The First Week of Real Life

I did laundry today.  After five trips back and forth (such a confused American), I brought it home.  Actually, it's not quite finished--the drier let me down so I now have clothes hanging all over my room.

For dinner tonight, we made chicken curry pasta, with veggies. Yummy yummy!  Great culinary success.

Classes started Monday:  My Early Start course (through mid-Sept.) is "Musics in Ireland."  So far we have had a dance workshop, including set, ceili, and swing dancing; played the javanese gamelan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamelan --I got to hit the second biggest one!); sung feminist Irish folk songs in class; and listened to a good bit of Handel's Messiah (which premiered in Dublin! 1741.).  I love it.

After spending two hours standing in line at the Garda (police) headquarters yesterday, I am officially immigrated and can live here through January!  (No worries Mom, my plane ticket is still for December.)

Last night went to a pub whose name is in Irish, so that I can never remember it.  But they have traditional music most nights, and it was so much fun! Guitar, banjo, pipe, box (accordian) and some very loud voices. :) And towards the end, a different kind of classic:  Flight of the Conchords' "Business Time."

My shopping list hasn't changed much since Davidson:  bread, nutella.  Milk is a new addition--and it's absolutely delicious here! Goodbye, skim!  Good thing we walk miles every day. :)

I've met some girls who know folks in the Christian Union at UCC, and am excited to check it out with them once real classes start (still three weeks).

Not much work to speak of yet, but all assessing is done by essays here...ah.

And for an English major, I sure like bullet points (above).

Thanks for sticking with this, and as always, for your prayers.

A Fresher and a Rebel

This morning, at 10:40, I found myself standing outside the gates of UCC (University College Cork) when a car drove up.  A man stuck his head out the window and said, "are you American?"  I said "Yes!" and then we all laughed and I got in the car for a ride to church. :)  Really appreciating the community of believers today--I found these folks through a chain of connections to a family at my church in Greensboro.  It was a Baptist church, and pretty small, but oh so friendly (I even got to hold a baby :) ).  And boy do they love to pray!  The service was about 2 hours (felt right at home, Christ Central), but it was like a drink of fresh water.  So far this country seems to have very few evangelical Christians, and it was great to worship with these.  Also met several students at UCC who gave me advice such as "don't carry a map on campus."  And when I laughed, "No, really.  They'll point you out as a fresher."  She was dead serious.  (don't you love the word "fresher", though?)

The other highlight of the day was a visit to the pub in the mid-afternoon to watch "The Match."  That is, the Gaellic Football semi-finals match between Dublin and Cork.  We (Cork) were down the whole game (or match), but came back at the end and won!! Much excitement. We'll play in the championships in September. 
Here is what I can make out of the rules of Gaellic Football:  You may kick the ball.  You may carry the ball for three steps, then you must either dribble it or bounce it off your foot.  You may bump it like a volleyball.  You may throw it.  You may run up to someone who has the ball and wrap your arms around them in order to hinder their movement.  You may (or may not) get a foul called if the person you just tackled falls to the ground.  Scoring is done either between the endposts, like US football, for one point, or in the soccer goal, for three points.  Calvinball, anybody?

Ok, time for bed, as classes start tomorrow!!  Just the early start program, so we're in class about 9.30 to 12.30.

Goodnight :)

Cork!

