (a noodle bar)
5) Slumdog Millionaire with James and Gail
6) Chillin' out
SUNDAY
1) Service
2) Lunch and the afternoon with Alan's brother, Stephen, and sister-in-law, Paula
3) Study
4) Just hanging out, making plans, talking for the rest of the night
And today was just studying on the bus heading down to Dublin. Caught the 9 o'clock bus just in time (with one minute to spare!) so I could get into Dublin at around 11:40 a.m.
So this entry will be about two culture shocks so far:
Culture shock #1: Bathrooms
They don't have outlets for, say, a hair dryer or a straightener, and if they do, it's only for an electric razor. The toilets flush differently - better, actually. Instead of swirling around and sometimes doing an absolutely terrible job, it really flushes nice and powerfully. The faucets up north are all separated by hot and cold. WHY. I HATE THIS. If you leave it on long enough to just wash your face, you have to do this weird number of switching between the two faucets to get warm water. Sometimes you get it just right. Other times your hands either ice over or get scalded by hot water.
Culture shock #2: No understanding for runners
I was coming to a small street and a car was coming to a stop. I ran in front of it because it had juuuust come to a stop. I thought that was perfectly fine - they understand that you don't really want to stop if you're running in Boston, after all, with all those runners. But as I passed the car, the driver was definitely not happy and cursed at me. =( I "interrupted" him for 2 seconds and he flips out like that? That was not very nice, not very nice at all.
Next shock comes from what I observed on Friday night at Trinity Youth Club.
Generation shock: KIDS these days!
Cell phones that play the latest pop hits, iPods of all shapes and colors, trendy clothes, caked-on makeup - everything to just impress the opposite sex. I ended up talking the most with a 13-year-old and 15-year-old, Jessica and Rebecca. I felt comfortable with them because they reminded me of kids back then. Jessica rides ponies for competitive shows, and Rebecca makes up silly hip-hop dance moves. Of course, both are obsessed about Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers, but I'll forgive them that because it seems like they still have less of the media in their lives. Other than those two, every other teenager in that club was definitely too cool for little ol' me.
Anyway, I am still mustering up the courage to take pictures of the people I meet and befriend. One day I will adopt the tourist-y attitude and just take a group picture with people in some ridiculously common sort of place. Deal?
Substantial enough for an entry, no? Picture time! (As usual, more on my FB)
This is all of Portstewart:
And...a video! (For those of you who want to know what a Northern Irish accent sounds like!)
Here we go! (And again, pictures down below)
FRIDAY
1) 5 months =)
2) Ran for a long bit - felt gooood
3) Packed, got ready to leave for N.I.
4) N.I.
5) Trinity Youth Club
6) Chill out
SATURDAY
1) Coleraine to shop for some boots
2) Lunch again with Simon and Amy
3) Walking around Portstewart
4) Dinner at Yoko (a noodle bar)
5) Slumdog Millionaire with James and Gail
6) Chillin' out
SUNDAY
1) Service
2) Lunch and the afternoon with Alan's brother, Stephen, and sister-in-law, Paula
3) Study
4) Just hanging out, making plans, talking for the rest of the night
And today was just studying on the bus heading down to Dublin. Caught the 9 o'clock bus just in time (with one minute to spare!) so I could get into Dublin at around 11:40 a.m.
So this entry will be about two culture shocks so far:
Culture shock #1: Bathrooms
They don't have outlets for, say, a hair dryer or a straightener, and if they do, it's only for an electric razor. The toilets flush differently - better, actually. Instead of swirling around and sometimes doing an absolutely terrible job, it really flushes nice and powerfully. The faucets up north are all separated by hot and cold. WHY. I HATE THIS. If you leave it on long enough to just wash your face, you have to do this weird number of switching between the two faucets to get warm water. Sometimes you get it just right. Other times your hands either ice over or get scalded by hot water.
