As this Monday comes to an end, I am wrapped in my big sweater on the couch... with lots of sociology and american drama reading ahead of me! I actually picked up a 6th class in order to make the transfer of credits go smoother, so I'm a bit busier than the average TCD student, but this isn't really that new for me considering the fact that at PC I am just running all over the place all the time! I'm taking Art in Ireland, which is really interesting and not a ton of work. It's good to learn about while I'm here, and even after one class I noticed different things walking home from class.
I had my first tutorial experience this past week, which reminded me of Civ Seminar at PC. We had an assigned reading, and our TA Paul lead us in a discussion. We did work in groups and shared our opinions on the subject, which for this week was about how to rejuvenate formerly industrialized regions. That's what we had been discussing in lecture the past week, and my professor brought up the subject of Detroit. He compared formerly industrial cities in the US and in Europe, and his thoughts on the American response to the financial crisis in Detroit were very interesting to hear, but I disagreed with him. During tutorial, TA Paul asked my thoughts (I'm the only American in my tutorial), and we had a good conversation and I think I offered an opinion very different from that of my lecturer.
My European Societies class (the one mentioned above) is a lot of work, but I am learning a lot from it. The beginning of the class was very economically focused, which is very different than anything else I've ever studied, and it got me thinking about money. My professor mentioned something to the point of the transfer of money internationally, but that it isn't actual cash being transfered. A number somewhere in electronic limbo increases or decreases. It got me thinking about money, and how we value so much in our lives based on this unattainable number-- it blows my mind a little bit, actually. Who decides where that number is stored? How is it magically changed so that everyone (other banks, creditors, investors, etc) can see it? Things to consider...
Speaking of money decreasing, I booked a few trips last week!! This weekend I'm headed to Oxford with Danielle to see Tom and Kate, two very good PC friends of ours who have been at Oxford since October. I can't wait to see them! The next weekend I'm heading to Belfast with my program, and the weekend after I'll be in London to visit Kaitlin and Kristy, ND friends :). We also have a trip in the works to go visit Namur, Belgium, where St. Julie Billiart is from, and I think I may go to Paris for a few days beforehand in order to fall in love with the city again and live in the Louvre. I'm waiting to book because my Dad is coming to visit and I'm not quite sure of the exact dates, but I'm so excited to see him!!!
This weekend my friend Sarah and I wandered around Dublin (after Queen of Tarts breakfast... if they'd let me move in there, I would in a heartbeat) and came upon an EXCELLENT farmer's market really close to my apartment! I got some great produce and delicious hummus and bread, and everything was so inexpensive! And organic! I was quite a happy camper when I got home :).
Last night I got to skype with my friends Kelly, Emily, and Chris from the Campus Ministry Center... and Fr. Cuddy made a surprise appearance!! It was so great to talk to all of them (I miss them so much!), especially since I had gone to mass at Trinity for the first time yesterday, and it was nothing like PC. The chapel is beautiful, and we sat antiphonally (facing each other... $5 word, thank you Fr. Cuddy!) like the Dominicans do which made me very happy, but there were not many students there at all and I definitely didn't feel the community feeling that I do at Providence. I think I'm going to hunt for a parish for the next time I'm in Dublin for mass (which isn't for almost a month!)
I'll end this fairly long post with some Irish observations I thought you might be interested in:
Carrying books to class: Some students use backpacks, I have a giant shoulder bag that my mom got me for Christmas that I use, but some Irish students use sports duffel bags to carry their books! It always looks like they're off to practice a sport, but in reality they're just on their way to class! It's something I still haven't gotten quite used to.
"Jorts," or jean shorts: Yes, it is January. Yes, Irish girls wear jorts/other types of shorts. With tights under them. Very frequently. I might have missed some fashion memo, but I think it looks kinda rough...
Library Hours: PC, you think it can be annoying to have to leave the library at 2? Try 10! Every night of the week!* Except Saturday, when it closes at 6, and Sunday, when there are no librarians there and the library closes at 4:30. You can go in and use books there, but you can't check any books out or access the ones that are reserved by professors. That's how I do most of my work, but since most Irish students go home on the weekends, it's not expected that students are in the library on the weekends. This makes me feel better about planning my weekend trips!!
* There is a 24-hour reading room and computer space, but it's not very big and a little sketchy. Plus, I wouldn't want to walk home to my apartment very late!
Shoes: Irish girls have an amazing ability to walk on cobblestones while wearing heels. This is a talent that American girls do not possess, no matter how hard we try. I left my high heels at home due to sheer lack of suitcase space, but boy am I glad! I think I've just mastered the art of walking on them in my TOMS, let alone stilettos.
That's all for now... I hope all is well in the states, and I hope to hear from you soon!
xo Julia
Monday, January 31, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Oh What A Day
Look! I promised to update more frequently, and I am! Woohoo!
