Irish Dancing and Cathedral Hopping

Saturday we went to a pub that had free Irish dancing lessons.  The food was great.  Potatoes come with every meal here.  I had a vegetable tart and it came with cooked vegetables, including potatoes, and mashed potatoes.  After our hearty lunch we moved to an open room for our dancing lessons.  There was live music and Sue, who is the second greatest Irish dancer in the world, taught us two Irish dances.  She also performed a couple dances herself; it was pretty impressive.  Side note:  At one point during the music, a sheep and a mule came into the pub, it was quite funny.

*Edit Here a few pictures from the Irish dancing: The mule inside the pub and the Irish dancer

Today we went to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral for mass, which in fact is not Catholic.  It is Anglican/Episcopalian, but the mass was still nice.  There was a lot of singing from the ‘Gentlemen’s Choir.’  The cathedral is absolutely beautiful; there are so many exquisite details.  I will go back and take pictures at some point, but I obviously was not going to do so during mass.  We are going to try and check out different churches every week (or frequently at least).

*Edit* Here are a few pictures I took of outside St. Patrick's Cathedral one night 

Tomorrow is our first day of classes (No worries, Mom, I will take a picture).  I have mixed feelings about this because I have not had to attend classes for six weeks!  It will be interesting to see how different their schooling is, and I am looking forward to meeting the girls in our dietetics classes.  I have five and a half classes.  The half is my Microbiology course that is only five weeks long, thankfully.  It’s five or six hours a week, so after that is off my schedule I will have extra time.  

It'll Be Grand

We have moved into our house (it's actually a house not an apartment).  There are four of us living here, Hannah, myself, and two guys that are in grad school at Purdue.  We've gotten a few things set up.  The way they make their beds is a bit different than in the US.  Here a duvet is to cover the large blanket (like a sham for a blanket).  The place is already becoming quite comfy.  I am currently sitting in front of the fire and we now have internet.  I think this is going to work out.

If you are so lovely to want to send me snail mail or a care package, email me & I would gladly give you my address. :)

Hannah and I met a few of our professors and got our schedules set up.  It is going to be a decently full load, but it'll be grand.  This is the philosophy the Irish go by, so we have adopted this as well.  I might have to stay here longer than five months, we'll see.  I have not been here a week yet, and I definitely think that we are getting a hand of things, such as learning the art of jay-walking. Classes start Monday, so this will be the next big adjustment.

Next on my list to do is find a gym.  I will probably check this situation out tomorrow.  I have not worked out (besides walking with pounds of groceries and household items on my back and in my arms) since last Sunday, the day we left the.  There are a couple close by, so we'll see which is the most adequate for me.

Well going out to the pubs of Dublin later, but first I need to cook dinner for the crew.

Pictures to come in the future; they must be taken first.

Find an a Place to Live....CHECK

All I can say right now is, "Thank the Lord!"

Hannah, her dad, and I walked all over South City Dublin, walking easily over 20 miles in the past couple days, which makes me feel better about not working out.  Anyway, we finally found something tonight, after walking in the COLD, WINDY, RAINY weather.  It actually was not even on our lists of viewings, but the landlord for one of our other viewings suggested it.  It is in a great location and great price for a three bedroom house for five months!  We are unsure of the exact living arrangements, but we will figure that out, no worries.  I would say after the work we did, we deserve it.  For some of the places we saw and walked to, let's just say it's sure been one hell of an adventure.

We will be moving in tomorrow morning, which means getting out of this hostel.  (Where we thought we might have to live for the next five months)  I had never stayed in a hostel before, and the first night, let's be honest, I was scared!  I did only have a couple staying with me, the second night two guys, and tonight five Italian girls (including one dietitian!! woohoo!) and someone is sleeping up top...unsure who/what??
So tonight I have actually talked to the girls, they are nice and just in for a weekend out of Italy! (One of the places I'd like to travel to!)

Tonight was also the first night we actually went to a pub. I know, some of you are disappointed.  However, this apartment thing has been stressful.  On the plus side, tonight we got to relax and enjoy a few drinks (Mom, no worries, I am obviously fine and coherent considering I am typing this up).

Well time to get some shut eye before the early morning of a full day.
Cheers

P.S. Really, Only 2 followers?

It's Officially Real

This is real life; I am in Dublin, Ireland.  Luckily, the flight went smoothly and our luggage arrived safely.  However, I do think I brought too much! (but it's just the first day, so we will see.  Maybe it will be a good thing)

I've made it through the day without crashing too badly.  I was pretty tired for a while, but I pulled out of it.  It's crazy that here it's already dark out, 7 o'clock, and at home the afternoon is just beginning.

The city is definitely going to be fun to get to know and explore, which I've already done some of.  I did a lot of walking today....maybe a little bit too much, but we won't go into that adventure.  I don't want to get anyone too worried on the first day.  :)

Tomorrow we are going on a tour that DIT is putting on for us, so I am assuming we will meet some of the other international students.

We are still on the search for an apartment, so be praying we find a safe, cheap one close to our building with two rooms!

It's About That Time

So I have a little over 24 hours before I leave for Ireland!!  It is hard to believe I am finally going, since I have wanted to do this since I was in high school.  This is the first time I have ever blogged, so it might take a while to get used to. I will try to keep everyone updated on my life abroad and my adventures. Most of you probably know I am not the quickest at uploading pictures, but I will try my best, so bare with me!  Feel free to ‘follow me,’ I guess? and comment on my posts. 

If you do not know, we obviously aren’t that good of friends…kidding.  Anyway, I am going to be studying abroad in Dublin, Ireland.  I will be taking classes that all go directly towards my major, except an Irish Cultures Study, which should be pretty interesting.  I am going with another girl, Hannah, who is also in my major at Purdue.  We leave this Sunday and will be back sometime in June! 

We still do not have any housing, which I am actually not too worried about.  I think it will be safer to pick that out once we get there, considering we almost got scammed already.  Once we get there on Monday morning we will be staying in a hostel for a few days, until we find something.  

Well I am not going to bore you with my life in America.  Next time I blog I will be in Dublin!