I'm going to the Aran Islands tomorrow morning, so no updates till Monday. I should have a lot of pictures and stuff then though, so I'll probably do a whole slideshow of it. I won't have cell phone reception till Saturday afternoon probably, so if anyone needs to talk to me, try to do it today, or you'll have to wait a bit. Mainly I got ready for my trip last night, so no big updates. Apparently this is graduation time here though, so there are a lot of students in robes wandering around campus which is somewhat amusing. Also apparently one of the students in the economics class drowned a couple weeks ago, along with another man, while attempting to rescue two other people, who were eventually rescued, it was in the paper on the day he should have graduated. Apparently there was some sort of flooding, and this beach that was normally safe for swimming at got too turbulent. So that is really sad. The other students in his class all wore a white rose in his memory.
That's about all that I have to update on. Except I finally got my student travel card, and know where the student travel office is now, although I don't know if they have any good deals, I'll probably check back after I know my schedule. I've worked out that I only really need to take about four classes while I'm here, but I'm also thinking about joining some clubs, and choir. http://www.ucc.ie/en/CurrentStudents/
ClubsSocietiesandSports/
I want to join the Trampoline club and some other things, there are more, but not all of them are online yet. They also have a club day for all the freshman, and international students, shortly after school starts, so I'll figure that out then.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Mostly Fixed
My blog is centered now, there are still a few quirks, but mainly this is how it's going to look from now on (or at least until I get bored and change it again).
Mostly I'm just going to class and getting ready(doing laundry and stuff) to go to Innisheer on Thursday morning. We had a lecture over merry wakes today which was interesting. I might not have cell phone reception out there, so if anyone needs to call me do it before Thursday or after Saturday please. The early start is winding down, so I'm probably going to be doing essays and picking my other classes in the next couple of weeks. Things should get more interesting around the end of September when the normal term starts, and all the other students come back. But outside of the the field trip to Innisheer I haven't got a lot planned in the next couple of weeks. I will probably go to Blarney and/or Waterford at some point. So I'll try to take some pictures there, and we're making a side trip around this really beautiful part of the coast on the way back this weekend according to my teacher. So hopefully we will have good weather and I'll have some pictures to post when I get back.
Mostly I'm just going to class and getting ready(doing laundry and stuff) to go to Innisheer on Thursday morning. We had a lecture over merry wakes today which was interesting. I might not have cell phone reception out there, so if anyone needs to call me do it before Thursday or after Saturday please. The early start is winding down, so I'm probably going to be doing essays and picking my other classes in the next couple of weeks. Things should get more interesting around the end of September when the normal term starts, and all the other students come back. But outside of the the field trip to Innisheer I haven't got a lot planned in the next couple of weeks. I will probably go to Blarney and/or Waterford at some point. So I'll try to take some pictures there, and we're making a side trip around this really beautiful part of the coast on the way back this weekend according to my teacher. So hopefully we will have good weather and I'll have some pictures to post when I get back.
Monday, September 11, 2006
More pictures
I'm posting the Cork pictures I've taken so far today (hopefully) as a separate slideshow. I've also got some pictures of Bunratty (not sure I'm spelling that right if not I'll change it later) We went to the castle and folk park there in class this weekend. It was really interesting. Basically we showed up at the Western Star Pub on Saturday morning to meet our bus, then rode for about 2-3 hours to Limerick. Then we stayed at the University housing there, so we stopped by and dropped off our stuff. By the way the dorms/apartments here are so much better than the ones at home. Then we stopped for lunch and went to the castle. We did a group tour of the castle which I've got some pictures of , and then we went off in groups for the afternoon. My dreams of living in a castle are pretty much wrecked however, given my hatred of the staris there. It was designed as a defensive castle so the stairs are really narrow, so only one person can go up them at a time, and the steps were designed to be uneven so that invaders would fall down. Also they are rather drafty and damp. Going up in the towers was fun though. You could see the ocean and everything from up there.
After that we looked around the folk village and went to the coffee shop. We had about two hours after the town closed before dinner, so me and some other girls went down to this pub and sat around for a while. There was some sort of party with abunch of guys and a buffet going on, which the guys invited us to have some food, but we waited for the dinner we were going to.
Dinner was interesting there were a lot of groups of older people who had apparently been at another pub drinking before hand.
We got mead at the entrance, which is ok, although not my favroite drink.
