as seen on garth brooks' head.

Last weekend I went on my first adventure in Ireland! I planned a trip to Limerick to meet with Joy, another student in my graduate program who is interning at the University of Limerick for the summer.  In total there are six students in my program who decided to take the opportunity to intern abroad this summer, amazing isn't it?  We are spread around the world learning about different higher education systems and structures, cultures and peoples.  I am proud of all we are accomplishing by stepping outside of our comfort zones!

This weekend trip to Limerick was certainly full of interesting times.  I took a bus from Dublin to Limerick for a bargain, just ten euro for an air-conditioned Coach bus.  It operated just as a Megabus would in the States.  You wait at a bus stop in the middle of Dublin (luckily this bus stop was right next to a Starbucks) and pile onto the vehicle when it arrives.  And when I say pile, I mean pile.  As I was waiting for the bus to come I looked around and saw a very large number of people doing the same.  I started to worry that I wouldn't make it onto the bus!  I had tried purchasing a ticket online beforehand, but they wouldn't accept my debit card.  The bright green Dublin Coach bus pulled up to the curb and it was a mad dash to the door. The driver actually had to step off the bus and push people back in order to let riders off.  I was so enthralled by the happenings that I just stood there dumbfounded.  Luckily though there was a surge from the people behind me and I ended up in line anyway.  The bus ride was long and I couldn't get comfortable in my seat, but as it was so inexpensive I didn't mind.

We arrived on the University of Limerick campus at around 9pm and I met Joy, who had been on a trip to the Cliffs of Moher.  We made our way through campus and headed over to the house she is renting for the summer, which is in a quiet neighborhood right outside of the campus grounds.  She explained to me, during the school year the neighborhood is overrun with college students and continuously noisy from parties.  After chatting and catching up, we headed into Limerick because I needed food.  It was getting to a point where I would have eaten my hand.  Unfortunately because it was so late the only open "restaurant" was Subway.  I didn't mind because it would be quick.  Five minutes more and I would be putting a sandwich in my stomach.  The inside of the food chain was a bit dodgy but when I'm hungry, nothing else matters.

To make up for our very American dinner/late night snack, we headed to find a pub for a pint and to watch the World Cup.  I didn't know the area and Joy had only been there for a short amount of time, so we followed the sounds of music.  We found a bar with a band playing outside on a patio.  As we approached the entrance, three girls who looked younger than my little sister were handing over their IDs to the bouncer. Their blatant flirtations with the man at the door didn't succeed and they were turned away for being under 18.  After being accustomed to showing my ID everywhere in the United States, even for R movies, I was ushered in the door with just a glance at my license-wielding hand.  Joy and I ordered a couple ciders and found a table with a cushioned bench that resembled a wingback chair.  It was prime real estate for people watching!   We were in the corner of the inside part of the pub so we had a full view of the interior and to our right there was a shuttered window open to the outdoor patio.

Can you guess what songs they played as we sat and observed the atmosphere? I'll give you a second to think about it.


Friends in Low Places-Garth Brooks
Mustang Sally-The Commitments
Sweet Home Alabama- Lynyrd Skynyrd
Wagon Wheel- Old Crow Medicine Show

I felt like I was back in the Cola at Tin Roof when I heard these songs.  I'd heard about the Garth Brooks fascination before this.  My little sister told me about how his three concerts at Croke Park in Dublin this summer sold out in under two hours.  It's astonishing to me how a certain artist can acquire a fan base in different parts of the world.  As I was walking to work this morning, I even saw imitation Garth Brooks cowboy hats for sale for 5 euro at a shop in town.  When I asked my coworkers, I was then told that the three concerts have been increased to five concerts in five nights due to high demand! Positively astonishing!


After our night of country and rock music, we headed home for some sleep.  In the morning we again ventured into Limerick for the Saturday milk market, which is similar to a farm market. I absolutely loved the milk market. It is housed in a building made of walls of re-purposed wood and a giant white circus tent for a ceiling.  A variety of homemade foods and farm fresh produce were available for purchase as well as knick knacks and random items.  If I needed a used power tool, I'd be in luck.  A weathered, old man had every kind imaginable on folding tables beside his rusty blue van outside.

