Being friends with a math major definitely has its perks! Because we had to take the 8 o'clock bus to Dublin we weren't going to go out, thinking that way we would get a good night's sleep. Completely wrong.
The night started with an appetizer tray of grilled cheese sandwiches and spaghetti sauce, we were just trying to use up some of what was in the fridge. But then an hour later we were still hungry so we took a trip to Tesco, a supermarket, which as we were hungry, we got too much. We picked up potatoes and garlic and herb dressing, strawberries and ice cream, an apple-berry pie, pomegranate juice and sprite. Quite the mix, right?
So when we got back, we immediately had the pie and ice cream, which was delicious. Followed by the strawberries and ice cream. We did things just a little backwards, but that's ok.
Brittany dyed Christeen's hair while I made my garlic and herb mashed potatoes and famous popcorn. Which now that they figured out that I can cook, they were a little upset that I was holding out on them all this time. Ha ha. But during all this we were just chatting and listening to my completely random iTunes selection.
Once Christeen's hair was done, it was movie time. Which was another adventure all in itself. First we needed to agree on a movie, which after lots of suggestions it ended up being Hook. But then it was the quest to find which one of our sites had it. We spent most of the beginning talking about all the Peter Pan movies in general, and then about the different actors in Hook. For instance: in the latest PP movie, they had to rebuild the window four times because the boy who played Peter kept growing, the pirate sent to the boo box was Glen Close, and the boy who plays Rufio is also in Take the Lead. We didn't even get half way through because of starting it so late and waiting for the parts to load.
Although we only got around 3 hours of sleep, a girls' night in combined with pi day: priceless!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
A parent's worries
I had this paper to write for my Families, Children and Welfare class that I chose to write about my aunt and her role as a parent of a special needs child. I had her answers from my interview with her, then I just had to write the paper. For the introduction I decided to form the link between all parents based on their worries/concerns for their children. I give my mom a call expecting serious concerns like food, shelter, clothes, that sort of thing instead here's how the conversation went...
Me: Mom, what were you and dad worried about as parents when we were growing up?
Mom: I am worried that you're too spend too much time on the internet instead of experiencing the real life outside. I'm worried that you're too dependent on me to help with homework.
Me: When we were little, and I'm not a parent so I can't answer!
Mom: Ok, I was worried that Liz didn't know how to button a button; you know she was three years old before she could do it. I had no idea because I was always doing her buttons for her in the mornings before day care because we were running late!
Me: That's not what I mean, like serious stuff. Like think back to when Liz was just born, you weren't even 27, what were you and dad worried about for her?
Mom: Well we were worried about bills and money.
Me: Yes I'm sure you were, but about Liz. Fine, go forward seven years, I'm one and Liz is seven, now what are you worried about?
Mom: I'm worried that you guys won't stop fighting.
Me: I was only one! What fighting could we be doing? Whatever, this isn't working.
Mom: You're just going to make stuff up anyway, so why were you asking me.
People think I make conversations go in circles, obviously, I get it from my mom. All I wanted was basically what I thought to begin with, but voiced by mom. Good thing this was just for the introduction because I did go ahead and ad lib anyway.
Me: Mom, what were you and dad worried about as parents when we were growing up?
Mom: I am worried that you're too spend too much time on the internet instead of experiencing the real life outside. I'm worried that you're too dependent on me to help with homework.
Me: When we were little, and I'm not a parent so I can't answer!
Mom: Ok, I was worried that Liz didn't know how to button a button; you know she was three years old before she could do it. I had no idea because I was always doing her buttons for her in the mornings before day care because we were running late!
Me: That's not what I mean, like serious stuff. Like think back to when Liz was just born, you weren't even 27, what were you and dad worried about for her?
Mom: Well we were worried about bills and money.
Me: Yes I'm sure you were, but about Liz. Fine, go forward seven years, I'm one and Liz is seven, now what are you worried about?
Mom: I'm worried that you guys won't stop fighting.
Me: I was only one! What fighting could we be doing? Whatever, this isn't working.
Mom: You're just going to make stuff up anyway, so why were you asking me.