Culture shock #2: No understanding for runners
I was coming to a small street and a car was coming to a stop. I ran in front of it because it had juuuust come to a stop. I thought that was perfectly fine - they understand that you don't really want to stop if you're running in Boston, after all, with all those runners. But as I passed the car, the driver was definitely not happy and cursed at me. =( I "interrupted" him for 2 seconds and he flips out like that? That was not very nice, not very nice at all.
Next shock comes from what I observed on Friday night at Trinity Youth Club.
Generation shock: KIDS these days!
Cell phones that play the latest pop hits, iPods of all shapes and colors, trendy clothes, caked-on makeup - everything to just impress the opposite sex. I ended up talking the most with a 13-year-old and 15-year-old, Jessica and Rebecca. I felt comfortable with them because they reminded me of kids back then. Jessica rides ponies for competitive shows, and Rebecca makes up silly hip-hop dance moves. Of course, both are obsessed about Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers, but I'll forgive them that because it seems like they still have less of the media in their lives. Other than those two, every other teenager in that club was definitely too cool for little ol' me.
Anyway, I am still mustering up the courage to take pictures of the people I meet and befriend. One day I will adopt the tourist-y attitude and just take a group picture with people in some ridiculously common sort of place. Deal?
Substantial enough for an entry, no? Picture time! (As usual, more on my FB)
This is all of Portstewart:
And...a video! (For those of you who want to know what a Northern Irish accent sounds like!)
Thursday, January 22, 2009
One Ray of Sunlight To Hold in My Hand
(Pictures at the bottom! And all of them are uploaded on my Facebook. Something is wrong with Dropshots.)
Three perpetual things I have been feeling since my arrival in Dublin: cold, wet, and tired.
The first two I have little to no control over, but that third one is befuddling. I do get plenty of sleep - more than I got last semester, anyway. I felt a lot more energetic last semester, though.
Why?
My theory is that there is not that much to get up for. Most of the week I have to be up early for class and then more class. It's really not that exciting, despite all the little excursions we take. I was pretty exhausted today by 8 p.m., after being hungry at 4:30 p.m.
We had a walking tour in place of a history lecture today. I decided to go in a bit earlier by myself to browse around shops. I'm in the market for boots because I am fed up with being cold and wet all the time, so yes, I succumb to donning on those boots - as soon as I find them, that is. I also wanted to get some pictures of Trinity College because guess what? IT WAS SUNNY! Only for a couple of hours, and then it rained later, but WE STILL GOT SOME SUN. That is all that matters.
The walking tour was good at first because our guide was funny and energetic, even in the cold. And then it...got...boring...and...COLD. So I just followed the group around waiting for the tour to be over so I could get inside somewhere and thaw my frozen body.
After that, got some Irish hot chocolate at The Celt with the class and our lecturer (shh...it wasn't part of the program as it involved some...liquid substance. We just followed Caroline there. Teehee). Then off to Gourmet Burger Kitchen as our "American" night with some of the girls from my flat. I, still trying to keep the pescie diet, just had a lentil burger and fries. Both were absolutely yummy, but something did something to my stomach. I forgot how much pain a stomach could cause with bad food, or just more substantial food. I suppose that's the consequence of accidentally starving yourself.
Something going through my head today:
As I was weaving around the racks of Clery's, a large department store, I realized how uncomfortable I felt. I knew that the employees needed only to look at what I was wearing, the purse I was carrying to know that I wasn't able to afford anything there. I kept at it with that "just in case" attitude, passing the assortment of colors and styles that draped on the headless, hegemonic-shaped manequins and fitted on their white, narrow feet.
And I got out of there. It was too suffocating.
Across the street I went into the Eason's and opened the doors to magazine shelves, book tables, newspaper stands. I sighed. This is where I belong. Hands down, I'd rather spend 15 euro on a good book rather than on two or three clubbing shirts.
Because I at least know that there's some substance under the cover.
Well, picture time!
Trinity College - I want to study here so badly!