Finally we have reached the final destination, our apartments in Cork.  I have been "moving in" this afternoon, which so far entails leaving my luggage in the room, taking a brief tour of the college and the city, buying a very cheap mobile phone, and getting lost for a couple of hours, before dinner at Subway (we were tired).  Now that I'm finally back in the room I'm of course on facebook, and updating this, rather than unpacking.  But it's so nice to have a room to myself, after sharing the one at the hostel with five other girls!
The last couple of days in Dublin were spent in a crash course in Irish culture and schooling, led by the Arcadia staff, the highlight of which was the talk by the Garda (or police) on safety. ("Maybe we should be a little stricter on jaywalking, hunh?")
Further exploration of the city led us to the Guinness brewery (all 7 floors--people walk like crazy in Ireland), and to the Book of Kells, an ancient manuscript of the four gospels, with intricate decorations.
Last night, as a final hurrah in Dublin, we saw Riverdance! It was absolutely amazing.  Sort of took you through the history of Ireland, from its celtic roots to the famine to Easter Uprising to the rise of Jazz in the 20th century.  Everyone was trying to dance afterwards.
Now I'm in my room in Cork, still putting off unpacking.  Most people are going out soon, but I need a restful evening...also I'm a bit homesick.  It's been really fun making friends with the other girls on the program (getting over jet lag is a bonding experience), but I miss y'all. And sometimes I feel really different here (besides the American accent, I mean :) ).
But I've had this in my head all week:
"On God I rest my salvation
my fortress will not be shaken"
Many thanks to Shane and Shane and to King David for an encouraging reminder.  No matter how much is changing around me, I will rest on God, and He won't change.

Oscar Wilde, "traditional Dublin coddle", and of course, Guinness...

Today was much better than yesterday...sleep, new friends, and a small knowledge of the streets have improved things.
I saw Oscar Wilde today!  He's lounging lazily on a rock in a green vest in Merrion Square.  He's just so colorful. :)  A quotation of his nearby:  "Who, being loved, is poor?"  I agree.
A highlight of Dublin has been the Chocolate Cafes everywhere.  Oh my.  Had some heavenly drinking chocolate today!
For dinner tonight, I had "traditional Dublin coddle"--a sort of stew with much sausage and potatoes.  Felt lovely after walking in the drizzle.  And, I think because we're tourists, a Guinness came free with the meal...I hope it counts if I only had a few centimeters. ?  I liked it at first, but soon got over it. :)
Still quite tired, so goodnight!

Today, today...

As with all international travel, the long day that began Saturday morning is finally ending...yes! Bedtime!  But before I close my eyes at the unheard-of hour of 8:27 pm (it's still quite light out), a bit about The Longest Day.
To begin things, my suitcase weighed 64 pounds, and so Dad and George were dispatched home to find a duffle, which they accomplished with admirable efficiency (they brought me two choices).  Thanks!
I then departed, with only a few tears (the security agent was a bit embarrassed).
A huge blessing of the day was meeting up with Megan, and later with Brenna, two girls on my program also arriving a day early.  It was lovely to have someone to talk to, and someone to keep me from getting lost on the way into Dublin.
Blessing two:  Gorgeous weather!! Blue skies, lost of sun, and about 70 in the afternoon (or about 20, if you like Celsius, which they do over here). We explored for a good part of the day, trying to keep ourselves awake.

Today I have learned:
What a "bap" is.  Anyone else?
That "The Spire" is actually a dangerous structure designed to rid us of our wallets.
That I cannot manage an Irish accent.  Going to wait awhile before I try again.
That I can't form very coherent sentences on two hour of sleep, but
That God is here too, even when it's all unfamiliar.
(Well, there are three McDonalds around the corner...)

Off to dream of wheelbarrows on streets broad and narrow!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow!

A rain jacket, James Joyce's The Dubliners, and hundreds of socks: I think I'm ready to go.
I leave tomorrow afternoon, from Greensboro, through Phildelphia, to Dublin, where I'll be for orientation until Friday. Then Cork!
I'm so excited, but very very nervous at the same time.  You have no idea how long it took for me to decide what to wear on the plane.  But I'm ready to explore, and be independent, and meet new people, and get out of the NC heat!
I need to get to bed, so this will be short. But please do pray for me!  I'm going to be out of the comfort bubble of good Christian fellowship and support with which I've been blessed my entire life, so please pray that I will meet other Christians, and that I'll rely more fully on God than on others, which I tend to do.
Pray also for safety, and my nerves. :)

I will leave you with a few burning questions about my trip...
Will I be able to understand the Irish accent?
Will I be in great danger for wearing green or orange (Catholic or Protestant) colors?
Can I take a train to Scotland? ;)
Will I ever make it to a second Guinness?

Stay posted :)

Happy Friday the 13th!