http://www.doilin.com/An_Cheathr__Rua.html
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Wednesday, July 27, 2011
An Update
Wednesday July 20
Harry Potter! Such a great movie! I felt a tear or two roll down my cheek on three occasions. Save the extremely anti-climactic killing of Lord Voldemort at the end, it was a great show. After the movie I wandered around Galway with Tara. We went into a health food store and I spent €80 because my bean an ti doesn't understand how to feed a vegan beyond stuffing me full of grains and veggies. The protein element is still sorely lacking. Save the other night though, when she gave me three veggie sausages as well as heaps of different kinds of beans. Feast or famine, it would seem--no pun intended. Beyond the health food store purchases, I didn't get up to much i nGaillimh.
Thursday July 21
Class. And if anything of merit happened, then I certainly don't remember it.
Friday July 22
My housemates stayed in and I didn't have the nerve to go out sans them, so stayed in I did.
Saturday July 23
We went to Inis Oirr which was lovely. The tour was totally in Irish though, I'll liken my experience of that tour with astronomy: way over my head (bad pun fully intended). We walked about the island which didn't take too long. I explored an excavated church with some other people. Took some pictures; it was really interesting to see, and significantly more arresting than anything we found last year at Bective.
To get to Inis Oirr we had a 6 mile bus ride, and then an hour-ish long ferry-ride. There wasn't much to see, but I made friends with a girl who is--no lie--from Pickering so we chatted away the duration of the trip. What a small world!
The housemates and I went to the pub as usual that night. Ran into a ton of people from school and it was later decided we'd venture over to Ti Josie's (the notoriously sleazy dance club in town). Save the fact that most people were awful dancers, it didn't feel any different from any other club I'd been to. I was expecting all sorts of awful things, so this was a welcome surprise. I got home to a grump of a roommate at 2:45am. Awesome. Oh well, I'd spent the last few hours jumping around like a fool and was ready to sleep.
Sunday July 24
Lazy day. After dinner I decided to take a walk. Having heard nice things about it but never having seen it myself, I decided to walk to the graveyard beach. Halfway there, bowled over by the unusual heat, I decided I was most definitely going for a swim when I got there. Met a nice old man and chatted with him for a bit, played with his dog ("Tiny" how creative) and kept on my way. Got to the beach, left my things on a rock bench and ventured into the water in my leggings, hoodie and sports bra (being too embarrassed to doff the hoodie at the shore). The beach was very nearly deserted. I waded in to my mid-things, left my hoodie on a rock and kept going. I got about waist-deep before I, quite literally, took the plunge. The water was not as cold as I'd expected it to be nor as salty--both were fine with me. I floated about for a while and then I got out of the water and sat on a rock in the sun to dry. I let the sun and the breeze look after me and eventually grabbed my things and set off for home. I looked, according to my housemates, every part the "mermaid" and I can't say that bothered me in the least (those sorts of comments appeal a lot to my vanity).
Monday July 25
Class all day. Watched the first part of Cre na Ceille after class. Basically, some grumpy dead woman talks about how much she hates all of the people still living in her town. Very uplifting. BNR.
Tuesday July 26
Class. Skipped the second part of Cre na Ceille because 1) I didn't find it particularly arresting and 2) it was too nice a day to be cooped up inside. So home I went and read outside on the lawn (in the glorious albeit foreign sun) until dinnertime. After dinner I went to a lecture on Irish Folklore which was decent. The man giving the talk made me miss Grandpa as he quite reminded me of him.
Went to the pub after. Andrew bought me a pint again but didn't say a word to me. Strange kid. I'm all for free drinks, but usually the exchange is: I buy you a drink, you give me your time and company/buy me a drink later and vice versa. So I'm a bit confused by his behaviour. I don't want to take advantage of his niceness, nor, however, do I want to go broke drinking at the pub. Went home early-ish. No one was home when I got there: fine with me. Had a nice shower, did my homework, then read in bed until a giddily drunk Tara came home.
