Into the West

Galway Weekend

I was really looking forward to this past weekend because I was finally going to get to see Galway! All of the Irish here have had such great things to say about the city by the bay that I was anxious to go and check it out.

I was met at Galway Bus Station Friday afternoon by Matt holding a bouquet of calla lilies. I was starving so we stopped at a pub and grabbed some dinner before heading to his apartment. We met up with some of his friends and went out to club 'Cuba'. Friday nights aren't a popular night to go out in Ireland mostly because the Irish students go home on the weekends, and you don't find too many tourists at clubs. Thus, it was pretty empty, but still a lot of fun. Especially the part where I was dancing and just fell over.. not out of drunkenness, just plain, old clumsiness.

Saturday "morning" (it was actually 1 pm when we got up, even though I thought it was around 10 am), we went on a River Tour of the River Corrib, which runs right through Galway. It was a really beautiful tour, but we ended up going inside halfway through because it was really cold this weekend. Luckily there was some Irish coffee to warm us up :) There was a lot of beautiful scenery and old ruins, and of course cows along the river. I also got to see some of Matt's school, the National University of Ireland, Galway. When we got back from the cruise we met up with some of Matt's friends and went out to dinner before heading out to the pubs. We went to a pub called the Quays, which was my favorite pub in Ireland thus far. Even though it was ridiculously overcrowded, and with older people (tourists mostly), it was great craic. We saw some of my friends from Limerick while we were out, so clearly it was the place to be ;)

The inside kind of resembled a church, with stained glass windows and interesting woodwork. After the Quays, I was pretty tired, so we called it a night.

Sunday we walked around the city. We went to Matt's school, which was mostly under construction so there wasn't a whole lot to see. But there was one really cool building, the "Quadrangle Building", which was built in local limestone in a Tudor Gothic style. It's actually a replica of Christ Church at the University of Oxford and was the original University that opened in 1849. There's only a few lectures held there and is used as offices, mostly. But it's cool to see a piece of history in such mint condition.

Then we went into the Galway Cathedral, which we had seen from the boat on the river tour. It was absolutely beautiful inside. I was surprised at its age, because most impressive architectural buildings date back quite a bit, but this cathedral was just built in the late 1950's. The interior was almost entirely mosaic work (including a random mosaic of JFK) and marble, and there was an incredible organ along with some impressive stained-glass windows.

Galway is a very compact city with lots of character, which was a nice contrast to Limerick. Although there is a lot to do in Limerick, it is very spread out and somewhat difficult to navigate. Plus, it has a more business-y feel to it versus Galway which has the cobblestone streets the tiny shops. I guess Galway is to Limerick as Boston is to New York.

Everything is close together and very different. There are pubs, clubs, cafes, bakeries, gift shops, stores, street performers; everything in one place. We even found someone singing 'Galway Girl'! "Well I took a stroll on the old long walk of the day i-ay i-ay!". There was also a little market in an alley way selling little crafts and things. Matt found a necklace that said "Celine" on it there, which I was very surprised but excited for! I've never had anything with my name on it!

We also went inside the Claddagh Ring Museum and learned about the history of the ring and it's symbolism:

"A fisherman named Richard Joyce, shortly before he was due to be married, was captured at sea by pirates and sold into slavery in Algeria. He became the property of a rich Moorish goldsmith who decided to train him in his craft. Joyce became a fully proficient master craftsman and, with thoughts of the girl he had left behind close to his heart, he fashioned the first Claddagh Ring. The heart symbolizing love the pair of hands representing friendship, and the crown for loyalty and fidelity. In 1698, King George III agreed to release all of his subjects held in slavery, making Richard Joyce a free man. He returned home to Galway, presented the ring to his love and they were married"

We were hoping to get into the Galway Museum but 'twas closed.. So we walked down by the bay and all through the city center before returning to Matt's apartment to make some chicken parm followed by some delicious chocolate tartes.

Sunday isn't a big night to go out for a younger crowd either, so we decided to head out to the movies. We saw "The Town", a movie about Charlestown, which was really weird to watch while in Ireland. Especially because a lot of it showed a lot of the North End, so I was like "hey, I've been there! and there!". They definitely shot on Charter Street. Crazzzy! It was a good movie though. And it was nice for my liver to have a night off. The Boston accents were a nice reminder of home. It made me want to pahk my cah in the hahvad yahd and watch tha sox game.

