Goodbyes stink

So I keep going out and having a blast, but it stinks b/c they're good bye events. Makes me realize how fun some of the people I've met over here are and how I should've gone out more. I mean, the clubs aren't the best, b/c of poor music choice and creepy men, but being out with those bunch of new friends has been great.

Friday was a really fun going away party. Mayhaps on account of it not being their actual last night. Went to the Skeff with Chelsea, Caitlyn and Meg to Pat's going away party. The girls left but I stayed at the party, hanging out with the three lovely Scranton ladies Mandy introduced me to Carolyn, Deirdre and Clare; three girls who I should've hung out with a lot more and who I hope to road trip out east with Mandy to visit some day. Had a blast dancing and even found a beer I fancy, well, sort of. Does a Bulmer's w/ black currant still count as a beer, or is it contaminated? Basically I enjoyed the "snakebite" and the craic at the skeff. I joined them back at Corrib Village, yes another hopping the fence experience, and enjoyed the festivities over there.

Saturday started off sad, I had to wake early and walk in the rain to say bye to Caitlyn... my first friend made here. Although the day got nicer weather wise, it was sort of sad. I went to the market and center with Chelsea and had a great time with her, but studying that day was half-assed and when I went back out with the Scranton/Corrib Village group there was just this cloud hanging over all of it. the, "this is the last time I'm going to see you" cloud. Well, last time until I arrange that road trip.

Basically, I'm slowly being left behind here, which kind of sucks. Ok, I sound really whinny. Let me correct that: I'm bummed to being left behind, but I have some excitement in my life coming up that will def cancel out any sadness: ENEKO AND MELANIE! Although studying for these finals isn't going so well (what's wrong with me) I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL WEDS/THURS b/c that's when I go to Spain and get to see Eneko again! Then right after him, I'll see Melanie! The soon "hellos" make the recent "good byes" (or better, "ta ta for nows") easier to handle.

And now to studying econ... hopefully I haven't forgotten everything b/c my notes for that class are odd...

I miss the sun

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.

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

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.

Ciao Sevilla and onto Cordoba

Since we only did one day in Cordoba we took an early bus out of Sevilla. After a long bus ride full of on and off napping and gazing off at the Spanish country side (there are these short trees, almost overgrown bushes, that stripe the country side and it bothered me so much not to know what type it was!) we arrived in Cordoba. The tourist offices at each bus station (minus Madrid) were so helpful in giving us maps and figuring out how to get to our hostel. This hostel in Cordoba, Senses and Colours Añil was so lovely it made up for the crappy one in Sevilla. The computer has placed Anna and I in separate rooms and the lady working the desk noticed and worked it so that we were together. In fact, we found up getting our own room, with our own bathroom! That's right, Anna and I each got our own bed, not bunk bed, with a shower and bathroom to ourselves. It was lovely!

The hostel was also very close to a bakery, dangerous to my waistline, tsks on you Spain, and not a far walk at all from the Mezquita.

Oh the Mezquita, I think I rose out of my body with excitement when we went there! Brief explanation: huge Mosque, after Catholic reconquest, the oh so loving Christians with a "take that!" mentality plopped a church right in the middle of the mosque. Me and my desires to go to the Middle East, fascination with other cultures, goal to learn Arabic and so on simply basked in the beauty of being in that inmense Mosque. The collision of religions was insane though. There were altars to different saints all around the perimeter of the mosque and the huge church in the center, yet Arabic style architecture, designs and writing all over the place as well. I thank Anna sincerely for letting me linger there as long as we did.

From there we roamed around the Judería, the old Jewish district, right next to the mosque. (Ok, so although I much prefer to learn about Latin America, as compared to Spain, I absolutely love the mix of cultures found in Southern Spain due to huge Jewish, Moorish and, of course, Catholic people). The Juderia just had that "quintessential" Andalusian feel to it. Best part was when we came upon the Sinagoga, although we couldn't get in that day, about three doors up and on the other side of the narrow street we ventured into this bar. Anna's mom told her that we had to try fino, a wine specialized in Southern Spain. We went into this bar, asked if they had any fino. The bartender looked at us a little confusedly and said yes. After informing us that the only difference between a small and large glass was 5 cents, we each ordered a large copa de fino (only 95 cents!). To our complete bemusement, he turned around to the huge barrel behind the bar and poured our drinks from the tap; fino must be their specialty, everyone in the bar had it! We found a seat and enjoyed our delicious 95 cent finos at 3 or 4 pm in the afternoon.

After hostel time, siesta and dinner, we made our way to a flamenco show. A family owned operation: brothers on the guitar and 'drum' (more of a box-like thing used for percussion purposes... that drummer was oh so beautiful), father singing, others accompanying with vocals and palmas (clapping). The female dancer was out sick and so they had a male dancer perform; he was phenomenal. Although we missed a potential fan dance, we by no means felt deprived. It was an amazing show, I still don't know how they all coordinate so well, still can't quite hear the beats they each play at. with a pitcher of sangria and a Cheshire-cat-like grin on my face as I watched a most beautiful performance, we finished Cordoba in the best way

(by the way, all photos are from either right outside or within the Mezquita)

Easter Sunday in Sevilla

Woke in good company with the plan to go to the Cathedral with Anna and Brittney for mass. It didn't 'start' until 10, so we aimed for being there around 9, expecting it to be sort of like at home where mass fills up on Easter, especially it being the Cathedral in sevilla. Well, we needn't have been so worried. Mass didn't really start until 11. It was as though the priests were pregaming from 10-11. It was a lovely way to see the inside of the Cathedral without being charged as well as a good cultural experience: a pre-Vatican II like mass in Spanish. It made me really grateful for both mass at Redemptorist and the Newman Center (both very post Vatican II). No lie, this has been the most out of tune with my religious life I've ever been, not too fond of it, I'm hoping that that, along with many other aspects of my more structured US life will return when I go home... however I intend to start working on that (and those other parts that are off-balance) sooner, as in now.

After mass, we went to the cafe right under their apartment for lunch: empanaditas and a pastry for yummy dessert. I can't really recall the rest of the day, but I think we all just hung out for quite a while. Anna and I were unable to cancel our Sunday night hostel reservation. [Explanation: we'd made at least this one reservation beforehand. After finding our new friends, we thought about cancelling it. Website said that for Semana Santa they required a 7 day notice... so, we didn't think we could... once we got their though, and found it to be a shitty one (internet down, laundry out, cold water, found out we could've canceled it in only 24 hrs notice; worst hostel yet]. Well, we went ahead and took our siesta at the hostel before returning to our friends' for dinner. Wow, Marie made a delicious spinach, cream, garbanzo and potato dish and Hannah a veggie curry and rice dish, yum! We stood there til it got to being around 10 and then we went ahead and made our way back to the hostel. We stopped for our first (delicious) Spanish ice cream in the center.

Anna liked to do inventory regularly, just so that we could look at what was going on, and really appreciate it. I think that night was my favorite inventory. It went something along the lines of "Inventory: we are sitting on a park bench in Plaza Nueva in Sevilla, we are eating delicious ice cream on a beautiful Easter night (really, we need hazelnut flavored ice cream in the States!), we went to mass at the Cathedral on Easter, we had a delicious dinner, we saw everything we wanted to see in this city, we didn't have to sleep on a park bench once and we made five new friends!" Talk about being grateful!