sick =/

Terribly sorry I have not added an update in a while, been extremely under the weather this week and have no energy for anything the past week!

ARTHUR'S DAY!

Yesterday, the 22nd was Arthur Guinness Day. The 252nd Anniversary Celebration of Guinness!
It was SOOO much fun! In the Temple Bar area the streets were filled with people just walking around with a pint in their hands. Then there was a countdown to 17:59 (like New Years!) and everyone holds up their pint and cheers-"To Arthur!!"
It was a great time and a great day to be in Dublin!

Out on Dame Lane

Hill Of Tara

Monday, the 19th, we had a field trip with my History of Ireland class to the Hill of Tara which is about 45minutes outside of the city to the north-west.

This is Caroline, one of my teachers, explaining the layout of the Hill of Tara

Statue of St. Patrick at entrance 

On a clear day, you can see a point in 16 of the 32 Counties in Ireland! 

Beautiful! 

We like to get creative with our photos, enjoying the view...

...Laura CLEARLY wanted to be a Tiger! 

The trick for getting around is just running at FULL FORCE down and back up the hills. 

Hill of Tara is point 12 on the map to give you an idea of where we were.

and COWS!

Group Shot

this past Saturday, the 17th, we had a Walking Tour which led into the Pub Crawl of Dublin...it was amazing. This is our Group Shot right before the Pub Crawl was about to begin! 

This is not EVERYONE but only about 5 missing from the entire Program.

Two weeks ago today I left for Ireland. 

As much as I am enjoying myself, I cant believe it has ONLY been two weeks.

Time is going so slow.

Glendaloch, County Wicklow

Today we had a field trip to Glendaloch, about an hour and a half south of Dublin. It is the site of a monastery from the time of St. Kevin. It was absolutely beautiful! 

After we had a tour of the area, we went on a two and a half hour HIKE through the Wicklow Mountains! As beautiful as they were, it was a little harsh (to say the least) since it was POURING RAIN for most of the hike. and boy oh boy was it a hike UP. There was a little waterfall within the first half hour that was cute, but then once we hit the top, the entire hike and exhaustion was COMPLETELY worth it once we saw the view. 

(Alyssa clearly NOT enjoying the pouring rain)

This was part of why it was so amazing; we saw a RAINBOWWWW!!!

it was amazing; like we were in it almost since we were so high!

the view was CLEARLY stunning! 

The day was lovely, wet, and tiring. But it was wonderful to get away from the city for the day and see the Real Ireland that I know and love. large open green space! 

Well,

The entire internship situation is bumming me out a lot. I have yet to make a decision on what I am going to do. I heard back from the EUSA people and it was not the more helpful response so I am definitely in a pickle on what to do.

Classes have begun and they are going quite well. I am very happy with them...we have the option of taking the Irish Speaking Class and I am taking FULL advantage of it! I am happy to say that I will be coming home able to speak Gaelic!
some fun ones I have learned so far:
Patricia is ainm dom. -- My name is Patricia
Is as ma Stait Aontaithe me. -- I'm from the United States.
Ta me i mo chonai i mBaile Atha Cliath. --I live in Dublin.
Ta me ag staidear. -- I am studying
Dia duit! --Hello!
go-raibh maith agat! -- Thank you/ may goodness be with you (form of blessing)

Actually spelling out the words is funny because you do not pronounce them like that at all! but nonetheless, it is quite fun and our 'Lecturer' is wonderful! She has a thick accent and makes it so much fun!

The next few weekends are looking to be quite fun!
This coming Friday we have a field trip to Glendalough which is in the midst of the Wicklow Mountains and said to absolutely beautiful! So they told us today that there is a 2hour hike we will be doing! So excited. expect some great photos!
The following weekend we are going on a Western Ireland Tour were we will be going to the Galway area and see the Cliffs of Moher. I have visited the cliffs every time I have been to Ireland. They are, honestly, the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. I cant wait to see them again! The itinerary for the trip is jam packed with amazing-ness!
Then the last weekend in September/ beginning of October we are going on the Southern Ireland Tour were we will be going to Dingle & Killarney and so many other places! It sounds amazing.
Finally, the next weekend, October 6th to the 8th we are going to Northern Ireland. I dont know much about this one except that we will be going to Belfast.


Life is quite busy over here...hopefully the FOLLOWING weekend I will be able to leave the country and experience another culture...I'm looking into Italy, Norway, Germany & France for that weekend. It is so crazy that this is all happening already.