Wednesday July 27
Class for the morning. Lunch. Free afternoon. Which is where I am now. Might go to the library to avail myself of thesis-worthy resources. Or might go for a walk to the beach. It's been drizzly all morning, but I've a desire to go for a dip and I can't say the weather has curbed it. What to do...
Harry Potter! Such a great movie! I felt a tear or two roll down my cheek on three occasions. Save the extremely anti-climactic killing of Lord Voldemort at the end, it was a great show. After the movie I wandered around Galway with Tara. We went into a health food store and I spent €80 because my bean an ti doesn't understand how to feed a vegan beyond stuffing me full of grains and veggies. The protein element is still sorely lacking. Save the other night though, when she gave me three veggie sausages as well as heaps of different kinds of beans. Feast or famine, it would seem--no pun intended. Beyond the health food store purchases, I didn't get up to much i nGaillimh.
Thursday July 21
Class. And if anything of merit happened, then I certainly don't remember it.
Friday July 22
My housemates stayed in and I didn't have the nerve to go out sans them, so stayed in I did.
Saturday July 23
We went to Inis Oirr which was lovely. The tour was totally in Irish though, I'll liken my experience of that tour with astronomy: way over my head (bad pun fully intended). We walked about the island which didn't take too long. I explored an excavated church with some other people. Took some pictures; it was really interesting to see, and significantly more arresting than anything we found last year at Bective.
To get to Inis Oirr we had a 6 mile bus ride, and then an hour-ish long ferry-ride. There wasn't much to see, but I made friends with a girl who is--no lie--from Pickering so we chatted away the duration of the trip. What a small world!
The housemates and I went to the pub as usual that night. Ran into a ton of people from school and it was later decided we'd venture over to Ti Josie's (the notoriously sleazy dance club in town). Save the fact that most people were awful dancers, it didn't feel any different from any other club I'd been to. I was expecting all sorts of awful things, so this was a welcome surprise. I got home to a grump of a roommate at 2:45am. Awesome. Oh well, I'd spent the last few hours jumping around like a fool and was ready to sleep.
Sunday July 24
Lazy day. After dinner I decided to take a walk. Having heard nice things about it but never having seen it myself, I decided to walk to the graveyard beach. Halfway there, bowled over by the unusual heat, I decided I was most definitely going for a swim when I got there. Met a nice old man and chatted with him for a bit, played with his dog ("Tiny" how creative) and kept on my way. Got to the beach, left my things on a rock bench and ventured into the water in my leggings, hoodie and sports bra (being too embarrassed to doff the hoodie at the shore). The beach was very nearly deserted. I waded in to my mid-things, left my hoodie on a rock and kept going. I got about waist-deep before I, quite literally, took the plunge. The water was not as cold as I'd expected it to be nor as salty--both were fine with me. I floated about for a while and then I got out of the water and sat on a rock in the sun to dry. I let the sun and the breeze look after me and eventually grabbed my things and set off for home. I looked, according to my housemates, every part the "mermaid" and I can't say that bothered me in the least (those sorts of comments appeal a lot to my vanity).
Monday July 25
Class all day. Watched the first part of Cre na Ceille after class. Basically, some grumpy dead woman talks about how much she hates all of the people still living in her town. Very uplifting. BNR.
Tuesday July 26
Class. Skipped the second part of Cre na Ceille because 1) I didn't find it particularly arresting and 2) it was too nice a day to be cooped up inside. So home I went and read outside on the lawn (in the glorious albeit foreign sun) until dinnertime. After dinner I went to a lecture on Irish Folklore which was decent. The man giving the talk made me miss Grandpa as he quite reminded me of him.
Went to the pub after. Andrew bought me a pint again but didn't say a word to me. Strange kid. I'm all for free drinks, but usually the exchange is: I buy you a drink, you give me your time and company/buy me a drink later and vice versa. So I'm a bit confused by his behaviour. I don't want to take advantage of his niceness, nor, however, do I want to go broke drinking at the pub. Went home early-ish. No one was home when I got there: fine with me. Had a nice shower, did my homework, then read in bed until a giddily drunk Tara came home.
