Sunburn

This past week in Dublin has been absolutely beautiful! Every day it was in the 60s! So so so so so nice to see the sun for a change. So, as I said we moved to our new residence Friday and I was pretty beat after that but Saturday we decided to try to  go to the beach. We went to Sandymount Strand which is along the Dublin Bay. It was really neat and the water was surprisingly warm. People were out in their bathing suits while Jess and I were rocking jeans and t-shirts. I understand it was warm but it wasn't that warm. I guess since this is the hottest it gets you have to take full advantage. So after walking in the sand for a bit we got some ice cream and sat in the grass to relax. A couple hours later we decided to hit the road and went grocery shopping on the way home. This was about the time I realized how red I was. When you're wearing jeans you don't think to wear sunscreen... whoops. My arms are soooooooooo red. And since I was wearing a t-shirt, it is an unfortunate farmer's burn. My face was also quite red but luckily that's gone down. I've been non-stop applying aloe lotion and I went out and bought some sunscreen today so that doesn't happen again...

Sunday I decided to go into to town and do some wandering. My first stop was the Chester Beatty Library. It was basically three exhibits from his collection. One had to do with Asian art and manuscripts, one was about religion, and the temporary one was about the Bamboo Cutter--basically a story depicted on a bamboo scroll about this mythical girl who was adopted by a couple after they found her in a bamboo chute. It was probably my favorite part. Unfortunately, I couldn't take pictures but I took some of the outside and of the back of Dublin Castle.

 Left: Chirstchurch Cathedral, Right: back of Dublin Castle

 Left: Dublin Castle gardens, Right: Chester Beatty Library

 Left: rooftop garden, Right: view

Afterward, I headed to Grafton Street to do some more souvenir shopping (and get that sunscreen) before heading back. Overall, a beautiful day well spent. Now it's halfway through the work week and almost another weekend! This weekend I'm going to Newgrange for a day trip and a concert with a friend. It's a bank holiday Monday so that means a 4-day weekend! Yessss!

Two and a half more weeks! 18 days until Mom comes, 29 days until USA!

Slainte!

USA vs. Ireland

For the past couple weeks I've been struggling with home sickness and getting excited about coming home finally. With all but two of my fellow classmates having left over the past two weeks, I decided to dedicate a post to everything I miss about home but also about what I know I'll miss about Ireland. I was in quite a funk for a couple of days until I realized that while three weeks is (and isn't) all that long, I can't rush home because though I can't wait to be surrounded with everything familiar, I will be absolutely devastated to leave Ireland. These past months have taught me more about myself than I ever expected them to. And in the process of traveling, taking classes, working, and becoming more "cultured," I have absolutely fallen in love with Ireland. So this post is dedicated to my two loves: America and Ireland.

Things I miss about home:

• the USD (and not constantly having to pay atm and foreign transaction fees...)
• people--family and friends (even though you try to talk as often as possible, being abroad you're almost in a different world where you forget and they forget so its harder to stay in constant communication, you're constantly catching up on everyone's lives)
• my puppiessssssssssss SO MUCH
• the sun and warmth
• my bed
• our big comfy couches
• efficiency
• baking (and having an oven...)
• working (though I've enjoyed a bit of time off--minus the internship--it is veryyyyyy depressing to have a bank account that is constantly decreasing-- and I obviously miss my GunGun and Brandy dearly)
• food (other than potatoes)
• driving
• the radio and pandora!
• watching tv on a tv...

My menu requests upon my return (Mom and Dad get ready!):

• dad's hamburgers
• grilled steak and zucchini
• grilled pork tenderloin
• fish
• dad's meatloaf 
• baked mac and cheese
• chicken divan
• tuna casserole
• "Chinese" food
• tacos
• chocolate chip cookies
• brownies 
• blondies
• canned green beans
• cinnamon pancakes
• french toast 
• everything....

Things I will miss about Ireland:

• the friends I've made here and traveled the world with
• the warmth and hospitality of complete strangers
• the accents 
• my internship
• the mentality--since I am here experiencing this once in a lifetime experience, I am more willing to be adventurous and go outside of my comfort zone whether that's blowing my nerves or my budget, I don't worry as much as I would at home 

I'm trying to get out and explore Dublin a bit more--tomorrow I think Jess and I are going to try to go to the beach since the weather is soooo nice! And I still have my Mom's trip to look forward to! We are traveling all over Ireland so it will be the perfect way to end my time here. 22 days and 33 until HOME!!! Today we moved to our new housing accommodation (strugglefest) which made it feel even closer! Can't wait!

Slainte!

Quays of Dublin

Yesterday marked 4 weeks until Momma Settle comes for our Irish adventure! Halfway done my internship and just 27 days until she lands in Dublin, 38 until I land back in the USA! With so little time left here, I decided to get out for a bit today and do some more exploring of Dublin. I headed out after lunch into city center. I've been wanting to go to the Famine memorial and see the Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship for awhile so that's where I started. The Famine memorial is a series of statues along the quays (pronounced keys--don't make the same mistake I did when I first got here...) that represents the hardships people went through and the vast amount of people that ended up leaving Ireland because of them. The statues aren't pretty--the people are starved and wearing rags. They even have a dog which was of course the saddest part for me... But after reading the plaques and taking a few pictures (of course I forgot my camera... good thing I have my handy-dandy iPhone!), I continued on to the Jeanie Johnston. The Jeanie Johnston is a tall ship that was used for Irish emigrants. They restored it and turned it into a museum. It's pretty impressive. Further down the river is the famous Samuel Beckett Bridge shaped like a harp.

