Parental Units Visit and Unite!

I missed out on writing about my last day of college! So here's to a more positive post! You ready, you ready??

I studied a pretty minimal amount before the final, because three essays in two hours means that you don't have to know a ridiculous amount of quotes or material on each essay. So I walked through Irish wind for more than an hour and a half (the day tricked me. It was absolutely beautiful just minutes before I decided to head out) to get to the Bald Barista to do some cultural coffee drinking and studying.

I ended up just playing around with my new Asus Eee PC for a while, getting a feel of these tiny keys, fumbling to minimize the amount of typos that came out of my fat fingers. Oh, and the mocha I had was absolutely amazing. I have a weird feeling that the cashier was doing one of two things: 1) just have a go at me, slagging at my total American-ness or 2) hitting on me and trying to get me to go back. I promised I would go back the next day, as I only had two days left in Dublin. He gave me three drink stamps for one mocha. Mmm...if only that happened everywhere I went just for being a naive American.

Sadly, I did not make it. I opted to go to Queen of Tarts instead for dinner, and because errands called for it, I had to skip out on another good coffe. Sadness.

Anyway, so the final was a final. I cramped up my right hand just writing away. I felt pretty well prepared, but I was one of the last ones remaining. I was never good at getting these things done quickly.

I also decided to write a nice note to dear Ronan, our severely awkward lecturer, who looks too young to have a PhD. I wrote at the end of my third essay: "AND NOW I'M DONE WITH COLLEGE!"

That felt good. Really good.


Anyway, so my parents are here, and I'll be in Europe until 2nd June, so my blog continues despite the end of my study abroad program. I apologize for faltering a bit at the end of the program, but things were getting busy with projects, papers, researching, and future-planning. I still won't be consistent because of all the traveling business, but I shall try my best. This little laptop has made it really handy to travel and have wireless wherever it is available. Hurrah!

So far, I took my parents on a Dublin Bus Tour, which actually showed some really nice sightseeing spots of Dublin. I'm glad we did that first because apparently Scotland's churches and castles blow Ireland's out of the water. Good, good.

Then up to Northern Ireland we went, on an absolutely insane journey of lugging around four large suitcases, a duffel and then some. Some band parade at 9:00 p.m. got us a bit worried about making it to our B&B, but everything worked out and at around 10:00 p.m., we checked out parents in at the Wanderin Heights B&B.

Alan and I took them around the sights of the Antrim coast on an unexpectedly lovely day, and then we had some good time with Alan's parents. Yes, they met. They got along well, I think.

Then church at Trinity Presbyterian Church, lunch at the Lodge Hotel with the Carsons (minus Stephen), then Downhill. Sadly, today it rained, so there wasn't that much outside walking. The only little bit was at the University of Ulster-Coleraine gardens to look at Daffodil Garden.

And thennn...made our way here, to the Killead Lodge for the night before we head to Orleans, France tomorrow! It's an absolutely BEAUTIFUL guesthouse - big, clean, HD TV, Wi-Fi, homecooked breakfast. My parents love this idea of B&Bs - the cozy, familial atmosphere.

So whew. Destination 1 is so far successful. Let's see how the remainder will be!

Confessions of a Brown-noser

I love Ireland, yes I do. I love Ireland, how about YOU?

This is what I am basically writing for an entire portfolio and 2,000-word essay. BS, BS, BS, BS. Let's all waste paper writing a bunch of BS.

Much as I hate sucking up to get an A, I don't want to hurt the guy reading this. BU, it was kind of a huge mistake to have our grader a very nationalistic Irishman. I can't write anything too negative about this place lest I hurt the poor guy's feelings. See, that's what I feel like I'd be doing if I were to give a reality check to the Irish people - crushing them because I'm crushing their identity.

Seamus Heaney, if you meant for that violent baby to be Irish Nationalism, I totally agree. Irish identity would not be what it is today without its intense hatred towards the British, as they do everything they can to distinguish themselves from the British. This is dumb. Dumb dumb dumb. Why, you ask?

Oh wait, I'm wasting precious words on this entry when I need them for 850 more words.

No no...I need to get this negativity out of my system lest they find their way into my paper.

Well, without the British, who would the Irish be? Face it: Gaelic football and hurling are tourist attractions, no one speaks Gaelic Irish, you don't remember why this street was named that, you don't remember your own folklore, etc etc. Ireland couldn't survive without its ties to the Brits. Unfortunately, it doesn't work the other way around.