People think I make conversations go in circles, obviously, I get it from my mom. All I wanted was basically what I thought to begin with, but voiced by mom. Good thing this was just for the introduction because I did go ahead and ad lib anyway.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
St. Patty's Day is this weekend?!?
We've known that we wanted to go to Dublin for St. Patty's Day since the beginning of February basically. Dublin does after all celebrate the saint's day second only to New York in the entire world. But did it occur to us to actually look into and book transport and accommodation when we decided this? Of course not, that would be too easy.
Originally we wanted to fly there because with Ryan Air so cheap, why not? Then early last weekend Brittany looks into the flights and there were none for Saturday. So we just agreed on our fall-back of taking the bus, which would be 4 1/2 hours on windy Irish roads . Sweet, right? So we kind of had the transport down, at that point we knew that the buses leave pretty regularly from the station, and you just buy your ticket when you get on.
Then it was down to where to sleep, for cheap, which was designated as my job. I' thought no problem, like. I'm a member of HostelWorld, it's not that hard to type in when, how many, and for how long. Definitely not so. Considering that Dublin is one of the most expensive cities in Europe and I was looking for three beds for this weekend: five days away and the weekend before St. Patrick's Day in Dublin no less, I was not all that excited about the task.
The first and cheapest hostel, in the center of Dublin, was available for both Sat and Sun. But then I caught the snag, there were only two beds. Crap. The next one was six miles out. Not bad just the idea of being outside the city wasn't so pleasing. The next cheapest hostel was close to 50 euro and further out of the city. Well for that price, I started looking at hotels then. Three hours later and a little help from Ber, I just gave up. Everything was too expensive and practically filling up before my eyes. I was going to wait and just look at it with the girls tomorrow. Well the next day a miracle definitely occurred: there was a cheap enough hostel close to the city center! We booked it without looking at the reviews.
So wish us luck that (a) the hostel is good, (b) we figure out what to do, and (c) we have an amazing time!!
Originally we wanted to fly there because with Ryan Air so cheap, why not? Then early last weekend Brittany looks into the flights and there were none for Saturday. So we just agreed on our fall-back of taking the bus, which would be 4 1/2 hours on windy Irish roads . Sweet, right? So we kind of had the transport down, at that point we knew that the buses leave pretty regularly from the station, and you just buy your ticket when you get on.
Then it was down to where to sleep, for cheap, which was designated as my job. I' thought no problem, like. I'm a member of HostelWorld, it's not that hard to type in when, how many, and for how long. Definitely not so. Considering that Dublin is one of the most expensive cities in Europe and I was looking for three beds for this weekend: five days away and the weekend before St. Patrick's Day in Dublin no less, I was not all that excited about the task.
The first and cheapest hostel, in the center of Dublin, was available for both Sat and Sun. But then I caught the snag, there were only two beds. Crap. The next one was six miles out. Not bad just the idea of being outside the city wasn't so pleasing. The next cheapest hostel was close to 50 euro and further out of the city. Well for that price, I started looking at hotels then. Three hours later and a little help from Ber, I just gave up. Everything was too expensive and practically filling up before my eyes. I was going to wait and just look at it with the girls tomorrow. Well the next day a miracle definitely occurred: there was a cheap enough hostel close to the city center! We booked it without looking at the reviews.
So wish us luck that (a) the hostel is good, (b) we figure out what to do, and (c) we have an amazing time!!
Sunday, March 9, 2008
My Irish family
Like I said before I chose to live in a home-stay, meaning an Irish family who unluckily agreed to have me for the semester, actually to start I guess it really was just a business arrangement so to speak because I do pay rent, but now I am truly part of the family. In a way I guess I'm an honorary Stone.
The Stones are as follows:
John is my host dad. He's a carpenter and self-employed, doing mostly kitchens. He's missing a tooth due to a golf ball when he was little. (But unlike my dad he doesn't have a fake one, he just has a readjusted smile) He really likes movies, he downloads a bunch all the time, which is wonderful because then I get to watch them! He's the primary chef of the house and makes amazing dinners. So far my favorite is this pork steak and stuffing, with of course potatoes, followed by strawberry flan, reserved for special occasions but deliciously worth the wait.