I continually have to remind myself that THIS is real life! No point in waiting for life to start, I am already in it!


until next time... <3 =]

Internship Interview

So, Yesterday, Monday the 12th I had my interview for my internship at Aviva Stadium. To be nice, I will say that the stadium was very nice! Beautiful! But thats one of the few things I can say positive about my experience there.
As an American with a form of Business major, we are taught...sometimes more like Drilled into our heads, that being early is really on time. on time is late. and if you are late, there is no point in going through the doors. So with that mentality, I arrived at the Stadium at 2:45pm for a 3pm appointment. Well at around 4:15pm I was finally called up to go meet with the HR manager. YES, and HOUR AND A HALF LATER. Turns out the manager completely FORGOT about our meeting. great way to start off the interview huh? 
Trying to be positive and friendly and such, I smiled and was kind and the wholeee bit...only to be told, flat out, that my 'Internship' at the stadium would me being a Waitress. Serving drinks at all events. 
...um? excuse me? 
He looked over my resume, asked me about what I did at Yankee and I explained Legends to him and such, and he turns to me and says "well you will fit right in here, that is just about the same". 
At this point, in my head I am continually repeating "you are outta your MIND if this is what this internship is" over and over again. 
Now, I don't want to sound rude or anything and Maybe it is just me, BUT i did NOT fly over 3000 miles away from home to do the SAME thing that i have done the past two summers. I can not even get PAID or make tips so I would have been better off staying home and working the rest of the damn season and made money!! My life goal is not to be a waitress, I am not going to College for that nor did I accept this program to do that either.
..if you cant tell. I am not a happy camper about this whole situation. 
I have to email the company that puts the internships together so I can be switched and find a place that is more suitable for my concentration in Hospitality. I love this major for the huge variety it has, but the Food & Beverage dept. is not that one that I am going towards in my life. I have to figure out how to be nice and not go crazy in the email...I have a few drafts but still not positive on what to do. 
ARGHHHHHH. I could not believe that was what that interview had turned into yesterday. I missed my first day of clases for THAT?! 
well, it was quite the experience and an interesting story to tell. Do not get me wrong, the two people I met with yesterday were quite nice and had lovely things to say about me and my resume...they even commented on my "thick" accent, best compliment that I am most proud of! It is a shame because I was looking forwards to seeing a few Rugby games but at the end of the day...being a Waitress is NOT why I came to Ireland. 
I'll keep you updated with what happens. Fingers Crossed something wonderful will come out of this! 

NEVER EAT BEEF IN IRELAND!

OKAYYYY SOOOO lesson of my first week in Dublin? Do not eat the beef. 

I was going around the city yesterday and 5 o'clock came around. So the thought of having a decent dinner came into mind. A cheap, decent dinner that it. So we found a burger joint. Let me tell you, the sound of a hamburger is quite possibly the best thing. Continuing on,  I ordered a basic hamburger and fries. After about a 7 minute wait, I dug into my burger that I had sooo many high hopes for. Only to find out, it was some sort of funky beef. After about four bites, I realized I could not continue eating it. That was 6euros down the drain...

As if it couldn't get better, at 5am this morning, I wake up to the most extreme pain. Long story short, I got completely sick from that crap. 

again, Lesson learned. never eating beef in Ireland. 

You have NOOOO idea how much I would kill for a decent American hamburger...or better than that, a medium iced pumpkin coffee, skim milk no sugar from Dunks...that, would be the best possible thing. 

it is clearly the little things in life that would make everything so much better...

First Friday Night

last night, i can honestly say, that i had an AMAZING time. It was our first night to actually go downtown, got out to a few pubs and get the real experience of all Dublin has to offer. 

Alyssa and I had our first shot of Jameson at the Pub.

...don't get mad momma! had to try it :)

 

the bartender was putting shamrock's in the Guinness' 

this is my new favorite bartender at 4 Dane Lane Bar who I made friends with that night. 

He was lovely and adorable! 

Don't remember the name of this Pub, but the guy behind me was very nice and let everyone behind the bar to take a photo! I think his name was Mitch?

Alyssa & I all dressed up for Dublin.

It was a really fun night and it was a great way to get to know a lot of people as well. It was a group of 12 of us that went out together. The buses stop running at 1130pm here so after that you have to take a taxi...when we decided to leave, I sat in the front and it was beyond strange because I felt like I was supposed to be driving and the roads are so small so going around turns is scary! The taxi driver loved us though. We were quite a fun time. And it was only 3euros between us all! quite cheap if I can say so myself! I didn't end up going to bed until 330am but it was so worth it for the first Friday night in Dublin! 