Okay. I'm done for now.

Back to...

I love Ireland, yes I do. I love Ireland, how about YOU??

No, I lied. That was written in a moment of hormone-ic confusion.

But mmm...maybe these past few days? I don't know. This program is suffocating. Beh.

I'll tell you one thing...

I've never cried as often in a few months' time as I did during this semester.


That's all.

Gut Instincts to the UK were correct

Went to Glasgow with Alan over Easter weekend. Absolutely wonderful! Perhaps the weather helped: sun, clouds, deep blue skies. There was even a long lull in the breeze on Sunday. A glorious Easter, indeed. I'll bet God did that on purpose!

Well, all that in addition to being away from Dublin, away from DCU, away from an insular, self-obsessed culture.

Maybe I should have gone to Scotland, maybe I should have gone to London. I just love, love, LOVE the United Kingdom. And Europe, but the UK is definitely close to my heart for some reason. Speaking English is probably a huge reason, but I am so in love with the atmosphere of a western world with such rich history.

Granted, I did not stay very long and probably would have found the Scottish just like the Irish in their British-hating ways (you just can't ignore the "Proud to be Scottish" signs everywhere), Glasgow was just a more exciting, more buzzing city. The buildings were beautiful, as were the streets. Dublin doesn't have the same type of overall architecture; it looks confused, trying to preserve the old while simultaneously affronting a "modern" city.

And I guess that's the impression I get overall of Ireland. There's some insane fascination with America and its culture, which basically sprouted from the British heritage and culture. Yet Ireland has an obstinate cling to its Celtic roots, which, in all truth, has become "backward" in this rapidly westernizing planet.

So, which is it, Ireland?

I'll make my own bold statement. As much as I love the Western culture, I acknowledge the tragic inevitably of lost diversity. We see that in the growing rate at which foreign countries are providing English lessons. The only resistant language, I think, is Chinese because of China's position in the world. But even the Chinese are learning English, and they recognized the necessity of remaining on friendly terms with the ol' Western powers.

But what do I know of politics, history, and international relations? I cannot provide any real statistics or pinpoint exact, accurate moments in history - my memory and knowledge is too limited. I simply offer my opinion on what I see in everything I'm learning in academia and everyday society.

And now, I want to completely refute what I just wrote.

Because the Internet is the next monopolizing Superpower, friends!


On that note, pictures of Glasgow on FB. I've become too exasperated with this slow connection to post twice. Blah.

And since I desperately need to prioritize, this is for myself:

Order in which to do the following tasks of utmost and obnoxious importance:

1) Portfolio
a. Introduction
b. Catch up on journals
c. Analysis and Conclusion
d. Summary
2) Irish Lit. paper/presentation
3) Personal Project

That's it for now. After I finish all of this up, I can move on with the rest of my life.

Countdown for finals days of undergraduate life commences tomorrow.

The list continues...

18) Figure out how I'm going to pay back my loans and tell BU by 30 April 2009.

Now the challenge is how to meet up with these people with the Atlantic Ocean between us.

My To-Do List

Because I'm stressing out and need to sort out the confusion in my head....

1) Paper for Modern Irish Lit. class
2) PORTFOLIO: Supervisor Evaluation
3) PORTFOLIO: Journal entries - write and then edit (14 pages?!)
4) PORTFOLIO: Introduction
5) PORTFOLIO: Objectives (half of which were supposed to have been done in late Feb.)
6) PORTFOLIO: Analysis and Summary/Conclusion
7) PORTFOLIO: Personal Statement
8) Study for exam in Lit.
9) Prepare presentation for Lit.
10) Reading two more novels and then some for Lit.
11) Research the Publishing programs offered at Oxford Brookes University and University of Plymouth
12) Personal Statements for the universities...begin them anyway
13) Research scholarships and apply, apply, apply
14) Job hunting for either summer or the next year: editing/updating resume, writing cover letters, etc etc
15) Personal projects at work with Excel and Arts/Festivals/Hotels/Bars research


And, of course, the miscellaneous:
16) Laundry!
17) Gifts/postcards

And can I say...this is on top of 4 hours of commuting every day? I'm REALLY lucky if I get to or from work in an hour and a half.

Ohhh yeah. Just because I'm "studying abroad" does not mean I get to just play. I'm a busy girl, man.