The past 24 hours has been quite a whirlwind- I am finally starting to have work academically, and last night was a bit of a wake-up call. I didn't have reading lists for my classes until recently, and last night I realized that today I had a seminar that required me to be able to discuss three different plays! Remember when I was excited about reading more plays? Me too... I didn't really remember it last night, though. I read Dancing at Lughnasa and Philadelphia, Here I Come by Brian Friel, who is one of my alltime favorite playwrights, as well as Bailegangaire (you try to pronounce that one... bet you ten bucks you'll butcher it just as badly as I did) by Tom Murphy. I enjoyed reading them, but wished I had been given some advance notice so that I could have taken my time with them and really allowed them to sink in. I now have reading lists for everything and have made a nice schedule for myself so that doesn't happen again! I'll be spending a good part of the weekend in the library to work ahead, so that when I want to travel on weekends it won't mean that I'm slacking on my work.
Speaking of traveling... I have plans! So far I know for sure when I'm going to Oxford, Belfast, London, and Paris, as well Brussels and Namur, Belgium, to visit where St. Julie Billiart was from (who founded the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, who are affiliated with my high school!) with a bunch of friends from ND. Planning trips certainly made me realize how quickly time here will fly, and I'm very excited to travel. Like I said, I'll be here for this weekend to get everything together (and mayybeee go see The Field at the Olympia Theatre, which I've heard is phenomenal) so I'll be more organized for the following weekends.
Short post for now... I seem to be using blogging as a means of procrastination. I have lots of reading to do! I am going to a Ceili tonight (traditional Irish music and dance!) with my orientation group, which I'm really excited about, but also have a lot of work to get done, so I don't think I'll be able to stay for very long unfortunately. For those of you on the east coast, stay warm and enjoy your snow days! And root for Princeton to have one... my mom has yet to have a day off for snow! That's no fun!
Love and Prayers,
Julia
The past 24 hours has been quite a whirlwind- I am finally starting to have work academically, and last night was a bit of a wake-up call. I didn't have reading lists for my classes until recently, and last night I realized that today I had a seminar that required me to be able to discuss three different plays! Remember when I was excited about reading more plays? Me too... I didn't really remember it last night, though. I read Dancing at Lughnasa and Philadelphia, Here I Come by Brian Friel, who is one of my alltime favorite playwrights, as well as Bailegangaire (you try to pronounce that one... bet you ten bucks you'll butcher it just as badly as I did) by Tom Murphy. I enjoyed reading them, but wished I had been given some advance notice so that I could have taken my time with them and really allowed them to sink in. I now have reading lists for everything and have made a nice schedule for myself so that doesn't happen again! I'll be spending a good part of the weekend in the library to work ahead, so that when I want to travel on weekends it won't mean that I'm slacking on my work.
Speaking of traveling... I have plans! So far I know for sure when I'm going to Oxford, Belfast, London, and Paris, as well Brussels and Namur, Belgium, to visit where St. Julie Billiart was from (who founded the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, who are affiliated with my high school!) with a bunch of friends from ND. Planning trips certainly made me realize how quickly time here will fly, and I'm very excited to travel. Like I said, I'll be here for this weekend to get everything together (and mayybeee go see The Field at the Olympia Theatre, which I've heard is phenomenal) so I'll be more organized for the following weekends.
Short post for now... I seem to be using blogging as a means of procrastination. I have lots of reading to do! I am going to a Ceili tonight (traditional Irish music and dance!) with my orientation group, which I'm really excited about, but also have a lot of work to get done, so I don't think I'll be able to stay for very long unfortunately. For those of you on the east coast, stay warm and enjoy your snow days! And root for Princeton to have one... my mom has yet to have a day off for snow! That's no fun!
Love and Prayers,
Julia
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Uncharted
I am SO so sorry that I haven't updated in over a week! My first week of classes (and weekend in Dublin) were SO busy between classes, reading, running errands and visiting with friends that I have neglected my blog. Here's a nice long update, coming straight to you from the Leckey library at TCD :).
Imagine the typical college movie: there are hundreds of students in a giant lecture hall. Some are sleeping, some are passing notes, some are taking notes, and in 2011, some are checking their facebook on their laptops pretending to take notes.
This is not the college life I'm used to. Other than civ, my classes at PC are small, somewhere in the 15-20 student range. Classes are predominantly seminar-style, and even if it's a lecture, students still ask questions and discuss things with the professor. By the end of the semester, I expect that the professor knows my name.
My experience at TCD so far has been the former... and my first class, a giant Geology lecture, was far from anything I have ever experienced. I walked into the "lecture theatre" (that should have clued me in to what I was about to experience) and saw a GIANT room with lots of empty seats. I sat down near a few Irish students, got my notebook out, got myself situated, and then, it was like that scene in the Lion King when the wildebeest are stampeding. Students poured in the doors and filled the lecture hall completely around me. Apparently, being 10 minutes early to class isn't as cool as being exactly on time, and people filled in all the empty spaces, were greeting their friends, and pulled out their computers to take notes.
There I sat with my hot pink notebook and pen, by myself, noting that I should probably bring my laptop to the next class. Have you heard the expression about being alone in a crowded room? That was me. As the lecture started, even more students arrived, to the point that some sat on the floor in the aisles in order to take notes. I realized that I was not the only one with a notebook (and will continue to take notes the old-fashioned way, I learn much better by writing things down!), but it amazed me that a) there were so many people in my class and b) how late they walked into the lecture! I guess if you have a far walk across campus you have a few minutes of a grace period, but walking in 25 minutes late to a 50 minute lecture seems a bit excessive to me.