All in all, it was a really great weekend. I hadn't seen Matt for three weeks, so it was really nice to spend some time with him. The next time I see him we will be on our way to Italy! Time is flying here, but everyday it gets better and better.

Éire Grá

Studying, and Rowing, and Singing, oh my!

so life has really picked up this past week. I still can't believe how quickly time is going. I've been in Ireland almost a month! That's crazy to me.

My classes have started and I seem to be the only one I know with homework. Oh well, I am STUDYING abroad, so I can't really complain. I really love my classes though! I decided I want to work for the UN... for now, anyway.

I joined the crew team, so I am rowing three nights a week (yes, NIGHTS.. no more early morning, barely-can-keep-my-eyes-open practices!) I am also coxing the novices two nights a week.. which should be interesting. Hopefully the Guiness hasn't gotten to me too bad and my butt can still fit in the cox seat! Unfortunately the only races this season are on Saturdays, and I have planned trips almost every weekend to get the most travelling done as possible while I'm here.

I also auditioned for a musical revue show with the drama society and was cast! Yay! I have two solos, "The Wild Party" and "A New World", neither of which I've heard of, but I'm sure it will be fun. Plus I'm in a couple chorus numbers as well. I can't wait to get back on stage. I've missed acting a lot.

Other than that, just travelling. Yesterday we visited Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. It was really well renovated and was really cool. Plus it's nice to get off campus on the weekends. I would post pictures of it, but my camera died as we pulled up :(

I should really be doing homework now, so I'm off to the library to be studious!

A la prochaine!

There's No Place Like Home

So I went for a run today. I started out kinda slow.. I felt out of shape, and tired, and wanted to just stop. But I kept going, and my muscles finally warmed up and I got used to the feeling of running. Then I saw a hill up ahead. Shit. But I tackled the hill, fighting my instincts to stop and walk home the whole way up. I got to the top and was tired, but really proud of myself for pushing through. This process repeated itself for all five miles.

As I was thinking about my run, I realized that my experience here is a lot similar to the run. I first got here and was ecstatic, but quickly realized holy crap, I'm in a foreign country by myself and don't know a single soul. I kept going, and got used to it. But then the hill... which in this case is homesickness.

I honestly didn't think I would experience homesickness. I knew I would miss my family and the dogs, but since I hadn't really settled into UMass Lowell, I figured that I didn't really leave much behind to miss, thus was somewhat immune to the feelings of loneliness. I don't think I'm yearning to go home as much as I'm feeling how uncomfortable it is to be out of my comfort zone. I have met a lot of great people, and am having an incredible experience. But I still can't help but feel so small in a place this big.

When I left for Ireland, my primary concern wasn't living in a place nicknamed "Stabby Ville", but making friends. It's kind of a silly thing to be afraid of, because making friends isn't exactly difficult. Especially in a situation like this where a lot of people are in the same boat. But after spending an entire semester at UMass Lowell and not really making the genuine connections I was hoping for, I was worried this semester might have a similar story. But I've realized that people are going to love me, hate me, not understand me, etc. and that's not something in my control. The only thing I really have control over is the way I react to other people. I can choose to take things personally or brush them off. I can choose to be unhappy and lonely, or I can choose to be happy. I think a lot of people are unaware of how much power we actually have over our own emotions. It really is in our hands. Positivity just takes a bit more effort than feeling sad or sorry for oneself.

So even though I've got a bit of the blues, I'm accepting that what I am doing is not an easy thing, and nothing worth having is ever easy. And i'm still making a valiant effort to make connections and get involved on the campus because time is absolutely flying already. It's interesting being in situations like this.. testing myself as an individual and seeing the affect of my environment on myself. As well as seeing the interconnectedness of community and the individual. One cannot exist without the other. I guess finding the balance and maintaining a good attitude is all we can really hope to do.

For now, I'm just taking it one day at a time. Putting my head down and barreling up the hill :)

Finally!

I would just like to announce that I have moved back into my room and awoke this morning bed-bug-bite free :)

life is good.