During our walking tour:
1)
2) 
3) 
1) Customs House from across the River Liffey
2) The Spire and Jim Larkin
3) City Centre, North, West, South are all in the same direction, as you can see.
And of course, the drink that thawed my insides, Irish Hot Chocolate:
Cheers!
Three perpetual things I have been feeling since my arrival in Dublin: cold, wet, and tired.
The first two I have little to no control over, but that third one is befuddling. I do get plenty of sleep - more than I got last semester, anyway. I felt a lot more energetic last semester, though.
Why?
My theory is that there is not that much to get up for. Most of the week I have to be up early for class and then more class. It's really not that exciting, despite all the little excursions we take. I was pretty exhausted today by 8 p.m., after being hungry at 4:30 p.m.
We had a walking tour in place of a history lecture today. I decided to go in a bit earlier by myself to browse around shops. I'm in the market for boots because I am fed up with being cold and wet all the time, so yes, I succumb to donning on those boots - as soon as I find them, that is. I also wanted to get some pictures of Trinity College because guess what? IT WAS SUNNY! Only for a couple of hours, and then it rained later, but WE STILL GOT SOME SUN. That is all that matters.
The walking tour was good at first because our guide was funny and energetic, even in the cold. And then it...got...boring...and...COLD. So I just followed the group around waiting for the tour to be over so I could get inside somewhere and thaw my frozen body.
After that, got some Irish hot chocolate at The Celt with the class and our lecturer (shh...it wasn't part of the program as it involved some...liquid substance. We just followed Caroline there. Teehee). Then off to Gourmet Burger Kitchen as our "American" night with some of the girls from my flat. I, still trying to keep the pescie diet, just had a lentil burger and fries. Both were absolutely yummy, but something did something to my stomach. I forgot how much pain a stomach could cause with bad food, or just more substantial food. I suppose that's the consequence of accidentally starving yourself.
Something going through my head today:
As I was weaving around the racks of Clery's, a large department store, I realized how uncomfortable I felt. I knew that the employees needed only to look at what I was wearing, the purse I was carrying to know that I wasn't able to afford anything there. I kept at it with that "just in case" attitude, passing the assortment of colors and styles that draped on the headless, hegemonic-shaped manequins and fitted on their white, narrow feet.
And I got out of there. It was too suffocating.
Across the street I went into the Eason's and opened the doors to magazine shelves, book tables, newspaper stands. I sighed. This is where I belong. Hands down, I'd rather spend 15 euro on a good book rather than on two or three clubbing shirts.
Because I at least know that there's some substance under the cover.
Well, picture time!
Trinity College - I want to study here so badly!
During our walking tour:
1)
2) 
3) 
1) Customs House from across the River Liffey
2) The Spire and Jim Larkin
3) City Centre, North, West, South are all in the same direction, as you can see.
And of course, the drink that thawed my insides, Irish Hot Chocolate:
Cheers!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Brrrr
This will probably be one of the more boring entries. Don't say that I did not warn you.
The perk of today was that I actually got up for the run, which felt really good, but...COLD. Quite cold. I don't know if running in this kind of weather will make me sick, but it certainly felt good to finally get up and moving for a bit.
Class was eeehhh...That's all I'll comment about it. But in history, we are getting a little closer to the Northern Ireland conflict, which should be pretty interesting, especially since we're also going to be visiting it as a class next weekend.
After that, I freaked out about my future career as I was looking at jobs and internships and graduate schools. Mmmm...I don't think I can keep doing that to myself and still stay sane.
Plans to travel around are sort of solidifying, though not really quite yet. Everything is so up in the air, it seems - oh, how I wish the working boy didn't have such a tight leash. 'Tis okay. Everything will work out, I'm sure.
My dinner was a sad one. I stir-fried my frozen cauliflower and broccoli mix, which was pretty good, minus the fact that the cauliflower was still frozen. Sometimes I just bit into ice. Sad life.
Oh yes! I also tried really hard to get some reading done, and I have accomplished about 4 pages. I'm quite pleased with myself that I've been trying valiantly for a couple of hours now.