My other classes were far less overwhelming. I have no class on Tuesday (in five semesters at PC I tried to arrange my schedule so that there would be one day I wouldn't have class, and here I am at Trinity and I have it without even trying), but four on Wednesday, two on Thursday, and one on Friday morning. It's definitely a great schedule, and I'm slowly learning that I have all this free time because I'm supposed to be spending it in the library reading... got it. So now I bring my computer with me to school every day and work on reading for class between lectures.
The library here (have I mentioned that it is three libraries in one, connected by what I like to refer to as an underground city? I have literally gotten lost down there.) is a bit overwhelming-- I absolutely have to use it, but it's hard to navigate, and it has me missing my nights at Club Phil (as I lovingly refer to Phillips Memorial Library at PC).
My drama classes are much closer to what I'd have at Providence- maybe 20 students in a class, sitting in a circle, with one lecturer. They're more discussion based than my other lecture classes, and I'm really excited to be reading so many plays while I'm here! I feel like I am very lacking in the breadth of plays I have read, so taking three text-based classes will hopefully put me up to speed. I'm taking "Theatre and Ireland," which is very interesting but involves a lot of Irish history that I wish I knew more about, "Women in Theatre," which involves a lot of Feminist theory and is going to be taught very differently than I think it would be at Providence, and "American Drama," because I'm interested to see what the Irish perspective on American Drama will be. It does make me a little nervous, though. I hope I'm not the token American in the class who the lecturer asks everything! I think I have a good knowledge of American Drama, but I definitely have a lot to learn as well. I'll be reading a few plays for that class that I've read for others, but like I said, I'm interested to hear an outside opinion on the topic.
I'm also taking a sociology class called "European Societies" for my Public and Community Service diversity requirement, and that's a really interesting class. I'm enjoying analyzing the different societies we discuss, and mentally comparing them to the US, but sometimes I worry I'm being ethnocentric. It's also somewhat frustrating to just discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the societies- the PSP major in me keeps waiting for the professor to ask how we suggest we solve these problems. While I'd like to be coming up with solutions, it will be good analytical experience for me to be thinking about the actual problems and advantages of certain communities.
My first real weekend as a TCD student brought a visit from a good friend from Providence-- Danielle! She was one of my roommates sophomore year and is a fellow Theatre major abroad in Ireland. She's studying at University College Cork for the semester, and it was cool to hear about her experiences there. She has Irish roommates and is more immersed into Irish culture than I am, so it was interesting to compare, and great to have a piece of home with me :). We did the typical touristy things-- Book of Kells, Guinness Factory, Bewley's for breakfast, shopping on Grafton, and we went to what is becoming my group of friends' favorite pub, O'Donoghue's. There was great live music on Friday night, and we were upstairs with a big group of friends from my program and had a lot of fun.
Saturday night was absolutely incredible. We got to see Aragh-Na-Pogue at the Abbey Theatre, the national theatre of Ireland. It's an amazing place and it was a great play, and I was happy to be able to go with someone else who was just as excited as I was to be there. When I spent time in Dublin with my parents in high school, we saw Brian Friel's The Aristocrats, which was phenomenal. It was the same trip (maybe even the same day) I decided I wanted to go to TCD, and I couldn't have been happier to be back.
We also went to breakfast at one of my all-time favorite places in the entire world, a lovely little tea/scones shop called the Queen of Tarts. It is absolutely DELICIOUS food (best scone I've ever had in my life), and wonderful atmosphere. Like most things in Dublin, the only way to describe it is lovely. I would move in there if I could, and I have a feeling that leaving there will be very difficult come May.
Monday was also a day of visitors- I had lunch with another PC friend in Ireland, Maggie, who is studying at University College Dublin for the semester. We had a great lunch and it was good to catch up with her, especially after Danielle left and I was craving some PC in my life. She's lucky enough not to have class on Mondays or Fridays, so she had a day to herself that she could come in and visit me. Monday night I met up with Kathleen, my friend from NDA who's here, and Amy Fizzano, our NDA friend who was visiting! We had dinner in a great pub in Temple Bar and then met up for lunch again today (Queen of Tarts...I'm addicted...), and we hung out while Kathleen was in class. I really hadn't seen Amy in a while, and was so glad to be able to catch up with her and show her "my town" (in her words).
It's been a whirlwind week, to say the least. Nothing like anything I've ever done before.. I'm in uncharted waters, but I think I will be able to navigate them back to some sanity :).
Sorry this post was so long! I promise to update more regularly, and now that I'm getting into some type of routine that should be easier. I have a few billion plays to read, so I'm off... but I'll keep you posted! I miss you all (especially PC friends!), and can't wait to hear from you soon. Please keep me updated on what's going on in your lives, I'd love to hear about it! My Trinity College email is up and running (finally)- jtully@tcd.ie
Love and Prayers,
Julia
Imagine the typical college movie: there are hundreds of students in a giant lecture hall. Some are sleeping, some are passing notes, some are taking notes, and in 2011, some are checking their facebook on their laptops pretending to take notes.