Wednesday July 27
Class for the morning. Lunch. Free afternoon. Which is where I am now. Might go to the library to avail myself of thesis-worthy resources. Or might go for a walk to the beach. It's been drizzly all morning, but I've a desire to go for a dip and I can't say the weather has curbed it. What to do...
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
More Irish
Just another day of classes. We are moving super quickly, but it suits me as I've already covered all the material. Considering neither of my professors gave me a particularly strong foundation, this is a welcome review. Maybe I'll finally have the beginning bits sorted? Here's to hoping. Going into Galway tomorrow to see HP7. We have no classes come Wednesday afternoon, so it'll be nice to go somewhere with more than 50 people at once. I hope I start getting fed properly. It's just been vegetables and pasta to date. Much as I enjoy my veggies, a slight amount of protein here and there wouldn't be unwelcome. Pleasepleaseplease. Boy, I cannot wait to eat some deliciously cooked tofu. Oh the things I crave...
An Overview
Day 1 (Thursday July 14): Arrived in Dublin only slightly later than expected. Breezed through customs--which came as a total surprise. Took the city bus to the hotel, which made me feel so much less like a tourist, not to mention competent. Walked into the hotel to find Siobhan, who'd only been waiting five minutes. What perfect timing! Was able to access my room early (hurrah!), dropped my things, and Siobhan and I went downtown to enjoy the day together. We went around Dublin city, I did a minor amount of shopping. We went looking for the milkshake place I'd frequented last year. On our way, we got seriously delayed by this Irish Red Cross guy who thought he was the bee's knees and God's gift to women. He wasn't. Found our milkshakes, then went to eat something moderately more substantial. Had lunch in Temple Bar at some nice pub. Walked around for a bit after that. Hung out in St. Stephen's Green for a while, after we'd watched street performers. Then went for dinner at this cute vegetarian restaurant on Wicklow Street (note to self: if going up Grafton, take the right before Brown Thomas). Bid Siobhan farewell on O'Connell street and took the bus back to my hotel.
Day 2 (Friday July 15): Got up early, took a cab to Busaras. Caught the 20 from Dublin to Galway. Got into Galway half an hour late (Fridays...), took a cab to the university and went to Carraroe from there. Was escorted to my house, which is very conveniently located in town, unlike a lot of the other homes. My bean an ti is nice as are her children and husband. Am able to stay vegan (buiochais le dia!) but am slightly starving and not getting anywhere near enough protein. Oh well.
Day 3 (Saturday July 16): First day of classes. Started off in the intermediate class. Realized I was floundering so I switched to the lower level (which, unfortunately, isn't as stimulating as I'd hoped but we're moving so quickly I may find myself eating my words sooner than later). My teacher is nice. She's noticed it takes nothing to embarrass me and I blush like nobody's business so I get teased a fair bit. I like to tell myself it's because she likes me... time will tell.
Day 4 (Sunday July 17): Field trip day. We went to Patrick Pearse's house. Was lovely. I was significantly less interested in the house than I was in the rocks I could scale and fields I could explore on the grounds. Never have been a fan of being herded through tourist sites so generally I do my own thing. Stopped at this beautiful roadside waterfall. Scared a fair few people by climbing the rocks all the way down to the river. Balance and agility don't seem to be--as of yet, knock on wood--enemies of mine so I may as well explore the world as I see fit while I still can. Standing on the periphery of adventure was never to my liking; if I'm curious, I'm going to investigate. If that means scaling slippery boulders for a chance to touch the falls at the expense of a few fluttered hearts of onlookers, well so be it. I don't see the point of observing life. It's for the living, so live indeed I shall. Suits me.
That night, Ruth, Tara and I went on a very long walk to the ocean. Must find a better bit of coastline as this seemed to be someone's private dock... oops.