Haha...who am I kidding. I still suck at being a student, even when the workload is so much lighter!
No pictures for the day, as I obviously had done nothing picture-worthy.
The perk of today was that I actually got up for the run, which felt really good, but...COLD. Quite cold. I don't know if running in this kind of weather will make me sick, but it certainly felt good to finally get up and moving for a bit.
Class was eeehhh...That's all I'll comment about it. But in history, we are getting a little closer to the Northern Ireland conflict, which should be pretty interesting, especially since we're also going to be visiting it as a class next weekend.
After that, I freaked out about my future career as I was looking at jobs and internships and graduate schools. Mmmm...I don't think I can keep doing that to myself and still stay sane.
Plans to travel around are sort of solidifying, though not really quite yet. Everything is so up in the air, it seems - oh, how I wish the working boy didn't have such a tight leash. 'Tis okay. Everything will work out, I'm sure.
My dinner was a sad one. I stir-fried my frozen cauliflower and broccoli mix, which was pretty good, minus the fact that the cauliflower was still frozen. Sometimes I just bit into ice. Sad life.
Oh yes! I also tried really hard to get some reading done, and I have accomplished about 4 pages. I'm quite pleased with myself that I've been trying valiantly for a couple of hours now.
Haha...who am I kidding. I still suck at being a student, even when the workload is so much lighter!
No pictures for the day, as I obviously had done nothing picture-worthy.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
O'Bama?
The title is, of course, written in the lingo as this little country would have it. =) Oh Ireland, the little things you do.
Today was the most American I've felt in my whole life, I'll admit. I've always longed for my life in the states whenever I visited other countries, but that was because of what was there, not always for what the country itself was and represented.
But today, 20 January 2009, I actually felt like an American, glued to the TV as Barack Obama mucked up that oath and cheering inside as he made his speech.
So I'm on the bandwagon. I even went to the local pub to have a Jameson with a group of girls to celebrate.
I don't care. It's not like the rest of Ireland or the UK can deny that they were all watching the inauguration as well. BBC said that a lot of people were taking half days at work to go home and watch it, and this is during their economic recession when everyone is grabbing for more hours. It really is interesting, the way everyone is looking to the country they've always simultaneously hated and admired. As much as I am sometimes loathe to be classified as the typical American, listening to Obama's speech was...inspiring.
Which was why I raised my first right-at-home Jameson on the rocks to the inauguration of our 44th president.
In other news, at 9:25 a.m. today, I made the long trek to Dun Laoghire (pronounced "Leer-y") for my internship interview. It wasn't so much an interview as it was a brief orientation of the kind of work I'll be doing. I'm looking forward to it, actually, minus the whole 2-hour commute. It's also unfortunate that there was no offer for compensation for either travel or meals, as some others have received from their placements. I guess...at least they're okay with my coming in at 10 a.m. instead of 9 a.m. It seems pretty laidback, but at the same time majorly hands-on. I'll be working with Emily on the production of Cara, Aer Lingus's inflight magazine. And I will be helping Lisa out on the web content as well.
Let's hope it will be worth that 4-hour/day commute!
Oh, so I must mention that I did read two pages of one of my history texts today. Go me. I tried, okay? That was a valiant effort, I'll say!
And! I finally got my glasses and my new camera! Here come more pictures (must make the money worth it!).
So then, cheers!
My first Jameson in Ireland. =)
Today was the most American I've felt in my whole life, I'll admit. I've always longed for my life in the states whenever I visited other countries, but that was because of what was there, not always for what the country itself was and represented.
But today, 20 January 2009, I actually felt like an American, glued to the TV as Barack Obama mucked up that oath and cheering inside as he made his speech.
So I'm on the bandwagon. I even went to the local pub to have a Jameson with a group of girls to celebrate.