This is not the college life I'm used to. Other than civ, my classes at PC are small, somewhere in the 15-20 student range. Classes are predominantly seminar-style, and even if it's a lecture, students still ask questions and discuss things with the professor. By the end of the semester, I expect that the professor knows my name.
My experience at TCD so far has been the former... and my first class, a giant Geology lecture, was far from anything I have ever experienced. I walked into the "lecture theatre" (that should have clued me in to what I was about to experience) and saw a GIANT room with lots of empty seats. I sat down near a few Irish students, got my notebook out, got myself situated, and then, it was like that scene in the Lion King when the wildebeest are stampeding. Students poured in the doors and filled the lecture hall completely around me. Apparently, being 10 minutes early to class isn't as cool as being exactly on time, and people filled in all the empty spaces, were greeting their friends, and pulled out their computers to take notes.
There I sat with my hot pink notebook and pen, by myself, noting that I should probably bring my laptop to the next class. Have you heard the expression about being alone in a crowded room? That was me. As the lecture started, even more students arrived, to the point that some sat on the floor in the aisles in order to take notes. I realized that I was not the only one with a notebook (and will continue to take notes the old-fashioned way, I learn much better by writing things down!), but it amazed me that a) there were so many people in my class and b) how late they walked into the lecture! I guess if you have a far walk across campus you have a few minutes of a grace period, but walking in 25 minutes late to a 50 minute lecture seems a bit excessive to me.
My other classes were far less overwhelming. I have no class on Tuesday (in five semesters at PC I tried to arrange my schedule so that there would be one day I wouldn't have class, and here I am at Trinity and I have it without even trying), but four on Wednesday, two on Thursday, and one on Friday morning. It's definitely a great schedule, and I'm slowly learning that I have all this free time because I'm supposed to be spending it in the library reading... got it. So now I bring my computer with me to school every day and work on reading for class between lectures.
The library here (have I mentioned that it is three libraries in one, connected by what I like to refer to as an underground city? I have literally gotten lost down there.) is a bit overwhelming-- I absolutely have to use it, but it's hard to navigate, and it has me missing my nights at Club Phil (as I lovingly refer to Phillips Memorial Library at PC).
My drama classes are much closer to what I'd have at Providence- maybe 20 students in a class, sitting in a circle, with one lecturer. They're more discussion based than my other lecture classes, and I'm really excited to be reading so many plays while I'm here! I feel like I am very lacking in the breadth of plays I have read, so taking three text-based classes will hopefully put me up to speed. I'm taking "Theatre and Ireland," which is very interesting but involves a lot of Irish history that I wish I knew more about, "Women in Theatre," which involves a lot of Feminist theory and is going to be taught very differently than I think it would be at Providence, and "American Drama," because I'm interested to see what the Irish perspective on American Drama will be. It does make me a little nervous, though. I hope I'm not the token American in the class who the lecturer asks everything! I think I have a good knowledge of American Drama, but I definitely have a lot to learn as well. I'll be reading a few plays for that class that I've read for others, but like I said, I'm interested to hear an outside opinion on the topic.
I'm also taking a sociology class called "European Societies" for my Public and Community Service diversity requirement, and that's a really interesting class. I'm enjoying analyzing the different societies we discuss, and mentally comparing them to the US, but sometimes I worry I'm being ethnocentric. It's also somewhat frustrating to just discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the societies- the PSP major in me keeps waiting for the professor to ask how we suggest we solve these problems. While I'd like to be coming up with solutions, it will be good analytical experience for me to be thinking about the actual problems and advantages of certain communities.
My first real weekend as a TCD student brought a visit from a good friend from Providence-- Danielle! She was one of my roommates sophomore year and is a fellow Theatre major abroad in Ireland. She's studying at University College Cork for the semester, and it was cool to hear about her experiences there. She has Irish roommates and is more immersed into Irish culture than I am, so it was interesting to compare, and great to have a piece of home with me :). We did the typical touristy things-- Book of Kells, Guinness Factory, Bewley's for breakfast, shopping on Grafton, and we went to what is becoming my group of friends' favorite pub, O'Donoghue's. There was great live music on Friday night, and we were upstairs with a big group of friends from my program and had a lot of fun.
Saturday night was absolutely incredible. We got to see Aragh-Na-Pogue at the Abbey Theatre, the national theatre of Ireland. It's an amazing place and it was a great play, and I was happy to be able to go with someone else who was just as excited as I was to be there. When I spent time in Dublin with my parents in high school, we saw Brian Friel's The Aristocrats, which was phenomenal. It was the same trip (maybe even the same day) I decided I wanted to go to TCD, and I couldn't have been happier to be back.
We also went to breakfast at one of my all-time favorite places in the entire world, a lovely little tea/scones shop called the Queen of Tarts. It is absolutely DELICIOUS food (best scone I've ever had in my life), and wonderful atmosphere. Like most things in Dublin, the only way to describe it is lovely. I would move in there if I could, and I have a feeling that leaving there will be very difficult come May.
