Crazy Irish Nights

Hello everyone!

I don't know what it is, if it's the fact I still haven't adjusted to being 6 hours ahead, but let me tell you, time seems to FLY here, no matter what you are doing. This has been the fastest week of my life.

Well, to finish off last week, I had orientation on Thursday and Friday. On Thursday we got our student ID cards (my picture is ok...my hair is very windblown, but it could have definitely looked worse) My campus tour guide was named Dermot Donnelly. He was really funny and entertaining. he tried to teach us an Irish accent. An easy way to sound a little Irish I've realized is to take the "h" out of "th" words. like "three" is pronounced "tree." Dermot told us "Tree trees is a small forest." :) We were also warned that the Irish love to swear in normal conversation (which is not all that different from the U.S. but here I think it's a little worse) and that they are not sensitive about the use of the "C" word. Then Thursday night we went to The Stables again, the on campus pub we went to on the first night. The International Society was hosting a "Fast Friends" event, which is like speed dating, only just to meet people. I met an American, a French Girl, an Italian boy, a Spanish girl, a couple of Germans, and Louise a girl from Limerick. Louise and I actually met at the bar before the event began when we were buying drinks. She asked me if i was a "mover" or, a "Shaker" but she meant "sitter." We became FB friends and are going to try to make plans to hang out sometime. She reminds me of my friend Sadie in a way. We had 4 minutes to talk to each person. It got really hard though, because the place was packed and i could hardly hear some of the people. I think the French girl started to get annoyed not being able to hear, and then there was an awkward silence. Then after that, I went back to my house, and then my housemate Kathleen from my school came back with some other EC girls and they had free passes to a nightclub so I decided to go out with them. Every night I had been tellling myself I was going to get a good night's sleep, but that didn't happen. Most nights this past week I got to bed between 1 and 3. Anyway, Trinity (the club) was crazy! A guy that Kathleen has gotten to know bought us each a shot, and then we danced but the music was sooooo loud. Oh, and let me tell you...the girls in Ireland dress, let's say, very provocatively when they go out. I probably only stayed at Trinity for a half hour, because 2 other girls decided they wanted to leave so I took a cab with them. My ears were still ringing when I got back to my room.

Friday we had more orientation, but it was pretty boring and monotonous. Then I walked around with Katie, Amanda from Platteville, and Liz from Stevens point and took pictures of the campus. We talked to an old Irish man walking his dog. I love the old Irish men lol they're so interesting and funny. Friday night, my first roommate was there. His name is Val. He is 18 and Irish. He's really nice and funny. We watched the 40 Year old Virgin and actually talked quite a bit. I ended up not getting to bed till like 2 or something.

Saturday, we had a bus tour of the city of Limerick. We saw King John's castle. It was super foggy Saturday. We also went outside of Limerick a little bit and saw Adare Village, a little touristy town. We got lunch at a pub/restaurant. I got the biggest bowl of stew ever. I didnt have time to eat much because we had to get back to the bus but I got a "take away" container and finished it for dinner. When I got back Val was making pasta, and he offered me some and we sat and watched a soap opera called Holly Oaks. Saturday night I drank with some EC people at my house and Val. They went out, but I stayed behind that time. I don't want to be spending so much money on taxis and going out...but I still did quite a bit I suppose this week.

Yesterday I did a bit more shopping with Katie and Amanda...got a nice puffy vest for 7 euro at penney's and some leggings for my dress. we explored the city a little more...got a little lost but saw a beautiful old church. Then I came back, laid in my bed for a bit, talked to Val, and went to dinner at Katie's because she cooked a delicious chicken stew. Then we were going to the Lodge, a nightclub within walking distance. We went over to House 3 where Kaitlyn and Colleen live, but got busted because guests have to be out by 11. We found out the Lodge was full, so we tried going to a club called Molly's. Took a cab all the way down there, but Molly's was full, so we just gave up and went back to Plassey. I hung out at Katie's with her housemates, Erin, a girl from South Dakota, Amanda, and Jessica, an Irish girl from Cork. Jessica and I left at the same time, and on our way out saw a guy getting arrested by the garda. When I got back to my house, met my other housemate, Leona, talked with Sean and Val for a few minutes, and then went to bed.

Today was the first day of classes. We get to try out classes for 2 weeks like I said. I just had the sociology class that I want to take at 4 PM. Here, 10 AM classes are just as bad as 8 and 9 AM classes at UWEC. I really enjoy the Irish's laidback style :) Tonight I am kind of just hiding out in my room because I am so tired I think I am trying to avoid social interaction so I don't get invited out or something. Not that I think I am soooo popular lol, but you never know. I might go to Katie's though to talk about our Paris trip we are going to take over Spring Break. :) Later everybody!