Is This Real Life ???

I moseyed around alone in the dark, unsure of where “home” was. I walked up one alley only to find a cul de sac at the end of the road. Another alley led me to a dead end with a sign that read, “No outlet.” I walked back to the main road. A sense of panic raced through me as I stood still, turning my head from side to side.

How do I get home? How can I notice landmarks when it’s pitch black out? If I have to ask someone for directions, will he or she tell the truth or will I find myself face to face with “stranger danger?”

I decided to man up and consult the only source of help in sight - an older man bundled in a damp sleeping bag smoking a cigarette on the side of the road where I had just gotten off bus 46A. While he begged for money, I begged for a sense of direction. Feeling more tipsy than usual after my first night out not to mention this man’s thick Irish accent, I couldn’t really make sense of his words. Welp, time to meet fear in the face and find my own way home, I thought. Those of you who know me well are aware that I can’t find my way out of a cardboard box – pardon the cliché but it’s so true… No GPS, no map, no traveling partner, and only one day in my new surroundings appeared to be a recipe for disaster.

But I was a true champ in that I didn’t freak out like I thought I would. Instead, I retraced my steps from earlier that day when Trish took the bus into town with me. It wasn’t long before I found that heralded landmark: an enormous sink tap protruding from the wall of a building called “Bathroom World.” I turned right and made my way “home” from there. By that point, it was after midnight and my bed was calling my name. The moral of this story is that there is a first for everything. That was the first time I managed to inevitably get myself lost and unlost in another country. I have a feeling that with my newfound love for exploring and recurring lack of direction, it definitely won’t be the last!

I have been in Ireland for ten days now and I no longer have anything to complain about. I think about my family and Shaun and my friends every day, but I have found that keeping myself busy helps to cure feeling homesick. Back home, I won’t go out in the rain because I hate the feeling of wet clothes and how it defines a bad hair day. In Ireland, “wellies” (rain boots), my raincoat, and a “brolly” (umbrella) are the main components of my daily wardrobe because I know that I will regret staying inside if I don’t go out to immerse myself in a whole new culture and way of life. There are so many things to learn and do here that I cannot waste a single minute. I have accepted the fact that I’ll be spending entirely too much money while I’m here, but I continue to remind myself that I only live once and that every cent spent goes towards a once in a lifetime opportunity.

School is so much fun…words and pictures don’t do it justice. I have spent time in every classroom helping out with all sorts of lessons and activities. Last week I helped the older students build an Olympic village out of Legos and stitch their initials onto a class quilt. I helped the first class teacher put together a talent show assembly for the whole school to watch on Friday. All of the students are obsessed with the fact that I live in America, so they’ve all taken turns asking me questions about my life back home. I’m so in love with all of them and I know I will have a tough time saying goodbye in a few weeks. The Irish teachers that I’m working with are all amazing and I am learning so much from them already – about them, about teaching, and about Ireland in general. It’s difficult to accept the fact that my work experience here is only just a dream!

Teacher's Lounge

Delgany National School

London Olympics ... Lego style

Sample classroom

I spent the middle of last week living with Hilary’s family, while the Conrans celebrated the life of Ger’s dad back in Limerick. After school each day I took the time to relax, finish my book, and catch up with family and friends. I managed to set off the house alarm on Wednesday and saw the whole neighborhood come running… #awkward. I don’t even know how, but at least my first and only encounter with the Irish Po Po was an accident! On Thursday night, Hilary took me swimming at a local indoor pool where I learned exactly how out of shape I am. No thank you, beach patrol.

Ireland's YMCA

I moved back in with the Conrans on Friday (for good this time!). If I had no tolerance for alcohol when I first came over here, I may or may not be going home with superior drinkability. They are very fun and that’s all I need to say. I met Ger for the first time on Friday night and we sat and talked for hours over beers and chocolate. He is a great, hilarious, anti-religious, family-oriented man who knows anything and everything about beer and rugby. Trish has completely spoiled me with cooking “gorgeous” meals, washing all my dishes, and even washing and folding my laundry for me. Every time I try to help with a meal or clean up after myself, she tells me that I’m on vacation. Don’t worry, Mom and Dad – I am fully aware that this won’t fly in the Rupnick household! And Simon is just so much fun that I don’t even know where to start…I recently learned of the time his cousins accidently put a hot dog through the dishwasher and it came out cooked in the exact same shape and size it was originally…what does that say about Irish hot dogs? You tell me. The fact that the family smokes three packs of cigarettes a day no longer phases me; I am immune to the smell at this point.