Monday was also a day of visitors- I had lunch with another PC friend in Ireland, Maggie, who is studying at University College Dublin for the semester. We had a great lunch and it was good to catch up with her, especially after Danielle left and I was craving some PC in my life. She's lucky enough not to have class on Mondays or Fridays, so she had a day to herself that she could come in and visit me. Monday night I met up with Kathleen, my friend from NDA who's here, and Amy Fizzano, our NDA friend who was visiting! We had dinner in a great pub in Temple Bar and then met up for lunch again today (Queen of Tarts...I'm addicted...), and we hung out while Kathleen was in class. I really hadn't seen Amy in a while, and was so glad to be able to catch up with her and show her "my town" (in her words).
It's been a whirlwind week, to say the least. Nothing like anything I've ever done before.. I'm in uncharted waters, but I think I will be able to navigate them back to some sanity :).
Sorry this post was so long! I promise to update more regularly, and now that I'm getting into some type of routine that should be easier. I have a few billion plays to read, so I'm off... but I'll keep you posted! I miss you all (especially PC friends!), and can't wait to hear from you soon. Please keep me updated on what's going on in your lives, I'd love to hear about it! My Trinity College email is up and running (finally)- jtully@tcd.ie
Love and Prayers,
Julia
Monday, January 17, 2011
What Is This Feeling?
So, freshman year of college, during orientation, after all the ice breakers and team builders and tours and academic meetings, there's always a feeling of "okay, what do I do now..." Freshman year, I didn't have a blog to write in when I had that feeling, but this time, I do!
I packed my lunch, packed my school bag, got all dressed, charged all my electronic accessories, and now I'm sitting on my bed wondering what exactly I should do next. It's the first day of class, around noon, and I don't have class til 3. Shoot. I do have a few errands to run- go grab a notebook, check in with the international office at Trinity, set up my TCD email, and find my class, but that certainly won't take three hours!
As I sit here, I am listening to the bells of Christ Church (or St. Pat's Cathedral... I haven't learned to distinguish between the two yet, but I'm within a 10 minute walking distance of each), and still marveling in the place I am temporarily living. As my friend Kate, who is at Oxford for the year, says: I still geek out when I think about how old this place is. I feel like I keep saying that... but I went to the oldest pub in Ireland for lunch yesterday, which was built in 1182. That's crazy! 1182!
I'm excited to be learning more about Irish history while I'm here. I picked up a copy of James Joyce's Ulysses the other day, and as I read it and he mentions places in Dublin, I make a mental note to visit them. I also can't wait to make it to Kilmainham Jail, which is not too far from me at all, and learn about Irish patriots who spent time there.
In the words of Adam Sandler as Billy Madison... "Back to school, Back to school, to prove to Dad that I'm not fool. I got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight, I hope I don't get in a fight. Oh! Back to school... back to school... back to school."
Happy First Day of School!
Love,
Julia
I packed my lunch, packed my school bag, got all dressed, charged all my electronic accessories, and now I'm sitting on my bed wondering what exactly I should do next. It's the first day of class, around noon, and I don't have class til 3. Shoot. I do have a few errands to run- go grab a notebook, check in with the international office at Trinity, set up my TCD email, and find my class, but that certainly won't take three hours!
As I sit here, I am listening to the bells of Christ Church (or St. Pat's Cathedral... I haven't learned to distinguish between the two yet, but I'm within a 10 minute walking distance of each), and still marveling in the place I am temporarily living. As my friend Kate, who is at Oxford for the year, says: I still geek out when I think about how old this place is. I feel like I keep saying that... but I went to the oldest pub in Ireland for lunch yesterday, which was built in 1182. That's crazy! 1182!
I'm excited to be learning more about Irish history while I'm here. I picked up a copy of James Joyce's Ulysses the other day, and as I read it and he mentions places in Dublin, I make a mental note to visit them. I also can't wait to make it to Kilmainham Jail, which is not too far from me at all, and learn about Irish patriots who spent time there.
In the words of Adam Sandler as Billy Madison... "Back to school, Back to school, to prove to Dad that I'm not fool. I got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight, I hope I don't get in a fight. Oh! Back to school... back to school... back to school."
Happy First Day of School!
Love,
Julia
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Can't Help Falling in Love
Well, I am officially a student at Trinity College! Woohoo! I have my student ID, my email (except I can't really get it to work yet, I'll keep you posted...), and I am registered for two classes! I will eventually be registered for more, but like most things at TCD, the registration process is really old, and tends to be a little frustrating for American visiting students.
It's still a bit unreal for me to be walking around Dublin as a TCD student- a lot of kids growing up talk about how they're going to Harvard or Penn or whatever their dream school may be, but for me, that was Trinity. When I first set foot on campus for the with my family in eighth grade, I looked at my parents and said, "I'm going here." Several college apps and years later, here I am. It's even cooler to be at TCD as a Catholic, and as a woman. There have been two separate deans who have declared that neither Catholics nor women would ever be allowed at TCD. Now, 80% of the student body is Catholic. One dean literally said "Over my dead body will women enter Trinity College." He died four months later and is buried in front square, and the first action of the new dean was to admit women- and to this day, we do attend TCD literally over his dead body.
I think the famous alumni factor is still hitting me too-- at Orientation, the girl giving us a tour was talking about different societies we could join (clubs), and just kept talking about "Oh, Oscar Wilde was in Histories, Jonathan Swift was in that..." Oh, of course. No big deal. Not cool or anything. I am pretty sure I'll be joining the Yoga Society, the DU Players Society (the drama society), and Random Acts of Kindness Society. I'm already a part of International Students Society... I don't want to overinvolve myself like I have done at PC, but I have found that it's terribly hard to break that habit.
