It's one of those "man the weather sure is affecting my mood" sort of weeks.
Studying is one of those slowly but surely ordeals right now.
I've figured out a trip to Northern Ireland. Go to Belfast for two days with roomie, one of those days go on a tour to Giants Causeway (real intent behind this whole trip) and Carrik-a-rede roap bridge and Derry. Planning on doing this the Monday after Saturday that I return from France. This will give me two days to pack and say goodbye to Galway before heading to Dublin.
Galway, I'd be much less sad to leave thee come Wednesday if you would brighten up a bit. Gah, living on the fourth floor you just hear the roar of the wind and see the whiteout sky. I want to see some blue and sun por favor.
Interesting side note: not once in Ireland have I heard thunder or seen lightning. It makes me wonder why. I'd have choice seats being this high up for a good light show if we were to ever get lightning. However, today I did get a lovely view of a rainbow, barely discernible through the whiteout, but I saw it! : )
If when I return home it's raining, which it had better not, it should at least be a good thunder and lightning summer storm.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Since I've been back in Ireland...
... I really haven't been up to much.
When I first got back I had to write two ten-page papers in three days, so that first weekend back was loads of fun. I did manage to get my paper for Cooperation and Conflict in the Management of Natural Resources done. I wrote about Wolf Management in Alaska; quite an interesting study. It was my paper for Social Stratification and Inequality that was more difficult. Originally I was going to write a critical analysis on a book about the caste system which was recommended to me by my professor and that I read before leaving for Spain. Problem: when I returned home I couldn't find any critical reception on this book. Last minute I changed the topic to looking at how social class influences the rate of eating disorders among women. I didn't finish it by Monday, the original due date, but when I found out it'd be ok to turn it in late I took my time (whoops) and turned it in on Friday. Monday night I studied for an exam the next day, yeah, like I said it was a crazy first few days, but it wound up ok b/c i think I did well on that Developmental Geography exam. Celebrated at Monroe's afterwards with some lovely traditional dancing. I even got Irene and her friend Betti to come and Betti and I wound up dancing that night!
The rest of that week was mostly spent on writing that damn paper on eating disorders and social class. Findings being inconclusive: some people say that social class did have a direct link, meaning it is more likely that higher social classes will exhibit eating disorders than lower classes, but others say race has more to deal with it and then others say other factors... kind of a weak argument but an interesting study.
Last week was sort of dull and sad. Last week I did a whole lot of NOTHING. Quite boring. I've managed to watch tons of NCIS online though; I love that show. I did catch some good weather and went on three walks to Salthill, a walk along the bay about a nine mile loop from my apartment there and back. Loved it!
I had several farewell events last week. On Tuesday I said goodbye to a bunch of girls at Monroe's, Wednesday I said goodbye to Chelsea C, Thursday I said goodbye to my friend Meghan, Friday was my last hangout night with Mandy in Ireland. I'm so glad Mandy goes to Truman b/c I would have been MUCH more upset had that been the last time for good. We had so much fun that night, I wish I had gone out with them all a lot more this semester but it was great craic all the same. Haha, I wound up sleeping over at her apartment, as did the other girls (well one was her roommate) but I'm the only one not from that residence complex and so we had to hop the fence in order to get in; really glad I did that sober b/c most of them didn't. Saturday I went with one of Mandy's good friends to the Farmer's Market and it was such a lovely day we spent about four hours just chillin in the sun down by the Spanish Arch along the bay. I even got a bit of sun on my cheeks :)
Last night, Tuesday, I went out with my friends Caitlyn, Chelsea C and Meg and had a great time and might wind up going out with them again today. Since I have my last two exams on Tuesday though I need to start studying: Globalization of Democracy and Environmental and Natural Resource Economics. Ugh, I've been a month now with no real studies and it's hard to get back into the swing of things, especially with me in this "I'm bored and sort of ready to go" mood.
Thanks goodness I'm headed to Spain and France soon. Not that I don't love Ireland, but I need something to do, I can't be this bored with nothing on my plate.
