Flight

As we prepare for our flights today, I got to thinking: A flight is a great metaphor for a trip like this.

Prior to, we were nervous and excited, unsure of how the trip was going to turn out. We were ready though, come what may. The take-off, or beginning, of the trip was an experience of new sensations. Our emotions weren't stable and ultimately we were just trying to figure it all out here. Eventually though we leveled out, and while some turbulence may have been had along the way, we figured out the problems which came along. We began our descent a few days ago, when it finally set in that going home was approaching.

Winding down the trip has been the most bittersweet thing I've experienced. I've had a wonderful and life-changing time here, but it will also be wonderful to go home and start the new adventure. I don't think we'll have fully landed in America for a few days though, as adjusting will certainly be needed. As we become home-bound today, I'm looking forward to landing on American soil. What will it be like to have true Americana surrounding me, rather than British TV and Irish accents? I'm certain it will be wonderful, and I can hardly wait for it all [especially to go to a Reds Game - a true American pastime]!

This trip certainly wasn't a breeze. We've had our ups and downs, both together and separately throughout, but I wouldn't trade a second of any of it. Even the difficult times were wonderful in the end. Each moment of each day has shaped this trip into what it has become for us.

Ultimately, Phillip and I have both grown and changed as people, personally and within our relationship with one another. This adventure has helped me to grow up in ways I didn't realize I needed to mature in and has truly made me a better and more well-rounded individual. When I get home, I'll be ready for life's next adventure, whatever it may be.
Peace out Limerick. You've been wonderful to us. I'll miss you, but I'm reay for the next step in my life...

Focus of the Day

How are you supposed to feel when it is your last day in a place?

Are you sad to leave? Happy to return home? Nervous for the flight? Exhausted from the packing? What becomes the focus of your emotions?

I wish I knew the answer to that. It might make today easier. I found myself this morning not wanting to get out of bed until the absolute last possible minute. I didn't want this day to start... ever.

But alas, it has and it is continuing in full swing whether I like it or not. That is okay though. I'm ready to enjoy this last day. We have a few errands to run, will get our deposits on our apartments refunded, and have a delicious dinner and two bottles of wine calling our name tonight.

Bring on the day, world. I'm ready for the last day of this wonderful adventure. It may not be an easy day here, but I intend to make it a good one.
Phillip and I with our wine bottle collection from the past four months.

Lasts

This last week has been so much harder than we expected. Coming onto our lasts of the trip have really gotten to us and we're just hoping time slows down, just even a little, so these last few days don't just pass us by.

Each thing we do, it seems that we're finding ourselves saying this is the last time we'll (insert action or event). Sometimes, even though it is a good and exciting last, such as our last exam, it strikes me in a way that is hard to overcome. I think that seeing my roommates for the last time was the hardest thing that surprised us the most.

It was interesting to see how quickly we fell into a norm here, having a schedule of sorts. Dinner at seven. Friends at eight. Milk Market on Saturdays. Mass five days a week. Indian for dinner once a week. Trips into town on Wednesdays. Skyping on Sundays. Wine on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. The list could go on an on about the things we normally did.

I can't believe the time has come to move on from this in a few days. I'm sure we'll easily fall back into the norm, but for now, it is hard for me to say that I want to go back to the norms of home. I'm sure I'll change my mind once I get there and get to see my family and friends, return to Thomas More, and drive my car. For now though, Phillip and I are continuing our lasts of everything for the next few days, and in the end, we'll have memories that last forever.
Phillip and I at Mary I for the last time.

You Know You've Studied Abroad In Ireland When....

Phillip and I recently found a facebook group titled by the same name and decided to revise it and compile our own list of the Top 30 Ways You Know You've Studied Abroad In Ireland. Hope you enjoy our musings on the topic:

1. You know what "craic" is and that it's not a drug.
2. Everything is either 'brilliant', 'grand', or ‘class’.
3. You know hurling does not mean throwing up.
4. It doesn’t phase you that everyone carries around their own bottle of alcohol.
5. You've said "Cheers!" in place of Thank You.
6. You know the difference between a naggin, a shoulder, and a litre.
7. You learned how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness at The Guinness Storehouse and are now certified to do so.
8. You are an 'official whiskey taster' certified at the Jameson Distillery, but you aren't legal to drink back in the states yet.
9. You find yourself forgetting that you can actually grocery shop past 6:00 at home.
10. You go to Dunne’s with two empty bags with the sun shining and walk back a half mile home with two 10 pound bags in the pouring rain.
11. You suddenly realize you're drinking more hot tea than you've ever had in your life.
12. A three mile walk takes you 10 minutes (walking Irish style).
13. You can't walk barefoot anymore because the kitchen floor is sticky, or has other hazardous objects on it!
14. You know what "garda" is and cross your fingers that they don't show up at your party!
15. You cannot do anything business-related between 12 noon and 1 p.m. because everything is closed for lunch
16. You start to believe that a traffic light is really nothing more than illuminated advertising.
17. You put a pot on the stove to cook then walk away for 20 minutes and when you return to check on it, you realize you forgot to turn the wall switch on or turned on the wrong burner.
18. Half-nine is nine-thirty.
19. You find yourself saying ‘feck’ instead of the other one.
20. You get completely baffled by your friends from home who say that cider would be something girly.
21. You hear the entire country is paralyzed by two inches of snow and could totally see that happening.
22. You've seen Munster winning a rugby game in a crowded pub and you know you won't feel that atmosphere at home.
23. Someone you don’t know is referred to as "yer man" by your Irish friends. [This causes much confusion at first, you think "whose man?"]
24. A toucan balancing a glass of beer on its beak makes perfect sense.
25. You’ve travelled 300 miles with Bus Eireann during 6 hours in one day.
26. You know how to respond if someone asks you, "How are you getting on?"
27. You know the sheep are all color coded.
28. You've rock-climbed in the Burren and actually know what that is.
29. You get Ireland sick at home much more than you got home sick in Ireland.
30. You survived Stab City! (aka Limerick City)
We're 50 Quid richer this week! With five days left, we're planning on using the money for a final night out on the town before we return home.

Study Abroad or Vacation Abroad?

I think that the idea of Study Abroad also comes along with many misconceptions for those who have never had the experience. Although I can only speak of my own trip, its hard to qualify this experience as either school or vacation. It really is just life.

I think that students that go abroad for school get some slack for not being in school enough. 'Didn't you go there to study?' is a common question. Life here is so much more than that though. Sure, the everyday person in Ireland doesn't travel to a different country four times in a month, but they do travel their own country frequently. It may not be for the tourism, but the Irish have friends and family all over the country. It is easy to forget that Ireland is the size of the state of Kentucky when such a small area, relative to the United States, is indeed its own country.

Sure, we have traveled a lot. To be honest, we probably travel more than most of the International Students, but if this is the only time that I know I am going to be in Ireland and Europe, I was certainly going to take advantage of it. To be fair though, if I were at home, I would travel too. I may not go to a different country, but trips to Lexington, Louisville, the outskirts of Cincinnati, and Indiana are easily weekend and day trips from home. The distances are comparable to those that we travel here when we stay in Ireland. I wouldn't always be in school at home or doing schoolwork, so why would I here?

Study Abroad has to be approached as a type of lifestyle when a person does it. To skimp to save money and not live a similar life to you would at home, just in a different country, makes it hard to get by. Trust me. We tried it. It didn't work out well and we decided it wasn't worth it.

In general, we went to school Monday through Friday, travelled on Saturdays or went to the Market, and went to mass on Sundays, a pretty normal lifestyle to what I would do at home. Occasionally we would skip classes, but not as much as it may seem like we did. The difference in school comes with the grading and amount of daily work a person gets. Most classes at Mary I have one paper and one exam which equal your final grade, meaning at least 50% of your grade comes from one final test. Homework is often not bothered with and never collected. I had weekly assignments for my math classes, but they were not graded, collected, or even looked at. It was our own responsibility to do the work and ask the proper questions.

In some ways, it is a more adult way to approach schooling. Being responsible for your own work and success in a class, but in other ways, it seems to be a cop out. Ultimately though, I will always think periodic grading of homework, participation, midterms, and chapter tests is a superior method, giving students the ability to know where their grade is headed and also give room for mistakes.

Overall though I think that the experiences a person has through study abroad are harder to understand if you've never experienced it. That isn't to try to exclude people, but I think I have a greater level of respect and understanding for people who study abroad as well as my own type of connection with them. Many of my friends have been blessed, like myself, to have the opportunity to study outside their home colleges. I am thrilled to be a part of that club now.

In the end, it will be much harder to leave Ireland than it was to leave home. As Phillip said, we knew that we were going to go home eventually, we never know if we'll make it back here. I don't know that I'll be ready to leave Ireland when the time comes, and I probably won't be until I actually am home, but it all is part of the experience. I sincerely hope that one day I can return to Ireland, especially Limerick, and relive some of the wonderful experiences I've had here.