Saturday was probably my favorite day so far. I woke up to my first traditional Irish breakfast consisting of a fried egg, sausage, toast, “bacon,” black and white pudding (which I found out is a type of sausage made with pig’s blood…uhh?), fresh coffee, and a smoothie. I think I drank more coffee in ten days here than I’ve drank in all the days of my life put together.

A traditional Irish breakfast

Then Trish took the double-decker bus with me into the Dublin city centre so I could learn how and where to get on and off the bus when I want to go on my own. It’s about a 45 minute lift for 5.20 Euros round trip, so not too bad at all. Once we got there, she pointed out the main attractions and we explored a few stores together before I met up with a few girls who I know from Penn State – Ali, Lindsay, and Meghan – who were staying in a Dublin hostel for the weekend. Trish had taken me to get a cell phone on Friday, so it came in handy for meeting friends in such a large city! It’s certainly not the iPhone that I’ve come to know and love, but it will definitely do the job for the rest of my time here.

My whip for the next 2 months

I met up with the girls and we spent the rest of the day and night together. We checked out the Dublin Castle, the Chester Beatty Library, some entertainment on the streets, and drank wine in St. Stephen’s Green Park…so lovely!! I have decided that Ireland’s weather is schizophrenic – one minute you may be getting sunburn and the next minute you’re getting attacked by hail balls…definitely frustrating to dress accordingly! Anyways, we had a delicious dinner in a nice little “posh” café – my first meal out – and then embarked on a pub crawl with other tourists from their hostel. I only went to the first two pubs since the last bus home comes at “half eleven” and I wanted to make sure I was there in plenty of time for my first lift home alone in the dark.

I could do that...sike

Trinity College - the best in Ireland!

Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle Courtyard...a lovely place for a nap

Pond in St. Stephen's Green

Lovely Park

Ali and I ... all smiles in Dublin!

At Mercantile Pub

Grafton Street ... I still have to so much to see!

That’s where the above story comes in. Despite that minor detour and spending four times the money that I would spend on a night out in State College, I still had a wonderful time! Dublin is a very fun city with so much to offer, so I’m looking forward to future adventures there now that I know my way around (kind of).

Today I learned that onions aren’t so disgusting after all. Before I came to Ireland, I always picked out the onions or asked for no onions if ordering out…but then I came to Ireland where I live with the Conrans who eat onions on just about everything. I promised myself that while I am here, I will try everything put in front of me, so I tried the onions in my omelette this morning and they were actually pretty good! (it’s about time, right Dad?)

After a noon breakfast, Ger and I took a walk into downtown Dun Laoghaire (about 20 minutes). First we checked out the farmer’s market (every Sunday) in the park where we got caught in a torrential downpour. Amen to my “brolly!” We walked along the coast of the marina and Ger pointed out all the shops and things to explore whenever. We stopped for cappuccinos and amazing cupcakes at a neat café followed by pints of Guinness and Carsberg at a local pub…talk about a nutritious lunch! I think I am now confident in finding my way to and from Dun Laoghaire by foot, but we’ll see!

Dublin Bay that meets Dun Laoghaire

Before the skies opened up

Dun Laoghaire Marina

Nom Nom Nom

Decisions Decisions

McCormack's Pub in Dun Laoghaire

...if only the weather was nice enough to sit outside

Tonight’s dinner consisted of a lamb roast, roasted potatoes, peas, carrots, and more beer. Beer flows like water here. It was absolutely phenomenal and as I am writing this, I am realizing that I am obsessed with food…or maybe it’s just because the food here has far exceeded my original expectations.

I am now laying in my ever so comfortable bed on Sunday night ready for a whole new week’s worth of adventures! I can’t believe it’s already the last week of April and the last week of college classes for my senior friends in Happy Valley…live it up, guys!

Cheers to the FLYERS, too!!

I can easily sleep tonight knowing that those dangerous Pens are history!

I’m thinking about you all.

Love Always,

Anna