Then we did a 4 course dinner which was nice, and they even did vegetarian meals which was good since there are 8 other vegetarians in my class.
We were all pretty tired afterwards, so we went back to the college to sleep.
We got up the next morning and went to Adair were we had preakfast and did some shopping. And then we went back to Cork.
I spent the afternoon watching a Firfly marathon with some other girls from my class whose friend had brought the series and movie. We also went to the Caeligh on Sunday(also not sure about spelling). There was dancing and people selling things, so it was kind of like a carnival.
Altogether it was a pretty exciting weekend. And hopefully I'll have as much fun at Innisheer this weekend.
After that we looked around the folk village and went to the coffee shop. We had about two hours after the town closed before dinner, so me and some other girls went down to this pub and sat around for a while. There was some sort of party with abunch of guys and a buffet going on, which the guys invited us to have some food, but we waited for the dinner we were going to.
Dinner was interesting there were a lot of groups of older people who had apparently been at another pub drinking before hand.
We got mead at the entrance, which is ok, although not my favroite drink.
Then we did a 4 course dinner which was nice, and they even did vegetarian meals which was good since there are 8 other vegetarians in my class.
We were all pretty tired afterwards, so we went back to the college to sleep.
We got up the next morning and went to Adair were we had preakfast and did some shopping. And then we went back to Cork.
I spent the afternoon watching a Firfly marathon with some other girls from my class whose friend had brought the series and movie. We also went to the Caeligh on Sunday(also not sure about spelling). There was dancing and people selling things, so it was kind of like a carnival.
Altogether it was a pretty exciting weekend. And hopefully I'll have as much fun at Innisheer this weekend.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Good job on the comments people
I can moderate them now, which means the ones I've got since them aren't published till I say they can be, so no more publishing that people don't want, just let me know if it's ok to publish yours in the text somewhere.
Apparently some people didn't realize, but there are captions on the pictures that you can read if you click on the slide show to activate them. Apparently my school email address has something called centipaid on it which means I can charge people to send me email. (it's supposed to prevent spam, and not be very large amounts, but seriously if you got a lot of emails, that would be a good way to make some extra cash)
I'm going on a field trip tomorrow and Saturday, so don't expect an update till Monday, I will be taking my cell phone though. a I should get some good pictures as I'm going to a folk park and a castle.
I'll post the pictures of Cork I promised when I get back as well, since I didnt bring the right things to the computer lab today.
Apparently some people didn't realize, but there are captions on the pictures that you can read if you click on the slide show to activate them. Apparently my school email address has something called centipaid on it which means I can charge people to send me email. (it's supposed to prevent spam, and not be very large amounts, but seriously if you got a lot of emails, that would be a good way to make some extra cash)
I'm going on a field trip tomorrow and Saturday, so don't expect an update till Monday, I will be taking my cell phone though. a I should get some good pictures as I'm going to a folk park and a castle.
I'll post the pictures of Cork I promised when I get back as well, since I didnt bring the right things to the computer lab today.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
It's sunny today:)
So you guys might get some pictures of Cork tomorrow if you are very nice and actually comment (or email that would work too). I'm considering doing a trade off of a picture for every email and comment I get since except for Grandma no one feels the need to leave comments. (I do realize there was a slight problem with the comment system for a day, but lets try to be a little more chatty people). Anyways yesterday I fell in love with the Penneys store here. Shopping is fun, and they have really cute stuff for not a lot of Euro which was nice for a change. I also like Waterstones the main bookstore here since they give a student discount on top of their other discounts (although it's not like I can buy a lot of books, cause it would be expensive to get them all home). Anyways, I got a couple of shirts and a little sleeping bag since we apparently need them for the hostels we're staying at on our field trips. Apparently there are like 8 other vegetarians in my class of 48 students so this will be fun. I'm going to go out and take pictures now. Leave comments.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Hi everybody
OK, I should have wifi at school on my laptop soon, and then maybe I'll try my Ipaq and update more frequently. I haven't done anything really exciting in the last day, just class and grocery shopping. Cork is kind of a college town, and most of the students don't come back till the end of September, so it should get more exciting then. I did have a band coming down the road I was trying to walk up with all my groceries last night, which would have been more fun if I hadn't been trying to walk uphill with a bag full of groceries and a backpack. Still haven't taken any more pictures as it is still kind of gray and drizzly. But the captions on the ones from Kinsale should take a while to get through. Tomorrow we're learning about fairies in folklore, so that will be fun. I'm going to type up my notes for class to study with later, so if anyone wants them e-mail and I'll send them to you.(although it is still a class so despite the fairy tales it's educational.)Hopefully something exciting will happen this afternoon and I'll have more to write tomorrow.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Shorter recap: Weekend
OK, apparently I had Friday off, which I didn't realize till Thursday Afternoon. I totally could have gone to France or something, but it seemed a bit late to start planning somehting big, so I didn't. I went shopping and hung out with some friends in Cork on Friday (plus I went to the English market where the best bread and apple tarts in the world (or at least Cork) are). Then we went to Waxy's which is a bar not a pub, although I forget why. Anyways we went home fairly early since the next day me and some other guys went to Kinsale to sea the coast, which is mostly what I've got pictures of right now. It was ridiculously warm, until we got back to Cork and then it started raining. Everyone else got fish and chip, I just got chips. It was fun, and we went to a museum and a castle/hugest wine cellar in the world. We pretty much just walked all over town.