Joy told me about a French family that sells crepes out of a stall in the main area.  Apparently there is always a long line, so of course I had to have one.  Any good traveler knows that if a bunch of locals are in a queue for a bite, it has to be fantastic.  I tried the delicious heaven that was the Angelique, apples and cinnamon and love, YUM.  We wandered the market for over an hour.  I found a table which sold old records and thought I could stay for hours going through the different genres and artists.  I even found an early birthday present, if I can get it back to the states all in one piece.


As a coffee addict I can't make it past ten in the morning without stopping for an espresso rich beverage.  Luckily there were many coffee stalls and shops to choose from at the milk market.  On our way out I stopped at a little pastry and coffee shop called Harper's Coffee House and ordered my usual vanilla latte.  There was a chill to the morning, so I was happy to have something warm to sip as we walked around the city.

Our next stop was St. Mary's Cathedral.  As there were services going on when we arrived we just stuck to exploring the grounds and cemetery.  A cemetery may not seem interesting to the average person, but I find them hauntingly beautiful, especially if the headstones are hundreds of years old.  Fully matured trees shade the final resting places of citizens of Limerick including Edmond Sexton who was an envoy of King Henry VIII of England.  During the reign of Queen Mary I, his remains were removed from his tomb and hung from the rafters in the church in protest of allegiance to Protestantism.  What is horrifying is the remains weren't discovered for three years!

Across the street we found a gastro pub called The Locke Bar and Oyster House.  I had a delicious chicken sandwich and chips(fries) and a Smithwick's Ale which apparently pronounced smit-icks, who knew?  Evidently this restaurant is pretty famous for its food and atmosphere, because the Clintons visited the establishment during one of their trips to Ireland. There were framed newspaper articles by our table about their experience.  As we sat an enjoyed our meal, a rugby game was displayed on all of the televisions and projection screens.  In that moment I felt pretty Irish.

We made our way to King John's Castle, which I mistakenly refer to as Saint John's Castle constantly.  Even as I write this I make a conscious effort to type the right name.  This was by far one of the most engaging museums I have been to in all my travels.  As you walk through the castle you learn the history of its inhabitants and the city of Limerick.   Each room belonged to a different inhabitant and the museum has used this as a history lesson.  We learned about the constable's quarters and the armory, by seeing how it would have looked way back when.  You can walk to the tops of the towers and look out over the River Shannon.  Luckily I'm short so I didn't hit my head on the ceiling, but be weary if you ever visit.  Also the minuscule steps wind around in such a tight circle that I got dizzy before I reached the top.

From this vantage point it is easy to see the lush farmland and mountains in the distance.  When I looked towards them I pictured the scene in P.S. I Love You where Holly is walking down a quiet Irish road and happens upon Gerry.  I'm a closet romantic and love the idea of a meet cute like that.

My bus back to Dublin was arriving on the UL campus at 5pm, so by the time we returned we had two hours to tour the campus.  And what a campus!  With the amount of green space I felt miles and miles away from the city, when it was really only a 20 minute bus ride.  The university was also alive with activities as the Special Olympics were holding events at the campus.  UL is known for its sports facilities and large number of fields and pitches.  Thirty acres of playing fields is no joke! The campus is even used by the Irish international rugby squad.  Traversing the campus is an amazing bridge known as the "Living Bridge".  It's the largest pedestrian bridge in all of Ireland and at night it lights up with different colors.  I've added the architect's website to the bottom of the page, because it is just an amazing engineering feat to behold (and of course I didn't think to take a picture of it). After a great (and long) walk around campus, we ended at the student centre where a tent was set up with a Zumba class for all participants and their families.  And much too soon it was time for me to catch the bus back to Dublin. This leg of the trip I had two seats for little old me and slept the entire way back.

