Observations Galore

“Anna, today I am meeting a friend for lunch at half two at the Dundrum Town Centre. What are your plans for the day?”

“Well, would you be able to give me a ride there so I could walk around while you eat?”

Hilary chuckled, as if former American students have asked her the same question. “I can absolutely give you a lift, but I don’t think you want a ride from me…”

I let out an awkward smile, unsure of what Hilary was going to say next. “Why’s that?”

“In Ireland, ride means sexual intercourse,” she laughed and so did I. “But it’s a good thing you asked me for one rather than a drunken fool at a pub! From now on, you will want to ask for a lift instead…”

I felt a strange sense of relief as I got ready for my afternoon in Dundrum.

And there you have it – the moment when I realized I still have entirely too much to learn about the Irish culture and way of life. Good thing it’s only been a few days!

It is Sunday night and I have just moved in with my permanent host family, otherwise known as the Conran bunch. My first weekend in Ireland is in the books, and I am comforted to admit that things are starting to look up. If you read my first post, or have had any sort of communication with me since my arrival on Thursday, you would know that I was struggling to cope with feeling lonely and homesick.

It took me a few hours to get to sleep that first night, but I eventually slept very well and woke up on Friday morning with a better attitude – one that told me to make the most out of an undesirable situation. Despite spending this past weekend with a family whose teenaged children do not really appreciate the same activities as a 22-year-old in addition to not having anyone around to explore with, I managed to take matters into my own hands and create a few of my own adventures.

The dialogue above took place on Friday morning and led to my first experience outside of the village of Shankill where Hilary’s family lives. After devouring a lunch of creamy chicken soup and toast, Hilary gave me a lift to the Dundrum Town Centre, which I later learned is the largest shopping mall in Ireland. Her daughter, Juliette, came with us and we picked up Hilary’s friend, Nula, on the way. In the car, the four of us shared bits and pieces of our lives and I began to feel a little more comfortable around them. 

When we arrived at the mall 30 minutes later, we drove up four underground ramps to pull in the first empty parking spot there was! Each parking spot in the “car park” has a tiny light above it – if the spot is occupied, the light is red, and if the spot is available, the light is green. As we drove around looking for the first green light, I was thinking that the King of Prussia mall back home could really use a system like this…I also admired the self-serve car wash taking place as well!

Anyways, we entered the mall and went our separate ways. Hilary and Nula walked to a restaurant, and Juliette and I ventured the opposite direction. As we walked around together, I took this time to get to know Juliette, and I didn’t feel lonely for the first time since I arrived. She was going to a disco with her friends that night so she was looking to buy a few accessories. We engaged in conservations about everything ranging from self-tanning lotions (which I found out that Irish-born girls apply every time they go out here b/c of their pale skin) to differences between Ireland and America. We explored a few stores together before Juliette bought some accessories and walked to her friend’s house. 

At that point, I walked around on my own until I was due to meet Hilary at 5 to return home. I took lots of pictures of things that do not exist in American malls such as a sushi bar on a conveyor belt, a butcher shop, a grocery store with cashiers sitting on swivel chairs, and a choo-choo train that reminded me of “Watch the tram car, please” on Ocean City’s boardwalk, just to name a few. 

butcher shop!

play pen for lil tykes!

the latest Irish fashion... woof!

It's a real shame I don't like sushi...

While I was walking around the mall, I concluded that I am guilty of the stereotype that all Irish people have red hair…I have actually yet to see one person here with red hair! They are all mostly some shade of blonde, so I guess I am not as much of an outcast in terms of appearance as I had anticipated. I enjoyed the independence to explore on my own for an hour, knowing that I didn’t have to worry about how I would find my way back home. I must admit, however, that I am completely lost without my iPhone since I always use it as a clock. Since I intended to not bring my phone abroad, I am so SO glad that I remembered to throw my ESF watch in my carry-on last minute because there are no clocks here anywhere! I would not have known when it was 5pm to meet Hilary if it wasn’t for my bulky watch. 

Once back home, I helped Stu make dinner for the two of us since Hilary was still full from lunch, Juliette was eating at her friend’s, and Cameron was stuck in bed with food poisoning from TGIFriday’s (ugh!). We had chicken pastries that reminded me a lot of Chicken Cordon Bleu in America, as well as “chips” (fries) and a spinach salad with tomatoes. I was starving by that point, so a good-sized meal definitely hit the spot.

After dinner, nobody was doing much so I read my book for an hour and watched some Irish news with Stu and Hilary. Ideally, I would have liked to be out exploring the Irish nightlife, but I haven’t learned my bearings well enough yet to do so on my own. I figured those times will come soon enough. So instead, I took the time to relax, bond with the family, and think about how fortunate I am to have this opportunity to learn about and teach in another country. It was during this lounging time that I noticed it doesn’t get dark until around 9:30pm here – so late compared to America!

Soon I took a shower and got in bed for the night. I sent a couple of emails, caught up with some friends from school, and tried to stream the Flyers game online once the clock struck midnight, but to no avail. Good thing I was too tired to stay awake for it anyways! I passed out around 12:15 before I was rudely awakened by a horrific thunderstorm at 6:30…it was the first time it rained since I arrived and gosh, did it rain! I sat up in bed and peeked through the curtain where I saw pink skies from lightning…the thunder was so loud I thought it was right outside my window. I eventually fell back to sleep an hour or so later and slept till 11. This time, I woke up to emails from Shaun and my dad saying that my beloved Flyers came back to beat those Pens yet again! They always seem to step it up a notch in the playoffs so gotta love ‘em for that!