Plans for the day are to actually study, plan a trip to Northern Ireland for right after I return from France on the 23rd and read some of the book I checked out from the library, La casa de los espiritus by Isabel Allende (love her). But, studying wont start for at least another hour. That's right, I'm going to watch yet another episode of NCIS haha
When I first got back I had to write two ten-page papers in three days, so that first weekend back was loads of fun. I did manage to get my paper for Cooperation and Conflict in the Management of Natural Resources done. I wrote about Wolf Management in Alaska; quite an interesting study. It was my paper for Social Stratification and Inequality that was more difficult. Originally I was going to write a critical analysis on a book about the caste system which was recommended to me by my professor and that I read before leaving for Spain. Problem: when I returned home I couldn't find any critical reception on this book. Last minute I changed the topic to looking at how social class influences the rate of eating disorders among women. I didn't finish it by Monday, the original due date, but when I found out it'd be ok to turn it in late I took my time (whoops) and turned it in on Friday. Monday night I studied for an exam the next day, yeah, like I said it was a crazy first few days, but it wound up ok b/c i think I did well on that Developmental Geography exam. Celebrated at Monroe's afterwards with some lovely traditional dancing. I even got Irene and her friend Betti to come and Betti and I wound up dancing that night!
The rest of that week was mostly spent on writing that damn paper on eating disorders and social class. Findings being inconclusive: some people say that social class did have a direct link, meaning it is more likely that higher social classes will exhibit eating disorders than lower classes, but others say race has more to deal with it and then others say other factors... kind of a weak argument but an interesting study.
Last week was sort of dull and sad. Last week I did a whole lot of NOTHING. Quite boring. I've managed to watch tons of NCIS online though; I love that show. I did catch some good weather and went on three walks to Salthill, a walk along the bay about a nine mile loop from my apartment there and back. Loved it!
I had several farewell events last week. On Tuesday I said goodbye to a bunch of girls at Monroe's, Wednesday I said goodbye to Chelsea C, Thursday I said goodbye to my friend Meghan, Friday was my last hangout night with Mandy in Ireland. I'm so glad Mandy goes to Truman b/c I would have been MUCH more upset had that been the last time for good. We had so much fun that night, I wish I had gone out with them all a lot more this semester but it was great craic all the same. Haha, I wound up sleeping over at her apartment, as did the other girls (well one was her roommate) but I'm the only one not from that residence complex and so we had to hop the fence in order to get in; really glad I did that sober b/c most of them didn't. Saturday I went with one of Mandy's good friends to the Farmer's Market and it was such a lovely day we spent about four hours just chillin in the sun down by the Spanish Arch along the bay. I even got a bit of sun on my cheeks :)
Last night, Tuesday, I went out with my friends Caitlyn, Chelsea C and Meg and had a great time and might wind up going out with them again today. Since I have my last two exams on Tuesday though I need to start studying: Globalization of Democracy and Environmental and Natural Resource Economics. Ugh, I've been a month now with no real studies and it's hard to get back into the swing of things, especially with me in this "I'm bored and sort of ready to go" mood.
Thanks goodness I'm headed to Spain and France soon. Not that I don't love Ireland, but I need something to do, I can't be this bored with nothing on my plate.
Plans for the day are to actually study, plan a trip to Northern Ireland for right after I return from France on the 23rd and read some of the book I checked out from the library, La casa de los espiritus by Isabel Allende (love her). But, studying wont start for at least another hour. That's right, I'm going to watch yet another episode of NCIS haha
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Last stop in Spain was Madrid
Madrid was also kind of cold (I was missing the warmth of Sevilla and Cordoba) but not rainy.
In Madrid, we were hosted by one of Anna's friends from the first time she visited Spain when in high school: Maria. Maria met us at the metro and took us to her apartment. It was sort of awkward at first, but once we went out exploring Madrid a bit it was just grand. I really appreciated talking with Maria because she openly corrected my Spanish, something I really need. Oh how a semester without Spanish can bring ruin to my grammar and an increase in my Anglicisms.
We first went out to the modern art museum Maria Sofia. Ok, so I don't get modern art for anything, I mean anything, but I really wanted to see Picasso's Guernica. That's right, I went there solely for that exhibit. I don't get cubism or surrealism or any of it, but I do see how the distortions of cubism worked for Guernica. If anything we had fun trying to understand/figure out some of the art, or even just making up meanings behind it all. Later we met up with two of her friends and walked along the main drag, Gran Via, and towards the center of the city Plaza Sol and found point zero, the point from which all other places/cities are measured. In the States we use a state line, there, it's at point zero in the middle of the country.