I don't care. It's not like the rest of Ireland or the UK can deny that they were all watching the inauguration as well. BBC said that a lot of people were taking half days at work to go home and watch it, and this is during their economic recession when everyone is grabbing for more hours. It really is interesting, the way everyone is looking to the country they've always simultaneously hated and admired. As much as I am sometimes loathe to be classified as the typical American, listening to Obama's speech was...inspiring.
Which was why I raised my first right-at-home Jameson on the rocks to the inauguration of our 44th president.
In other news, at 9:25 a.m. today, I made the long trek to Dun Laoghire (pronounced "Leer-y") for my internship interview. It wasn't so much an interview as it was a brief orientation of the kind of work I'll be doing. I'm looking forward to it, actually, minus the whole 2-hour commute. It's also unfortunate that there was no offer for compensation for either travel or meals, as some others have received from their placements. I guess...at least they're okay with my coming in at 10 a.m. instead of 9 a.m. It seems pretty laidback, but at the same time majorly hands-on. I'll be working with Emily on the production of Cara, Aer Lingus's inflight magazine. And I will be helping Lisa out on the web content as well.
Let's hope it will be worth that 4-hour/day commute!
Oh, so I must mention that I did read two pages of one of my history texts today. Go me. I tried, okay? That was a valiant effort, I'll say!
And! I finally got my glasses and my new camera! Here come more pictures (must make the money worth it!).
So then, cheers!
My first Jameson in Ireland. =)
Monday, January 19, 2009
Gorgeous Awesomeness
Hello from the weekend! (Scroll to bottom of entry for pictures)
I failed at writing every day because I was too tired and had a certain distraction, so I'll quickly recap.
FRIDAY
1) Glendalough, Co. Wicklow
2) Bus from Dublin Busaras to Belfast, train from Belfast to Ballymoney
3) Met Alan's parents
SATURDAY
1) Met two uncles and the brother
2)Alan and I had lunch with Simon and Amy
3) Drove around Portrush a bit before just relaxing in the house
4) "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" and some chatting with James and Gail
5) Hanging out
SUNDAY
1) Service at Trinity, met Alan's senior members
2) Drove to Dunluce Castle, Portrush, Portstewart
3) Roughan's for Hot Chocolate and some nutty MarshBars
4) Back to the house
5) Trinity Youth Club
6) Pack and last hanging out
TODAY
1) Train at 7:30 am, back in Dublin at 1 p.m.
2) Class for forever
3) Running around in vain to closed offices that were supposed to close at 5:15 p.m. I think they all closed at 5 p.m.
4) Getting ready for the interview tomorrow
So today, I am dreadfully tired just coming from Ballymoney early in the morning, but it was so much more worth it than coming back yesterday night. =)
Had a wonderful weekend up north. Everything seemed so surreal just meeting the Carson family (and uncles) and Alan's friends. They are all very nice and friendly around here, true to the stereotype. I can't wait to go back next weekend! And by the way, we did two double dates in one day, which is weird in retrospect, but they were pretty good, pretty good.
So, really not much to say. I'll let the pictures speak for their beautiful selves. I apologize for making them tiny, but that makes for easier uploading and a more condensed entry (click on the pictures to see them bigger). For more, go to my dropshots site. Well, once it starts working anyway.
Glendalough ("Land of Two Lakes"), Co. Wicklow
St. Kevin's church/monastery, hiking up the mountain
Driving along the lake This is what we see as drive on the road:
Northern Ireland: Dunluce Castle, Roughan's (a cafe in Portstewart)
Alan Carson, the Northern Ireland official tour guide:
And these were all on terrible, cold, windy and cloudy day. I know, be jealous.
But this one is one of my favorites. =) Though ugh, I look like I'm half asleep.
I failed at writing every day because I was too tired and had a certain distraction, so I'll quickly recap.