On Saturday, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and go for a little walk on my own through the neighborhood, but first……it was time for breakfast. Stu made a feast of fried eggs, sausage, bacon, cereal, toast, and coffee…black coffee. Mom and Dad, you’d be surprised to know that I am drinking coffee here without any milk or cream or sugar – but only because it tastes much better than black American coffee (not to mention the family doesn’t use any of that!). As I was helping to clean up breakfast, I made another extremely interesting observation – the family’s washer machine is in a kitchen cabinet!! WEIRD. Never in my wildest dreams did I think people would be doing laundry in the same room that they cook dinner, but hey, YOLO! (you only live once!).

Only in Ireland...

After breakfast, I set out to explore the neighborhood by myself. It was super cold and windy so I wasn’t sure how long I was going to last. I came across lots and lots of green – grass, bushes, trees, HUGE open fields. I saw bowling greens and tennis courts, lots of poop, some more green, horses, a rusty bathtub, some more green, and finally I came across the coast of the Dublin Bay…absolutely gorgeous! I walked down the steep stairs to the rocky edge and took several pics of the beautiful scenery. If only it was about 70 degrees warmer, I could’ve stayed there all day! Soon I made my way back to the house and managed not to get lost!!!!!!!! Maybe I will finally have a sense of direction when its time to head back to PA…maybe.

Dublin bay

pretty clouds :)

the only pic with me in it...

so much green EVERYWHERE

anyone need a bath?

When I got back, Hilary asked me if I wanted to tag along to the grocery store so I did. It was called Tesco, the largest chain of grocery stores in Ireland. I observed the very large selection of alcohol – four aisles worth – and I learned of the Irish law that you can only buy it from 10:30am to 10pm Monday through Saturday and 12:30pm to 10pm on Sundays. You also can’t buy it at all on Good Friday or Christmas Day. Hilary bought a few things for dinner and we were on our merry way.

Carlsberg is the beer of choice here

Following a half hour nap and a little bit of reading, it was time for my first Irish barbeque! Hilary’s mom came over and we enjoyed our first meal together as a whole group. She is 84 and, in the words of Shiccers, a real hoot…she was telling me all about her “holidays” to the east coast of the U.S. and how I remind her of every American she’s ever met (not sure what that’s supposed to mean…haha). Stu grilled up a whole bunch of food on their tiny grill out back – burgers, sausage, regular chicken and garlic chicken, and steak. Hilary made potato salad with bacon and a usual spinach salad. The food looked questionable, as my bro would say, but I was so hungry that I didn’t care, and to my delight, everything actually tasted pretty good. Thankfully, contrary to my parents’ belief, I am not a picky eater! All of you will probably be surprised to hear that my first beer in Ireland was not a Guinness…it was actually a Miller Genuine Draft (sorry, pops!). I have never had an MGD in America, so maybe it was meant to be. After dinner, we sat on the couch with a few beers and watched Britain’s Got Talent (Hilary’s favorite show). I got a kick out of it and started thinking that this undesirable situation wasn’t as undesirable as I made it out to be.

Then Sunday rolled around and it was time for a temporary goodbye to Hilary and her family. I was grateful for their warm hospitality this weekend, but I know that I will be seeing them again soon as Hilary and Trish are very close friends. Hilary gave my luggage and I a lift to the Conran residence – home of my permanent host family – where I was happily greeted by Trish and her 22-year-old son, Simon. Trish’s husband, Ger, will be staying in Limerick for a little while longer, but I am looking forward to meeting him as well. 

My new home is “absolutely lovely,” as the Irish would say. I have my own room again, but this time with a double bed!!!! I’ve always wanted a double bed…(cough, Mom and Dad, cough). With the exception of the smoky smell from each of the Conrans smoking three packs of cigarettes (“fags”) a day, I know it is only a matter of days before I am going to be obsessed with this family, their house, and with Ireland as a whole. Trish and Simon may be the most hilarious people I have ever met as I have not stopped laughing since I got here! Simon is very gay, so I know we are going to have a “ball of a time” together.

my new room!

Following a delicious dinner consisting of a “feta cheese tart,” a salad, and two chocolate bars, Simon took me for a walk through downtown Dun Laoghaire and showed me the bus stops, train station, ferry pier, shops, etc. I’m not sure how much of this route I remember, but I know that it won’t be long before I have it memorized. It was nice to finally get out and explore my new hometown for the next two months! 

I can tell that Simon and I are going to get along very well, as we were talking back and forth the entire walk as if we’d known each other forever. I almost fell over in hysterics when he told me a story about a time that he was out at a nightclub in Dublin wearing $10 jeans that he had bought in America when he was visiting his brother. One of his “mates” had grabbed him by the back pocket of his “trousers” and ripped off the entire leg so he was forced to walk around the rest of the night with only one pant leg and his “pretty underwear” hanging out….YOLO!

After that little adventure, it was time to head back to 9 Whitethorn Walk and get all settled in. I emptied the contents of my heavy suitcase into my own closet and set of drawers before discovering the best surprise of all…two fresh feather pillows (better known as a “gush”)!!!! See mom, I told you I could live without my pillow! I truly could not have asked for better living accommodations!

It is now approaching midnight and I am ready for my first night’s sleep in my second new bed…it is sooooooo comfortable and so big! Trish warned me of a 6:45am wake up knock tomorrow for my first day of observation at Delgany National School. I am anxious and excited to begin a whole new teaching experience with the expectation that it will be nothing like my special times at Cole Manor (shout out to all of my wonderful 3rd graders if Mrs. Krause is reading this to you!)

Goodbye homesickness and loneliness…hello living the dream!

Until next time, I love you guys and hope all is well back in PA…

#FLYERDUP  baby!!!!

Love, An