Just for a little giggle: I was walking to work this morning and a primary school class from the boys school was waiting to cross the street.  As I got closer I heard one of the boys start to chant U-S-A, U-S-A.  All of the boys started to join in when I reached them and were quieted by their teacher.  I had to squeeze by them as I turned the corner towards the college and said, "Excuse me boys, I just need to cut through".  Thirty faces turned to look up at me and I heard one whisper in awe (or fear, I'm not sure which), "She's American."  It seems we have a contingency of Irish boys cheering on the US in the World Cup!

The Living Bridge

insert clever title here.

It seems I have been neglecting this blog lately, but it is simply because I'm in Ireland and I'm exploring! After two weeks I am settling into my new home for the summer, but I don't think I will ever be used to the beauty of the local culture and atmosphere.  It is such a calming experience to live here.  When I'm walking around the centre of town, I am consistently the fastest moving person and that is no easy feat for me.  My sisters can attest to that fact (especially Emily), as they are constantly have to "slow their roll" so I can keep up!  I won't apologize for short legs though, I can't change that.


My lunchtimes consist of outdoor patios next to castle ruins, lunches on the green and coffees on the walk back to the office.  Life here is much simpler.  There is no need to stress or worry on a normal day.  We had a few visitors from UNCW on campus last week and I was able to tour the chapel on campus.  It is locked to the public as there have been incidents of theft in the past and you must be an employee to request access.  I expected a beautiful church, but this was completely unexpected.

My first full weekend in Ireland I was lucky enough to see Niamh, my lovely roommate from graduate school who is herself Irish.  Since she is doing her clinical rotations in and around Dublin, we decided to meet for dinner after work on Friday.  After I mentioned that I would be heading to Dublin for dinner, my colleagues basically pushed me out the door.  Of course I should leave early, it's a Friday afternoon and I'm only in Ireland for a short time!  I don't think I've ever met as many genuinely nice people who are interested in getting to know me and help me experience this adventure in my life.

I'll admit I was a bit nervous for my first bus trip into the city centre, but it was easily navigable.  There are two buses that run from Main Street in Maynooth to the Dublin city centre and from there you can catch a bus, train, tram, plane, horse and buggy, etc. to just about anywhere you could want.  I got off the bus at the D'Olier Street/College Street stop and gave Niamh a ring to see where she and Scott (her boyfriend) were.  I'll be the first to admit that I am not the best at describing locations and it took a few minutes for us to figure out where I was in relation to them!  It turns out I was right next to Trinity College.  I hadn't seen Niamh since I left South Carolina at the beginning of May so it was wonderful to see her again.

We headed to a restaurant called crackBIRD which is located on Dame Street in the Temple Bar area.  Niamh warned me that they only serve chicken dishes, but I didn't quite realize how honest she was being.  The dinner menu consists of different varieties of rubs and seasonings for chicken with side dishes to round out the meal.  However, there are only two sizes...half chicken and full chicken.  Can you imagine how incredibly full I was?  Obviously I ordered the half chicken and a side dish of croquettes (I miss my Spanish tapas), but still ended up asking for a take away container.  After dinner we walked to an establishment called The Bailey for a drink before we all headed home.  Niamh and I had glasses of cider (my first since I had been in Ireland) and Scott had a pint of Guinness.  I have been told by different people that there are a certain number of pulls to enjoy a Guinness.  But that number always seems to change with each person. In this instance, Scott told me that you should drink a Guinness in 3 pulls.  My  future brother-in-law, Adam told me once it was 7.  Either way, if I drank a Guinness that quickly, or any beer for that matter, pigs would be flying above our heads.

On my bus ride home I watched the sun set at 10pm.  It stays light pretty late in this area, not getting completely dark until about 11:30 at night.  I have witnessed some of the most beautiful sunsets with colors splashing across clouds that seem to be rushing towards the sun in an effort to keep it afloat.