For now though, we are coming into the final stretch. With ten days left, two exams, one day trip, and lots of cleaning and packing to do, I'm sure the time will fly. We definitely will be taking advantage of these last days though through it all.
Phillip and I at the beaches of Inis Mor, one of the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. The water was cold, the sun was warm, and the weather was beautiful.

Exam Time in Ireland

The way school works here still blows my mind and probably forever will.

Taking my first exam really reminded me of it though. For starters, they have two weeks called exam weeks, but some classes HAVE to take their exam before exam weeks. Furthermore, the exam schedule wasn't released until the last day of classes. How can a person plan for anything ahead of time like that? I guess that is why a study week is necessary for Irish students.

Beyond that, the actual exam set-up is unlike anything I've ever experienced or heard of. They set up 200+ desks in their gym and conduct exams in there 3 times a day for two weeks. There are three of more classes taking an exam at those times, and no signs directing where you need to go[which happens to be T3 in the gym], where you should sign in[which you just have to ask], and what is allowed in the examination room[no bags or anything other than writing utensils and maybe a calculator].

Well, being the ignorant American in an Irish school, I hadn't the slightest idea how to do anything. I was really relying on the fact that I would recognize someone from my class and just follow suit. Unfortunately, when there are 60 strangers in a class with you and you've only talked to maybe 10 of them alongside the fact that there are 3 other exams going on at the same time, you're hardpressed to find a familiar face. It honestly wasn't until I was finished with my exam and walked out of the gym that I ran into someone in my class that I had actually spoken to before and recognized. To figure it all out I had to ask a handful of Irish people, all of whom I'm sure thought I was absolutely ignorant for not knowing how it all worked.

Furthermore, I went to the exam, not only with my two pencils(which you aren't allowed to use on any exam except Geography, not even Math!), two pens, and my calculator, but with my notes, my bag, and my cell phone. I was a walking illegal disaster. Not only was I only supposed to take writing utensils and a calculator in the exam (along with my student ID), but my calculator was technically illegal. They only allow scientific calculators and I have a programmable graphing calculator that I've had since freshman year of high school. Grade school was the last time I owned the type of calculator I was allowed to use. [Luckily, the Irish don't recognize the difference because graphing calculators aren't available here like they are at home, so I was able to use my calculator!] I didn't get in trouble for anything illegal I had, but half the reason I'm sure is because I stuck out like a sore thumb at the exam. [The other half is that I concealed it all pretty well and made it obvious I wasn't going to cheat! I just didn't have anywhere else to put my bag.]

Finally after I got settled into my seat, which is assigned, and got over my worries of getting my calculator, bag, and notes taken away from me, I studied a bit before the exam. You would've thought I was a circus act the way I got looked at. I guess crunch time studying before an exam in Ireland isn't something they do, unlike every American college student. After realizing I was sticking out even more, I gave up the studying, put everything in my bag, closed it all up and waited.

Prior to exams beginning, they go over the typical rules and then gave end times for all four exams that were being conducted at the same time in the same room. It turned out that every 30-5 minutes of my exam I was going to interrupted by others getting out, since mine lasted the longest. Great. Irish people are not good at being quite or discrete at appropriate times, so when an exam was over, a mass of moans, shuffles, and keys clanging filled the echoy gym. Awesome. Regardless, I got through my Abstract Algebra exam [with a low A or high B I might add] and was ready to move on to the rest of my week - a final trip to Dublin and a two day trip to Galway/Aran Islands.

I guess when I go back to take my other two exams on Wednesday and Thursday I will be better prepared for the madness that is Irish Examinations. Furthermore, I cannot wait to go back to the type of school I'm used to next semester!
Phillip and I at the Spanish Arch in Galway. We went to Galway and Dublin for the rest of the week, following my first exam.

Where has time gone?

So I’ve been out of commission on the internet as of late. With the final week of classes, preparing for my family to come, and then spending a week with them, I’ve been busy, tired, and unmotivated to really do anything on the internet.

Then enter Finals Week. That will really motivate you to get on the internet and avoid hitting the books.

These past two weeks have been wonderful though. Although we spent the last week of classes worrying the ash cloud was going to severely hinder my family’s trip to Ireland, all ended up working out well. As for classes, they came and went. School is just so different here.

The time with my family was wonderful. We spent the first weekend in Dublin hitting up the major sites: Guinness Storehouse, Jameson Factory, and more. Then we spent a day in beautiful Limerick and took my parents out to Dolan’s that evening. The rest of the week was filled with the real Irish sites: Blarney Castle, the Cliffs of Moher, and the Ring of Kerry.

When they left of Friday, May Bank Holiday Weekend begun here in Limerick. It was full of entertainment, markets, and best of all: the BBQ Competition. Never in my life have I been to an event with so much free food. Each BBQ Team was supplied with meat which they were to make and give out for free to the people who came to taste test. There were a few different categories, and Phillip and I tried as much as we could fill ourselves with; different kinds of pork cuts, sausages, chicken, steak and burgers were all served up all day Saturday. For us poor Study Abroad students, the free meal was warmly welcomed!

And now it is time to buckle down for my Abstract Algebra final tomorrow. After that I don’t have another final for over a week, so Phillip and I are doing our final trips in Ireland. This Wednesday, we’re going to Dublin to go to all of the National Museums (which are free) and Grafton Street for some window shopping and hopefully live entertainment. Thursday, we’re making our way up to Galway, the fastest growing city in Ireland, and Friday, we’re hoping to FINALLY get to go to the Aran Islands! (Pray for good weather!) We’ll spend the weekend in Limerick going to the Milk Market and our other normal activities, and then on Monday, we’re going to Cork, my favorite city of the trip thus far and making our way to the Jameson Experience and Factory nearby. After that, we’ll only have one week left in Ireland, all of which we’ll spend in our Irish hometown of Limerick.

It’s hard to believe we have just over two weeks left, and I think that neither of us are sure how to feel about that right now. I'm not sure where time has gone.
All of us in Killarney! [See the Rainbow?]

31 Days and Counting...

So with a month left to go, the mixed feelings are beginning to start again. It is almost like I'm getting ready to leave home, except returning to Ireland may never happen again.

Most days I forget I'm here. It has become home; I'm often not conscious that it actually isn't. We live here, we have some friends here, we know our way around. We still hear from home frequently, and it all has just become normal for us.

I'm glad school is about over, but I'm not certain that I'm ready to come home yet. Part of it is just the fact that it is a change. I'm going to back to a familiar place, but life has gone on there. Things have changed at Thomas More. My family and friends have continued living, some making big decisions about next year and many graduating college. Not only have their lives moved on, but mine has too.

It makes me wonder how difficult it will be to get back into things once home. They always say that Study Abroad changes you and often, your relationships with others, but for some reason, I thought I'd be the exception. The thing is to remember though is that change isn't a bad thing.

I'm sure I've changed while here, and its probably not even over. With only three-fourths of the trip is complete at this point, it still leaves plenty of time. What is odd about it though is that I'm not entirely sure how I've changed yet. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to pinpoint it completely until I get home and others note it for me.

All of this isn't to say that I won't be thrilled to be home once it comes. Leaving Ireland in a month will certainly be bittersweet, but there is a whole list of things I'm looking forward to returning to. For the time being though, I intend on living out this last month in Ireland fully, spending a week with my family, finishing off school, and certainly travelling.

There are 31 days left and counting...


Phillip and I atop the Cliffs of Moher during our Spring Break.

No Luck of the Irish

Limerick Racecourse is no Keeneland, and being in Ireland certainly didn't bring me any luck.

Phillip and I decided to venture out to the racecourse for Student Raceday. Clearly, we weren't going to be able to make it to Keeneland this season, and we just felt like we were missing something. Although we didn't expect it to be exactly the same, we expected it to be more similar than it was.

For starters, there are about 20 bookie tents where you can make bets, not just one betting desk with the same odds and payouts. From the start, we had to not only attempt to read the program - which was a fail in itself- but then find where we could get the best payout if we bet correctly.

Then when it came to betting, no one bookie was the same as another. Some only took 5 euro bets, some refused to give change, some didn't mind giving change. Also, you can only make two types of bets - either to win or both ways. To Win is the same as home; Both Ways gives you two bets, one to win and one to place. You can't just bet to place. You certainly couldn't bet to show, and don't even try to bet trifecta, superfecta, or anything fancy. Phillip tried with no avail and probably made a few bookies upset asking because he held up the betting lines.

