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.

View from my window...reminds me slightly of a prison yard, but still pretty nice.

View when you come out of my building. No one has moved in yet so it's pretty deserted. Oh and the sun was out today!

This is my building. Block 5. My room is the second window up on the far left side.

I promised some embarrassing stories so here are a few after just 24 hours here….

1. Tried to buy beer on the plane like the rest of the Irish people….got denied. Damn you Continental.

2. I swear to god you have to know magic to get all the way to my room. We have two ID cards. One for Duncreggan Student Village (which is where I live) and one for the University of Ulster (not sure what this one does yet).  Then we have a key and an electronic thing. The electronic thing is to get us into the dorm building (it must be scanned key side up) or block as they call it here. Once through that door I have to go through another one (unlocked) and I find myself standing in a very small pace between two doors. This door must be unlocked by a suitemate (key goes in right side up). Once through that door I am in my suite. To get to my room I need to use the same key (upside down to unlock) to actually get into my room. Now I know it doesn’t sound like much, but if I’m having this much trouble getting in sober I can’t imagine what it would be like after a night out. Also, to get out of the building I have to pretty much reverse those steps and at the final door push a button (located on the nearest wall) to release that door. And yes it took a few meetings of my face and the door for me to remember that one.  I guess this is why it’s called a block. It’s like being on lockdown in a prison.  Thank god no one else has moved in to watch me try and figure out all of this.

3. Met the professor to my War and Genocide course…didn’t realize she was a professor since she looks like she could be a freshman at JC. I asked her if she really was “Dr.” hah she got a kick out of it and I felt like a retard.  Tried to save it by adding saying all the professors at JC are old (which compared to the professors here they are). This started a good conversation about how prices for US universities are ridiculous. It’s only 3,000 pound for a year here! That only covers room and board at JC I think. Also, learned that it’s a lot faster to get a PhD in Europe, which mixed with the low price of tuition, explains the young professors. 

4. Umbrellas don’t work in the wind.

5. Just about got blown over by the wind.

More stories to come. When I figure out how to walk in the wind, carry an umbrella, and handle a camera at the same time I will take some pictures. 

Also, Derry is amazing!

Turns Out Old Ladies Are Not A Safe Bet For Airport Small Talk

I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to hit an old lady…..but now I can say that I have definitely experienced that feeling.

First off, it’s called GUM. You can buy it anywhere. So buy it. Chew it.  Live by it. Don't start a conversation with a stranger without it.

            Given the choice of talking to the attractive guy (who by the way had an amazing Irish accent)  sitting on my left or the poor old lady on my right….of course I have to be polite, I chose the poor old lady. We started talking about my POE and what I was going to be doing in Northern Ireland and then the conversation took a bit of a turn. She asked me what I thought would happen in the world in the next 15 to 20 years. I of course went on a rant about oil, the US, the economy, current political situation in the Arab world, the decline of the Euro and American Dollar, and so on.  And then she asked me if I had read the Bible?  I told her I didn’t and then she whipped one out and started quoting some Babylon king and his dream and something about Jesus…apparently nothing that is going on is really relevant because eventually god will come down and wipe the earth of evil, I should have guessed where this was going. THEN she told me she was a Jehovah Witness (nothing against people of other faiths, but I've had an encounter or two with them back in VT and honestly they scare me). Then she went on and asked me where my faith stood (A bit of a rude question for someone who you just met…not even met just happened to be sitting next to). I told her I was kind of Muslim but had some doubts still…I had one of those "Should not have said that" moments. And that’s when the attempted conversion began. I guess I deserved it, since I pretty much walked right into the trap. 

I’ve never felt more violated in my life.  There was no door to shut in her face like I usually do with the Jehovah Witnesses when they come a knocking. This became the longest 30 minutes of my life.  By the way…did you know Satan rules the world and God is just sitting back letting humans mess up to learn a lesson…I think she said it was Eve’s fault. Fuck, first Eve eats the apple and fucks women over. Now it turns out she’s a Satan worshiper. Should have known. 

This is not exactly what I had in mind for some fun stories to share with you guys from my trip to N. Ireland, but I guess it was meant to be. Maybe Satan just wanted to fuck with me? Oh and she tried to give me some Jehovah magazine for a bit of light reading on the plane...I told her I would stick to Tim O'Brian's The Things They Carried (great book, go read it!), O'Brian and I share the same view of the world. Also, if you want the answers to all of your questions about faith you can visit www.Watchtower.org.  J it’s where all the Jehovah people hang out. Anyway I hope my next story is one that I actually enjoy being a part of.

By the way, this might also have been one of those stories that ends with….”You had to be there” But just imagine me in this situation and I think you can get the all the emotions.