Saturday was a day of chores.  I had a marvelous lie in, not getting out of bed until 10am.  I cleaned my room, went for a shop and did a load of laundry.  I did enjoy a walk around town in the rain during which I found the local library and a deli that serves an amazing vanilla latte.

Sunday I had planned with Niamh to go over to her house for the afternoon and have dinner with her family.  I met her mum, dad and her younger brother.  We spent the afternoon watching the final match of the French Open.  I have never laughed so much while watching a tennis match.  Each time her dad would comment about this serve or that backhand, the announcer would match his exclamations a few moments later causing us to burst.  As someone who doesn't regularly watch tennis, I learned a great deal.  I found myself rooting for Djokovic even though I love Spain and consequently Rafael Nadal, because he has never won the French Open.  It was such a lovely Sunday especially the home cooked meal and dessert Niamh's mom prepared.  This dessert was a mix between a lemon meringue pie and lemon pudding, it just melted in my mouth.  Although my apartment is very nice and perfectly suitable, it is nice to have a cozy, warm place to visit every once in awhile.   A sort of home away from home.

Now I am going to do something very American and curb my salt craving with Pringles and a bottle of Coke.  Aunt Katie would be proud.  Do not get me started about how difficult it is to find just plain, salted crisps (potato chips)...

let them eat (chocolate) cake!

Ladies and gentlemen, hold onto your hats, take a seat and put down anything that may break if you drop it...on Tuesday I willingly ate a piece of chocolate cake.  Now you're probably in a state of shock, staring blankly at the screen and thinking "wait a minute", but it is the honest truth.

Tuesday was the first day of my internship.  I headed over to the office which, gloriously enough, is a five minute walk from my apartment and met with the staff members who were in the office.  After chatting for a bit about what I would be doing during my two month stay, Zubin, a graduate student worker, took me on an extensive tour of campus and the village of Maynooth. On the route we stopped at a coffee shop and he treated me to a cappuchino and a piece of cake. He had already switched treats once before when I told him I have a nut allergy and I tried to politely decline, but he wouldn't take no for an answer.  I didn't want to tell him I didn't like chocolate on top of that. So being the polite girl I am, I ate the cake. But for the record my taste buds have not changed.  Each swallow was followed by a gulp of my delicious cappuccino to disguise the flavor!

This picture was taken right across the way from the coffee shop where I ate the chocolate cake.  The little sign in the left hand corner is for the shop where we stopped. It is also right next to my apartment complex, but I never took the time to look down and discover the gentle stream that passes by.  It reminds me that I should not only look up at all of the beautiful architecture that connects the old Ireland with the new Ireland, but to also look down at the natural beauty that is all around me.

The Humanity House which houses the International Office comprises one side of St. Joseph's Square. This is what I see as I leave the office every day to walk home, amazing isn't it? It is crazy how often we connect different senses to memories or familiar places and when I walked into the Humanity House memories of my childhood crashed into me as it smells like Butler Montessori School when it was located at Butler Catholic.  I could see myself learning how to make a bed, tie my shoes and balance a plate on my head while walking in a straight line. The similarities end with the smell however.  The International Office stretches down a long corridor that just begs for me to turn cartwheels the entire way.  I mentioned this to one of my colleagues Wendy and she said as long as I tell them ahead of time so they all can watch I should "give it a go".


I am very much enjoying my first few days at my internship.  We have two tea breaks at 11am and 3pm as well as lunch at 1pm.  We gather around in the meeting room and just chat about the day and get to know each other.  All of the members of the office who I have met are delightful.  I have been invited along to lunch with a few of the girls every day I have been here and we are going to plan a weekend trip to Belfast!  As for the workload, I do feel as if I am not contributing very much.  Maybe it is just that I am used to always having multiple projects on my hands as well as student advising hours or it might simply be that it is my first week in the office.  We'll see how next week goes and I will definitely be asking for more projects to keep me busy!  Until then I'll enjoy my gradual introduction into the office environment and substituting coffee for tea at 11am and 3pm :)