Beyond that, the track was different too. It wasn't flat and it was only grass. There was a significant hill in the track and the grass wasn't even nicely trimmed or even. Also, there was no score board, video screen or the like in the field, or anywhere for the matter. When watching the race, if you didn't have binoculars, you weren't going to see what was happening until the finish. At the end of the race, you had to walk around the stands and to the show ring to see what the top three finishing horses were if it wasn't obvious from the finish.

Some things were the same though. My luck certainly hasn't changed since I've been in Ireland. I'm still terrible at betting on horses and didn't win a single race. College kids are still the same. We had a streaker jump the fence and run part of the track. The track is still the same length and race lengths are no longer either.

Either way though, we still had a great time there. It made me miss Keeneland, Turfway, and just Kentucky Horse Racing in general. We're going to go to one of the local bookie offices and see if we can put money down on the Kentucky Derby over here. Maybe I'll get some more luck of the Irish before then!
Phillip and I along the track at Student Raceday.

A Mother's Wisdom

'Things have a way of working themselves out, don't they?'

My mom texted me that last week when, after much difficulty with our Spring Break plans, things finally seemed to be working out for the better. Our original plan of spending three days at the Aran Islands were swamped when we arrived to 12 foot waves which were certain to keep us on the mainland. Great. With 80 euro reservations at a hostel on one of the islands, a bus trip that was a headache to make up to Doolin, and few options, we turned right back around and returned to Limerick. The weather outlook for Doolin was not good for a few days and staying there would have only put more money into a trip that was failing already. We got back to the apartment, soaked up our woes in a dish of Chili Dip and were unmotivated to make new plans, bummed that we weren't biking on the beach at that time.

But as the week progressed, and I came down with a not-so-nice cold, we became rather thankful our plans changed. Instead of being miserable with a headcold on the Aran Islands, we took is slow for a few days. For the first part of the week, we did the plans we originally had for the second half of the week. We saw 'Alice in Wonderland' in Ennis, we went out to dinner in Limerick, and eventually became more motivated to make new plans.

Halfway through the week, the weather turned beautiful. We went to Tralee in a (failed) attempt to go to the beach. Tralee tourism is either very deceitful or geared toward tourist with cars. Either way, we saw the muddy mouth of the Dingle Bay and Ireland's largest working windmill, which ironically wasn't working the day we visited. Regardless, the weather was warm and sunny, and the views were scenic, even if they weren't the beach.

For our big excursion of the week, we found a bus tour of Bunratty Castle, the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, and Doolin. Not only did we have beautiful weather for the trip, but we had the most quality tour guide we've encountered here in Europe. From him we learned that drinking from bottles is fashionable, you should buy the book 'Angela's Ashes', today's youth will not have pension when we get older, there should still be a window tax, and many other quality life lessons. We returned to Doolin, the place where our Aran Islands excursion failed, and went to our new favorite coffee shop. We trekked along the Cliffs of Moher [and I scared Phillip to death by screaming bloody murder about a bee that landed on me on top of the unstable part of the Cliffs]. We walked around the Burren, a rocky land that you can't grow anything on and we drove one of the most scenic drives in all of Europe.

After that, the weekend brought us our normal Limerick life. Market on Saturday. Mass and skyping on Sunday. Homemade dinners. Munster Rugby Games. Our Favorite Pub.

Although I didn't get to spend three days on the beaches of Ireland, our Spring Break was extremely successful. In fact, I am glad things didn't work out the way they were supposed to. Now we can return to the Islands in better weather. We got to see the Cliffs of Moher. Everything worked itself out.

That, though, seems to be the theme of this trip. Often things don't go the way we panned, but somehow everything always works out better than planned. As for future plans, the Easter Bunny brought us Munster Rugby tickets and the day after the game, my family comes to visit! We just have to get through these next two (and last two) weeks of classes, then its smooth sailing until we come home.
Phillip and I on the West Coast of Ireland during our Friday Bus Tour.

A Tale of Two Cities (Plus A Handful More)

This past month certainly has flown by.

Its hard to believe in the past 28 days I've travelled to four different cities, three different countries, and spent practically just as much time outside of Limerick as I have in the city.

What has struck me the most about travelling is how different cities can be and most certainly are. Besides travelling in Ireland, I have been blessed enough in the past year to go to several big cities in America as well: NYC for Spring Break last year, Orlando for a family vacation, Washington DC for a conference in the fall, and Atlanta for Fall Break.

At home, although those four cities are very different, it never struck me as so until this trip. Due to the compactness of our travels, we've seen city after city, being able to more accurately see the vast differences. I shouldn't be so surprised by it. Each city just reflects the culture of thrives in.

Our first city of this entire trip was Limerick, the city we live in. Not a pretty city, it doesn't need to be. It is known as the Sports Capital of Ireland. If you've ever seen any Irish sport, they're rough, tough, dirty, and entertaining all in one. That pretty much sums up Limerick. [No worries on the rough and tough part, we're still completely safe here!]

The next few cities we've visited during our trip thus far were Dublin and Cork. Interesting because Dublin is the official capital and Cork is the unofficial capital. Again the cities reflect this with the higher end shops, cleaner streets, and plentiful tourist attractions in surrounding areas. If I had to pick my favorite place we've been to in Ireland so far, I'd definitely be torn between these two.

Then March rolled around, and London came as well. I'm not really sure what I expected of London anymore, but it superceeded any I had piror to visiting it. London was by far the nicest city we've been to. No part seemed unsafe (although I'm sure there are some). I've never seen so many Rolls-Royce's, Lamborghini's, and other high end cars as I did in London. The least expensive car that we caw rolling around the city was a Mini Cooper! The city was old, historic, and absolutely beautiful. London has turned out to be my favorite city thus far and the one I hope to have the chance to return to again someday (for hopefully longer than 36 hours).

Next was Paris. Still as gorgeous as the time before, it is still a slightly dirty city. The building style is different than London's and rather than the city seeming to emphasize history, it emphasizes the arts and culture. You simply cannot get away from it in Paris, try as you might. Even when we went to go to the historical things like Napoleon's Tomb or Versailles, the beauty outweighed the history for me. Paris was the city I had my heart set on for this trip, and I was very pleased with everything we did and saw there! [Especially considering we weren't sure if we were going to make it there for awhile]

Brussels though was the complete opposite. The Capital of Europe was not pretty, historic, or clean in the least. It was a completely different kind of city. Although all prior ones have differed in their emphasis, they all were still sightseeing cities. The best sight we saw in Brussels was the Mannekan Pis. It was, however, the capital of food for us. All of it was delicious (minus the street escargots) and we had a wonderful time doing different things than we were focused on doing in all of the other cities. Brussels was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of city for me. I don't plan on returning, but it was still a fabulous weekend trip.

Liverpool, though, topped them all for me in a surprising way. I won't go into all the details again, as I just wrote on the trip, but I will say it again, it was wonderful! I'm not ruling out going back to it again (like we have for Brussels). I would absolutely return, go into the Beatles' former homes, and go out on the town again! It was the best time we've had yet.

That's not to say the best has already come. Just because we're finished with our travelling outside of Ireland certainly doesn't mean we're finished travelling. Our Spring Break begins Friday, and the day after Easter, we will be heading to the Aran Islands for a few days. Although it may be too cold to actually get into the water, you better believe I will be going to the beach! We also have a week of travelling with my entire family, which I'm really looking forward to as well. [Especially because we're renting a car for one of the trips. Hey Mom and Dad, think I can drive on the left side of the road for a little??].

Beyond those planned things, we have lots of other free time and a few other day trips we intend on taking. The best is yet to come, I'm sure, and by then end, it will probably be impossible to pick a favorite city, a favorite trip, a favorite memory.
Phillip and I have taken on a good portion of Europe. We're ready for the second half of our travels now!

Twist & Shout-ing In The Beatles Home

Liverpool was absolutely wonderful. We honestly only went because we found super cheap flights and thought it would be fun to go on a Beatles tour. Our planning stopped at that, and I thought the fun would too.

Boy, was I in for a surprise!

For starters, we began the trip well. It was the only trip we've taken where we landed and left at normal hours. When you're flying cheap, you don't get to be choosy on your times. Though it wouldn't be a big deal for a trip or two, after a month of travelling, you become thankful for those small things. We could be on a normal eating schedule and sleeping schedule. It was great.

Beyond just that though, the city was great as well. Most of their museums are free, so during the morning, we went to the Tate Museum of Modern Art and a few other national museums. Then we grabbed lunch, the best fish and chips we've eaten here, and ate it under an awning of a store because it was pouring rain. Then we made our way to the Magical Mystery Beatles Bus Tour.

This was a big yellow and blue painted bus, which we had to call a coach, that was owned by two guys in their thirties. They knew lots about the city, but were also characters in their own right. Our bus driver had road rage I've never experienced before in a tour bus. There were a few times that he got mad at other cars and would curse at them, but what's better is he actually got out of the bus at one point to chase down a taxi driver. Even better yet, we sat directly behind the bus driver, having a front row seat to all the action.