The next day I was kind of tired, so I just did laundry and slept in and watched TV, the channels here are still kind of weird to me (aside to Amanda: they have Grey's Anatomy here, but it's on season 2(they call it series 2) so if I were a meaner person I could totally spoil it for them).
I figured that I needed to do my laundry then anyway since this week my class is going to Bantry castle, and the next week we're going to Innisheer the smallest of the Aran islands, where my class will double the population, yay. I'm still having problems with the school computer stuff, as I can't get my laptop on the wifi, and their computers are more limited, so until I can figure it out I might not be able to do some of the stuff with the blog that I wanted to. (Aside to dad: I can't figure out how to get the text part of the blog centered, it won't do it in dreamweaver either, so if you can think of anyway to do that I would appreciate it.)
I'll try to take some pictures today of Cork, but it's kind of drizzly out, so I may wait for better weather/lighting.
The next day I was kind of tired, so I just did laundry and slept in and watched TV, the channels here are still kind of weird to me (aside to Amanda: they have Grey's Anatomy here, but it's on season 2(they call it series 2) so if I were a meaner person I could totally spoil it for them).
I figured that I needed to do my laundry then anyway since this week my class is going to Bantry castle, and the next week we're going to Innisheer the smallest of the Aran islands, where my class will double the population, yay. I'm still having problems with the school computer stuff, as I can't get my laptop on the wifi, and their computers are more limited, so until I can figure it out I might not be able to do some of the stuff with the blog that I wanted to. (Aside to dad: I can't figure out how to get the text part of the blog centered, it won't do it in dreamweaver either, so if you can think of anyway to do that I would appreciate it.)
I'll try to take some pictures today of Cork, but it's kind of drizzly out, so I may wait for better weather/lighting.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Recap
Basically I’ve been to busy to set up my blog, and besides didn’t really have the time, energy, and internet access, but as I have some of those now, I’m going to recap the reasons why I didn’t have the above.
Wed. the 23rd-
Thursday the 24th:
I got up went to the KC airport, moved my luggage around some since I could only have 50 pounds per bag and my carry on could only be 13 pounds since they were checking it all the way thru. Finally checked in and got through security, then spent a lovely hour watching nuns with a dog, and trying to figure out what my mom was signing since she has yet to learn even finger spelling (I’m just saying, that it’s something to consider learning while I’m gone then next time your trying to talk to me through a sound proof barrier I might understand what you want). The plane was on time which was a relief since that meant I got to Chicago O’hare in time to check in. Plus I got to take this cool tram thing to the terminal where all the international flights arrive and depart.
In Chicago there was no one at the Aer Lingus counter, and I ended up in the exit line which I though was the line for people with no luggage to check, but in the end I got checked in and back through security. The duty free shops were disappointing, since everything cost a ton, so I waited at the gate. The plane arrived on time, and we got to board, and then we sat on the tarmac for a couple hours which was something to do with the wind, so by the time we took off it was dark. That was OK though, cause I got to see Chicago all lit up at night when we took off and that was pretty cool.
Then I watched part of Dr. Doolittle 3 (without headphones) and had dinner which was a pretty decent tofu thing, although they gave me melon for dessert while everybody else got cheesecake. I mean there could have been cookies or something.
After that I went to sleep which was difficult, since it was so cramped. I woke up when they were doing the breakfast service, and the lady sitting next to me said that someone had passed out in the aisle and apparently had seizures and had to have oxygen while we were over the ocean, but I missed that. She said she thought they were alright, and we didn’t stop before we got to Dublin, so I guess they probably were.
