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
