Wonder # 1: Whoever said that Gaelic is a dead language lied to you. The Irish language is alive and well, my friends. And it is absolutely beautiful. Not that many speak it in everyday situations but most Irish people do speak it and there are even some places, such as Dingal in the west of Ireland (where I plan on going soon) that speak it exclusively. I have been taking a class in Modern Irish and although I have only had three classes I can already say some simple phrases and have had two conversations with Irish people already! The people I have spoken to about it say that Irish is mandatory for all school children and because it is something grilled into their minds for so many years, not only do they all know it well, they also hate it. The reaction to me saying their language was lovely, was "Really?" It's also not an easy language by any means. It is much different than English and much more Germanic that one would expect. It requires a lot of guttural consonant sounds and some salivation. It's a little hard to get used to for someone who is used to studying English and romance languages. But still, it is a wonderful and interesting language and I am so glad that I'm getting a chance to learn some of it.
Woe # 1: It rains here almost constantly. I knew that when I came here, which is why I purchased (or rather my mother purchased) a new raincoat and rainboots before my departure. What I didn't know was how gross the rain actually was. With the rain, comes wind which blows cold liquid straight into your face. The rain accumulates in huge puddles in between the cobbles and next to the curbs. The rain makes the river, which is tidal, rise and fall so much that this city is in almost constant flood warning. Thank God there hasn't been another flood like the one they had in December which practically hearkened the gathering of the animals apparently. But anyway, it rains a lot here. I thought I would't mind it but unfortunately I was wrong.
Wonder # 2: Jaffa Cakes. These are the most delicious things to ever grace the tongue of man. If I love you, I will be sending you a package with these enclosed because no one should be deprived of such a marvelous creation. They are small, chocolate spongey things with an orange jam inside. They sound like they might not be that great but trust me they will blow your mind.
Woe # 2: Probably in part due to Woe # 1, I am currently working on my second cold. It's a fact that I get sick easily but this is pretty absurd. This is the second illness that we've all pretty much caught and we've only been here for about three weeks. I think that Americans' bodies just don't know how to handle this weather and the stress of being abroad and everything. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, an Irishman himself told me and I quote, "Irish weather can screw with people from across the pond." Well screw you Irish weather! Rawr... I hope these illnesses eventually clear up so I can actually enjoy my stay here a little more than just Irish tea and what's on the telly.
Wonder # 3: Last weekend, a whole bunch of us from Loyola went to the town of Kinsale about forty minutes away from Cork. It was the first time that I felt that I really got to see real Ireland. Not that Cork isn't wonderful but it's very much a city and its verdant rolling hills and castles are few and far between. Kinsale is a quaint little town, pretty similar to Cork in many ways but a lot smaller. It is a harbor town and above it lies hills upon hills. Conveniently, we found a good place to take pictures. Even on the bus rides there and back, I was able to see green like I'd never seen before, even if it was through glass. I was very grateful to get the opportunity to take this day trip and see some more of Ireland. Not that the cities and towns don't have their own wonders, but who can deny seeing the legendary green pastures and hills of this country?
Woe # 3: Are Irish boys better than American boys? The answer is resoundingly, no. Sad face... But their accents are prettier, at least.
Wonder # 4: McDonalds here has curly fries. Hot, crispy, twisty goodness. Nuff said.
Ireland is more of a wondrous place than a woeful one, that's for sure. I love it here so far and I can't wait to uncover its secrets even further. For now all I'll say is... slan go foil! (Goodbye for a while!)
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
The First Week of an Irish Insomniac
I've been staying up much later a lot more easily than I do at home. Okay, so it's only twenty til 1:00 and I am a college student, so I guess technically it's not that late but for me it is. I've always had the sleeping habits of a grandmother-- a late night for me being midnight or so. For the past week I haven't been tired by midnight. I've been staying up until one or two, or even later. It's not because I have lots of homework or because I've been out with people really late. I have gone out a few times but mostly its just been me, sitting in my bedroom, on skype or watching a movie or reading or something, just very awake. I guess my body clock is still set for American time. I'm sure I'll get used to it and it's not a problem or anything, but it's just kinda weird for now.
Anyway, I've been meaning to write a blog for a few days now but I keep forgetting/getting busy. The past few days have been pretty wonderful overall. I'm still getting accustomed and unfortunately part of getting accustomed meant getting sick for us American students. Our bodies are just adjusting to the stress, time change, and weather change I guess but we've all caught a pretty icky cold. We'll be alright, but it kind of sucks only having been here for about a week and already falling ill. But oh well. To focus on the positive...