FRIDAY
1) Glendalough, Co. Wicklow
2) Bus from Dublin Busaras to Belfast, train from Belfast to Ballymoney
3) Met Alan's parents
SATURDAY
1) Met two uncles and the brother
2)Alan and I had lunch with Simon and Amy
3) Drove around Portrush a bit before just relaxing in the house
4) "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" and some chatting with James and Gail
5) Hanging out
SUNDAY
1) Service at Trinity, met Alan's senior members
2) Drove to Dunluce Castle, Portrush, Portstewart
3) Roughan's for Hot Chocolate and some nutty MarshBars
4) Back to the house
5) Trinity Youth Club
6) Pack and last hanging out
TODAY
1) Train at 7:30 am, back in Dublin at 1 p.m.
2) Class for forever
3) Running around in vain to closed offices that were supposed to close at 5:15 p.m. I think they all closed at 5 p.m.
4) Getting ready for the interview tomorrow
So today, I am dreadfully tired just coming from Ballymoney early in the morning, but it was so much more worth it than coming back yesterday night. =)
Had a wonderful weekend up north. Everything seemed so surreal just meeting the Carson family (and uncles) and Alan's friends. They are all very nice and friendly around here, true to the stereotype. I can't wait to go back next weekend! And by the way, we did two double dates in one day, which is weird in retrospect, but they were pretty good, pretty good.
So, really not much to say. I'll let the pictures speak for their beautiful selves. I apologize for making them tiny, but that makes for easier uploading and a more condensed entry (click on the pictures to see them bigger). For more, go to my dropshots site. Well, once it starts working anyway.
Glendalough ("Land of Two Lakes"), Co. Wicklow
St. Kevin's church/monastery, hiking up the mountain
Driving along the lake This is what we see as drive on the road:
Northern Ireland: Dunluce Castle, Roughan's (a cafe in Portstewart)
Alan Carson, the Northern Ireland official tour guide:
And these were all on terrible, cold, windy and cloudy day. I know, be jealous.
But this one is one of my favorites. =) Though ugh, I look like I'm half asleep.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
T.G.I.T.
For the next few weeks, Thursdays will become Fridays!
All the more fair since we have a ridiculous amount of class during the week. Sometimes, I think BU is too clever in the marketing arena than does it good.
There is nothing much to today that was any different than the few days before - you know, stuck on the DCU campus in either class or meetings, unable to go into the city until after it is dark and there is less than an hour and a half to shop.
We did, however, learn and debate about the Great Potato Famine that decreased the Irish population by 2 million: one million died, the other million emigrated. It was indeed a very interesting debate, considering the question of whether the famine was a "Malicious passive genocide," where the British government just stood by and let it the devastation become what it did, or if it was from misguided policies of the government by people who were too idealistic and frigid in their ideology.
Like all the previous lectures, this one was very pro-Irish with an undercurrent of anti-British sentiments. Caroline probably does not mean for that, but her pride for her countrymen exudes in those lectures anyhow.
And people just eat that up.
I was so glad when someone pointed out that we don't know what was going on in England at that time, either. I wish I had better memory so I could recall what Chernock had covered. From my memory, England peasants were going through bleak days as well - there's a reason why Dickens's novels are all so depressing and gloomy. The government was absolutely rubbish, in my opinion, but that doesn't mean the Irish should blame all the Brits, you know?
Still, that was a sad, sad lecture, hearing all the atrocities that went on and seeing the memorials afterwards. Strive on, Irishmen, there can be success for you yet!
Anyway, I went shopping today. Ended up getting some underarmor and a tennis jacket for running in the mornings. Can't keep saying it's too cold to run, after all.
But! Everything is so CHEAP. CHEAP. CHEAP. Well, maybe not jaw-droppingly cheap, but they have some damn good prices on those clothing racks. I had to stop myself from buying anything to prevent myself going on a shopping spree with money I don't have.
After that, just chilling out in the room, vid-chatting with ze boy. =) I'm going to Ballymoney tomorrow! I'm pumped for a weekend of relaxation and fun, as well as just a weekend away.
Glendaloch is first though. Musn't forget that!
