catching my breath

"Steady as a clock, busy as a bee, and cheerful as a cricket."

  -Martha Washington

Classes started last Monday. Needless to say, I've been a very busy bee. Club sign-ups, immigration appointments, homework, and meetings have all started up. Theresa and I also got sick this week but I am still so happy to be back in the swing of things.

I thought that studying in an English speaking country, I wouldn't have any problems in class. I was so wrong. They speak super fast and even the professors use a lot of slang. I find myself staring at my professor like an idiot because I can't seem to take notes and listen at the same time. It's really annoying not being able to do things the same but I think it will get better with time:)
As a study abroad student, I have the opportunity to change my schedule up until week three, but so far, I am really happy with my classes and the teachers. I'm taking Sociology, Business Management, Marketing, and I'm especially looking forward to my Irish Language class and Traditional Irish Music and Dance class. The language class is going to be a lot of work, but when in Rome....right?

The Irish students usually go home on the weekends, so the girls and I had the opportunity to relax in a quiet house and to clean it up!! I live in a house on campus with 5 other people: Maci, Maille, Dennis, Ashling, and Paul. The last three are Irish students. They're a lot of fun but they tend to be messy and loud so the rest of us girls are grateful for the weekends to catch our breath.

1 week down, 12 more until final exams!

more walking.

warning: this post is very long.

On Saturday, all the study abroad students hopped on one of three buses that took us to the City Centre. We had to get things like sheets and towels and were encouraged to check out the milk market, which is very similar to a farmer's market. Upon arrival, everyone got out of the bus and just kind of stood there, looking around. Eventually the Irish student leader took pity on us and led us to the part of the city where we could find what we needed. 

A very happy Theresa after getting a SIM card for her phone.

At Vodafone, the place where Theresa got her SIM card, we also learned that an 8g iPhone 4 costs the equivalent of about $850. Crazy, right??

 

 A view of our walk to the milk market.

 

We passed this pub on the way and I thought my parents would like the doors...

At the milk market, it was really difficult to take pictures because it was so crowded. I did manage to get a picture of one of the cheese stands:

 wheels of cheese!! :)

just outside of the market, where things are much calmer!

We left with a couple of croissants and some strawberries to share.

YUM!

As we were sitting on the wall, enjoying our lunch, we noticed something a little out of the ordinary. Whether or not it's out of the ordinary here, I couldn't tell you but we thought it was hilarious.

 

Below, you will find pictures of a guy kicking a full keg down the street. (He did it twice!)

 

 

Don't worry, I definitely did not chase this guy down the street like a crazy person trying to take his picture...

Not too long afterwards, a socialist group came over and set up shop right behind us. And a few minutes later, the place started to fill up with cross-dressers and rainbow flags. Apparently, there was a gay rights parade about to happen. It blocked our buses in so we couldn't leave when we were supposed to. 

 

 

With all of our extra time, Theresa and I decided to walk around medieval Limerick. We found all kinds of cool things and of course, took lots of pictures.

 

 Horses outside the Hunt Museum

 The Garda (Po-Po)

 um yea... I don't know either...

 just a reminder

 oh hey, Tees

 so. pretty.

 just the Shannon River...

 c'mon flag, wave! no? okay.

 St. Mary's Cathedral

 that's a wall.

 hey uh, I don't know who you are, but you might want to get those cobwebs off your face...

 fancy.

I guess this place is cool...

 

 

 whoa!

okay, okay! enough with the pictures already!

big red

On Friday, the International Education Department arranged for us to take a tour of Limerick City on a big, red, double-decker bus. I thought those were only in London, but I was wrong. I didn't make it early enough to get to sit on the top, but I didn't mind. I don't have too much to say but I've got some pictures to share!

The People's Park

It used to be a private park, only used by the people in the nearby neighborhoods but it was sold to the government with the stipulation that a certain amount of money was to be spent on it each year to maintain it.

 Georgian-style House

 A rather gloomy view of the River Shannon

 The Treaty Stone

 King John's Castle on the River Shannon 

(don't mind the camera flash)

 A view of Modern Limerick 

(as opposed to medieval Limerick, which is on the other side of the bridge)

 This one's for you, Daddy!

So pretty!!

arachnophobia

The only thing worse than having a spider in your room is losing a spider in your room.

