Damn that margarita was expensive!

First, thanks Ellen, I think I now have a direction with that essay, and an intro paragraph or two.

Thursday, nothing special.
Friday, no class, did some hw. I finally worked out. I had a book to return to the library so I incorporated a run into that book return. I also tried to buy the reading packet for my Cooperation and Conflict class. I got there, all rosy cheeked from running only to find out that office was closed for the day. I was so glad that I did it for exercise and to return the book, otherwise I might've been pissed.

Running to the grocery store, let's just say I'm amazed that the "Mexican" section is dominated by Old El Paso products and that they have no beans... what has this world come to?

I didn't get much done for the rest of the day, watched some Office and Bones. Damn, the Office is hilarious! Online searching at different NGOs and Non-profits makes me think I might have to get a masters later on.... but definitely no Grad School right away.

I finally went out last night! I met up with Mandy and her room/flatmates and we went to the Skeff. There, one of their Irish and Italian friends met up with us. The craic was quite mighty. I decided, after two hours there, I was thirsty and would try their cocktail of the day, a Vanilla Margarita. Holy crap, "cocktail of the day" made it sound like it was at a discounted price. I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach when he said 7.50!!! Let's just say the drink was indeed good, but that is probably going to be the ONLY drink I buy myself here. Shoot, that's part of a week's worth of groceries, or two Saturday's worth of food at the Farmer's market... yeah, drinking might have to wait until I get home. No way will I "acquire" the taste here, not that those prices!

Sadly the tattoo wasn't magic

Oh, so the balance tattoo I got back in December was meant to symbolize the balance I am striving to find in my life. I thought coming to Ireland would be easy balance. Well, instead of being on the work too hard play too little, I'm not on the waste time doing who knows what work too little side of things.

That needs to change. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm gonna go out and have fun. Actually, I think I might be going out tonight. But I need to start getting on track with the scholastic part of studying abroad. Ugh.

Sadly, that's not the only area where I'm lacking balance. I think, maybe if I let go of the watch, I'll be able to see the constant reminder more and get back on track. If anything, for my own sanity. If not for that, at least to be ready so that way I can be free to truly enjoy my travels with no worries in the back of my mind.

Ok, so, that's settled. I'll start working on hw, an essay for Developmental Geography and a scholarship essay (oh, that one is killing me), and I will find a way to work out and get some endorphins and clarity back.

Ok, I will make my own magic, the tat will just be pretty decoration and a reminder like it's supposed to.

P.S. Any ideas on a future career and three goals I have for the first five years at that job?<<< scholarship essay

Sat and Sunday

Oh yeah, and to finish Friday off: I feel like we talk about food a lot here. So much in fact that Mandy, Chelsea and I decided to do a girls pig out night. We bought two heat up in the oven pizzas and ice cream, snickers and peanut butter. Let's just say the pizzas were eh but the ice cream combo was divine! We tried to watch Get Smart online but the link wouldn't work. We wound up watching HP5 instead, critiquing it the whole way and enjoying it. (Can't wait for Platform 9 3/4 haha!).

Saturday I met up with Mandy and Chelsea and Courtney at the Farmer's Market. The falafel was amazing! The other foods there look great too, can't wait to give them all a try! I continue my search for dried beans, no luck. Found lentils and raisins though. I'm too poor to afford the other dried fruit but raisins are something. I stayed in instead of going out with Irene in order to do hw, didn't get much done. But Mandy and I did figure out plane stuff and I got to talk to Mom and Dad for the first time in like 2 weeks and Kayla a bit too!

Sunday, hiked the Maamturks. Did the short walk again. This time there were more people and so it was even more fun! Completely different terrain. This was more marshy. I found some of those "you don't know how deep it is" pits on the way down. My foot fell past ankle into water/mud, yeah gross. I feel like that, plus a good 5 foot slide on the descent was my initiation into the club, that and the bruise I've got to show for it.

It was a horribly windy day. I'm saying it took us twice as long to do anything because at some points you just had to stop and fight to keep from falling whichever way the wind was pushing. Stanley didn't come out much. Nor did the camera, sadly. The view however was amazing! We were on one mountain range and past the lake you could see another, the 12 Bens. It was breathtaking (literally with the wind and exercise too!).

