Hi everybody!
I know it has been a while since I updated you all, so this one could be kind of long! Last weekend a few friends and I went to Limerick, the third largest city in Ireland, just for the day on Saturday. It is a fun city, but I after going there I am very happy that I chose Galway over any other city that I have visited so far. Galway has such a great historical aspect to it, a great social scene, and the university is highly regarded as one of the best in the country. Limerick was kind of dirty and more industrial, and we had to SEARCH to find a pub! It was crazy haha in Galway you get tired of seeing them because they are everywhere! It was still a really fun place to visit, and we got to see the large St. Mary's Cathedral and King John's Castle. We also had our first "traditional" fish and chips at a super shady diner. It was basically grease fried in more grease, it was SO good! It was nice to get away from Galway for the day and see something new.
This week I FINALLY got to start all of my classes, and I registered with immigration, so I got to cross a lot of things off my stress list, even though the 150 Euro immigration fee did not help the stress haha. My classes are good, some definitely more interesting then others. Most of the Irish students rarely go to class, and I am beginning to see why. Most classes just have one essay at the end of the term as assessment, and it is usually a specific topic or book not really having to do with the whole content of the class. I am still being a good girl and going to most of my classes, but I definitely do not feel as guilty missing a class here to travel as I would if I was at home.
We have found a pub called Monroe's that has traditional Irish music and dancing on Tuesday nights, and has really great pizza! I think it is now going to be a weekly date, and I am definitely going to join in the dancing this next week! There is a cute little old man who teaches American girls how to dance, and you can see in his eyes how much he looks forward to finding a new partner each week. I am bound and determined to be that girl this week haha.
I have found a really great group of girls here, all from different parts of America, who I can share experiences with. They are usually who I travel with, and each week we have started to do a international dinner type potluck. We were all craving Mexican food this week so we made tacos, guacamole, beans and rice. It is really fun to get together and enjoy each others company!
Today I went to Conamara, an area west of Galway, that was absolutely beautiful. It was a day tour through our International Student Society so we got to stop at all of the important sights and photo opportunities. I went to Kylemore Abbey and a few other places around the area. Again it was nice to get away, especially with a group of 50 international students!
I think I am pretty much adjusted to life here, it is definitely easier then it was at the beginning, but there are still things that I have to get over. My apartment is kind of a disaster zone, two of my roommates smoke (uh oh for my allergies) and all of them are pretty dirty, but I know that it is a temporary living situation and I am so grateful for all of the other experiences I am presented with while I am here. I think what I miss most is hugs! Pretty soon I am going to have to start going up to random people and hugging them so I can get my fix for the week.
Tomorrow a group of us are going to Cork (the second biggest city in Ireland) for tomorrow and Sunday. I get to kiss the Blarney stone and be a cheesy tourist! I will update you all on that next week, and then next weekend I am going to Scotland for the weekend! I am so excited!
I am still loving all of the thoughts and prayers, and the notes and e-mails! You wouldn't believe how happy I get whenever I get an e-mail, it is kind of ridiculous. By the way, if any of you have skype my skype name is melissaschisler, look me up:) Oh and one more, if by chance (no pressure, I'm not expecting anything) but if anybody happens to send a package to me if you could let me know that would be great because they go to the front desk and they don't call us we have to go check for packages.
I love you all! I hope that your weeks were great and that your weekends will be relaxing. Miss you all!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Update 3!
Hi everybody!
The past week has been pretty busy, but I haven't really done anything all that exciting. I have finally started all but one of my classes, and the routine has kicked in almost full gear. Did you know that I am actually expected to do homework while I am here? Haha somehow I will have to fit that in to my busy schedule. So far almost all of my classes have definite potential. One in particular that I am really excited about is called Imagining Modern Ireland and it is a class specifically for visiting students about the culture of Ireland. It focuses on Irish lit in the Irish language, Irish lit in the English language, Irish music and dance, and then how they are all connected and how they have shaped the country. I feel like I have already learned more in the two hours I have had that class then in any other class. I am also taking a class about the politics of Northern Ireland and the division between the two states. It is interesting that's for sure, but I am already feeling a little lost because I don't have the Irish history background that the Irish students obviously do. Looks like I will just have to do a little bit more work on my own!
