Pink Tape

So I went to the GNIB (immigration bureau) today to apply for a national ID card. After waiting in line for a number to wait in another line, I was promptly rejected for failure to produce a "required" letter I hadn't known about.

Brian suggested I have a cup of tea and come back later. So, that's what Ashley and I did. We enjoyed a lovely lunch and dessert at nearby cafes and window shopped for awhile. Three hours later, we returned to a very sweet woman who asked for my passport. Upon learning I attend DCU, she replied, "Oh how lovely! Take a seat and we'll be callin ye up in a minute." (Maybe she didn't know about the required letter either.) I know red tape well, but in Ireland it seems to appear and vanish with such fluidity. Same for Ryanair, but that's a whole other story...

Everything else is going well-- joined the DCU Gaming Society. Got my chess fix and learned a new train game in which I monopolize European railways. Also fighting off a cold at the moment so I'm drinking OJ by the *blue cardboard* carton. Due to another (unrelated) protest, I'm not starting this Thursday, and can hopefully pull together a last minute trip this weekend =D (before the national bus strike on Saturday, of course.)

Cork & Kinsale

Sorry it's been awhile, forgive me -_-?
Maybe I'm better off blogging every weekend and once or twice in between; I'm not sure my life is exciting enough to recap more than tri-weekly.

So we took a 5 hr bus Friday morning to Cork and spent the day touring around Cork city centre and making dinner in the hostel. The hostel was surprisingly clean and the people there (staff and guests) friendly. We decided to make a frozen pizza (or rather the budget decided that for us.) Unfortunately, the hostel had one tiny oven that we had to manually light (or have someone manually light for us). After a half hour attempt, we moved the pizza to a bunsen-like burner and from there to a microwave. Somehow, it ended up tasting great. Went out that night and found some cute shops along St. Patrick's Street and picked up a few pairs of sunglasses from Penny's (to be seen repeatedly throughout all Cork & Kinsale shots.) The next morning we took a 40 min bus ride to Kinsale, home of the oldest Fort in the Republic of Ireland, Fort Charles. We got off the bus "right in front" (according to our driver) of the site. And, about a mile uphill later, there we were.
Easily the most beautiful thing I've seen in Ireland (and maybe ever).
The four of us, Amanda, Katie, Ashley, and I, proceeded to stage a mini photo shoot.

(More to come on Facebook).

All national buses are going on strike next weekend so we'll likely stay around here. And one weekend later, off to London!! Unfortunately, we're getting back on Monday, March 9th-- just in time for the first of a two day bus strike. I can't even guess how many people, especially in Dublin, will be affected. Particularly interesting time for me to be interning with the Irish Labour Party... Supposed to begin that this Thursday, I'll keep you posted!

Kill-EYE-(k)ne(e)y

After hours of failed attempts, I figured out how to say (and semi-phonetically spell) Killiney, a small costal town near Dublin. Katie and I took the DART (Ireland's above-ground metro/train system) there today. We walked along the beach and put our feet in the ocean.

After regaining feeling in our toes, we walked through a passageway and uphill for nearly an hour.

It was a shockingly beautiful, sunny day and we got some great views of the coastline.


Also unexpectedly passed by the official South African residence in Ireland.

Once we reached the town we ate at a little -very little- cafe and enjoyed walking down the (singular) street in town. From there, caught the bus to Don Laogharie (sounds like "leery") where we checked out the harbor and found Katie her deeply-coveted hair straightener.
Hoping to visit Cork next week, and London after that!
Oh, so I also actually go to school here. Maybe I'll talk about that next time.

Hi Chelsea, Katie, Rohan, Scott, & Ankit,

I realized this afternoon that my readership is small enough to interact with more personally.

So today I visited the Irish Parliament building to meet with my internship coordinator at the National Labour Party. We sat down to tea in the formal sitting room (where else?) and discussed what's expected of me: research global crises, write newsletters and briefings for party members, observe parliamentary sessions, lick envelopes (all four were specifically mentioned.)

Spent some time in the National Gallery, had lunch at Little Caesar's (not the pizza delivery place- though that is what first drew me there), saw lots of churches, and walked to Dublin Castle. Dublin Castle is Google-colored (red, blue, green, yellow) and it shouldn't be.

Fig A:

But, the cathedrals were stunning and "big ass," (according to Katie Bower).