That is no joke! I woke up Friday morning and reached down to get my toothbrush from under the sink. I guess a new roommate had moved in while I was sleeping. I don't know his name but this is his picture: 

I HATE SPIDERS!

Usually when I see one of these guys, I run for the hills calling for my dad or my brother to save me as I go. I was all alone this time and not about to let him find his way into my bed so I found a shoe. As slowly and as carefully as I could I took everything out from under the sink so I could properly squash him and not lose him. He was huge though and I was scared. I cried like a baby as he scurried around while I tried to hit him with my shoe. Eventually, I had success.

Kealy: 1   Scary Spider: 0

This ain't no David and Goliath story:)

what's next?

"You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore."

-unknown

Last Thursday was orientation and I was so ready to get started! At 10am(which, apparently, is early here...) We made our way down to the concert hall and waited to be checked in. There was a dinosaur in the room, by the way. See picture below.

If you didn't figure it out, I'm referring to the computer ;)

About an hour later, I was seated among 200 other study abroad and Erasmus (non- English speaking) students and Emmeline Searson began her speech. She talked about culture shock and I dozed. She talked about the weather and I dozed. She talked about classes and I dozed. It was not an exciting speech... Then music and dance instructors came to show us what their classes were about and encourage us to take part in them. Language professors, literature professors, and history professors all came and talked about how wonderful their classes were. Then, we finally got a coffee break and came back to the exciting stuff.
The Students' Union President came to talk to us about who they are and what they do. His name was Paddy Rocket, no joke. He told us about Freshers' week, which is like a freshman (or first-year, here) welcome week where they throw all kinds of parties, dances, and concerts. After a couple more club presentations, we were split into small groups and given a tour of campus and then lunch. Lunch was supposed to be at 2; we didn't eat until 4:15. These people don't stick to schedules very well! We learned a whole lot about how to use the library and the printers and where important offices were located. We also got our University of Limerick student ID cards: another amazing picture...not. Theresa and I later talked to a guy from Sweden who has gone to school here for the past couple of years and we learned that you cannot find Irish Spring soap or Lucky Charms anywhere in this country, a little ironic.

american food?

 Apparently, this is a taste of the USA. It just tasted like cranberry juice to me so I guess they were pretty spot on...

 

 The peanut butter on the other hand is not the "American Way".  It's oily and tastes kind of burnt, but it's growing on me:)

The water tastes funny too but I'm also getting used to it.  

There aren't dining halls here so we have to feed ourselves. Theresa and I have been cooking every night, and figured that we're only spending about 60 cents on dinner. Mom, you should be proud!

hello, Ireland:)

"It's a magical world, Hobbes, ol' buddy... let's go exploring!"
-Bill Watterson

At the airport in Shannon, we waited in line at immigration for almost 2 hours before making it to the counter where they asked us all kinds of questions. When we were through, UL students met us and took us back to campus. We were left to register for a house and move in on our own. The only hard part was carrying all of my luggage to the house and up the stairs. Actually, now that I think about it, I had quite a bit of trouble undoing the lock on the front door. I mean like 10 minutes trying to get it to turn while people walking down the street stared at me and asked if I was okay.... a little embarrassing!

After some unpacking we set out to find the grocery store. It's real close they said, just a ten minute walk down the road. After two hours of walking around, we recognized defeat and settled for a meal on campus.

I also ordered my own beer!

 Not to worry, we found the grocery store today, it really is only 10 minutes away. Go figure.

ready or not, here we come!

After a family breakfast at IHOP, we hopped on over to the airport.

My brother and I in the parking garage with all of my luggage.

Theresa and I post- check-in and pre-take-off. (notice: significantly smaller amount of luggage!)

about eleven hours later....

WE WANT OFF THIS PLANE!!

It didn't turn out how we had planned. We were supposed to sit by ourselves and ended up with a stranger in the window seat. There was a bird of some sort flying around the cabin. I guess a stowaway from San Fransisco. They guided it into one of the bathrooms and called the animal quarantine in the UK to come get it when we landed! 

and closer...

Mom picked up my monopoly money for me!

 After days of packing and last minute runs to the store, it was off to San Francisco on Sunday morning!

We got there early and watched Mac play a water polo game in Berkeley and then headed to the hotel. A beautiful view of the San Francisco Bay from our room:)

Flight leaves in the morning!