He wasn't the only character though. The actual tour guide enjoyed bantering with the fifty year old ladies in the front of the bus, as well as making fun of every visitor not from Liverpool (all in good fun of course). He told us slightly inappropriate things and had a few choice curse words he liked to throw in occasionally. It was great and entertaining, plus we got to see tons of Beatles spots, our favorite of which became the Cavern Club.

The Cavern Club is where the Beatles played some of their first shows, and they played over 250 there. Not only have the Beatles played there though; lots of other well-known artists including Queen, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, and many more, have played there as well. [For all you 'Across the Universe' fans, its the club in the beginning on the movie Jude and his girlfriend go to.]

It was the spot we chose for our evening amusement in Liverpool, and it was a blast! They have live music at all times and we stayed for two of the performers, both cover artists. They played some Beatles, requests, and more. I had 'Sweet Caroline' dedicated to me, followed by a song about Kentucky. [He asked where we were from... not just a lucky guess.] I danced with a forty-something drunk man to 'Imagine' and made best friends (supposedly) with two women from Liverpool who wanted to hang out again and have me go stay with their niece in London. We got the whole club on their feet to do the 'Twist & Shout' and got recorded singing and dancing by another tourist. Really, what more could you ask for from a night out?

It just goes to show you, don't judge a book by its cover (or rather, its description in a movie). It was clean; it was interesting; most of all, it was fun! [Although we were right on assuming it was rainy. Maybe we just caught the city on an off day for weather though.]

For now, our travels outside of Ireland are complete and Liverpool was a great end to it all. With a month and a half left, we've just got to finish up school and see the rest of Ireland!
Phillip and I at the Cavern Club, enjoying our only evening in Liverpool.

American Politics Abroad

Before we left for Europe, Phillip's cousin gave us a word of advice - 'Don't talk religion or politics abroad'.

Although great advice, I'm finding it hard to live by that completely. The religion part has been relatively easy, especially here in the Republic of Ireland. We're Catholic; they're Catholic. It works. But in the heat of this Health Care mess, for lack of a better phrase, I find that I want to know what Europe's view on it all is.

Since we've been in Ireland, I cannot remember hearing anything about the Irish government. If we hear anything about a European government, it is the British government and how they all steal money from it. Otherwise, issues aren't really raised.

When it comes to health care, it seems to vary by country across Europe. France is a socialized system; Ireland is not completely. Moreover though, I'm interested in what Europeans think of the United States and our government.

At home, we're hit over the head with politics, scandals, and media. Here, that just isn't the story. If anything, they hear about our problems, laws, scandals, and victories. Honestly, I haven't really asked about what my roommates or other Irish think of American politics, but I have a feeling that they don't really care a whole lot.

That's not to say a few don't have their opinions though. My Irish professor bluntly asked who supported Obama in one of our very first classes. All the Americans were shocked and unsure what to say. Do we say we love/hate him and chance that our professor is the opposite? All of us stayed quiet. Our teacher was slightly shocked we didn't all jump on the opportunity to talk about our home politics, our new president, and what we thought of him.

For now though, I have to rely on others to keep me updated and try to read up on what is going on. It is hard to believe everything you read on the Internet, but that is about all I've got at this point. Hopefully when I get home, the health care problems have settled and are being dealt with properly. I'd rather not return home to a civil war over something like health care.

I'm not trying to make this political, say what I think is right/wrong, or begin any kind of debate. I just think the European approach is interesting and very diverse as a whole. They don't hear about their own politics as much as they've heard about ours and it seems they have quite a warped view when it comes to what Americans think about their own politics. We're all extreme, fired up to either rally behind or revolt against each new law, new politician, new idea. I guess that is how any media is though, regardless of the country, only showing the extremes- and even then, usually the bad extremes.

Phillip and I with our most recent visitor, Flat Stanley. He didn't bring us any news of politics though.

The Capital of Europe: Brussels

Brussels is either confused about their identity or completely comfortable with it. Either way, it threw us off for our weekend visit to the capital of Europe.

First, it is important to note that Belgium has two official languages, French and Dutch. This means that all signs in the city are in both languages. The languages certainly don't stop there though. When we went to a flea market Saturday morning, conversations between two people could be in three or more languages! I don't even know how anyone could keep that straight. I can barely speak English sometimes. :)

Furthermore, the French is different from France French, so even if you think you know it, chances are you don't and they will probably not understand you if you try. From the get go, we were in a pickle. I knew enough French to get us by in France, but if it is not even the same French and could possibly even be Dutch, how were we supposed to communicate? Most of the time we gave up and just spoke English. Maybe that's terrible, but when there are two official languages and you can't even speak their proper form of one of them, you have to find some common ground somewhere.

Beyond the languages, the people of Brussels are proud of their ugly city. Seriously, Brussels is not a pretty place and certainly isn't the capital of sightseeing. It surprised me that the capital of Europe is such a drab town.

So needless to say, in the beginning of our trip, we already felt like it was a lost cause. We spent Saturday morning doing the little sightseeing there was, all while being confused about the language. When noon rolled around and we were already finished with the plans we made, we were unsure what to do next.

Have no fear though, the trip made a move for the better when we found the tourist part of town, and tourist in Brussels means food.

We snacked on food the entire weekend. Fries, waffles, escargots, mussels, chocolate, and beer made up our nutrition. It was (mostly) delicious and gave us the experience we were looking for. The city wasn't much to write home about, our hostel was clean and acceptable for what we wanted, the people weren't the nicest, but when it came to the food.... that was their selling point for us.

Belgium certainly was a different kind of trip for us. It was wonderful and quite the experience. I'll probably never go back there again, but it is what it is and overall, I'm very glad we went.
Phillip and I with our street escargots - probably our least favorite food we ate there.

Home, Sweet Home (for now)

Never in my entire life have I been happier to be in Limerick than I was last Saturday. Following a four day trip to Paris, I was exhausted, a bit tired of French, and mostly just wanted to be back in a comfort zone.

It is interesting that Limerick has become that for me, a comfort zone.

Travelling is wonderful, and Paris was a great time, but it is always nice to return home. Finally, we've grown into calling this place home (for now). Don't get offended America, you're my really home, but I needed somewhere to take your place for awhile and Limerick is doing a fine job.

It was a long, slow, and a bit rocky process, but we've made it here. I love Limerick and wouldn't trade this all for the world. We are to the point where the city feels like ours. We know our way around and we've assimilated well. Unfortunately, the only thing that makes us stand out is our accent, a nuisance most of the time.

It is strange to me that in ways, my trip is now on the downswing. Don't get me wrong; in many ways, it is still on the rise with all the travelling left (Belgium is this weekend) and visitors to come. Yet, it is now officially halfway over and Saint Patrick's Day was the best way it could have been marked ever.

St. Pat's certainly is NOT a tourist holiday here. Yes, there are lots of tourists, but all the Irish come out to celebrate... and believe me, they celebrate it right.

The party begins the weekend before almost everywhere in Ireland. In Limerick, they have fireworks on Saturday and an International Marching Band Parade on Sunday. Those are just the in-city festivities though. Horse racing begins as a major sport and there are other minor competitions as well.

The weekend party though is nothing in comparison to the party on St. Patrick's Day.

We began our day with a parade on O'Connell Street, the main drag of Limerick. The five of us, and our 60,000 closest friends, packed the street to see the spectacle. [To be completely honest, the spectacle wasn't fantastic, but it was a great start to the day.] After an almost 3 hour long parade, we indulged in some Irish food before heading to the bar.

At Smyth's, the first place we went to, the ages ranged from infant to infinity. (Okay, so that's a bit drastic.... but there were babies, toddlers, and elderly alike.) Free Beer, the band, played some traditional music and some traditional spins on some classics. After that we headed to a quieter pub for some acoustic music and pints all around.

The music couldn't have been better, the company was wonderful, and the pints were delicious. After about twelve hours or being out for the day, Phillip and I were full of St. Patrick's cheer and headed back to the apartments for the night.

It is hard to really put to words just how wonderful yesterday was. No description will do the day justice. It is bittersweet to think that I may never again have the chance to celebrate Saint Pat's the proper way (in Ireland) again... but as Phillip's sister told me, I'll always have the memory of it.

It was by far the best way to mark the halfway point of this wonderful experience. A true Irish celebration for a girl who truly loves the Irish.

Phillip and I at Smyth's on St Pat's Day celebrating halfway through our trip.

Appreciation

Webster defines appreciation as a 'sensitive awareness' or 'recognition of aesthetic value'.

Appreciation is almost a new-found virtue for me here. Sure, I've always appreciated the people in my life, my country, and my life, but it all has come to new extremes here as I see not only the great things about my life but the shortcomings as well.