 Famine Memorial

 

 Left: Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship, Right: Samuel Beckett Bridge

After I was satisfied with the pictures I had taken, I turned around and walked along the quays in the opposite direction, heading toward one of the National Museums of Ireland. It was a pretty long walk but it was nice (by Dublin's standards, aka it wasn't raining) so I enjoyed it. I finally reached the museum. It is the Decorative Arts and History museum housed in Collin's Barracks. It's a pretty neat building and I found myself meandering through exhibits of Irish coinage, fashion, furniture, etc for over an hour. They had a special exhibit called "Soldiers and Chiefs: The Irish at War at Home and Abroad since 1550" which I found pretty neat because I was able to pair tangible items to better visualize what I had learned about in my Irish history module. After I had seen every room in the museum, I picked up some souvenirs (yes I am still gathering my Irish souvenirs... I've been slacking) and headed to the museum cafe. I grabbed a muffin and an Irish tea and read some of my book overlooking the courtyard of the museum. So peaceful.

 National Museum of Ireland: Decorative Arts & History

 Right: one of the more perplexing things I saw there--a bracelet made from human hair!

Once my tea was gone, it was time to head home. And boy was I ready. All that walking really wore me out. I had been planning on going back to Phoenix Park (where the Zoo was) to go see one of the houses that used to be owned by the Guinness family but decided against it because it was getting late and I was so tired. Another day. The buses don't run very often on Sundays and of course I just missed one so I took another leisurely stroll along the Quays until the bus arrived. I also managed to finally snap a picture of the Ha'penny Bridge (famous pedestrian bridge).

Ha'penny Bridge (hopefully I'll be back there on a sunny day with my real camera to get a better picture--chances of both happening in the same occurrence are slim to none..)

All and all it was a perfect, relaxing day of self-exploration. Just what I needed. Now I should be able to be content until next weekend and I'm sure I will have no trouble going to bed early to get up for work tomorrow.

Slainte!

I'M DONE

Well sort of... Yesterday was my last final. The last final of an eternal exam period. We got one week off for studying and then two weeks of exams. Thank goodness I had my internship or I probably would've gone insane. But anyways.. its finally over and I couldn't be more relieved! Now all I have left is the course work that goes along with my internship. Before I get started on that, I decided to bask in the delight of being "done." Today Carly and I took a trip to Phoenix Park, one of the largest recreational parks in Europe where the Irish President lives. It was absolutely beautiful but we didn't go to see the scenery. We went to go to the Dublin Zoo. It took us a while to locate the actual zoo. We found it kind of ironic how we've navigated ourselves through all the major cities of Europe and yet we were struggling finding a Zoo in the middle of a park. But we found it even if we took the scenic route (which was totally intentional...). Now I haven't been to a real zoo since I was maybe 10? I was in heaven. It was great. Absolutely what I needed. We saw everything from obese chimpanzees to sea lions named Flo! I took tons of pictures but I will only put up my favorite animals :)

 Dublin Zoo!!

 

Afterward, we went back into town and saw a chick flick, The Lucky One. Perfect ending to a relaxing day!

Slainte!

Studying Blues

So the past couple weeks have been spent splitting time between my internship, studying, and taking exams. The end is in sight -- I am now done with three of them with one more Thursday. I have managed to take a little bit of time to explore some more of Dublin and hang out with the friends that will be returning to America in the next couple weeks. A while back Carly, Laura, Jess, and I bought a Living Social deal for a comedy club so we took a study break and went to that this week. I had never been to a comedy club and have little experience with comedians but it was great. The perfect form of stress relief.

Today, Carly and I took a little trip to Howth, which is a little seaside town just north of Dublin. It was perfect. We walked the pier, wandered the little Sunday markets, and ate some delicious fish and chips by the sea. It was so relaxing and just what I needed. I even managed to find a carrot cake cupcake! Yes!! There are a bunch of hiking trails but we decided to pass because it looked like rain. I will definitely be back though!

 

Unfortunately, now that I'm back it's back to studying. Luckily, tomorrow is a bank holiday for May Day and I don't have to go to work so I get a whole extra day to study! Can't wait! I still love my internship. I haven't really been too immersed yet because I've been taking days off for exams but I got to do some painting the other day and bonded with the other intern. Everyone tells me that I'm too efficient and have to slow it down to Ireland timing. Guess I'll have to work on that... but I really like everyone there and I know the experience will only get better! After my final final exam Carly and I are planning on going to Phoenix Park (where the President lives) and the Dublin Zoo! I still have a couple other Dublin things to check off my list so hopefully I'll find time after finals! But for now, time to hit the books!

Slainte!