Then we got to Dublin Airport. We went through the line to get passports stamped. And then down to collect luggage. After that was customs, I went through the nothing to declare line and they just waved everybody through, so that was nice.
After that kind of sucked though, I got probably the worst conversion rate ever, and then I could not figure out which bus to take. I asked like 8 people who worked there and they all said different things. I finally figured out I needed to take one into the city so I did that. I got off at Trinity College (were the Book of Kells is) and spent a lovely hour and a half wishing I could go in, but as I had a hundred and twenty pounds of luggage and there were cobblestones I decided that would probably not be the best time.
I found out that I should have been across the street, and missed the second bus. I finally caught the 3 PM one and spent a lovely 4 hours eating the Cadbury bars I got at the airport and gas station we stopped at and sleeping. When we got to Cork I tracked down a cab, went to my B&B, took a shower and went to bed. Yes, I know what you’re thinking, my first day in Ireland was very exciting, how can I stand the thrills?
Friday the 25th:
I got to get up at 8 AM just what I wanted to do, and track down UCC. Luckily it wasn’t that far from where I was staying. Orientation was okay, it was kind of long, and I’m not sure how much I remember with the jet lag and all, but I made some friends, and after it was over we went grocery shopping and I went and saw the apartments they’re staying in. We watched some Soccer which was cool and I got another nap in, as well as having Nutella, possibly the best sandwich ingredient ever. I went back to my B&B after that although we got a bit lost, and I was still kind of messed up time wise.
Saturday the 26th:
I got to wake up early and change B&B’s fun. Then I went out and tracked down the cell phone store. I got my phone and was trying for the rest of the stuff I needed (like a map) when I got lost again and was to exhausted to keep going, so I took a cab back to the B&B and took a nap, got my cell phone stuff set up, and read a bit. Then I went back to bed.
Sunday the 27th:
Moved into my actual house for the semester, got all organized, watched tv with my landlady’s 11 year old niece who’s visiting. Actually she was asleep for the most part, as she had stayed up till something like 4 am the day before at a wedding. Did a walk through the city, so I know where I am more now.
Monday the 28th:
First day of class, went grocery shopping, then just kind of collapsed for another nap, relaxed all evening.
Tuesday the 29th:
Class, got adapter for my computer, managed not to get lost. Went home to have dinner and change, then went on to a pub with some of the other international students (it was school sponsored, and no I didn’t stay out too late mom I was home before 12:30).
Wednesday the 30th:
Class in the morning, had coffee with some friends and hung out in the computer lab for a while. Went to the International student meeting about choosing modules with some of the other girls from the folklore early start. Had a late lunch with some people in the sandwich shop. Then went down to Dunnes Store and got laundry detergent (these cool little gel tablets) and a towel. Then I went to Argos (it’s a really neat store, you look at catalogues, enter the numbers in a machine to see if it’s in stock, then take the number to the register and they bring whatever it is to you.) and found an alarm clock, hair straightner and curling iron that weren’t too expensive. Then I went home since it was raining and I didn’t feel like walking around with an umbrella and all the other stuff I was carrying.
And that’s my first exciting week in Cork. Except for the parts were I was exhausted it’s been pretty fun. Plus it’s really beautiful here. I’ll take some pictures and post them as soon as I can, I’ve just been kind of photo apathetic for a bit, but there are some really cool things to look at and do here, I’ll probably post some over the weekend at the very latest (actually I’ll take them on the weekend, but posting might have to wait till Monday when the school’s computer labs are open unless I find somewhere close by that has cheap or free internet)
Wed. the 23rd-
Thursday the 24th:
I got up went to the KC airport, moved my luggage around some since I could only have 50 pounds per bag and my carry on could only be 13 pounds since they were checking it all the way thru. Finally checked in and got through security, then spent a lovely hour watching nuns with a dog, and trying to figure out what my mom was signing since she has yet to learn even finger spelling (I’m just saying, that it’s something to consider learning while I’m gone then next time your trying to talk to me through a sound proof barrier I might understand what you want). The plane was on time which was a relief since that meant I got to Chicago O’hare in time to check in. Plus I got to take this cool tram thing to the terminal where all the international flights arrive and depart.