This past weekend though the appreciation was not focused on life back home. Instead it fell in the beauty, the history, and the culture that London entailed, and it made me wonder 'Do the people of London really appreciate the city they live in?'

Phillip and I spent two wonderful days in London and saw all that we could fit into our 36 hour visit. It was not only beautiful weather, but the city itself was beautiful too. The architecture was various and magnificent... from the very old to the very modern. The history was full and the folklore, even fuller.

But over time, I could imagine that you become desensitized to these things. When you go for a run in Hyde Park, would you really think about how it used to be a hunting ground for the king? Would you appreciate the largest man-made lake in all of London? Would it occur to you that you are running on Royal ground? It is doubtful.

Walking through London was wonderful. We got to see the entire city via an open-top tour bus, we heard Big Ben ring, and ate some good fish and chips. We met a few good friends for dinner and London Eye, and then afterwards, we went out to experience the nightlife that is London. We stayed in a hostel for our very first time, saw where Princess Diana used to live, and had a front row seat to The Changing of the Guard. We appreciated each second of it; we had a sensitive awareness of the experience, the city, the life that is London.

This though made me wonder what I've been desensitized to in my own homeland. I feel like this is one of the biggest things I will experience when I get home: an appreciation not only to be there, but an appreciation for the history, the beauty and the architecture that is Kentucky, Cincinnati, and essentially, my home.

I hope I begin to have a sensitive awareness of all that is around me, both during the rest of my two months here in Europe, but that it continues when I return to the familiar of home as well. For now though, I will spend the next month appreciating Paris, Brussels, and Liverpool, along with St. Patty's Day in Limerick and every experience this all entails.

Phillip and I with the London Eye and the South Side of London.

March Madness... & April Too

March has begun and in a few days, it certainly will begin to move quickly.

In retrospect, these past seven weeks have been slow compared to what Phillip and I have ahead of us. Starting on Friday, we begin our mini-Eurotour. This weekend is London. Neither of us have been, but our plans are set and we are completely ready to leave. Plus, I get to see my roommates (and Kyle) there which will be such a nice treat! Our schedule for London is packed from 8am Saturday to 5pm Sunday.... and then we head back to Limerick for just enough time to do our laundry and talk to our families.

Then we're off to Paris! This is probably the trip I'm most looking forward to because I get to re-live and re-experience my trip from five years ago while playing tour guide to Phillip. We're even staying in the same hotel that I stayed in during my trip! Plus, I get to see Lauren and maybe even Cyrielle, the girl I stayed with in France, while I'm in the city. That will be a wild four days of touring, eating, drinking, and spending money but will be completely worth it.

Once back from Paris, St Patrick's Day celebrations begin in Limerick. Festivals, parades, music, a strongman competition, and more will fill the streets of downtown. I have a two days of class and then we're off for St. Pat's Day. Plus, I get to see Chelsea who will begin her student teaching in Ireland on Monday!

After St. Pat's, Phillip and I have just enough time to confirm our trip to Brussels that weekend, and then Friday we leave for that city. Neither of us have been to Belgium and honestly, we're just looking forward to eating all their specialities there: mussels, chocolate, beer, waffles, and more will certainly be calling our names.

Then we come back for a few days again before heading off to Liverpool, our last non-Ireland trip. We really just want to do the Beatles Bus tour and see what the city has to offer. That certainly will be our most laid back trip.

After all of this, March is over! But the madness doesn't stop there.... The weekend following all of this begins our Spring Break, where we have plans to travel to the Aran Islands, Bunratty, and Dublin at the very least. After all of this, we will have our final two weeks of classes and our first full week of classes in over a month! After classes are over, it is Study Week, but my family is coming to visit then. Then it is our final few weeks, and we return home.

It is probably a good thing that we had a semi-quiet weekend in Limerick this past weekend. We went shopping at the Market, checked out the University of Limerick's Campus, attempted to go to Ennis (but it was closed... literally), and had a nice dinner out on Sunday.

We have barely started our trip just looking at all that is ahead of us... but at the same time, it is going to go so quickly, its almost like we're already on our way home. With two and a half months left, I'm looking forward to every minute of it. I'm blessed to be able to do it all with Phillip. I'm blessed to have so many friends that I get to see while I travel and I'm here. I'm blessed that my family is coming to visit me for an entire week.

...and I'm certainly looking forward to it all.

Phillip and I by the river that runs through University of Limerick's Campus.

RAG Week: A Reflection

RAG Week is such an interesting concept in Ireland and one that is completely foreign to any, well, foreigners.

For a whole week the school sponsors activities, both at the school and at night clubs/bars... all to raise money for charity. Students drink while walking to class (if they go at all), drink after class in the school's lounge, and then go out that night and drink more. Can you ever imagine an American school sponsoring such an event???

While it would probably not happen because so many more students drive in most American colleges compared to those in Ireland, it is insane the amount of liability they must have to take. This week, though, accumulates most of the school's sponsored activities and they all have alcohol involved. Go Irish! (I guess.)

To be honest, this would be so much fun if it were with my own friends. As much as I love my flatmates and I am getting along with the other Internationals, it simply isn't the same when it isn't accompanied by your best friends from home. The clubs aren't my scene mostly, but with my good friends, I could do it more. Here it is only fun if its all my flatmates or a group of Internationals are going.

This though reflects the hardest part of Ireland for me personally. I am so used to my small school, my good friends, and other great people surrounding me constantly at school. Almost all my classes are filled with people I know and I certainly know all the faculty and staff on a more personal basis. People know me, and I know them.

Here I'm just the American girl that takes Mathematics classes.

People are nice in my classes, but I don't know them. The professors are understanding and great, but they aren't my professors that know me on such a different level.... and I certainly do not know 75% of the student body here.

It would be a little different if my accent, or my professors for that matter, didn't point me out on a regular basis. My Stats professor just loves to ask how things are in America. Today I faced a 15 word spelling test rectifying the differences between Irish spelling and American spelling (including words like center, tires, color, recognize, etc)... and this was in Math class! It is not only slight humiliating, but it also makes me feel like the people in my class think I'm just the little show-off American who thinks she does it better than the Irish.

I'm not here to stand out; I'm here to try to assimilate as best I can, and these professors certainly aren't helping.

Mary I has made me so grateful for Thomas More and my position within the school. We might not have RAG weeks full of sanctioned skipping classes, drinking in the lounge on campus, and nights at the club, but I love it just the same. It is all part of the experience here and just because it is difficult not knowing as many people or having my comforts of my own school isn't to say it is bad.

The experience is wonderful and enlightening in so many ways.
There are some things you just don't realize until you take a step back.

I'm very lucky and certainly very grateful for it all, even the small and different things. I'm sure that feeling will only grow as my experiences here expand further as well.

Phillip and I in the Lounge enjoying our indulgences of RAG Week.

The Irish Way

It is easy to get bogged down by the history of a place. We've spent the past month learning about the history of Ireland and we're even taking two classes about it. This past weekend, it was time for some easy and thoughtless fun.

It is wonderful to learn about the heritage, art, architecture, and so on of a place, especially one you are living in for a length of time... but sometimes I feel like I am learning more than the Irish actually know about their own country! My roommates often tell me I'm travelling more places and learning more about Ireland and Europe and they live here. Although I take myself as very fortunate to have the experience, sometimes it is important to just have fun and not worry about the historical side of things.

That is exactly what we did this past weekend.

Instead of travelling somewhere full of art, architecture and history just smacking us in the face, we went somewhere just to have a 'free' day: Cork City. Although I am sure that there is a great historical background behind all the beautiful buildings and such, that is not what we were looking for there. We went to go enjoy the Wildlife Park at Fota (a nearby island) and the downtown atmosphere of Cork.

We were blessed with a beautiful day in Cork. While the rest of the country was getting rain, or even snow, we had 45 degree weather and sunshine all day. We went to Fota Wildlife Park, similar but better than the Cincy Zoo, and had a wonderful time not learning history, but just seeing the sights: animals, the countryside, the sunshine, up close and personal.

After Fota, we spent the afternoon and early evening in Cork City. Instead of paying for an expensive lunch, we enjoyed eats from a local market. Instead of seeking the history of the city, we sat and watched a full street band play while we enjoyed a pint. Instead of eating Irish food, we found a Thai restaurant to add a little spice to our life. This past weekend wasn't about being in Ireland, but rather just simply doing the things we enjoy.

It is so easy to guilt yourself into living the 'Irish way' here. Trust me, we are taking full advantage of getting to know my Irish roommates and living like the Irish, but to live live the Irish does not mean learning all the history. If anything, the Irish are best at having a good time. This past weekend, we just had a good time. Animals, shopping, food and music certainly encompass a great deal of the things that Phillip and I enjoy. Really, we only lacked our family and friends doing it all with us.