I felt like I was in LOTR again. Especially as we reached the top ridge and walked across it to get to the peak. Coming down is always the hardest part, even if you take out the sink pits and the fall. Don't worry it wasn't a bad fall, just kind of scary at the moment. I felt quite proud for being able to make my way back over to the group though I must say and I wasn't the only one slipping and sliding.

We were exhausted by the end of it! At the pub I got myself a good king sized Twix. I loved the Pub scene. Tommy, an Irish hiker, educated us on how chocolate here is better than at home. I've yet to buy chocolate here, other than the Twix and I couldn't tell a difference. Cadburry's only does milk chocolate and I'm a dark kind of girl. But I'll give some of those other chocolates a try later on (I'm almost out of mine!). Tommy was great fun, as were the others. I think this club was one of the best investments I've made so far!

Monday- school, bleh. Plus side, got the news Rachel is coming, sorry, I'm still so excited about that! Oh, and I definitely feel better about having at least one "friend" in my MON and Tues classes lol.

Friday's trip to Connemara

Thursday, nothing worth noting I don't believe.

Friday I went with a bus full of international students to Connemara. Honestly, the trip was slightly disappointing. We first arrived at this hotel called Peacock's... but on the side it said Peacocke's. I found that amusing, same hotel, different names depending what side you're on. We hopped out and got a lovely view of the hills/mts in Connemara (which I later hiked on Sunday!). Then we went to a bridge. I honestly can't remember the significance of it other than a film was shot there. An American film too I think...

Then we proceeded to Kylemore Abbey. That was the highlight. It was beautiful! We got to explore the estates, which felt right out of a book/LOTR/a dream. Here's all about it http://www.kylemoreabbey.com/ We checked out the abbey as well as the Gothic church, a "cathedral miniature." It was beautiful inside and out, completely made me think of Dad with all of the beautiful and intricate details, cherubs on the outside in place of gargoyles, rose carvings in the stone... it was lovely. Then we checked out the Abbey, used for teaching girls at one point in time, now I think just for the nuns and visitors of course. The cafe in there smelled divine! Mandy got a huge bowl of soup and I found out that if you ask how much the bread is, they'll give you a slice for free. Delicious thick brown bread. Yum!

Then we went on to a Furniture school. Sounds kind of lame, but the display room we saw was actually kind of interesting. Sad part is that a long time ago that place used to be a school for unruly children. In reality, most children sent there were just of poor families unable to care for them. Many children actually died there, between neglect, harsh beatings, and poor care... ok so that was depressing.

Then we went to a little town and were told to walk around for an hour. Lame! I wanted to go 200 m down from the furniture school, take a left and go explore the Connemara national park dammit!

The plus side, I met a bunch of really nice people. One of which I was told by Michael the previous Tuesday at Monroe's that she was my sister. Another instance where I was made relatives with another based on shared glasses/contacts, and brown curly hair. Ah well, Melissa is awesome so it's cool.

All in all I wish the trip had been a little more national park and beautiful sights rather than small town and furniture store, but it was only 11 euro so... whatever.

I'll post soon I promise

Once I get some homework taken care of... and get my face out of the peanut butter jar... seriously, I have a problem... I will write about the ISS trip to Connemara on Friday and the windy hike to the Maamturks on Sunday.

For now, let's just say the hike was more fun, I need to learn how to ration pb, Ireland does not have dried beans anywhere (and thus no Hispanics probably), and Rachel is going to come visit me! And I have a ticket and I'm going to go visit Ellen in Cambridge!

Tuesday nights at Monroe's!

Monday: nothing special. Class, homework or sort of... I'm still trying to get into a pattern of being on top of my reading instead of last minute

Tuesday: Kevin's 20th Birthday! After class Chelsea and I went grocery shopping for our dinner, to which Mandy later joined after her lab. I am cheap and so we went to four different places, the only reason we went to the fourth was because I forgot an ingredient at the third. That's right, I walk by four grocery stores on my way home from school.

When I got back I got to Skype call Kevin to wish him a happy birthday. Sadly, every time I've done this (both times) my roommate has been sleeping and so I've had to quiet my voice and calm my excitement. I don't think my friends realize how much I absolutely love hearing their voices, even if I'm being teased/abused in the process (Justin made the creepy noise :( ... it feels like home :). Plus, Chelsea was over and I feel awkward being on a phone around someone else so I sadly had to cut it short but oh how I can't wait to skype again with them and anyone else for that matter!