Ber is my host mom. She works as a caregiver in a nursing home and is taking some college courses. She loves her tv shows (various antique shows, some soaps, the CSI's, and others). She was the one who got me hooked on Prison Break (which I have finished) and I think I'm going to move onto House now. But she reads a lot too, every few days I see a different book in the kitchen. She likes to joke around a lot, she's very funny, even if I'm the one being made fun of, but we really do all take turns with that.
Rebecca is their daughter. She's 22 and not around all that much. She works a lot as a waitress and is getting ready to go to school to get a degree. She's nice enough when she is here. And she has invited me out with her and her friends, so one of these nights I'm going to take her up on it, just so far we've had conflicting schedules.
Leonard is their son. He's 16 and a beanpole. He mostly just keeps to himself. I didn't even meet him til after my second day being here. He's generally quiet but when he does talk, he mumbles a lot, and he usually has to repeat himself before I can understand what he said. Not so much any more, but apparently before I came he never talked like. Me and Jana give him such a hard time, only because it is so easy. And he loves to point out differences between the Irish pronunciations and the American ones.
Jana is the other student who lives here too. She's 16 and from Germany. She goes to secondary school in Cork city so she has to take the bus everyday just like me. She also plays judo, and is really good at it; so far she's won two medals from her competitions. She is constantly reading, because she really enjoys it and she doesn't like tv or movies. We get along really well.
So that's the fam. Us kids all have our own rooms. I'm downstairs, but everyone else is upstairs. John and Ber host various other short-term students too, for as short as a couple nights (like a weekend generally) or as long as a whole week. When those students come they stay in Leonard's room, and I'm not all that sure where he goes, but it all works out.
I really do consider myself part of the family. I feel like John and Ber treat me like a second daughter and Leonard and Jana pretty much think of me as a sister so it's great! It's a little weird how much they kind of mirror everyone at home, but I really lucked out!
The Stones are as follows:
John is my host dad. He's a carpenter and self-employed, doing mostly kitchens. He's missing a tooth due to a golf ball when he was little. (But unlike my dad he doesn't have a fake one, he just has a readjusted smile) He really likes movies, he downloads a bunch all the time, which is wonderful because then I get to watch them! He's the primary chef of the house and makes amazing dinners. So far my favorite is this pork steak and stuffing, with of course potatoes, followed by strawberry flan, reserved for special occasions but deliciously worth the wait.
Ber is my host mom. She works as a caregiver in a nursing home and is taking some college courses. She loves her tv shows (various antique shows, some soaps, the CSI's, and others). She was the one who got me hooked on Prison Break (which I have finished) and I think I'm going to move onto House now. But she reads a lot too, every few days I see a different book in the kitchen. She likes to joke around a lot, she's very funny, even if I'm the one being made fun of, but we really do all take turns with that.
Rebecca is their daughter. She's 22 and not around all that much. She works a lot as a waitress and is getting ready to go to school to get a degree. She's nice enough when she is here. And she has invited me out with her and her friends, so one of these nights I'm going to take her up on it, just so far we've had conflicting schedules.
Leonard is their son. He's 16 and a beanpole. He mostly just keeps to himself. I didn't even meet him til after my second day being here. He's generally quiet but when he does talk, he mumbles a lot, and he usually has to repeat himself before I can understand what he said. Not so much any more, but apparently before I came he never talked like. Me and Jana give him such a hard time, only because it is so easy. And he loves to point out differences between the Irish pronunciations and the American ones.
Jana is the other student who lives here too. She's 16 and from Germany. She goes to secondary school in Cork city so she has to take the bus everyday just like me. She also plays judo, and is really good at it; so far she's won two medals from her competitions. She is constantly reading, because she really enjoys it and she doesn't like tv or movies. We get along really well.
So that's the fam. Us kids all have our own rooms. I'm downstairs, but everyone else is upstairs. John and Ber host various other short-term students too, for as short as a couple nights (like a weekend generally) or as long as a whole week. When those students come they stay in Leonard's room, and I'm not all that sure where he goes, but it all works out.