The next day Anna and I went exploring on our own. With a couple of suggestions, a map and metro pass, we saw the Palace (HUGE!), walked to Plaza Mayor where we saw loads of street performers, including a fat spiderman and Native American, walked to our last lunch of tortilla espanola, and metroed it to Parque de Retiro.
Parque de Retiro was by far my favorite place. Not only because nearby we found another place selling chocolate like what we had in Barcelona (honestly, like drinking a melted bar of chocolate) but because of the whimsical statues that lined the first 'avenue' we walked along. Like the picture above, all of these statues were just fun and lighthearted, although not all were in color. The landscaping of the park was also beautiful and the part was huge. Had clouds not loomed in on us, I could've spent the rest of the day there. As it was we went for the metro station, but not before I bought The Cat in the Hat in Spanish for 1.50 from a vendor (yeah I was excited!). Anna and Maria joined me for the metro to the airport and the long wait to get my boarding pass. After waiting two hours to board, oh Ryanair, and a two/three hour flight, I arrived safely in Dublin. I found good convo with the guy who I sat next to on the plane. I guess I enjoyed speakingin Spanish so much that my brain turned off the English b/c when we landed and the steward started speaking with his Irish accent I freaked out for a second because I could not figure out what he was saying. But then the English kicked back on and I was ok again; sad to leave Spain but good. Took a 1-4 am bus back to Galway, walked home and crashed by 5.
Spain rocked my face off.
Granada (finally)
Sorry for how late I've been... two weeks, so sorry!
Anyways, Anna and I went to Granada for two days. Our hostel was sort of odd, more like a hotel, so no real friends made there. However, we did meet up with one of Anna's friends the second night we were there. But, back to the first day...
... we got there mid-afternoon and immediately looked for food (did I mention I gained weight in Spain, haha). There I had the BEST tortilla española, sooo good. Then we tried to find a laundry place for Anna. We got another lesson about the Spanish siesta and almost got caught in the clutches of a small store vendor's never ending conversation, but Anna maneuvered us out of there within 10 minutes, but not before hearing the same advice at least 20 times. Yes, the lady was 'worse' than Pepo in that sense (I love my Pepo and he at least doesn't repeat the same info in a single convo). Once free we went exploring and wound up heading up to the Alhambra to see if we could get in that day, we couldn't, but at least we got one DRY and SUNNY walk up there. We then explored the Albaicin, a labyrinth of a white-washed part of the old city. Anna found a tea shop where she ordered some rose tea and generously shared a cup with me; for not liking tea much I did enjoy that. Later while Anna siesad (yeah, I made an English past tense verb out of a Spanish word) I went exploring a bit and mailed off a postcard or two.
Next morning we woke before the sun (I haven't done that in a while) to get to the Alhambra to wait in line early. Joining at least a hundred other people a half hour before the tickets even went on sale, we waited as the sun rose. I got to see the sky as the sun rose behind the walls, and then see it quickly replaced by unending rain and cold. That's right, the visit I was terribly excited for was dampened, literally, by a cold and rainy day. Sans internet/weather channel, we were caught unawares and got soaked. We went in and all and the Nasrid Palaces, the Alcazaba and the little of the gardens that we did see was beautiful, but it wasn't as lovely as a visit as I was hoping for. We spent only 2 hrs there, thanks Anna for staying even that long. I LOVED the architecture and the views but it was admittedly difficult to fully enjoy it while I was trying hard to stop shivering long enough to take a photo.
Returned quickly to hostel to dry off, sleep (sieta from 11-3) to wake to see a slightly sunny sky (screw you bad weather). That night we went out with Anna's friend. First stop, ironically enough, was an Irish pub. We stopped at a couple of others and finished off the night with delicious ice cream. Despite the rain and cold I did have fun in Granada, although I may have to return some sunny day to get a real feel for the Alhambra, or at least for more sangria and free tapas.
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