St. Patrick's Day

First of all, I apologize to anyone (the few and far between, that is) who may have been expecting a blog post from me in the past month and hasn't received one. I have been busy, learning so much about this country and myself and immersing myself in all kinds of activities and sometimes there is just so much going on that it is hard to keep up with this blog. Also, and more to the point, I am lazy and just pretty undisciplined with this kind of thing. So, please accept my sincerest of apologies.

Tomorrow is Saint Patrick's Day. And I'm in Ireland. Everyone here has been gearing up for this day for a while now. Us American students wondering what to expect mostly and prepping for what is bound to be a crazy day. The city has been celebrating this holiday for the past four or five days already, crowding the streets of city centre and UCC's campus with all kinds of booths--from food, to jewlery, pottery, clothing, art, books, etctera. There have also been all kinds of people dressed up in large strange costumes, ranging from leprechauns to chickens with guns to mermaids on stilts. Live music has been filling the streets... and not just Irish traditional music, but great folk and jazz. I was surprised the other day as I was walking through looking at real Connemara marble and beaded pearl necklaces from Kinsale, to hear Blue Rondo a la Turk coming from the stage set up at the end of Grand Parade St. It was really great seeing all this the other day. But bein there didn't actually make me feel immersed in the St. Patrick's Day festivities at all (though I am sure I will have a different reaction tomorrow.) Instead, all the booths and live music and suprisingly warm weather brought me back to Alexandria. I thought about Titan Expos and Waterfront Festivals and so badly I wanted to be home. And then I realized that a good amount of the time I have spent at home has been spent wishing I was here and that finally here I am.

St. Patty's day for a long while now has just seemed to me an excuse to wear green and drink yourself silly. I was thinking about this just a few minutes ago and then I remembered something. When I was eight or so years old, St. Patrick's Day was my favorite holiday. I would always tell everyone I was Irish, dress up in this little plaid Irishy skirt outfit and go to school, wishing everyone a happy St. Patty's Day. My mom and dad always insisted there were leprechauns around and my eyes would always skit nervously around the room looking for that little green man and his pot of gold. Our Chieftains music would blast, the strident pipes and softly plucked harps echoing through our kitchen as my mom cooked corned beef and cabbage. We were truly Irish, even for just one day.

And tomorrow, it's here. My favorite holiday. And I'm in Ireland. Before I thought about this memory, all I was excited for was the parade in Cork city tomorrow afternoon and then going out tomorrow night. But now, now it's going to be completely different. I feel like I have remembered something essential to my entire experience of being abroad and actually, to my entire life.

We learned in my Irish literature class a few weeks ago about the poet, Thomas Davis, who was actually British but moved to Ireland. Because he felt akin to the Irish culture and people, he considered himself to be Irish, and ended up writing some of the most nationalist poems you will ever read. One of them turned into the rebel ballad you may know, "A Nation Once Again." But anyway, our professor was telling us how Davis believed that as long as you believed you were Irish, then you were. I'm not sure if that would apply to all cultures, or just to Ireland, or if Davis was just a crackpot Brit who felt guilty for his country's actions, but regardless, I think that I agree with this sentiment. I am Irish in heritage but I wasn't born here, my parents have never been here, and before I got here I knew very little about Ireland as a country outside of its cultural aspects (its music, literature, etc) and how beautiful and green it was. But now that I am here, I know more than I've ever known anything, that this is the land where my heart belongs. I know I'll be going home in two months or so, but I honestly believe that I will leave a huge chunk of my heart in these hills, in these city streets, and in the strings and pipes and voices in these songs of my forefathers.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day, all. Have some good craic and God bless Ireland forever.

Woes and Wonders of a Place I've Become Very Fond Of

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!)

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

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?

One Week 'Til Go Time

Checklist for Ireland:

Passport: check
Other necessary travel documents: check
Credit card: check
Student travel insurance: check
Luggage: check
Raincoat: check
Boots and good water repllant walking shoes: check
Gloves, hat, and other necessary things to shield me from the cold and rain: check
New purse, wallet, and document cover: check
Journal: check
Textbooks for Travel Writing: check
Book to read on plane: check and check; Jane Austen would love me for taking two of her greats abroad with me (none other than P&P and S&S will be my flight companions)
Airplane ticket: check
Webcam: no check, still need to get one
Skype: no check due to lack of webcam
Digital camera: also no check
Irish cell phone: unchecked, will get over there
Blog: check... duh
Stomach butterflies: check

Anything I'm forgetting?

One week.

Twenty-Three Days and Counting

In twenty-three days and approximately forty minutes I will be getting on a plane in Newark that is going to take me to Shannon, Ireland. Ireland. Twenty-three days. This is the most real this has come to feel yet, and I'm still in Baltimore, cracking away at my final exams.

I've known that I wanted to study in Ireland since I found out about the Loyola program about two years ago. I applied this past May and found out that I was accepted to the program in July. Since then, I have been feigning preparedness. People would ask me if I was going to be studying abroad and I would reply excitedly, "Yeah! I'm going to be studying in Cork, Ireland this spring." People would then inevitably ask me how I feel about it and I would inevitably say, "I'm super excited!" Okay, maybe not something that hokey, but close to it.

And it's true, I am super excited. But I'm also super nervous. I'm going to a foreign country for five months. I've never been outside of the United States. I've never been away from my close friends and family for that long. I never even went to sleepaway camp. I guess college has prepared me to be independent, but still I can't help but feeling like I'm five years old in summertime again--eagerly awaiting the coming of kindergarten, telling my mommy I'm excited to play with the other kids, but really trying not to pee my pants the whole time.

I've heard great things from all my friends who have studied in Cork, or in other places this year or past years. I am genuinely excited to meet new people and to learn about the country I will be studying in. I can't wait to travel and to get to see all those sights I've always dreamt of. Dublin. London. Rome. The Blarney Stone. Big Ben. The Eiffel Tower. The Vatican. Who knows what else? I'm excited to take classes that I will never again have the opportunity to take. History of Ireland. Irish-Anglo Literature. Irish Traditional Music. Celtic Saints. I mean, how cool? But through all this genuine happiness and eagerness to go abroad and discover and learn all these new things, I am still very nervous.

It feels almost surreal. I've been talking about it for so long that it doesn't feel real anymore. I don't think I will really understand fully until I am standing in the streets of Ireland. Maybe when I step off the plane, it will hit me. Holy crap, it's way greener here than it is in Baltimore. Wait, I'm in Ireland? When did that happen? Something like that.

Well, don't worry. You'll be there with me for the entire trip, if you choose to read. I promise to keep you posted.