Day 5 (Monday July 18): Class most of the day. Semi-interesting talk on local stuff in An Cheathrú Rua. The time change, however, isn't being incredibly kind to me so I'm afraid I dozed intermittently. Went on a lovely long walk with Tara in the evening.
Day 2 (Friday July 15): Got up early, took a cab to Busaras. Caught the 20 from Dublin to Galway. Got into Galway half an hour late (Fridays...), took a cab to the university and went to Carraroe from there. Was escorted to my house, which is very conveniently located in town, unlike a lot of the other homes. My bean an ti is nice as are her children and husband. Am able to stay vegan (buiochais le dia!) but am slightly starving and not getting anywhere near enough protein. Oh well.
Day 3 (Saturday July 16): First day of classes. Started off in the intermediate class. Realized I was floundering so I switched to the lower level (which, unfortunately, isn't as stimulating as I'd hoped but we're moving so quickly I may find myself eating my words sooner than later). My teacher is nice. She's noticed it takes nothing to embarrass me and I blush like nobody's business so I get teased a fair bit. I like to tell myself it's because she likes me... time will tell.
Day 4 (Sunday July 17): Field trip day. We went to Patrick Pearse's house. Was lovely. I was significantly less interested in the house than I was in the rocks I could scale and fields I could explore on the grounds. Never have been a fan of being herded through tourist sites so generally I do my own thing. Stopped at this beautiful roadside waterfall. Scared a fair few people by climbing the rocks all the way down to the river. Balance and agility don't seem to be--as of yet, knock on wood--enemies of mine so I may as well explore the world as I see fit while I still can. Standing on the periphery of adventure was never to my liking; if I'm curious, I'm going to investigate. If that means scaling slippery boulders for a chance to touch the falls at the expense of a few fluttered hearts of onlookers, well so be it. I don't see the point of observing life. It's for the living, so live indeed I shall. Suits me.
That night, Ruth, Tara and I went on a very long walk to the ocean. Must find a better bit of coastline as this seemed to be someone's private dock... oops.
Day 5 (Monday July 18): Class most of the day. Semi-interesting talk on local stuff in An Cheathrú Rua. The time change, however, isn't being incredibly kind to me so I'm afraid I dozed intermittently. Went on a lovely long walk with Tara in the evening.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Frustration
You MUST be kidding me! How absolutely ridiculous! Thank goodness for being able to re-book tickets last minute. I am very, <b>very</b> glad your life is beginning to sort itself out, I just wish it didn't come at the cost of upending my travel plans. Ah well, the best thing about plans is that they change, and change indeed they have.
No choice but to keep on keeping on :)
No choice but to keep on keeping on :)
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Pre-departure
I'm sitting in my room, unable to believe I haven't even been home 24 hours and thinking that I'm off in a little over 48. My suitcase has yet to be unpacked from my last trip, let alone packed for my departure on Saturday...
Where have the last two months gone? Well, really, where did last week go? It was so wonderful, but such a whirlwind.
There's so much to do between now and when I leave, and instead of being responsible and doing those things, I'm sitting on my bed writing some silly, little blog. Oh, the things that possess me to do the things I do...
I can't keep ignoring all the things that must be done; and, more to the point, I can't think of anything else to say. I can seldom think of anything of merit to say. I write painfully short letters and e-mails. Eloquence has never been an ally of mine and for that I apologize.
Time to be productive
Where have the last two months gone? Well, really, where did last week go? It was so wonderful, but such a whirlwind.
There's so much to do between now and when I leave, and instead of being responsible and doing those things, I'm sitting on my bed writing some silly, little blog. Oh, the things that possess me to do the things I do...
I can't keep ignoring all the things that must be done; and, more to the point, I can't think of anything else to say. I can seldom think of anything of merit to say. I write painfully short letters and e-mails. Eloquence has never been an ally of mine and for that I apologize.
Time to be productive
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