I made skillet style lasagna, tweaked a bit, but it was delicious! We three ate it all up before heading out to Monroe's Pub. Every Tuesday night they've got traditional music and set dancing. There is this little old guy named Michael who is known for grabbing nearby girls int he audience and teaching them to dance. Mandy, her friends and I were fortunate enough to be nearby and we danced the first set. Once the "real" dancers showed up - a group of people who know what they're doing and just come every Tuesday for some good old craic- most sat down but Michael held onto me and I kept on dancing!

It was like what I'd always wanted: to catch a live trad band and do some dancing myself! I danced for thirty minutes, following Michael's lead or whatever man I got passed to. I had no idea what I was doing with my feet, but enough onlookers thought that I was part of the set so I guess I fooled them. I can't express how much fun I had but I will most definitely be there every Tuesday night!

Wednesday: nothing noteworthy. I bought a ticket for the International Students' Society's three day trip to Kerry in March. Only 35 euro, hostel, transport and a couple of meals included. I thought it was a deal! Only downside was I went to school early to get my ticket with the plan to just chill at the library until class at 2. As soon as I got to school I realized I register for classes today and had left it all at home. Yeah, when you live a half hour walk away, forgetting something is a real pain in the ass. OH well, it's my exercise.

1st Hike: The Burren

Definitely not quite what I expected it to be: more intense, more beautiful, more difficult, more breathtaking and phenomenal than I could have predicted.

The bus left at 9:30 with a group of hikers and climbers. I, along with five others-- Mandy, Chelsea (different from yesterday's Chelsea), Anne (a new friend from Germany), Pat (a 50 or so yr old man) and Andrew (the leader, 4th yr engineering student from Ireland)-- opted for the shorter walk, and am I ever glad I didn't try more!

We were dropped off at the base of a hill in The Burren, in County Clare and known for its desolate, rocky, stony landscape. We started off just walking up a hill of a road but soon it turned into a bit of actual climbing! I didn't look up for a good bit, you just have to watch your step. There are rocks, cut out from, Pat said, acid rain from ages unknown to man. The rocks have all of these crags that you don't want to drop anything down b/c they go quite deep. It sort of reminded me of a glacier, but stony. You know, how glaciers have all of those cuts in them and you just walk across them avoiding the cracks, it was like that but way less intense and obviously not ice.

I'd expected more of a "here's a trail, let's follow it, there may be inclines but no biggie." Instead I got, let's traverse these rocks at an incline, following rock walls, most likely famine walls, up the hill. The hills were somewhat like steps. You climb, zig zaggins up, and then you reach this plateau. At the flat breaks, not only did we get a breather, but out came the cameras! Looking around, we felt like we were in Middle Earth (no joke). Behind us was the sea, and Galway off in the distance. Down below were perfectly cut out squares of property and little houses. Immediately behind us was the bit we just climbed up (when I say climb I mean took big steps up versus just a stride and occasionally held onto something to help push me up, nothing dangerous Mom, I promise). The scenery was breathtaking. Each time we climbed another hill part we couldn't believe that the same area could get prettier and prettier.

The company was great! Pat and Andrew were this wealth of knowledge on history, pop culture and everything in between. Anne is as nice as can be and of course Mandy and Chelsea rock my face off. And... I finally remembered to get Stanley out, everyone was quite fond of Mr Flat Stanley. We took a lunch break or two and breaks in between for camera shots and breathers. It was just right. I was disgustingly sweaty but never too overtaxed and we couldn't have asked for better weather: clear and sunny skies!

We probably got there around 11 or so and made our way back down by 4. The walk down was actually harder: my feet were a bit sore and different muscles all together. We passed by some furry cows on the way down that didn't bother us at all. The walk down was a bit muddy, but come to find out the Burren is most likely the only dry walk, the others go through some marshy/boggy areas. That makes me think this was probably a good one to start with!

Once the others made it back we stopped at a pub and chilled for a while. Pat is awesome and bought us girls hot chocolate: perfect because we were chilly and fatigued and it was a delicious pick me up. Once we made it back the sprinkling began, but I've walked home in the rain before so no worries. I had to do hw when I got back but I got to talk to Rachel on Skype so I basically got to end the day in a lovely way.

Definitely one of my favorite days so far.