Another wonderful part of being settled here is seeing family and friends! I had lunch today with my cousin Paula who works and lives right outside of Dublin, and have plans to see her mom and aunt next week. It was so good to see her again (it's been a while), and I had a really fun afternoon. I have at least two other cousins here in the Dublin area, and a bunch more in the West! I'm excited to reconnect with them :). I also have some PC friends in Dublin, Galway, and Cork, and NDA friends in Galway and Dublin... so life is wonderful! I met up with Kathleen Blackney, a classmate of mine from ND, for lunch the other day. I'm so excited to get to see her more often (she goes to Elon... a long way away from PC) during the semester!
So, I hope this novelty factor doesn't wear off... because at this point, I still walk down the street and it hits me: I live in Dublin!! For real!!! Classes start Monday... which is a whole other blog post. I hope everyone's semesters at PC (and elsewhere) are wonderful, and while I'm loving every second of Dublin, I'm missing you all dearly.
Love,
Julia
It's still a bit unreal for me to be walking around Dublin as a TCD student- a lot of kids growing up talk about how they're going to Harvard or Penn or whatever their dream school may be, but for me, that was Trinity. When I first set foot on campus for the with my family in eighth grade, I looked at my parents and said, "I'm going here." Several college apps and years later, here I am. It's even cooler to be at TCD as a Catholic, and as a woman. There have been two separate deans who have declared that neither Catholics nor women would ever be allowed at TCD. Now, 80% of the student body is Catholic. One dean literally said "Over my dead body will women enter Trinity College." He died four months later and is buried in front square, and the first action of the new dean was to admit women- and to this day, we do attend TCD literally over his dead body.
I think the famous alumni factor is still hitting me too-- at Orientation, the girl giving us a tour was talking about different societies we could join (clubs), and just kept talking about "Oh, Oscar Wilde was in Histories, Jonathan Swift was in that..." Oh, of course. No big deal. Not cool or anything. I am pretty sure I'll be joining the Yoga Society, the DU Players Society (the drama society), and Random Acts of Kindness Society. I'm already a part of International Students Society... I don't want to overinvolve myself like I have done at PC, but I have found that it's terribly hard to break that habit.
Another wonderful part of being settled here is seeing family and friends! I had lunch today with my cousin Paula who works and lives right outside of Dublin, and have plans to see her mom and aunt next week. It was so good to see her again (it's been a while), and I had a really fun afternoon. I have at least two other cousins here in the Dublin area, and a bunch more in the West! I'm excited to reconnect with them :). I also have some PC friends in Dublin, Galway, and Cork, and NDA friends in Galway and Dublin... so life is wonderful! I met up with Kathleen Blackney, a classmate of mine from ND, for lunch the other day. I'm so excited to get to see her more often (she goes to Elon... a long way away from PC) during the semester!
So, I hope this novelty factor doesn't wear off... because at this point, I still walk down the street and it hits me: I live in Dublin!! For real!!! Classes start Monday... which is a whole other blog post. I hope everyone's semesters at PC (and elsewhere) are wonderful, and while I'm loving every second of Dublin, I'm missing you all dearly.
Love,
Julia
Friday, January 14, 2011
City Love
Well, Dublin continues to amaze and intrigue me every day. Our flat hasn’t had internet yet, which is why this post is a little delayed, but I’m pretty sure that it’s the only flaw of the apartment.
I live in an amazing building about 10 minutes from Trinity, 5 minutes from Grafton Street, and 3 minutes from The Gaiety Theatre. I have two roommates, Kristen and Nam, and we have two bedrooms. I am sharing the room with Kristen (who also goes to PC) that has its own bathroom and WALK-IN CLOSET, and Nam has his own room and a bathroom across the hall. My mom doesn’t think I’m going to want to come home… she may be right. I have had an absolutely amazing time so far!
I have, of course, been taking part in the pub life of Ireland- with other students in my program, we have been out in Temple Bar, to the Guinness Factory, and to a club on the River Liffey. Tonight was our first sort of roommate bonding night, where we hung out (without being attached to technology, what else could we do?!) and got to know each other. We also all happened to take some decent naps- I think jet lag finally hit!
During the day we were out and about on our own doing errands and getting ourselves all situated in the apartment, getting little necessary items as well as food shopping. I discovered a cool market with my friend Julia, and found my way over to the bank to change money all by myself. I am starting to feel like a true Dubliner- I know my way around based on landmarks. We have learned that no one in Dublin really knows too many street names, but they can still usually give you pretty good directions anyway.
Tomorrow is my first day at Trinity—I can’t wait. We walked over to campus tonight to find where we have to be in the morning, and walked around the student union, since we’re students now!!
This has honestly been so much fun already. The people in my program are a lot of fun, and I am so happy here! I definitely had mixed emotions about the whole experience, but I think it’s because I was focusing on leaving. I was leaving PC, I was leaving home, I’ll be missing birthdays and a very big anniversary for my parents, I was leaving my friends (especially seniors), and I just kept thinking about the negative- the hole in my life where PC and my American life would usually be. I hadn’t focused on the positive: I AM LIVING IN IRELAND.