So this past weekend I didn't learn how Cork City came about, who built certain churches or what the pre-historical meaning was behind artistic pieces. Instead, we just had a good time, really doing it the Irish way.

Us with my favorite animal, zebras, at Fota Wildlife Park!

Fish & Chips With Some Good Craic

As promised, here is part two of my top ten lists:

TOP TEN THINGS I COULD NOT GET USED TO IN IRELAND

1. Driving On The Left: Okay, so I'm not driving, but it is a very strange thing when you see a car moving along the road and no one is on the right side of the car. By now I've gotten used to the traffic part of it all, especially being sure to look the correct way before crossing the street, but the sight of a person only on the left still throws me off.

2. The Vocab: Sure, some of it is fun, but a lot of it is just confusing. Sometimes my roommates with say they had some good crack last night.... and they don't mean crack cocaine, but craic or a good time. I was worried for a bit my roommates were doing some hardcore drugs. :) Other stuff is minor, biscuits are scones here, cookies are biscuits, chips are crisps, and fries are chips. It certainly does take effort sometimes to decipher what the Irish are talking about.

3. Lack Of Certain Foods: It isn't anything major, but we are missing the small things from home. There isn't ANY Hershey's Chocolate, the peanut butter is only mediocre, and we certainly would never be able to find chili here (or at least the good kind). There are few Pepsi products and it isn't worth even looking for our proper American breakfast meats. It isn't even like I eat any of these things on a regular basis, but when you don't have it, you want it even more. Luckily, our families have supplied us with chili and peanut butter, so we still have some tastes from home. We just have to be sure to be careful if we offer 3-Ways to anyone.

4. My Accent Pointing Me Out: We rarely go a day without someone new asking us 'Where are you from?' It is quite evident that I am NOT Irish and as my roommate likes to call it, I apparently have a strong American Twang. [Twang does not mean southern twang though... just an American accent.] It isn't such a bother most of the time, but it can become a nuisance to have to explain why I'm here. Also, my Stats Professor just loves to point me out in class and ask how things in America are.

5. Being Ignorant of US News: It is so difficult for us to keep up on the happenings in the States. The news here is brief and mostly British, and we find it hard to find the time to read up on the Internet here. We aren't bombarded with radio news ever and there certainly aren't any American newspapers in school. Even the small stories, like how the Cats are doing this year in basketball, are difficult to keep up on.

6. The Water & Electricity: I'm not sure if it is just my apartment complex, or if it is all of Ireland, but this stuff is crazy! Light switches are either outside of rooms, or in the most inconvenient spots possible. Almost all sinks have two faucets, one hot and one cold. Even if there was just one, it is impossible to have warm water; it is either scalding or freezing. Maybe I'm just spoiled, but I am looking forward to American electricity and water.

7. Communion At Mass: Phillip and I have taken up going to mass very regularly here, but no matter how small or large the mass is, Communion is always a disaster. There is very little order to approach the alter and then once you do, every lines up surrounding the base as the priests walk back and forth administering the Host. It is a chaotic mess that I'm certain words cannot fully describe.

8. Copyright Laws: Now that we are in a different country, our computers and Internet recognize it, so we have no chance of watching anything that is posted on an American website. All major stations (ABC, NBC, CBS), Hulu, and more have tons of copyright laws which make it illegal and impossible for us to watch any kind of clip, show, or news broadcast that occurred in the States.

9. Mary I: Although this has been a good experience, I cannot wait to go back to my small classes that lack adult students. My lectures here are huge, especially my math ones and they each have at least 7 very vocal Adult students. Because they do not have night classes here, all student, traditional or adult, are in the same classes. Plus, the school is over twice the size in population of TMC, so it has been quite the jump! People here do think I'm crazy when I say its a big school though.

10. The Exchange Rate: It has been getting better, but I still feel like I'm losing money here. It is hard to tell whether the cost of living is more expensive here in general, but it certainly costs us more with the exchange rate. It is painful to look at our bank accounts here after we get large sums of money transferred over. It currently is about $1.45 to 1 Euro, and it will be even worse when we go to the UK.

All in all though, it is good to be able to appreciate the different things here. Some things are better, some things are worse, but it is all just how it is. It is all about the experience, and that certainly is what I'm getting here.

My Roommates (or flatmates as they would call it) on Mardi Gras (or Pancake Tuesday) having a night of great craic!

One-Fourth Down; Three-Fourths To Go

I cannot believe that a quarter of my time abroad is already over. This past month has certainly flown by and I only expect the next three to go just as quickly. In just these few weeks, I've learned a lot about myself, my own culture, and the culture of Ireland/Europe. Because of that, here are my:

TOP TEN THINGS I COULD GET USED TO IN IRELAND

1. Walking Everywhere: It is so nice to live in a city where walking is possible. Sure, I guess you could attempt to walk at home, but you certainly wouldn't get very far. Here I walk at least 4 miles every day, and that is just to and from school twice each day. After four months, I'm going to have some killer legs.

2. The Vocab: Sure it is different, but it is fun too! To have the chance to say things like 'Oh, its just a brilliant day' or 'That was a gorgeous milkshake' and my personal favorite 'Well it was just such a posh neighborhood'. Everything here is lovely, brilliant, gorgeous, and posh. You can say that which suits your fancy.

3. Less Televised Advertising: Forget about commercial breaks every ten minutes. The only shows that do them even every fifteen minutes are the American shows, and those are only about 3 minutes long. European shows wait until the top or the bottom of the hour to have about five minutes of commercials.... and if you're a sports fan here, there will be no interruptions for your intense viewing of rugby or whichever sport preferred.

4. The Kindness Of The Irish: People here are just so nice, it is almost unreal. My roommates have been so accommodating, my classmates have warmed up to me, and anyone on the street is willing to stop to help you out. Maybe they are just nosy, but if it is to my benefit, then so be it!

5. Ease Of Travel: Whether stying in the Republic of Ireland or travelling outside the country, travel is not only inexpensive, its easy! The bus systems are easy to navigate, Ryan Air has extremely cheap rates, and hostels are easy to book as well. Other than traveling in Ireland, I'm also going to London, Paris, Brussels, and Liverpool too!

6. The Scenery: Maybe you just don't appreciate the views of your motherland because it is familiar, but it is so beautiful here! Most days you could go out and it would be difficult to take a bad picture. We've been blessed with beautiful weather so far, making it all the better too!

7. Going To A Big, Beautiful Church: No matter which church you go to here in Limerick, the churches are old and gorgeous. I'm going to the Redemptorist's Church just down the road, but they are all lovely. While going to a big church at home is an option, it usually is not such a convenient one as it is here.

8. The Vault Channel: This television channel is everything a music fan of the 80s, 90s, and now could want. There are tons of throwback music videos, paired with some of today's hits, all mixed in with marathons of your favorite divas: Madonna, Tina Turner, and the like. Also, you can always count on 'Livin on a Prayer' to be on during the 1 o'clock hour.

9. Having A Kitchen In Student Housing: Making our own food here has been so wonderful. We're not restricted to a cafeteria with sub-par food. Instead, I have an oven, a range, and a microwave for all my cooking needs. It may be a small kitchen, but its been great to be able to make my own food.

10. The Pay Per Hour: Not that I'm not actually working here, but if I were I would be making some bank. Don't leave tips for your waitresses or bartenders. They make upwards of ten euros an hour. I'm not entirely sure what the minimum wage is here, but students are making enough money one day on the weekend to fund an entire week of partying, so certainly pay is pretty good around here.

[Tune in later this week for another top ten list!]

Land of the Free and Home of the Brave

Watching the Super Bowl last Sunday was such a different experience from Ireland. The commentary was done by a British broadcaster and two Americans who are involved in football but are ultimately washed up in the game. The pre-game show was used to explain the sport and you should just forget about seeing traditional American commercials during the game. The commentary only continued in between plays to explain what was going on and what the two Americans thought of the teams and the plays the were using. Phillip and I had two of our American friends over to watch the game as we enjoyed chili dip, chips, pizza, and American beer.

Yet, it certainly was not the American experience. I actually appreciated the theatrics of the half-time show and the other little bits of the American version we got to see on TV. We had to try to YouTube commercials between plays and for the most part, failed miserably. Now I have to catch up on my commericals between classes and during some free time at night, battling with the slow Internet at City Campus.

But really, I can't complain too much. We had a great time trying to Americanize the non-American way of showing the game. It is not even like I'm a huge football fan, but the Super Bowl is ours at home. We eat more food than Thanksgiving, look forward to the commericals more than the game, and spend half the time talking to friends and the other half yelling at the TV.

