hey guys. i don't have a ton of time to update, so i'll just cut and paste what i sent out to my e-mail group. (don't have some of your addies). just to warn you, it's quite long. hope all is well with you guys, that val got in safely to new york and everyone else is generally happy. :o)
I hadn't realized how long it had been since I e-mailed...I guess a lot has happened. For one, I have learned a lot about how to get around in Ireland. For instance, if you're in someone's way they say "sorry," not "excuse me." So if someone apologizes, move. Also, in stores the person at the counter asks "You ok?" not "Can I help you?" And if you say you're fine and then stand there wondering if you actually don't look fine, they will just walk away confused and you don't get your sandwich.
Overall, however, it's been very friendly and easy to live here. A couple bloody American comments but I like them because they give me a chance to show people what an apologetic American looks like. I get the feeling they don'tsee those too often. The program itself has been jam-packed. In true Michigan style, I get to take like six classes while I'm here, so I usually have to be in class from 10 til about 5, with a couple breaks. Then they frequently have early evening speakers and cultural events, so my days are pretty booked. Luckily, I don't get too bored because we change lecturers often and most of them are extremely prominent in their fields. For instance, I got to study Dubliners by JamesJoyce with the guy who wrote the introduction to my Penguin edition. Pretty cool. And when my brain is fried there is a pub or club every couple blocks in any direction. And there's this little one right next to the student apartments called Mahaffy's that turns into our own personal Cheers after class. The two old bartenders won't sell me half pints because "there's no value in halves," so needless to say I feel very well taken care of.
One of the major highlights, though, has been traveling on the weekends. We have off Fridays, so usually everyone packs ahead and leaves from class on Thursday for the bus or train station. The first weekend we went to Galway andthe Aran Islands off the West coast. Galway was crazy. I got to see this great cover band who ended their set by performing the entire ending sequence of Abbey Road by The Beatles flawlessly. Which rocked. The island we went to was Inishmore, where I hiked four miles to an ancient fortress at the edge of high, windy cliffs. I did a lot more climbing this past weekend, however, when we went to a secluded village called Glencolmcille in the Northwest. We would wake up in the morning, point to a spot at the top of some mountains, and then spend all day figuring out how to get there, often fording rivers, climbing rocks, and jumping over gaps. Lots of things I couldn't have pictured myself doing before I got here. One day we climbed until we were actually in a cloud and then the weather moved so quickly that we watched it dissipate around us until we could see down on the valley and the ocean. Incredible. This Sunday the whole summer school moves up to Belfast on the Northeast coast, where I won't be able to easily call or check my e-mail. So if I don't get back to you quickly don't take it personally. Well, at least most of you.
Anyhow, enough about me. How are you guys?
Love to all and hope summer is treating you well,
Kristin
I hadn't realized how long it had been since I e-mailed...I guess a lot has happened. For one, I have learned a lot about how to get around in Ireland. For instance, if you're in someone's way they say "sorry," not "excuse me." So if someone apologizes, move. Also, in stores the person at the counter asks "You ok?" not "Can I help you?" And if you say you're fine and then stand there wondering if you actually don't look fine, they will just walk away confused and you don't get your sandwich.
Overall, however, it's been very friendly and easy to live here. A couple bloody American comments but I like them because they give me a chance to show people what an apologetic American looks like. I get the feeling they don'tsee those too often. The program itself has been jam-packed. In true Michigan style, I get to take like six classes while I'm here, so I usually have to be in class from 10 til about 5, with a couple breaks. Then they frequently have early evening speakers and cultural events, so my days are pretty booked. Luckily, I don't get too bored because we change lecturers often and most of them are extremely prominent in their fields. For instance, I got to study Dubliners by JamesJoyce with the guy who wrote the introduction to my Penguin edition. Pretty cool. And when my brain is fried there is a pub or club every couple blocks in any direction. And there's this little one right next to the student apartments called Mahaffy's that turns into our own personal Cheers after class. The two old bartenders won't sell me half pints because "there's no value in halves," so needless to say I feel very well taken care of.
One of the major highlights, though, has been traveling on the weekends. We have off Fridays, so usually everyone packs ahead and leaves from class on Thursday for the bus or train station. The first weekend we went to Galway andthe Aran Islands off the West coast. Galway was crazy. I got to see this great cover band who ended their set by performing the entire ending sequence of Abbey Road by The Beatles flawlessly. Which rocked. The island we went to was Inishmore, where I hiked four miles to an ancient fortress at the edge of high, windy cliffs. I did a lot more climbing this past weekend, however, when we went to a secluded village called Glencolmcille in the Northwest. We would wake up in the morning, point to a spot at the top of some mountains, and then spend all day figuring out how to get there, often fording rivers, climbing rocks, and jumping over gaps. Lots of things I couldn't have pictured myself doing before I got here. One day we climbed until we were actually in a cloud and then the weather moved so quickly that we watched it dissipate around us until we could see down on the valley and the ocean. Incredible. This Sunday the whole summer school moves up to Belfast on the Northeast coast, where I won't be able to easily call or check my e-mail. So if I don't get back to you quickly don't take it personally. Well, at least most of you.
Anyhow, enough about me. How are you guys?
Love to all and hope summer is treating you well,
Kristin