I get to live in Dublin for close to six months. I am really out on my own—no meal plan to rely on, not even a place like Slavin to go grab food at- I either pay a lot for a quick sandwich or cook for myself! I LOVE to cook, so I’m actually really looking forward to that, but it also seems a little daunting. I also really love to bake, and I’m already planning my first project. Nam’s 21st birthday is next week, and I’m going to make him a cake! Baking with different measuring utensils and Celsius temperatures on the oven should be a challenge… but I think it’s one I can meet.
Overall, I’m really happy here, if you couldn’t tell already ☺. Come visit! Dublin is an incredible city with amazing history. I’m excited to be able to do typical touristy things in Dublin this weekend and to learn more about Irish history. Have a wonderful weekend!
Love,
Julia
I live in an amazing building about 10 minutes from Trinity, 5 minutes from Grafton Street, and 3 minutes from The Gaiety Theatre. I have two roommates, Kristen and Nam, and we have two bedrooms. I am sharing the room with Kristen (who also goes to PC) that has its own bathroom and WALK-IN CLOSET, and Nam has his own room and a bathroom across the hall. My mom doesn’t think I’m going to want to come home… she may be right. I have had an absolutely amazing time so far!
I have, of course, been taking part in the pub life of Ireland- with other students in my program, we have been out in Temple Bar, to the Guinness Factory, and to a club on the River Liffey. Tonight was our first sort of roommate bonding night, where we hung out (without being attached to technology, what else could we do?!) and got to know each other. We also all happened to take some decent naps- I think jet lag finally hit!
During the day we were out and about on our own doing errands and getting ourselves all situated in the apartment, getting little necessary items as well as food shopping. I discovered a cool market with my friend Julia, and found my way over to the bank to change money all by myself. I am starting to feel like a true Dubliner- I know my way around based on landmarks. We have learned that no one in Dublin really knows too many street names, but they can still usually give you pretty good directions anyway.
Tomorrow is my first day at Trinity—I can’t wait. We walked over to campus tonight to find where we have to be in the morning, and walked around the student union, since we’re students now!!
This has honestly been so much fun already. The people in my program are a lot of fun, and I am so happy here! I definitely had mixed emotions about the whole experience, but I think it’s because I was focusing on leaving. I was leaving PC, I was leaving home, I’ll be missing birthdays and a very big anniversary for my parents, I was leaving my friends (especially seniors), and I just kept thinking about the negative- the hole in my life where PC and my American life would usually be. I hadn’t focused on the positive: I AM LIVING IN IRELAND.
I get to live in Dublin for close to six months. I am really out on my own—no meal plan to rely on, not even a place like Slavin to go grab food at- I either pay a lot for a quick sandwich or cook for myself! I LOVE to cook, so I’m actually really looking forward to that, but it also seems a little daunting. I also really love to bake, and I’m already planning my first project. Nam’s 21st birthday is next week, and I’m going to make him a cake! Baking with different measuring utensils and Celsius temperatures on the oven should be a challenge… but I think it’s one I can meet.
Overall, I’m really happy here, if you couldn’t tell already ☺. Come visit! Dublin is an incredible city with amazing history. I’m excited to be able to do typical touristy things in Dublin this weekend and to learn more about Irish history. Have a wonderful weekend!
Love,
Julia
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Oh, this is gonna be a good life...
To quote one of my favorite One Republic Songs, I think this really is a good life. While I have only been in Dublin for a matter of hours, I have completely fallen in love again with this city.
The journey started with the drive to Newark Airport, which was only minimally teary-eyed. It was, however, covered with winter weather, and Pat Tully is officially a champ for getting us there in plenty of time for my flight. After some tough goodbyes, long security lines, and a lot of luggage, I found my group and boarded the plane. It was a short flight, especially compared to Kenya, but it felt like forever. I successfully passed through Irish Immigration (the Garda officer told me he could tell I was from the West), and found the people from my program waiting for me.
They gave me a handy packet of information, including my Irish address, a lunch voucher, and a hop on/hop off bus voucher. We got to the hotel we'll be staying in until Tuesday, and finally had some time to relax.
I made friends with two girls from Lafayette, Katie and Julia (another Julia!), and then Kristen from PC got here! We rode the bus loop, got off at Grafton St, and meandered our way back to the hotel through the campus of our new school- Trinity College.
It was absolutely amazing to walk through the beautiful, ancient campus and realize that I'm actually going there. We just kept saying that to each other-- "guys! we go here!" Walking past signs for the Samuel Beckett Theatre was amazing. I'm studying at the same place he studied. Am I dreaming?
We had dinner in Temple Bar at a pub called Fitzsimon's, and went out for a pint at the Porterhouse. I have discovered that there are two pubs with that name (at least), and the one I'd heard about from friends is right in Temple Bar, while the other is closer to Merrion Square, where I'm staying. We went to OTHER Porterhouse, that had nice housemade beers, but called it quits around 9 pm our time- not enough sleep for a real night out.