A weekend get-a-wet

Since classes haven't really gotten underway yet, and seeing that the forecast predicted a bright and sunny weekend, I decided to get some more traveling under my belt and head for the Aran Islands.

So my two friends and I caught a bus from Limerick into the small town of Doolin, where we found a cheap, but really nice hostel to stay in for the night. I had been to Doolin the first week I was here for lunch, and it was so beautiful I really wanted to go back. Plus, it is the unofficial capital of Irish traditional music, so I couldn't pass up an opportunity to spend some time there.

We arrived around 1700 on Saturday afternoon and went out exploring a little. I love Doolin because there is such diverse scenery. It's a fishing village along the coast, so of course there are stunning ocean views with cliffs that go on for miles. Then there's the endless green pastures with cows in every direction you look. The entire town consists of two streets, really. There' s a few houses, a few hostels/B and B's, and then the traditional Irish music pubs. So we went around to a few pubs and made friends with a Scottish traveller who was actually in our room in the hostel. The music was barely audible over the laughter and chatter of the pub, but regardless, it was a very fun atmosphere.

The next morning it was absolutely pouring. We walked down the pier to buy tickets for the ferry, which was running late because of the huge, crashing waves that nearly tipped the boat over. We finally made it to the largest of the three islands, Inis Mor. Luckily, Ireland's weather is almost as indecisive as me, so the weather cleared up for a little bit, convincing us to rent bikes and followed a map around the island.

The island had a very eerie feeling. The island is populated by about 800 Irish-speaking people, though I only encountered tourists. Maybe because of the random, intense downpours, its inhabitants decided to hide indoors for the day, but it felt very desolate and gloomy. It's one of the few places left where Celtic culture thrives covered with ruins, stone walls, fields, and barren limestone rock.

So after our bike ride, we got some chicken and chips and headed back for the ferry. By this point it was pouring again, and the water did not look too inviting. We were worried because there was only one bus out of Doolin to Limerick City, which left Doolin at 545, and the ferry didn't leave the island until about 4, with an hour and half ride ahead of us.

After an hour and fourty minutes of being thrown around by the waves and little Irish children yelling in my ear, we finally made it back to the pier in Doolin. The owner of the ferry company had heard that we needed to catch that last bus, so we sprinted to his car and he chased after the bus through the narrow country roads. He asked us what we saw, and apparently we missed all the big tourist attractions on the island. Oops.

So apparently, people go to Inis Mor to see: The Arann Lighthouse and Signal Tower (I think we may have passed by that?), Oun Aonghasa, the oldest and largest preserved Celtic Stone fort built in 2000 B.C (definitely missed that one), The Worm Hole, which is a natural pool in the cliffs (ya, missed that one too), Na Seacht D'Teampheall, which are ruins of churches and monastic houses, The Aran Seal Colony, and Teampall Bheanain, the smallest church in the world (3.7 m x 1.8 m).

According to the owner, "ye saw shite!". Sooo if anyone plans on going to the Aran Islands, I would recommend taking either a bus tour or a horse-drawn carriage tour because apparently we missed the entire island. I was wondering what the big deal was about some more fields and cows...

Anyway, we finally caught up to the bus and were safe and sound on our way back to Limerick. I got back on campus and was informed that my room was still in the process of being de-bugged so I stayed with a friend last night.

And I have no Monday classes, so I am enjoying my rainy, three day weekend. I have crew practice tonight at 6, which I'm really excited about because they have indoor and outdoor rowing facilities! I also joined Outdoor Pursuits clubs that does a lot of rock climbing, hiking, orienteering and such as well as Music Society. Hopefully I'll meet more Irish students. My American friends here are nice and all, but I did come to Ireland to meet Irish people!

Well that's all for now :) Hopefully I will be in my nice, big, warm, bug-free bed tonight!

Another One Bites the Dust

So I have been waking up with these itchy bites all over my arms and legs, and even my face. I told my "Irish Mammy", and she said it's probably bed bugs... I went to the village reception, and they confirmed that there are indeed bugs in my bed. So I had to bag all my clothes and send it out to the laundry, and I am now living with my friend Christina in Plassey Village. Luckily, I will be away this weekend while they de-bug my chambers. We're going to the Aran Islands, and hopefully staying in a hostel sans bed bugs.

No bueno.