The city is beautiful. Meg and I explored a neighborhood we hadn't been to before today and it was really nice. We had to walk over the river and up a huge hill into this narrow residential neighborhood. We walked into a church parking lot and from there we could see practically the whole city from the pointed steeples of St. Finnbarr's Cathedral that seem to almost graze the clouds to all of the colorful buildings and houses that fill the city and make it what it is. It was really cool to get that view. I took some pictures and plan on putting them up a little later. Though I've only been here a week and haven't explored this place half as far as I intend to, I have enjoyed thoroughly uncovering this quaint city's little secrets and treasures from coffee shops to pubs to residential neighborhoods. I already feel myself falling in love with this place and I can tell you that even if I'm not all the way there yet since it's only been a week, by the time I have to go back home I don't think I'll want to leave.
Speaking of discovering places I love, I think that I have found a potential home away from home on UCC's campus-- the UCC Chaplaincy. It's essentially campus ministry, but they focus not only on spirituality but also strongly on social and cultural inclusion and interaction. On Friday mornings they have a coffee social and even though I was nervous to go by myself and put myself out there, I went and I am so glad I did. I met several people who were so nice and welcoming. I heard about a lot of different events that they put on that I want to get involved in as well, such as a new students retreat, a book club, and cultural events. I hope to get closer to some of the people I met there as well because a lot of the people I talked to seemed so nice and like the kind of friends I would like to have here. I really hope they come to like me as much as I think I like them! Only time will tell, I suppose.
Anyway, as you can probably tell, I am enjoying myself here thoroughly so far. I am learning a lot about this country and about myself as well. I've been wanting to write a blog lately with some fun facts about Ireland that you all probably don't know, and I didn't until I got here, and I promise it's coming but I think it will have to wait a day or two.
Now, I am going to attempt to conquer insomnia. Wish me luck? Will write later.
Love and Potatoes,
Cathryn
Anyway, I've been meaning to write a blog for a few days now but I keep forgetting/getting busy. The past few days have been pretty wonderful overall. I'm still getting accustomed and unfortunately part of getting accustomed meant getting sick for us American students. Our bodies are just adjusting to the stress, time change, and weather change I guess but we've all caught a pretty icky cold. We'll be alright, but it kind of sucks only having been here for about a week and already falling ill. But oh well. To focus on the positive...
The city is beautiful. Meg and I explored a neighborhood we hadn't been to before today and it was really nice. We had to walk over the river and up a huge hill into this narrow residential neighborhood. We walked into a church parking lot and from there we could see practically the whole city from the pointed steeples of St. Finnbarr's Cathedral that seem to almost graze the clouds to all of the colorful buildings and houses that fill the city and make it what it is. It was really cool to get that view. I took some pictures and plan on putting them up a little later. Though I've only been here a week and haven't explored this place half as far as I intend to, I have enjoyed thoroughly uncovering this quaint city's little secrets and treasures from coffee shops to pubs to residential neighborhoods. I already feel myself falling in love with this place and I can tell you that even if I'm not all the way there yet since it's only been a week, by the time I have to go back home I don't think I'll want to leave.
Speaking of discovering places I love, I think that I have found a potential home away from home on UCC's campus-- the UCC Chaplaincy. It's essentially campus ministry, but they focus not only on spirituality but also strongly on social and cultural inclusion and interaction. On Friday mornings they have a coffee social and even though I was nervous to go by myself and put myself out there, I went and I am so glad I did. I met several people who were so nice and welcoming. I heard about a lot of different events that they put on that I want to get involved in as well, such as a new students retreat, a book club, and cultural events. I hope to get closer to some of the people I met there as well because a lot of the people I talked to seemed so nice and like the kind of friends I would like to have here. I really hope they come to like me as much as I think I like them! Only time will tell, I suppose.
Anyway, as you can probably tell, I am enjoying myself here thoroughly so far. I am learning a lot about this country and about myself as well. I've been wanting to write a blog lately with some fun facts about Ireland that you all probably don't know, and I didn't until I got here, and I promise it's coming but I think it will have to wait a day or two.
Now, I am going to attempt to conquer insomnia. Wish me luck? Will write later.