It was fun to try and learn Irish phrases today- a cash register is a till, take-out is take-away, to pass someone on the road is to overtake them, going to the movies is going to the cinema... I have a running list.
I loved coming back to a city that I loved as a kid with a whole new set of eyes- so much has changed, but I still love Dublin. Tomorrow has a lot of orientation in store, and my goal was bed by 10, so I'm off!
Love,
Julia
The journey started with the drive to Newark Airport, which was only minimally teary-eyed. It was, however, covered with winter weather, and Pat Tully is officially a champ for getting us there in plenty of time for my flight. After some tough goodbyes, long security lines, and a lot of luggage, I found my group and boarded the plane. It was a short flight, especially compared to Kenya, but it felt like forever. I successfully passed through Irish Immigration (the Garda officer told me he could tell I was from the West), and found the people from my program waiting for me.
They gave me a handy packet of information, including my Irish address, a lunch voucher, and a hop on/hop off bus voucher. We got to the hotel we'll be staying in until Tuesday, and finally had some time to relax.
I made friends with two girls from Lafayette, Katie and Julia (another Julia!), and then Kristen from PC got here! We rode the bus loop, got off at Grafton St, and meandered our way back to the hotel through the campus of our new school- Trinity College.
It was absolutely amazing to walk through the beautiful, ancient campus and realize that I'm actually going there. We just kept saying that to each other-- "guys! we go here!" Walking past signs for the Samuel Beckett Theatre was amazing. I'm studying at the same place he studied. Am I dreaming?
We had dinner in Temple Bar at a pub called Fitzsimon's, and went out for a pint at the Porterhouse. I have discovered that there are two pubs with that name (at least), and the one I'd heard about from friends is right in Temple Bar, while the other is closer to Merrion Square, where I'm staying. We went to OTHER Porterhouse, that had nice housemade beers, but called it quits around 9 pm our time- not enough sleep for a real night out.
It was fun to try and learn Irish phrases today- a cash register is a till, take-out is take-away, to pass someone on the road is to overtake them, going to the movies is going to the cinema... I have a running list.
I loved coming back to a city that I loved as a kid with a whole new set of eyes- so much has changed, but I still love Dublin. Tomorrow has a lot of orientation in store, and my goal was bed by 10, so I'm off!
Love,
Julia
Saturday, January 8, 2011
I'm On My Way
Thanks to technology, I'm currently updating you in the car on my way to the airport! After a lot of packing (why do I have so much stuff?!), I'm finally all ready. - have a lot of sweaters, scarves, and long pants, so I should be warm. I am flying out of Newark airport, and land in Dublin around 4:20 am EST, 9:20 am Dublin time. I'll meet a few of the other students in my program on the flight, and I can't wait to see who I'll be sharing this valuable experience with. So, I'm off! Here's some love for the upcoming semester!
A special shout out to the PC NOLA 2011 trip- this time last year I was getting on a plane to New Orleans! That trip absolutely changed my life, as I know this one will. So, kwaheri USA, jambo Ireland! (It still feels weird to me that I'll be living in a foreign country speaking English... I don't think too many people in the pubs will understand Kiswahili though...)
Love,
Julia
A special shout out to the PC NOLA 2011 trip- this time last year I was getting on a plane to New Orleans! That trip absolutely changed my life, as I know this one will. So, kwaheri USA, jambo Ireland! (It still feels weird to me that I'll be living in a foreign country speaking English... I don't think too many people in the pubs will understand Kiswahili though...)
Love,
Julia
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Almost There...
... As the days wind down, I figured I should get this handy blog started! Blogging while I was in Kenya really helped me to reflect on my time there, and it's so nice to have a blog now that I'm back that I can look over to remember my time there. So, off to my newest adventure: Ireland.
I'll be studying at Trinity College in Dublin until the end of May through a program from Butler University in Indiana, and I leave in three very short days! Saturday evening I board the plane at Newark with a few other group members and embark on my new journey.
I decided to title this blog "Taking the Long Way Around" after one of my favorite Dixie Chicks songs, because it's about going out on your own and adventuring your own way, which is what I will be doing. Ireland will be a very different experience from Kenya: much more individualized, and obviously much more academic. I know I'll face challenges, but it will be so nice to get off a plane in a country where everyone speaks English (different challenges than Kenya).
So, wish me luck! And if you're in Ireland (or anywhere in Europe) between now and June, let me know! I plan to travel a lot, so I'd love to come meet you. Thanks for reading my ramblings... Slainte!
Love,
Julia
I'll be studying at Trinity College in Dublin until the end of May through a program from Butler University in Indiana, and I leave in three very short days! Saturday evening I board the plane at Newark with a few other group members and embark on my new journey.
I decided to title this blog "Taking the Long Way Around" after one of my favorite Dixie Chicks songs, because it's about going out on your own and adventuring your own way, which is what I will be doing. Ireland will be a very different experience from Kenya: much more individualized, and obviously much more academic. I know I'll face challenges, but it will be so nice to get off a plane in a country where everyone speaks English (different challenges than Kenya).
So, wish me luck! And if you're in Ireland (or anywhere in Europe) between now and June, let me know! I plan to travel a lot, so I'd love to come meet you. Thanks for reading my ramblings... Slainte!
Love,
Julia
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