All the more fair since we have a ridiculous amount of class during the week. Sometimes, I think BU is too clever in the marketing arena than does it good.
There is nothing much to today that was any different than the few days before - you know, stuck on the DCU campus in either class or meetings, unable to go into the city until after it is dark and there is less than an hour and a half to shop.
We did, however, learn and debate about the Great Potato Famine that decreased the Irish population by 2 million: one million died, the other million emigrated. It was indeed a very interesting debate, considering the question of whether the famine was a "Malicious passive genocide," where the British government just stood by and let it the devastation become what it did, or if it was from misguided policies of the government by people who were too idealistic and frigid in their ideology.
Like all the previous lectures, this one was very pro-Irish with an undercurrent of anti-British sentiments. Caroline probably does not mean for that, but her pride for her countrymen exudes in those lectures anyhow.
And people just eat that up.
I was so glad when someone pointed out that we don't know what was going on in England at that time, either. I wish I had better memory so I could recall what Chernock had covered. From my memory, England peasants were going through bleak days as well - there's a reason why Dickens's novels are all so depressing and gloomy. The government was absolutely rubbish, in my opinion, but that doesn't mean the Irish should blame all the Brits, you know?
Still, that was a sad, sad lecture, hearing all the atrocities that went on and seeing the memorials afterwards. Strive on, Irishmen, there can be success for you yet!
Anyway, I went shopping today. Ended up getting some underarmor and a tennis jacket for running in the mornings. Can't keep saying it's too cold to run, after all.
But! Everything is so CHEAP. CHEAP. CHEAP. Well, maybe not jaw-droppingly cheap, but they have some damn good prices on those clothing racks. I had to stop myself from buying anything to prevent myself going on a shopping spree with money I don't have.
After that, just chilling out in the room, vid-chatting with ze boy. =) I'm going to Ballymoney tomorrow! I'm pumped for a weekend of relaxation and fun, as well as just a weekend away.
Glendaloch is first though. Musn't forget that!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Floating
I have the feeling that my body is dreadfully confused.
Not only is it still trying to recover from the awkward 8-hour difference after just adjusting to a 3-hour difference not even a month before, it is malnourished and unexercised. And it is cold. And wet.
The trip to Tesco helped a lot, though. I at least have something other than oatmeal, grits, and ramen to keep my stomach filled. Tonight I stir-fried some Irish cabbage with some garlic salt and pepper, which was AWESOME, but not very filling. I tried to compensate with a Kellogg's bar and a banana (trying to keep on the healthier side here, especially since I'm not exercising), but...I still hunger.
I can't wait for breakfast tomorrow morning. Mmmm...brown bread (though disgusting) with nutella.
Today was pretty lame, in all truth, which is why I began with my body confusion - thought that would make for a more interesting grab. We all basically woke up, went to Sociology class, took a teeny break for lunch, then went to History class, stayed late, then came back, had dinner, and chilled out.
To be fair to my laziness, I had planned to go into the city and do some good shopping - running gear for this cold weather, a gift, practical getting-wet shoes, etc. But history let out so late that if I had gone to City Centre, all the shops would have been closed. So much for that glorious plan.
Ended up just dawdling about on the Internet/computer here and there. I'm starting to look more into what exactly I want to do in Dublin, and I have a few places in mind already. But I won't list them in fear of never getting to do them, so the identities of these places shall remain a secret until they are actually visited by yours truly.
Oh, oh. But! I think I got a death glare from my History lecturer today. I kind of...asserted that Ireland benefited from Britain's rule/colonization, and she just looked at me funny. I know that England was not being the best of governments to its colonies, but honestly, what could the little country have done without the economic superpower? France and Spain and the United States probably had far more problems to worry about than the fate of a little green island, honestly. Ahh...I hope she does not hate me. I think I have to tone down this British sympathizer I feel emerging every time I walk into that class.
So! Not much else, really. Tomorrow might be an equally lame day, excepting at 8 p.m. =)
Although...I might try to tackle the shopping again.