I really do consider myself part of the family. I feel like John and Ber treat me like a second daughter and Leonard and Jana pretty much think of me as a sister so it's great! It's a little weird how much they kind of mirror everyone at home, but I really lucked out!
What am I forgetting?
So inevitably I always forget something. It doesn't matter where I'm going or how long I'm going to be there, I will always absentmindedly leave something behind. That's why I have an obsession with checklists because that way maybe I won't forget something or as much, but definitely not the case.
We were driving to the airport and I didn't have the feeling that I forgot something, which was extremely strange, since that never happens. Mom starts running down the list of things: passport-yes this time I had it, in hand, won't ever lose that again (ok so I'll try not to at least). Money and cards- check, in my wallet, in my suitcase, and unfortunately in the stupid, extremely uncomfortable, money belt under my shirt. Contact numbers and whatnot for when I reached Ireland, which were folded up with my passport. Medicine- yes the various over the counter tylenol, ibuprofen, lysine, you name it I had it. Computer stuff- a definite check, I love my macbook, especially when flying so as not to get as bored as quick.
But as I'm rummaging around in my carry on and the folders within it, I suddenly realize the most important thing after my passport.
My acceptance letter. That's what I didn't have. We were in Wilder right before 275, and in my head, I knew that mom would turn around. We still had enough time, I was pretty sure that I knew where it was, but she just kept going. I was so mad. I needed that letter for the passport check. That letter enabled me to actually leave the airport. Mom didn't seem bothered that I didn't have it. I did have another important document proving that I was going to be studying, that should be enough. "Besides," she says "if need be I can scan it and then email it to you. If it's such a big deal you can pull up your email and show it to them." Only my mom would suggest this.
So obviously we just kept going to the airport and I just tried to push it out of my mind, which I did all until I was standing in line at the passport check and all the other students had their acceptance letters and I didn't. Inside, I was freaking out. I step up to the desk and I hand him my passport and then he asks if I'm studying which I say yes. Then there it was, he asked for my acceptance letter. Crap. My heart starts racing as I tell him how I forgot it; yes I knew that I needed it to register with the garda (police), and that my mom was sending it to me via email; and that all I had was a letter from my university at home saying that I was financially stable to be in Ireland for the semester. He wasn't mean, but he wasn't sympathetic either, just kind of annoyed that here was yet another stupid American that would be in Ireland for the next five months. He did make sure to let me know that I messed up big time by not having that acceptance letter but he stamped my passport and said I had one month to get my letter and register.
All in all, it wasn't the end of the world, just close to it. Maybe someday I can have a travel experience where I don't forget anything.
Well, I'll keep my fingers crossed.
We were driving to the airport and I didn't have the feeling that I forgot something, which was extremely strange, since that never happens. Mom starts running down the list of things: passport-yes this time I had it, in hand, won't ever lose that again (ok so I'll try not to at least). Money and cards- check, in my wallet, in my suitcase, and unfortunately in the stupid, extremely uncomfortable, money belt under my shirt. Contact numbers and whatnot for when I reached Ireland, which were folded up with my passport. Medicine- yes the various over the counter tylenol, ibuprofen, lysine, you name it I had it. Computer stuff- a definite check, I love my macbook, especially when flying so as not to get as bored as quick.
But as I'm rummaging around in my carry on and the folders within it, I suddenly realize the most important thing after my passport.
My acceptance letter. That's what I didn't have. We were in Wilder right before 275, and in my head, I knew that mom would turn around. We still had enough time, I was pretty sure that I knew where it was, but she just kept going. I was so mad. I needed that letter for the passport check. That letter enabled me to actually leave the airport. Mom didn't seem bothered that I didn't have it. I did have another important document proving that I was going to be studying, that should be enough. "Besides," she says "if need be I can scan it and then email it to you. If it's such a big deal you can pull up your email and show it to them." Only my mom would suggest this.