Love and Potatoes,
Cathryn
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Here, At Last
Greetings from Cork, finally! It's hard to believe I'm actually here. This trip has been in the making for so very long and now that I'm actually starting to live it, it's just plain weird. And it's not at all what I thought it would be. At least not yet.
I arrived in Ireland early this morning to find it frosted over. As our motorcoach took us through Shannon from the airport to the city of Cork, the rolling verdant fields I had expected to see were covered by a thin glimmering layer of white frost. Something somewhat unheard of for Ireland, or so I have been told today. Though part of me wishes my first sight of Ireland had been the green hills and pastures I had been dreaming of for so long, another part of me is very glad to have seen it frosted over like that. I will get to see this country's green fields but I may never get to see its grass and trees sprinkled with a soft, shimmering, silvery frosting like I saw this morning. No, it was not what I expected. But it was beautiful.
What I saw this morning is also probably a good reminder for myself that things don't always come as they seem. This doesn't necessarily color them bad, just different than we expected. Everyone's heard it before but it's a simple lesson I need to remind myself at times like this.
So far I like Cork. It is a sweet little city with many things that I am eager to explore and become familiar with. Ireland, or what I have seen of it so far, is beautiful. The people here all seem very nice as well. But still, once I put my bags down in what will be my apartment for the next five months today, I felt like I had been slapped in the face. My rooming arrangements had not worked out as I had been planning. Instead of living with a friend of mine, I am living with two girls from Minnesota who although seem very nice, don't particularly seem like the kind of people whom I will be close with. And even in my own group, I feel as though cliques have already been made and though I have gotten to know people a little better traveling with them these past twenty-four hours (feels like so much longer... sleep deprivation will do it to ya...)I'm not sure that I will make the connections I was expecting to make with any of these people. Maybe I am underestimating them, or even myself, and I will become great friends with some of them. Or maybe I just need to look elsewhere for those strong connections I was hoping to delevop abroad. We'll see.
I spent most of my first day here in Ireland wishing I was home, honestly. And though I am still adjusting and think that it might take me a while to fully do so, my own metaphor of the thick frost on Ireland's famous sea of green, shows me that not all expectations are met. But at the same time, maybe those expectations are lofty anyway. Everyone knows about green pastures. But who ever heard of a Irish field of frost? And more so, who ever would have thought it could be breathtaking... or would want to change it?
I arrived in Ireland early this morning to find it frosted over. As our motorcoach took us through Shannon from the airport to the city of Cork, the rolling verdant fields I had expected to see were covered by a thin glimmering layer of white frost. Something somewhat unheard of for Ireland, or so I have been told today. Though part of me wishes my first sight of Ireland had been the green hills and pastures I had been dreaming of for so long, another part of me is very glad to have seen it frosted over like that. I will get to see this country's green fields but I may never get to see its grass and trees sprinkled with a soft, shimmering, silvery frosting like I saw this morning. No, it was not what I expected. But it was beautiful.
What I saw this morning is also probably a good reminder for myself that things don't always come as they seem. This doesn't necessarily color them bad, just different than we expected. Everyone's heard it before but it's a simple lesson I need to remind myself at times like this.
So far I like Cork. It is a sweet little city with many things that I am eager to explore and become familiar with. Ireland, or what I have seen of it so far, is beautiful. The people here all seem very nice as well. But still, once I put my bags down in what will be my apartment for the next five months today, I felt like I had been slapped in the face. My rooming arrangements had not worked out as I had been planning. Instead of living with a friend of mine, I am living with two girls from Minnesota who although seem very nice, don't particularly seem like the kind of people whom I will be close with. And even in my own group, I feel as though cliques have already been made and though I have gotten to know people a little better traveling with them these past twenty-four hours (feels like so much longer... sleep deprivation will do it to ya...)I'm not sure that I will make the connections I was expecting to make with any of these people. Maybe I am underestimating them, or even myself, and I will become great friends with some of them. Or maybe I just need to look elsewhere for those strong connections I was hoping to delevop abroad. We'll see.
I spent most of my first day here in Ireland wishing I was home, honestly. And though I am still adjusting and think that it might take me a while to fully do so, my own metaphor of the thick frost on Ireland's famous sea of green, shows me that not all expectations are met. But at the same time, maybe those expectations are lofty anyway. Everyone knows about green pastures. But who ever heard of a Irish field of frost? And more so, who ever would have thought it could be breathtaking... or would want to change it?
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