It makes me miss America. I've never heard our national anthem on TV before and felt so patriotic. I could've cried just seeing a bald eagle as patriotic songs were sung. It was touching as both teams held their ground and their hearts through it all.

I've never really appreciated the show our sports are rather than the game they derive from. You just don't realize it for the most part, or you do realize it and you find it to be a nuisance.

We don't talk religion and we certainly do not talk politics with the Irish, and yet it is interesting to see how affected they are in their everyday lives by America. Its so interesting to hear their opinions on the average American, even though it may often be offensive.

Most opinions I've heard from my professors involved guns and how we go around shooting each other all the time. When was the last time you and your friends took a gun out to just play around and shoot each other? It seems like they think violence terrorizes each street corner.

The youth mainly focus on our media. They know all of our celebrities. They watch all of our shows. They see all of our movies. [Trust me though, you would too if your only other option was Irish TV and movies.] It is even to the point where my roommate said she can easily understand my accent because she watches TV so frequently.

Ultimately though, it makes me miss the States, in a good way. When we were leaving, it was time to leave. I was sick of politics, the American way, and the media. Yet now I crave to know what is going on without having to try to find out. It makes me appreciate our country and the way it all just is there.

In three and a half months, when I return, I not only will have the wonderful experience I've gained here under my belt, but also a new found appreciation for our country, our politics, our way of living. Being here does make me proud to be an American.

Go Saints! I was glad to see them win and I'm pretty certain pouring Gatorade on your coach after a big win is just an American Tradition! :)

And When You Dream, Dream Big

Its true... I really am living the dream here. Sure, that seems cliche and all, but reflecting back, it couldn't actually be more true.

After traveling to France the summer after my sophomore year of high school, I promised myself that I was going to spend a semester abroad in college. Yet as time went on, school plans changed and before I knew it I was stuck. With an education major declared, it seemed that it would be impossible to spend an entire semester abroad, if any time at all. My four years were set and I just accepted it.

Then something happened. Something that completely changed my life and got me back onto the path of my dreams and what I wanted. My long-term boyfriend and I broke up. Yeah, I know what you're thinking... big deal. But seriously, it completely changed the path I was taking, and it has all been for the better.

After much thinking, I changed my major a little, dropping education. Being only a mathematics major and already having more credits than I should, suddenly studying abroad became an option again. Yet, Ireland wasn't the place I wanted to go. Sure it was cheaper and easier, but it had been done before at Thomas More. It was France I wanted to go to. To return to France for an entire semester was my dream, at the time.

As months passed and details weren't set, the dream of France began to fade and be replaced by Ireland. It was not something I took easily at first. Sure, Ireland seemed like a great compilation prize, but wasn't what I really thought I wanted.

Yet, now that I'm here I couldn't be more thankful I didn't go to France for a semester. Instead of going with a group of Kentucky students, I only know one person here. Instead of living with Americans, I live with three beautiful and wonderful Irish girls. Instead of having my weeks planned for me, I get to fly by the seat of my pants and do what I want. Instead of having to travel and plan trips by myself, I get to do it all with Phillip. What more could a girl ask? I get to live completely on my own in a different country and enjoy every minute of it.

Sometimes it takes time to become thankful for the experiences you have in your life. I couldn't be more thankful for that life changing event, for the France trip falling through, and for Ireland working out so wonderfully. Everything does happen for a reason.

Now I'll get to see more of Europe than I ever planned on this trip. We've already been to Dublin to drink a perfectly poured Guinness and Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone. We have trips to London, Paris, Brussels, and Liverpool planned and so many other adventures ahead of us that we don't even know about yet. We hope to travel all around Ireland and make it up to Belfast as well.

So how can I not say that I really am living the dream? I get to be the luckiest person I know for four months as I travel, live, and experience it all here. Its all about dreaming big though and letting change happen. It all ends up being for the better, you just have to give it time to show.


Phillip and I atop Blarney Castle overlooking beautiful Ireland.

The Opposite Side

Have you ever walked on the opposite side of the road than you normally do?

Today I did just that on my way to school. Walking on the other side of a road you travel frequently changes the perspective of what you see. As you begin on the opposite side, you wonder why you decided to do this, to stray from the norm. Yet as you go on, your mind changes bit. You pay attention to different things than normal; you notice new things, gain a greater appreciation for the old, and can more accurately describe the side you normally go on. Afterwards you think, well maybe walking on the other side of the road every once in awhile may not be a bad idea.

I feel like that is just what I am doing here in Ireland, walking on the other side of the road.

When I arrived here, I was ready to go home. This new and different experience seemed like it wasn't weighing up to what I thought it was going to be. Why did I decide to do this, to stray from the norm? I was in a new school, a new city, a different country, and across an ocean. How did I ever think that was a good idea?

Yet, as time has gone on, be only a little over two weeks, Ive started to gain a greater appreciation for the experience.

The new school, Mary Immaculate, makes me appreciate Thomas More, the role it plays in my life, and the role I play within it. The faculty, staff, and students are more than I could ever need in a school and I love it. Sometimes you don't realize how lucky you are until you don't have it anymore. I miss it some days, but it is a good kind of miss.

The new city, Limerick, makes me appreciate the Tri-State. With so much to do, besides just going to a pub or a club, it hard to imagine that I've ever had trouble finding something to do there. The new country makes me love my own more. When I send mail, writing USA on the address lines gives me a sense of pride. Ireland is great, but the USA is greater [especially if you like to own guns, which is quite the hot topic here].

I've also been able to appreciate new experiences. Things as simple as having to walk everywhere are a nice stray from the norm of the tri-state area. There's only foot traffic for me here, and its rather nice. Phillip and I also make all of our meals ourselves, a nice change from TMC cafeteria food. Living with three Irish girls helps expand my vocabulary, my knowledge of culture, and, all in all, they're just three great people. Best of all though, I can REALLY appreciate the ease of travel here. Hopping over to Dublin, London, Brussels, or France doesn't take a whole lot here.

Mostly though, it has given me an outside perspective of my own life at home. In a conversation with my roommates, I often find myself having to more accurately describe things, explaining what the meaning of one word at home may be in comparison to what it means here. Some terms end up being confusing and our concepts of things like dating, school, and life in general are not the same.

Just because we call something normal at home, doesn't mean it actually is. It doesn't make it right or wrong; its all just different. I don't mind living a different life here though, walking on the other side of the road.

In the end, some of my thoughts, perspectives,and opinions will have certainly changed. Maybe change isn't the right word though. A better word would be growth. My thoughts, perspectives, and opinions will have grown.

...and ultimately, when its all over a few months from now, I think I'll try to walk on the other side of the road a bit more frequently.

The 'F' Word

Familiarity.

It's both a blessing and a curse here, and nonetheless something that is unavoidable.

When going somewhere new and strange, it is hard to not resort to seeing everything in terms of how you've seen things before. Each place, each person, each object, being reduced down to familiar things.

So far in Ireland, this rings true.

The curse of it is that familiarity makes it difficult to experience the pure essence of it all. Walking down the streets, houses aren't simply Irish houses, but building which maintain a certain sense of a place I've been before. Classmates aren't simply who they are, but act and look just like someone I know from home.

This approach to things robs it of it's individuality.

At the same time though, it gives a sense of comfort here. When it really hits me that I'm in Ireland, those are the times that familiar images become more numerous.

Yesterday, it really hit me. As I traveled through the countryside of Ireland to visit Dublin, everything could be reduced down. The flat farmland made me think of driving through Ohio with Emily as we traveled up to see Billy. The rolling hills in the background reminded me of traveling through Kentucky and Tennessee to go to Florida on family vacation. As we stood on top of the Guinness Storehouse in Gravity Bar, the city looked like Newport or Covington. Government buildings bear images reminiscent of the State Capitol, the Courthouse, and others. People on the streets look like those I know.

Most things are not seen as they simply are.

It is interesting because I've yet to be reminded of close objects or people. No house makes me think of my house. No person looks or acts like my parents, my siblings, my close friends and family members. Those people maintain their individuality at home and abroad. By knowing their real personalities and looks, both in and out, it makes them irreplaceable and unfindable within these European limits.

At the same time, those are the things and people I miss most from home. If familiarity brings a sense of comfort, why am I not comforted by similar images and experiences of these things? I think it is because no matter how much time I spend here, how many great experiences I have, or how much I learn, this place will never be home to me.

Yesterday Phillip and I had a great time in the city of Dublin, roaming around, finding monuments, churches, and other important places. We had three perfectly poured Guinnesses between the two of us, ate horse at a street market, and stumbled upon a Trad Fest. We ate traditional Irish food for dinner and saw a full moon. It as a wonderful day trip and we want to visit the city again before we go home, but it is good enough at that: a mini-vacation. I'd never want to stay in Dublin, Limerick, or any other part of of Europe. It doesn't keep my family, my friends, even my dog close enough to me.

