Well I have a few minutes so I though I'd share whats new in Ireland.
Classes have started. I got into a horse riding class...awesome especially since I have none of my stuff here with me. Hopefully it will get here by next Tuesday...fingers crossed! But thats a fun class, the lecturer is really cool and really nice and incredibly helpful. The facility is really nice! It's huge!!!!!! The horses are amazing too! The down side is that I have to take a "science" horse class too, so the only one that fits into my schedule and doesn't meet on Fridays is a reproduction and mare and stallion management class. I suppose it isn't horrible because I have to take a class like that back in the states, but I really wanted to take an Irish folklore class... bummer. I'm also taking a marketing class which shouldn't be too bad. A class about Irish travellers, which I thought would be like Lois and Clark travellers, but its actually about how some of the Irish used to be more or less nomadic and travelled in caravan type things. Regardless, it sounds like a pretty interesting class, and the teacher is known for "not being a difficult marker" as he said, so if for nothing else, I'll take the class because of that. The final class I'm taking is an Irish language class that I'm totally excited for. I've always wanted to learn the language and now I can!!! So i have that tomorrow.
Mom and dad, I'd just like to let you know how proud you will be at my shopping and budgeting. I bought 1-2 weeks (maybe even 3 weeks for some stuff) worth of groceries for 26 euros! I was excited about it! Food in the stores can be really cheap if you know where to go. We took a walk to Lidl today which took about 20 minutes. That walk is REALLLLYY long on the way back with bags of groceries. But completely worth it since that is the cheapest place we've found so far for food. Can't wait for saturday in city centre and tuesdays on campus when they have a farmers market with lots of fresh produce and baked goods. I'll have to get some stuff since I missed it this week!
I think that's all for now. Tonight we're headed to the Stables for some kareoke and fun times.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Irish School Systems are Funny...
So I'm not sure if I hit this in a previous post, but I just wanted to say how crazy the class selection and registration is here. First, they don't have a list of courses they have to take throughout their four years in college. When the students come in, they choose a major (or a course as they call it here) and their schedules are pretty much set for the four years. Since we're studying abroad, we can choose any classes within the university to take, which is kind of nice. However, none of the classes you really want to take fit together since they wouldn't be in the same "course". For example, my equine classes I want to take clash with the marketing and music classes I want to take. It makes choosing classes very difficult. Also, the registration for classes technically doesn't happen until the 6th of February or something like that. We were told to just pick 6 or 7 classes to go to and see if we liked them and then by the 6th, pick 4-5 that you want to stick with and then the modules will be scheduled. I suppose that is kind of nice as well, but it is very nerve-wracking trying to put together as schedule here, whereas at home all I'd have to do is go online and click the class and it puts it in a schedule for me. I guess it's all part of the experience.
Today was my first day of classes. I went to an marketing and accounting class. I'll probably stick with the marketing and drop the accounting....I don't really like numbers anyway so that works out well. I have a meeting to go to for the equine classes to see which I can actually take and then to try to fit those into a schedule. It is quite a beautiful day out so walking to class was very enjoyable.
Last night was also a good time. We went to a bar/dance club called the Lounge in the next town over. Everybody was saying it was "the place to be" since all the Irish students were finally back and it was the last night before classes began. It was also "Ladies Night" so we got in for free which was cool. So we hung out there and danced and drank and had a merry time.
Well I think that is it for now...I'm going to fiddle with my schedule to see what I can fit in and what has to go.
Today was my first day of classes. I went to an marketing and accounting class. I'll probably stick with the marketing and drop the accounting....I don't really like numbers anyway so that works out well. I have a meeting to go to for the equine classes to see which I can actually take and then to try to fit those into a schedule. It is quite a beautiful day out so walking to class was very enjoyable.
Last night was also a good time. We went to a bar/dance club called the Lounge in the next town over. Everybody was saying it was "the place to be" since all the Irish students were finally back and it was the last night before classes began. It was also "Ladies Night" so we got in for free which was cool. So we hung out there and danced and drank and had a merry time.
Well I think that is it for now...I'm going to fiddle with my schedule to see what I can fit in and what has to go.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
The first few days in a nutshell
So you may be asking yourself what I've done the past couple days. Or you may not be. Regardless, I will tell you.