Aviva Stadium

I cant believe it is only Friday. It feels like I have been here forever. I am not sure if that is a good or bad thing, but it just is what it is. Today was the last day of orientation thankfully and we met with EUSA who puts together the internships.


I will be working at Aviva Stadium doing the events section. I was told that the HR manager is hoping that I can run my own event by the end of my semester here! HOW AMAZING WOULD THAT BE?!?!? The photos of the stadium look gorgeous and I cant wait to see it in person! Im planning on heading down there possibly sunday to check it out and make sure I can find it alright, they told me its the 4 bus straight down and it will take about 45minutes. soooo not too darn bad of a commute! i was expecting a lot worse!


I have my interview with the HR manager on Monday at 3pm! hopefully everything will go wonderfully and I make a solid impression with them all at the Stadium...its not like I haven't worked at a stadium or anything!! ;)

http://www.avivastadium.ie/

The past two days have been AMAZING weather, so Alyssa and I are planning on heading into the city after we eat something to walk around and take some photos and just enjoy ourselves. New photos coming soon! I am trying to pace myself and not rush into seeing everything all at once, I have 15 weeks here! and I will see it all!

pizza & photos.

so alyssa and i went downtown tonight to walk around and found  "New York Style Pizza"...it was like a signnnnnn!!! it was delicious actually. well as good as its going to get in Ireland! this was the first time we were in the city at night and it is JUST as beautiful! there were a lot of people around and just such an amazing vibe!

so they told us that we are not allowed to put anything up on the walls. but clearly, they do not know Patricia. I can NOT handle white walls or life without my photos. soooo i made a 'mini' collage of my life <3 still missing a lot of photos, but this is as good as it will get this semester!

nice and clean!

So I have officially finished unpacking. I spent the entire afternoon today putting things in the right place and making the best of the small area that I have. Clothes barely all fit and I do not have enough hangers for all the shirts, but I will make do. 
I even got some photos up on the walls! They said that you are not allowed to put anything up on the walls...But I had to put a few up and they are nice in a certain area so they cannot get angry with this. I am totally not used to not being able to decorate though! White walls legit make me crazy! 


Now to relax for a bit before venturing into downtown for the night and exploring different pubs! 

FIRST GUINNESS (...in Ireland)

we made friends with the Bartender. He was wonderful. 

Pint of Guinness: 4euros

Small Little Room Photos

 as soon as we got into the room and realized how small it was, we continually kept asking ourselves...is this real life?!?!? 

this is not even all of my things; and already i have no idea where they are all going to go...

our baby TV that we haven't figured out how to work yet. and our desk area that both our chairs don't even fit at! 

our under the bed storage! thankfully!

yesterday, as I had a terrible breakdowns, I looked out my window, and saw this. Quite possibly the BEST sign daddy could have sent me. 

Skype is the best invention in the World.

talked to the best friend Ali earlier...then just skyped with Biff. 

Life in Ireland is that much better with the ability to still see the people I love at home <3 

"I FEEL LIKE A HUMAN BEING!!"

after quite the difficult day yesterday, I woke up this morning feeling ALIVE and actually, okay. no immediate feeling of crying my eyes out! it was a semi-decent night sleep. fell asleep around 9pm and woke up at midnight unable to fall back asleep so was up for another two hours. im definitely not adjusted to the time 100% yet. hopefully tonight will get me on the right track, i have been avoiding taking a nap for the past two hours just so i can sleep right tonight.

today, i explored Dublin. and i can officially say that i LOVE this city and it is so beautiful! photos will come soon.

everyone has a breakdown right?

now, maybe it is because I have not slept in the past 48hours, but my mind is completely messed up with what day it is, what the time is and where the heck I am! currently, here it is 7:45pm, at home it is 2:45pm and I should be getting to Yankee around this time for work. But instead, I have spent my first 8 hours in Dublin having breakdowns and anxiety to the extreme. I want to make the most out of my time here, but for tonight, my first night, I think I need SLEEP more than anything else in the world. I am hoping for a better day of orientation and a more Positive Patricia to meet new people.

...praying this simply passes through the night.

and so it begins...

i have been waiting for this semester since high school, and it is finally here.
I am in DUBLIN.