So this is the Giant's Causeway. This is looking from the ocean up to the mountain.

This is with my back to the mountain and facing the Ocean, beyond this is the east coast...just a short swim. This scene blew my mind. I was speechless for most of the day other than "Jesus Fucking Christ my mind is blown" hah sorry for the language

This is the Mayor of Derry. He was really nice and very welcoming. He let us take pics with him. In the post I mentioned I wanted to touch his gold thing, DO YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN. He looks like a pimp.

Quick note: I’m not going to read through these and do some spell and grammar check…there’s just no point with me hah. Enjoy.

All right so I have been pretty MIA this last week, but I swear I have good reasons. Last Monday the rest of the BCA kids flew in. There is nine of them and most are from Etown. There is Felicia who is from JC, Sara who goes to some school in Virginia that I can’t remember the name of, and then there is Chris, Gabe, Brian (Buddy), Matt, Molly, Caitlin, and Rachel (Rachel is part Croatian whoooo!). Then there is Melissa from JC who is not a BCA member because JC screwed her over, so Dr. Skelly decided that we could adopt her.

So first day with these guys was a bit hectic. Dr. Skelly took us all out to dinner at a pretty nice restaurant. The food was good, the beer was even better. It is a bad idea to mix no sleep and jetlag with a couple pints of beer. After this we went to a pub, it is called Amber AND the bar tenders name is ALAN! Everyone bought drinks and the night was going ok, until Sara decided to buy everyone a shot of Whisky. Well the next thing I know some of us end up going back to the Village to hang out with some Irish kids and the rest stayed at the pub.

Tuesday was the first day of orientation, which I don’t remember, but I know I was there.

Wednesday was yet another day of orientation so it was pretty boring. I can’t really remember Wednesday…

Thursday was orientation again and well that went the same as Wednesday.

Friday was the big registration day. So half of our group got registered for classes and the other half apparently doesn’t exist in the system. Can you guess which half I’m in? YUP. If you know Liz from the Oller Center than you can understand my frustration with people who don’t have the answer to all of your questions, or in fact any of your questions.  Anyway the day got even worse in terms of registration but I would rather not get into that again. Let’s talk about some good things. We met the mayor.  Brian and I tried to touch his gold thing (I’ll post a picture so you understand). Derry is the UK Culture City of 2013 so there was a huge celebration in town, which we attempted to attend, but we couldn’t coordinate anything since people here are on what’s known as “Derry Time”. When they say 3 they really mean 4. Oh well for those of you who are interested about my classes that I am hoping to be registered for eventually here is some info. The University of Ulster only lets students take 3 courses; Dr. Skelly wants everyone to take either 4 or 5. I’m taking 5. Apparently the Uni believes that students spend about 200 hours outside of each course doing work…nope, all they do is drink. Anyway, on Monday I have “Self Identity and Conflict” at 3:15, which is one of my unofficial courses.  Tuesday I have “Genocide and International Politics” at 9:15 and “Globalization and the New Wars” at 1:15. Plus I have “Global Conversation” which I am going to take online since it conflicts with the other two. Wednesday I have off. Thursday I have “International Conflict”. Friday I have off. So pretty much I have class three days a week and yes it is ok to be jealous. PLUS I’m super stoked for this schedule. If you know me you will understand why.

I will post about our Saturday travels later because it is soooo much, and honestly I can’t find the words for that day. All I have to say is that I have never felt more at peace with my self. I don’t know what it was but there was something about taking in this beautiful view in such a divided society that made me feel like everything will be ok. And I never feel like that….you guys know how much of a pessimist I am. I’ll put up a few pics and a video but check out my FB page for the full set of photos. Really do enjoy them. 

Oh The Irish Life

Guys,

I'm sorry for the lack of post, but I can honestly say that I have been 1 of 3 things at all times this week; drunk, asleep, or hungover. The Irish kids drink during the weekday and then go home to rest up for the weekend. So my weekends will be either relaxing or filled with travels (like today). I will post tonight when I get back.

First trip to a pub

Met a girl yesterday from St. Lawrence and the two of us decided to head into the city to buy phones. After embarrassing ourselves at the phone shop we decided to head further into town and find a pub. By 3 pm we were sitting in a pub ordering beer. Sorry no pictures of the pub but I felt it would be weird to whip out my camera and start taking pictures. In the pub were mostly older men, but we didn’t feel out of place at all. Something about the portrait of Che Guevara and the Palestinian flag made me feel right at home. My friend ordered a Guinness and a shot of Jameson (hah I think I found my drinking partner). But I finally tried my first Guinness and I have to say it is pretty awful. I stuck with a pint of Carlsberg. Anyway, we spent two hours in this pub talking to the bartender and the old guys who found it really funny that we were from the US. But eventually we had to leave to find some food.

Second trip to a pub

After dinner we went back to the village (we decided to shorten Duncreggan Student Village to just the village) and I had to meet up with Dr. Skelly for another late dinner. But after I finished this second dinner I met back up with my friend at the village and we headed to the city. The best thing happened on the way over to the pub…..I found 10 pound on the sidewalk hah! My friend complimented me on my vision and I went on to say that I must have been a Jew in a past life…than I realized she might not understand my humor the way you guys do, but she laughed. Anyway we finally made it to the pub (we went to the same one as earlier that day). There was live music and the pub was packed, pretty much the people spilled out into the street. But we fought our way to the bar and ordered drinks (thanks for the vodka redbull to whomever lost those 10 pounds). We met two guys named Gavin and Gerry who had grown up in Derry and we spent the rest of our night hanging out with the two of them. Gerry started telling jokes at one point and he started off by saying “Irish jokes are a bit long”. Who would have thought a bit long meant 15 minutes long? But nevertheless he was a good storyteller.  But other than this the night was pretty uneventful. I tried to take a picture of a cop car (or should I say TANK! It was huge) but Gerry told us they would arrest me, so this is challenge number one for the next three months. Anyway after a couple hours at the pub my friend and I took a taxi back to the village. I’d say a pretty solid night.

p.s. who needs beer goggles when you’re surrounded by Irish accents?

Oh and my friend told Gavin and Gerry that they looked kind of gay because they were dressed so well compared to American guys (one had a sweater and the other a cardigan). Their response was “We wouldn’t dress like this if we weren’t so fucking cold”. Fair enough.

This is Duncreggan Student Village. My "block" is way down the road. To the right there is a soccer field (which you can't see in this picture) and then there is another small turf field. On the left is the sports facility...I haven't figured out if that means its a gym or just a place for the field hockey and soccer teams to change before practice. Sorry the picture isn't nicer but at least you can get a sense of the weather :).

This is my room...bit of a mess. If you know me, then you know about my obsession with clothes hangers  and I only have 8 here which means I have no idea what to do with my shirts since I suck at folding. BUT I have my own room and each room in this part of campus comes with a private bathroom wooo no more peeing next to 5 other people and no more having to listen to someone sing while I shower.