Getting Settled

I have been in Ireland for about ten days now. It feels a lot longer. So let's start from the very beginning.

The first few days were very interesting. I was just trying to soak up the new environment of the place that I would call home for the next few months. Scoping out the areas that have given Limerick it's infamous nickname of "Stab City". There are seven other students who came with the program API, so the first few days we spent getting to know one another and acclimating to a new country with very foreign activities like bowling and shopping ;)

I have to say, I was somewhat disappointed by Ireland at first. I was expecting a very rural, simple way of life across the entire country (I know, ignorant American). So when I found myself living on the outskirts of a lively, bustling and fully modern city (wow, they do have electricity here!), I was surprised. However, my disappointment was quickly forgotten when we visited the Cliffs of Moher.

We traveled through what I thought of as "real Ireland", with cows, thatched roofs, rolling hills, and all things green on a tour towards the cliffs, stopping at various scenic and historical points along the way. And oh my god, was it breathtaking. Every direction you looked, there was something beautiful! We saw farms, mountains, caves, beaches, the cliffs, the ocean, marinas, and open fields. And I'm pretty sure they cut the grass with rulers out here, because everything was so well kept, and pristine-looking. Anyway, the day we went to the Cliffs I definitely fell in love with the country, and half the girls and I decided that we will be getting married there someday!

We also visited King John's Castle which is located right in Limerick City as well as St. Mary's Cathedral, both of which were amazing architecturally and historically. They actually were digging underneath King John's Castle to start renovation projects and happened upon old ruins of houses that were underneath the castle. Everywhere you look in Ireland there is some remnant of ancient history or some story to be told. It's really an incredible feeling to realize the wonder surrounding you. We went out to a pub with live traditional Irish music and it was incredible. They have a table reserved for local musicians and they just come together and improvise songs for hours. You can feel the passion pulsing through the room and you can't help but smile. The music, like everything in Ireland, tells a story.

And the people of Ireland are not shy about their history. You make eye contact with someone in a pub, and they'll start dishing out stories about their lives or their history or anything, really. They love to talk and they definitely love to drink. I have found the Irish to be exceptionally welcoming and friendly (aside from the pack of 10 year old boys that hit a group of us with bike tires screaming "American bitches!".. but they are few and far between).

So I did come to Ireland to go to school, which I have to constantly remind myself on a daily basis. The University of Limerick has a really beautiful campus. I'm living in a suite with 5 other girls (1 American, 4 Irish), and we each have our own room and bathroom (YESSSSSSSSSS no more nasty back-hair shavings on the sink from boys!) We have our own kitchen, which is nice but it means no dining halls or anything on campus. Basically I've been living off peanut butter for the past week. I should really learn to cook.. There's also a common area with couches and a tv and a great view of the Irish country-side. I absolutely love it! And the Irish girls are so friendly! The boys, on the other hand.. well, let's just say they bring a whole new level to bluntness. But for the most part, people are very fun-loving, outgoing and easy going. Quite lovely!

Yes, I am starting to pick up some slang, thank you for noticing! Everyone says the words "grand" and "lovely" instead of "cool". And "craic" (pronounced crack) means fun. So if something is going to be a good time, they say "it should be great craic!". And they think it's hilarious that 'crack' refers to drug in American slang. They also think it's funny to screw with Americans who don't know the meaning of "shifting", "meeting", or "scoring".. which all mean making out. Yeah, you catch on to that one quick. I've also noticed that the Irish say "like", just as Americans enjoy using as a space holder between words, but they say it at the end of a sentence, you know, like?

So that's all for now. I'm coming down with some sort of cold. Probably because my body is finally catching up to me, and asking why I am trying to drown my liver. So I am going to bed early and resting up! Tomorrow there is a huge concert on campus, and Thursday night is the big night out on campus. All the Irish students actually go home on the weekends, so the campus is dead. Luckily, travelling is so easy and cheap that it's the perfect opportunity for students like me to get the most out of the semester! Plus clubs on campus have a lot of excursions on the weekends.. like scuba club diving the Red Sea in Egypt, or snowboarding club going off to Italy for the weekend, skydiving club jumping in Spain..you get the picture.

I'm off to make a gourmet meal of toast a la peanut butter!

Adieu!