I love having productive thoughts. They make me believe that I'm doing something with my life. =)
Oh! pictures!
"The Old Curiosity Shop" by Charles Dickens, at the Gate Theatre
The view from our window:
The sunrise from our window!
Sorry about the lack of pictures. I suck as a photographer/tourist. I promise to be better beginning this weekend. Hope this suffices for now.
Not only is it still trying to recover from the awkward 8-hour difference after just adjusting to a 3-hour difference not even a month before, it is malnourished and unexercised. And it is cold. And wet.
The trip to Tesco helped a lot, though. I at least have something other than oatmeal, grits, and ramen to keep my stomach filled. Tonight I stir-fried some Irish cabbage with some garlic salt and pepper, which was AWESOME, but not very filling. I tried to compensate with a Kellogg's bar and a banana (trying to keep on the healthier side here, especially since I'm not exercising), but...I still hunger.
I can't wait for breakfast tomorrow morning. Mmmm...brown bread (though disgusting) with nutella.
Today was pretty lame, in all truth, which is why I began with my body confusion - thought that would make for a more interesting grab. We all basically woke up, went to Sociology class, took a teeny break for lunch, then went to History class, stayed late, then came back, had dinner, and chilled out.
To be fair to my laziness, I had planned to go into the city and do some good shopping - running gear for this cold weather, a gift, practical getting-wet shoes, etc. But history let out so late that if I had gone to City Centre, all the shops would have been closed. So much for that glorious plan.
Ended up just dawdling about on the Internet/computer here and there. I'm starting to look more into what exactly I want to do in Dublin, and I have a few places in mind already. But I won't list them in fear of never getting to do them, so the identities of these places shall remain a secret until they are actually visited by yours truly.
Oh, oh. But! I think I got a death glare from my History lecturer today. I kind of...asserted that Ireland benefited from Britain's rule/colonization, and she just looked at me funny. I know that England was not being the best of governments to its colonies, but honestly, what could the little country have done without the economic superpower? France and Spain and the United States probably had far more problems to worry about than the fate of a little green island, honestly. Ahh...I hope she does not hate me. I think I have to tone down this British sympathizer I feel emerging every time I walk into that class.
So! Not much else, really. Tomorrow might be an equally lame day, excepting at 8 p.m. =)
Although...I might try to tackle the shopping again.
I love having productive thoughts. They make me believe that I'm doing something with my life. =)
Oh! pictures!
"The Old Curiosity Shop" by Charles Dickens, at the Gate Theatre
The view from our window:
The sunrise from our window!
Sorry about the lack of pictures. I suck as a photographer/tourist. I promise to be better beginning this weekend. Hope this suffices for now.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Lazy Run #1
1) Woke up, watch morning talk show as I get ready
2) Sociology class
3) Quick lunch
4) Bank account setup
5) Internship meeting
6) Read some more news, fiddle around a bit
7) Tesco
8) “The Old Curiosity Shop” play at the Gate TheatreThe Gate Theatre is absolutely adorable, and the play was enjoyable. I can see why the work is not one of Dickens’s big ones, though—his others were definitely much better and more sophisticated. Even so, the acting was pretty good, with the exception of the slip-ups here and there on the British accent.
I love talk shows, especially morning talk shows. Nothing perks my morning up more than to just listen to a bunch of successful TV people talk about important and trivial matters. Today they were all praising Michelle Obama.
Irish culture sounds like a funny one. I’ll definitely have to just experience it to figure out how I actually like it.
Tesco finally. That means proper food in my stomach, and proper food for a bit longer. Now I can stop starving myself and also make myself run, since I’m actually eating substantial things that can make me gain weight fast.
Hence the reason for this very short and broken entry. I need to go to sleep and hope that I stay asleep, as the last couple of nights have not been so good. I think my body is still confused about what happened in the past week.
On another, happy note…
Did you know I’m going to Ballymoney this weekend? On Friday? I am! I’m so excited!
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