So obviously we just kept going to the airport and I just tried to push it out of my mind, which I did all until I was standing in line at the passport check and all the other students had their acceptance letters and I didn't. Inside, I was freaking out. I step up to the desk and I hand him my passport and then he asks if I'm studying which I say yes. Then there it was, he asked for my acceptance letter. Crap. My heart starts racing as I tell him how I forgot it; yes I knew that I needed it to register with the garda (police), and that my mom was sending it to me via email; and that all I had was a letter from my university at home saying that I was financially stable to be in Ireland for the semester. He wasn't mean, but he wasn't sympathetic either, just kind of annoyed that here was yet another stupid American that would be in Ireland for the next five months. He did make sure to let me know that I messed up big time by not having that acceptance letter but he stamped my passport and said I had one month to get my letter and register.
All in all, it wasn't the end of the world, just close to it. Maybe someday I can have a travel experience where I don't forget anything.
Well, I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
How long have you been here, like?
Jana asks when I start to turn down the wrong street to get to the Post Office. The answer: two months. I have been in Ireland for two months. It's kinda weird that I can call Ireland my home, but that's what it is, and I love it here. It's grand. Getting to this point is another story though.
Usually, I'm not one to stress until the absolute last minute, I tend to let everyone else stress before me. But preparing for this semester was a whole new affair.
I actually turned in my application October 1, almost a month before the deadline, imagine. Then a month later I knew that i was accepted thanks to a forwarded email from my study abroad advisor, Amy, from UCC saying that they actually sent the packets the 18th. Awesome, I thought but where was it? For the next two weeks I was frantically asking mom every night if it came, worried that it probably did and it just got accidentally shoved someplace (like my governor's scholar information back in high school). I also kept hounding the Center of International Programs to see if another could be mailed to my campus address. Then a few days before leaving for Florida for Thanksgiving I got my acceptance packet! What a relief that was.
So I had tangible evidence that I was going to Ireland. The next thing that I had to focus my attention on was where to live. Basically for the remainder of the semester I was torn between living in an apartment--living with students my own age, tempting my luck with roommates, city location, buying food...-- or a homestay--living with a family, having my own room, commuting to school, having the luxury of breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday. I really wanted to do the home-stay but at the same time, I wanted to be with other students. Also after a study abroad meeting, the student with our group didn't even know what I was talking about, meaning that basically no one did that. However after basically EVERY one I talked to (teachers, family, friends) told me to do the home-stay, that's what I did. That and when I finally made up my mind, I was going to be in Ireland in ten days and by that point the good apartments would definitely no longer be available.
So it was all settled by Christmas. Really all that was left was approving classes, that I would do through email since I didn't get to it when i was at school. And packing, which no matter how much mom bothered me about it, i wouldn't start until the night before my flight.
Usually, I'm not one to stress until the absolute last minute, I tend to let everyone else stress before me. But preparing for this semester was a whole new affair.
I actually turned in my application October 1, almost a month before the deadline, imagine. Then a month later I knew that i was accepted thanks to a forwarded email from my study abroad advisor, Amy, from UCC saying that they actually sent the packets the 18th. Awesome, I thought but where was it? For the next two weeks I was frantically asking mom every night if it came, worried that it probably did and it just got accidentally shoved someplace (like my governor's scholar information back in high school). I also kept hounding the Center of International Programs to see if another could be mailed to my campus address. Then a few days before leaving for Florida for Thanksgiving I got my acceptance packet! What a relief that was.
So I had tangible evidence that I was going to Ireland. The next thing that I had to focus my attention on was where to live. Basically for the remainder of the semester I was torn between living in an apartment--living with students my own age, tempting my luck with roommates, city location, buying food...-- or a homestay--living with a family, having my own room, commuting to school, having the luxury of breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday. I really wanted to do the home-stay but at the same time, I wanted to be with other students. Also after a study abroad meeting, the student with our group didn't even know what I was talking about, meaning that basically no one did that. However after basically EVERY one I talked to (teachers, family, friends) told me to do the home-stay, that's what I did. That and when I finally made up my mind, I was going to be in Ireland in ten days and by that point the good apartments would definitely no longer be available.
So it was all settled by Christmas. Really all that was left was approving classes, that I would do through email since I didn't get to it when i was at school. And packing, which no matter how much mom bothered me about it, i wouldn't start until the night before my flight.
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