Orientation in any country suck. Don't tell me how to write and essay or study or whatever...I got it. I've been in school for quite some time now and I think I've got that kind of stuff under my belt. However, I did meet some pretty awesome people. So yay for that. Classes are weird here because instead of registering for classes before school starts, you just pick 6 or 7 and go to them to see if you like them. after about 2 weeks you pick 4 or 5 and then write it on a peice of paper and hand it to registration. It's a little nerveracking for us Americans, but the Irish are crazy laid back (which is awesome) so it cool. After spending like 9 hours in orientation, we spent 4 hours at the Stables (the on campus bar (perhaps America should introduce this idea)). It was great craic (aka fun). Drinks are expensive. There was lots of dancing and socializing and meeting more awesome people.
Day two of orientation was much the same...more meeting people, more bars, more food. We went shopping in town and the city. There are child gangs here that are quite scary and young girls in long skirts that heckle Americans....weird. Riding the bus can be difficult because you can't see out the windows on some, so you totally look like a American, but most Irish are willing to help and don't mind it. They're also very sarcastic, so i like that. Finding a person who has a car has been exceptionally helpful and much appreciated. We piled into a very tiny car and had lots of groceries. Also weird things: packaged pancakes and having to bring your own shopping bags, otherwise you have to pay for them.
Today was our first day to really explore some of Limerick. A few of us went and saw St. John's Castle which was really awesome. Great view of the city and some great history. We also saw the Limerick museum (not too exciting) and St. Mary's cathedral, which we couldn't figure out how to get into but then someone told us how when we got back to campus, so we have to go back there. We then somehow wondered into city centre and did some much needed shopping for hair dryers and more food.
We had a pretty awesome wine and cheese party tonight. 7 people to 6 bottles of wine....note to self 4 euro wine= nasty shit. But it was fun. More girls came over and again, met new people. It's a pretty motivated group of people so we'll be doing lots of traveling together.
I'm totally joining the outdoors pursuits club because you get to go caving and rockclimbing and hill walking (hiking) all throughout Ireland. i sounds pretty sweet.
More stuff I've learned:
1. when guys ask to go have a cup of tea, they don't want tea apparently.
2. when asking for a ride to the store, don't ask f3or a ride ask for a lift, because you're not asking for a ride.
3. lots of people ask you if you want to have some crack. They're actually asking you to have some craic, which means fun.
4. Putting travel hair dryers into a power converter/adapter will indeed make the electrical sockets explode.
5. Fuck can clearly be used in every context
6. the weather here is really crazy....rain, sunny, rain/sunny, coldest in the afternoons and warmest in the morning and night.....its hard to handle...
well my computer is going to die because of that whole explosion thing...so there will be another update real soon because there is soo much more to talk about. This is the abridged version. Hope you enjoyed and check out pictures on facebook (when I put them up of course).
Orientation in any country suck. Don't tell me how to write and essay or study or whatever...I got it. I've been in school for quite some time now and I think I've got that kind of stuff under my belt. However, I did meet some pretty awesome people. So yay for that. Classes are weird here because instead of registering for classes before school starts, you just pick 6 or 7 and go to them to see if you like them. after about 2 weeks you pick 4 or 5 and then write it on a peice of paper and hand it to registration. It's a little nerveracking for us Americans, but the Irish are crazy laid back (which is awesome) so it cool. After spending like 9 hours in orientation, we spent 4 hours at the Stables (the on campus bar (perhaps America should introduce this idea)). It was great craic (aka fun). Drinks are expensive. There was lots of dancing and socializing and meeting more awesome people.
Day two of orientation was much the same...more meeting people, more bars, more food. We went shopping in town and the city. There are child gangs here that are quite scary and young girls in long skirts that heckle Americans....weird. Riding the bus can be difficult because you can't see out the windows on some, so you totally look like a American, but most Irish are willing to help and don't mind it. They're also very sarcastic, so i like that. Finding a person who has a car has been exceptionally helpful and much appreciated. We piled into a very tiny car and had lots of groceries. Also weird things: packaged pancakes and having to bring your own shopping bags, otherwise you have to pay for them.
Today was our first day to really explore some of Limerick. A few of us went and saw St. John's Castle which was really awesome. Great view of the city and some great history. We also saw the Limerick museum (not too exciting) and St. Mary's cathedral, which we couldn't figure out how to get into but then someone told us how when we got back to campus, so we have to go back there. We then somehow wondered into city centre and did some much needed shopping for hair dryers and more food.
We had a pretty awesome wine and cheese party tonight. 7 people to 6 bottles of wine....note to self 4 euro wine= nasty shit. But it was fun. More girls came over and again, met new people. It's a pretty motivated group of people so we'll be doing lots of traveling together.
I'm totally joining the outdoors pursuits club because you get to go caving and rockclimbing and hill walking (hiking) all throughout Ireland. i sounds pretty sweet.