They say home is where the heart is. Although my heart is here, having the time of my life and living on my own, my heart is also at home too. I plan on enjoying these next four months, but I will most certainly return home.


Phillip and I at Gravity Bar at the Guinness Storehouse overlooking Dublin.

Happy Birthday Dad!

This one's to you Dad. Miss you, love you, and wish I were there to celebrate with you and the family :)

Scandolous Scholastics

I'll be honest, I don't know how the Irish do it.

This school thing is so different than home, it boggles my mind. Sure, I expected things to be a bit different and to struggle in certain areas, but the places where the strict and lax are different are so befuddling it amazes me.

At Orientation, we were told we had two weeks to decide on four or five classes to take. During these two weeks, we were to sit in on any and all classes we were interested in until we decided. While it is a good idea to allow your International Students to decide what to take after seeing what the class is going to be like, its also extremely stressful. Although there is little to no homework for most classes, just figuring out the lecture times and places is a headache. No class is at the same time each time it is held, and often the room changes too. For example, Irish Heritage is a 3 on Mondays, 1 on Wednesdays, and 10 on Fridays and is held in three different rooms as well. It makes me wonder how anyone keeps their schedule straight!

In addition to lectures, where interaction and discussion should be kept to a bare minimum, some classes have tutorials. The tutorials become essential because no class is under 60 people. Even my math classes (which is maths here), there are over 60 people, a class size which could be considered small. Mary Immaculate is not a big college by any means and when we talk to students, they complain, or at least comment, on the small size (of about 3000 students). Thomas More is less than half the size of this, so this is quite the jump for me. Double the people and at least double the class size (if not more), its quite overwhelming.

If you think, though, that keeping the class schedule would be the most draining, you're wrong. It is the accent and vocabulary of the Irish professors. Although it is the same technical language, it becomes very exhausting constantly deciphering lectures. Often times lecturers go too fast for their own students, much less an International Student. (I am so thankful that I speak English though! I don't know how the other European Internationals are doing it!)

Needless to say, once a class day is over, I'm beat. Staying in for the night is often the only option I can take at that point. The Irish think otherwise though. The average Irish student in Limerick goes out Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday night! Yes, that is three schools nights each week. Some people don't even stop there. They go out the other nights of the week as well.

There is no way I can keep up with that, mentally, physically, or financially. Going out here usually doesn't mean just going to a pub either. It means pre-gaming in an apartment until late, usually leaving no earlier than 11, and then going to one of the many dance clubs until the early hours of the morning. Kudos to them for being able to go out until 3am and then get up for a 9am class in the morning (sometimes)! I certainly cannot and probably will not do it.

Thankfully after three exhausting days of class and no nights of going out, I've decided what I'll be taking this semester. I've decided on two mathematics courses: Introduction to Statistics and Abstract Algebra. My other two courses are Gaelic (Irish Language) and Irish Heritage: Art and Architecture. I'm glad to have this part of the semester over with. Now I just need to make it all official.


Aftermath of a party Sunday: A Broken Glass in the Stairwell of Phillip's Apartment. (Its still there, three days later.)

Stamina

I think that one word describes the attitude, personality, and demeanor of the Irish: Stamina. In everything they do, they give it their all and stick with it... and when I say everything and always, I mean it.

For example, just a few days after we arrived, it was evident that although I am a fast walker in the States, I'm actually rather slow in Europe. Phillip and I would walk the streets to not only have peers needing to get around us, but elderly folk as well. Its probably due to the fact that they actually walk a good portion of their time rather than driving from place to place but even still.

Everything seems like a race here.

That was especially evident when we went to Mass yesterday. Never in my life have I been to a Sunday mass that was 30 minutes flat. Fumbling over my words to say the prayers and keep up, it was quite the experience. The whole mass was at full throttle, and only the four Americans seemed to be lagging behind. The mass we went to lacked music and some structure but not humor. I think my favorite quote of the mass was the opening lines of the homily.

"Well that was the good news; now for the bad. There will be a second collection today after the Euchurist."

That is not to say that the Irish lack reverence. They seem to take religion pretty seriously here. We've yet to visit a church, at any time of the day, that did not have a handful of people praying and reflecting within. So its not to say they do it right or wrong over here, its just different.

Stamina in sports and nightlife is a big thing too. We experienced our first Rugby game at a Pub friday evening. This was no run-of-the-mill game, but a big one. Munster was playing in the Championship Series of Rugby and it was the first round. Rubgy is defintely the most intense sport I've ever watched, both in action and with the fans. The game was held in Limerick City's stadium and when it was time for important field kicks, a deafening silence fell across the city and throughout every pub; a kind a seriousness that would never be seen at home.

...and the people at the pubs are just as serious about their drinking and social life. Sure, the stereotype of the Irish is that they drink til they can't walk, but its all too true. Pubs are filled with not only college students, but an older crowd as well. We went to Dolans Saturday evening, and the youth was NOT the majority there. This pub was packed wall-to-wall with people of all ages. It was quite the sight to see.

Beyond the people, even the weather has stamina. Sure, I know that inanimate objects cannot really portray such characteristics, but seriously. We were (luckily) blessed with very beautiful, warm, and abnormal weather for our first few days. Finally when it cooled down, a thick fog lay across the city. This is not Cincinnati River Valley fog though. It began Friday night around 10pm and hung around until Sunday morning, meaning our entire Saturday was filled with wandering through the thick fog, unable to see more than 25 yards ahead of you. It certainly didn't stop us though. Saturday we went to the Milk Market in the morning for our weekly groceries, King James' Castle, The Hunt Museum (of Art), The Limerick Museum, and St. Mary's (Anglican) Cathedral. It was a full day of tourist attractions which ended with a night at the local pub famous for nightly traditional music.

It is interesting that the weather has settled to its norm. Last week was a very abnormal week for myself, and the weather spoke to that. Now that I'm settling in, starting school (although the system is completely different) and getting comfortable with my surroundings, the weather is following suit.

A Growing Love

It is evident after three days in Ireland that the Irish live a very different lifestyle than in the States

I'm not going to lie; the first day here was probably the biggest culture shock I've ever had in my life. Now, granted, I have not been to many places outside of my home country, but still... it was hard.

First of all, Irish people have a very different attitude about things. Sexuality, separations of the sexes, and likewise is not a big issue. Phillip was placed with three female roommates and no one saw the problem whatsoever. Although things have been settled and the situation is fine now, it is still not something that would be encountered at home. Even at state schools there is a separation between the sexes somewhat.

Also, it seems that the Irish are much more friendly and personable people. I don't mean to hate on the Americans, but the Irish are always willing to help out. From our very first day, each Irish person we've encountered has been nice and helpful. The nicest one we've interacted with was Ron, our maintenance man in our apartment complex. He brought us free Ethernet cables, extra light bulbs, and the instructions for living at City Campus, as well of a few tips of his own. Ron was our shining light on our first day (which, by the way, was awful and seemed never-ending).

Have no fear; things have improved dramatically since Monday.

On Monday, I was so overwhelmed and was so unsure of what I've gotten myself in to. My cellphone wasn't working, our Internet wasn't working, and things just seemed to be going wrong all day. All I wanted to do was peacefully move into my apartment, get some fish and chips, and enjoy the Irish way of life.... and that is certainly not what happened.

Today, just a few days later, things have gotten so much better. With a stocked refrigerator of food, beer, and wine, a kitchen that is actually workable with all the utensils, and some familiarity with the city, I'm feeling so much more confident with the rest of my semester here. I've still yet to get roommates, but that is okay with me thus far. I'm still moving into my own room and getting used to the Irish way of things. (Everything has several buttons and switches just to get it running...) Roommates, and friends for that matter, will come with time.

Everyone says the first week is the hardest, and I think that is definitely true. These past few days, even thus far, have certainly had ups and downs each day. Yet, each day also gets a little bit better. Just in these three days, I've begun to feel confident with the city and apartment layout, and I do not feel like a tourist.

I only expect things to improve. Today was a wonderful day of exploration and acclamation into the city. We found our church(which, by the way, is absolutely beautiful), we found our school, and we officially became short term immigrants by registering with the Garda (police). Tomorrow will be a day of running errands and exploring some more and Friday we get to meet the other 28 International Students who are beginning at Mary I this semester. I'm very much looking forward to meeting them and finding people here who can relate to what we're going through.

Things are looking up for us and we are beginning to enjoy each minute of it, although that was not the case originally. Because of our misfortune, as well as negative outlook on Monday, it took until our second day to finally go to the Pub and have our first Guinness here. As everyone says, it is better here than at home. :) We went to Glen's Tavern in the heart of Limerick and paid four euros each for our official welcome to Ireland.

We loved it and we're beginning to love Ireland too.