Then I found Jesus somewhere by the bus stop:


Dublin's really special for all these reasons and more. Still, it's important to travel a bit; here's my itinerary (mostly for bragging purposes):
*Feb 14: Killiney (Irish seascape and castles!)
*Feb 21-22: Probably Cork (Southern Ireland)
*March 5-9: London
*March 21-26: Italy (Turin, Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome-hopefully!!-)
*March 26-29: Barcelona
*April 4-?: Northern Ireland
*April 16-??: Western Ireland
*May: Way too early to tell, but we're definitely thinking Galway.

This takes work

I already have infinite respect for people who take the time to consistently chronicle their study abroad (or just general life)adventures.

Today was pretty relaxed for my first day of classes. Had a global communication class (with five other people from my program). My schedule's still a little crazy so I'll finish working it out tonight.

Planning on interning with Ireland's third party, the Irish Labour Party. The current president, Mary McAleese, is the first to be elected from the party. I guess where I'm not getting the culture shock language-wise, I'll definitely feel it politically; never thought I'd be interning with a socialist party. It'll be a pretty interesting point of comparison when I get back to the U.S. though, especially with ideas of "universal healthcare" and increased federal involvement in the economy going on at home.

I did take lots of pictures this week and feel guilty leaving them all out. I just can't seem to find a smooth way to incorporate them into my monologue. Eh, close enough. Here are a few I took from our walking tour this week:

and


THE SPIRE:


While on the tour we stopped by Trinity College. There was a fairly big protest going on (I know, something I have no experience with as a GW student) because the state is implementing fees (tuition) for students. Yeah, Irish kids don't pay to go to college. Really. All of them, and anywhere in the country. Well, not anymore I guess. There's always been a small registration fee ($1500 euros) and cost of books, but universities in Ireland are going broke, as opposed to their American counterparts. People here seem to be most worried about the new policy cause: 1. Losing free stuff sucks 2. Education, or "knowledge capital," is seen as a national resource. Without the incentive of free tuition, it's hard to say whether Ireland's economic and social progress will take a hit.

Trinity's campus is gorgeous though-- and right in the middle of everything. Hmmm, there's always grad school..

So this is the blog

Hello!

Guess I'm a week overdue here but better late than never, "ye tink"?

Dublin's great so far-- took a walking tour of the area on Wendesday and went out to a few pubs (and a gelato shop =)) with some local Irish last night.

Right now I'm living about 10-15 minutes by bus from the city centre. It picks us up right in front of campus and drops us off in the middle of town so it's really convenient.

Everyone on my program is actually really cool and we've been spending time together this week since it's been winter break for everyone else. I've mostly been hanging out with two girls from my program and we make dinner at each other's places and are currently looking for dirt cheap airfare to travel around europe.

I don't have too many adventures yet, except one embarrassing story that will leak out anyway so I may as well cover it first for the spin control (poli comm major speak.)

A few friends and I got locked in the mall (Omni shopping centre) our second night here. We were at the Tesco (major grocery store in Dublin) and left right as it closed at 7pm...apparently also right as every single other door in the mall complex closed too. After standing around for a few minutes without any other signs of life, we were relieved to find an exit sign. We knew it was an exit sign because it was little and green and hanging over the doorway. There was a man on the green sign walking out a door- he seemed to be doing it a little briskly but maybe the people just walk faster in Ireland.
We exited that door.
It lead us to a small, (8 foot) gate-lined outdoor patio that was surrounded on all sides. I should also mention that we were each carrying crazy heavy rolling suitcases that we had stocked up during our shopping trip. Also, it was the coldest night in Ireland yet. The hail was coming down, painfully, and the windchill- unbelievable. Luckily (relative term I guess?) we had apparently exited a fire escape and two (pretty attractive I must say) security guards came and listened to us blubber about being trapped and helped us leave eventually.
Three of us went back to Omni yesterday and saw one of the security guards. I guess we were all trying not to laugh and he picked up on it. While walking past him, the three of us turned around back at him and he immediately recognized and laughed a bit. At least we're making an impression, maybe even a friend (that's pushing it)?

I've downloaded some pictures but didn't find a way to better incorporate them into the blog. I think I'll start posting on facebook. Much more to report but you're tired of reading, and I'm tired of writing. So we'll do this later, k?