More stuff I've learned:
1. when guys ask to go have a cup of tea, they don't want tea apparently.
2. when asking for a ride to the store, don't ask f3or a ride ask for a lift, because you're not asking for a ride.
3. lots of people ask you if you want to have some crack. They're actually asking you to have some craic, which means fun.
4. Putting travel hair dryers into a power converter/adapter will indeed make the electrical sockets explode.
5. Fuck can clearly be used in every context
6. the weather here is really crazy....rain, sunny, rain/sunny, coldest in the afternoons and warmest in the morning and night.....its hard to handle...
well my computer is going to die because of that whole explosion thing...so there will be another update real soon because there is soo much more to talk about. This is the abridged version. Hope you enjoyed and check out pictures on facebook (when I put them up of course).
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The "Do"s and "Don't"s of packing...
So here is my first blog from University of Limerick. I have learned that I truly suck at packing....of course it would've been nice to know that I could check two suitcases (the airline led me to believe I would have to pay for the second). I have also learned some "do"s and "don't"s for future traveling purposes.
DON'T pack an 80 lb suitcase.
In the event that you do pack an 80 lb suitcase, DO immediately make friends with the people checking your baggage and giving boarding passes. With any luck they are alum from your school, as was the case with me. They will help you take 20 lbs out of your 80 lb suitcase and separate it into another bag so you don't have to pay $100 for overweight luggage. They will also help you smuggle liquids onto the plane (which for your reference will promptly get confiscated at the layover customs and baggage check, but it worked for a while).
DON'T let you parents talk you into taking your silver pumps home. Those shoes ARE completely necessary to have in a foreign country. You never know when you'll need silver pumps.
DO go into gift shops and look for large bags. This will be useful for when you have too many carry on bags packed in an effort to take weight out of the checked overweight luggage.
DO pack a raincoat in your carry-on. It rains a lot in Ireland...and wearing two sweatshirts is not only uncomfortable, but also looks yucky.
At any rate, the flight was an adventure in and of itself, but I got here safely...no bird incidences. The country is just as pretty as I hoped it would be and I can't wait to explore it more. But I'm completely exhausted in every way so this is where I leave you until my next thrilling post!
DON'T pack an 80 lb suitcase.
In the event that you do pack an 80 lb suitcase, DO immediately make friends with the people checking your baggage and giving boarding passes. With any luck they are alum from your school, as was the case with me. They will help you take 20 lbs out of your 80 lb suitcase and separate it into another bag so you don't have to pay $100 for overweight luggage. They will also help you smuggle liquids onto the plane (which for your reference will promptly get confiscated at the layover customs and baggage check, but it worked for a while).
DON'T let you parents talk you into taking your silver pumps home. Those shoes ARE completely necessary to have in a foreign country. You never know when you'll need silver pumps.
DO go into gift shops and look for large bags. This will be useful for when you have too many carry on bags packed in an effort to take weight out of the checked overweight luggage.
DO pack a raincoat in your carry-on. It rains a lot in Ireland...and wearing two sweatshirts is not only uncomfortable, but also looks yucky.
At any rate, the flight was an adventure in and of itself, but I got here safely...no bird incidences. The country is just as pretty as I hoped it would be and I can't wait to explore it more. But I'm completely exhausted in every way so this is where I leave you until my next thrilling post!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Pre- departure
Well, I just set this thing up... Thought this might be a way for any one who is interested in what I'm doing to see how my study abroad adventures are going thus far.
I haven't even left yet and its already been an adventure. My adviser forgot to send us our acceptance letters and pre-departure info, but luckily it has been sent and everything is good to go. I'm trying to get things together now to go and pack...I keep writing lists and the lists keep multiplying and getting longer. I don't know quite how everything is going to fit into my suitcase. I have 10 days until I leave and I haven't bought everything I need let alone even packing.
Well, that's all I've got for now. So far this blog has been terribly exciting I know. Check for the next fun filled blog, probably from Limerick, Ireland.
I haven't even left yet and its already been an adventure. My adviser forgot to send us our acceptance letters and pre-departure info, but luckily it has been sent and everything is good to go. I'm trying to get things together now to go and pack...I keep writing lists and the lists keep multiplying and getting longer. I don't know quite how everything is going to fit into my suitcase. I have 10 days until I leave and I haven't bought everything I need let alone even packing.
Well, that's all I've got for now. So far this blog has been terribly exciting I know. Check for the next fun filled blog, probably from Limerick, Ireland.
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