In Chicago there was no one at the Aer Lingus counter, and I ended up in the exit line which I though was the line for people with no luggage to check, but in the end I got checked in and back through security. The duty free shops were disappointing, since everything cost a ton, so I waited at the gate. The plane arrived on time, and we got to board, and then we sat on the tarmac for a couple hours which was something to do with the wind, so by the time we took off it was dark. That was OK though, cause I got to see Chicago all lit up at night when we took off and that was pretty cool.
Then I watched part of Dr. Doolittle 3 (without headphones) and had dinner which was a pretty decent tofu thing, although they gave me melon for dessert while everybody else got cheesecake. I mean there could have been cookies or something.
After that I went to sleep which was difficult, since it was so cramped. I woke up when they were doing the breakfast service, and the lady sitting next to me said that someone had passed out in the aisle and apparently had seizures and had to have oxygen while we were over the ocean, but I missed that. She said she thought they were alright, and we didn’t stop before we got to Dublin, so I guess they probably were.
Then we got to Dublin Airport. We went through the line to get passports stamped. And then down to collect luggage. After that was customs, I went through the nothing to declare line and they just waved everybody through, so that was nice.
After that kind of sucked though, I got probably the worst conversion rate ever, and then I could not figure out which bus to take. I asked like 8 people who worked there and they all said different things. I finally figured out I needed to take one into the city so I did that. I got off at Trinity College (were the Book of Kells is) and spent a lovely hour and a half wishing I could go in, but as I had a hundred and twenty pounds of luggage and there were cobblestones I decided that would probably not be the best time.
I found out that I should have been across the street, and missed the second bus. I finally caught the 3 PM one and spent a lovely 4 hours eating the Cadbury bars I got at the airport and gas station we stopped at and sleeping. When we got to Cork I tracked down a cab, went to my B&B, took a shower and went to bed. Yes, I know what you’re thinking, my first day in Ireland was very exciting, how can I stand the thrills?
Friday the 25th:
I got to get up at 8 AM just what I wanted to do, and track down UCC. Luckily it wasn’t that far from where I was staying. Orientation was okay, it was kind of long, and I’m not sure how much I remember with the jet lag and all, but I made some friends, and after it was over we went grocery shopping and I went and saw the apartments they’re staying in. We watched some Soccer which was cool and I got another nap in, as well as having Nutella, possibly the best sandwich ingredient ever. I went back to my B&B after that although we got a bit lost, and I was still kind of messed up time wise.
Saturday the 26th:
I got to wake up early and change B&B’s fun. Then I went out and tracked down the cell phone store. I got my phone and was trying for the rest of the stuff I needed (like a map) when I got lost again and was to exhausted to keep going, so I took a cab back to the B&B and took a nap, got my cell phone stuff set up, and read a bit. Then I went back to bed.
Sunday the 27th:
Moved into my actual house for the semester, got all organized, watched tv with my landlady’s 11 year old niece who’s visiting. Actually she was asleep for the most part, as she had stayed up till something like 4 am the day before at a wedding. Did a walk through the city, so I know where I am more now.
Monday the 28th:
First day of class, went grocery shopping, then just kind of collapsed for another nap, relaxed all evening.
Tuesday the 29th:
Class, got adapter for my computer, managed not to get lost. Went home to have dinner and change, then went on to a pub with some of the other international students (it was school sponsored, and no I didn’t stay out too late mom I was home before 12:30).
Wednesday the 30th:
Class in the morning, had coffee with some friends and hung out in the computer lab for a while. Went to the International student meeting about choosing modules with some of the other girls from the folklore early start. Had a late lunch with some people in the sandwich shop. Then went down to Dunnes Store and got laundry detergent (these cool little gel tablets) and a towel. Then I went to Argos (it’s a really neat store, you look at catalogues, enter the numbers in a machine to see if it’s in stock, then take the number to the register and they bring whatever it is to you.) and found an alarm clock, hair straightner and curling iron that weren’t too expensive. Then I went home since it was raining and I didn’t feel like walking around with an umbrella and all the other stuff I was carrying.
And that’s my first exciting week in Cork. Except for the parts were I was exhausted it’s been pretty fun. Plus it’s really beautiful here. I’ll take some pictures and post them as soon as I can, I’ve just been kind of photo apathetic for a bit, but there are some really cool things to look at and do here, I’ll probably post some over the weekend at the very latest (actually I’ll take them on the weekend, but posting might have to wait till Monday when the school’s computer labs are open unless I find somewhere close by that has cheap or free internet)
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