I also started my Irish language course, which I am taking just for fun. It is a language unlike any other, and I am really excited to know even the basics. When else am I ever going to have an opportunity to learn it?
Yesterday I had to sign up for one of my smaller English classes, and I was very worried I was not going to get it. This is a class that I needed to get into, otherwise I wasn't going to be able to student teach in the fall so I was a little nervous! The system was pretty crazy, what we had to do was come to a building and get a number then come back and stand in line in order of our numbers to choose our class. The registration was supposed to start at 9am, so Alexa and I were there at 8 thinking it would be early enough. When we got there we were number 124! The number one person got there at 2 AM!!! It was incredibly unorganized, but I am so happy that I got into the class I wanted even though I wasn't crazy enough to get up that early.
The inauguration was a huge deal here, and it was very interesting to see it from a different countries perspective. Almost all of the pubs were showing it on big screens Tuesday evening, and had drink specials and things to celebrate. Now most of you know my political views, but it was still something to see history being made at home from a different country! Sadly I had class during the actual ceremony, but it was still a very interesting day.
Almost all Irish students go home on the weekends, like literally my complex clears out and all of the cars and most of the students are gone for 3 straight days. So far my Irish friends have told me that they go home on the weekends to work so they can afford to go out so much during the week. It seems so backwards to me haha but I guess I will get used to it! All of my roommates leave on the weekends, which is generally ok with me because then it is quiet and I can clean while they are gone. They are all really sweet girls, they just have different living styles then I do. Alexa's roommates are fantastic, so I am there often and have become good friends with them.
Actually, this weekend Alexa and I are going to her roommates home in Connemara (about an hour from here) and spending time walking around there. I am really excited to get away from here for the weekend, and do free laundry! Next weekend a group of my American friends and I are going to Cork for a night to kiss the Blarney Stone and do other touristy things, and finally the first weekend in February I am planning a trip to Scotland. There is a possibility my friend Rachel who is studying in Rome is coming to visit that weekend instead, but I will let you know which it turns out to be, both would be fantastic!
I can feel all of your thoughts and prayers, and know that I think of all of you everyday. My homesickness is getting less and less, but it definitely has not gone away completely. I told my parents the other day that I blame them for being such good parents for me to miss being home this much. The hardest part is not being able to share all of these wonderful experiences with all of you!
Have a great day, I love you all!
Love from Ireland!
The past week has been pretty busy, but I haven't really done anything all that exciting. I have finally started all but one of my classes, and the routine has kicked in almost full gear. Did you know that I am actually expected to do homework while I am here? Haha somehow I will have to fit that in to my busy schedule. So far almost all of my classes have definite potential. One in particular that I am really excited about is called Imagining Modern Ireland and it is a class specifically for visiting students about the culture of Ireland. It focuses on Irish lit in the Irish language, Irish lit in the English language, Irish music and dance, and then how they are all connected and how they have shaped the country. I feel like I have already learned more in the two hours I have had that class then in any other class. I am also taking a class about the politics of Northern Ireland and the division between the two states. It is interesting that's for sure, but I am already feeling a little lost because I don't have the Irish history background that the Irish students obviously do. Looks like I will just have to do a little bit more work on my own!
I also started my Irish language course, which I am taking just for fun. It is a language unlike any other, and I am really excited to know even the basics. When else am I ever going to have an opportunity to learn it?
Yesterday I had to sign up for one of my smaller English classes, and I was very worried I was not going to get it. This is a class that I needed to get into, otherwise I wasn't going to be able to student teach in the fall so I was a little nervous! The system was pretty crazy, what we had to do was come to a building and get a number then come back and stand in line in order of our numbers to choose our class. The registration was supposed to start at 9am, so Alexa and I were there at 8 thinking it would be early enough. When we got there we were number 124! The number one person got there at 2 AM!!! It was incredibly unorganized, but I am so happy that I got into the class I wanted even though I wasn't crazy enough to get up that early.
The inauguration was a huge deal here, and it was very interesting to see it from a different countries perspective. Almost all of the pubs were showing it on big screens Tuesday evening, and had drink specials and things to celebrate. Now most of you know my political views, but it was still something to see history being made at home from a different country! Sadly I had class during the actual ceremony, but it was still a very interesting day.
Almost all Irish students go home on the weekends, like literally my complex clears out and all of the cars and most of the students are gone for 3 straight days. So far my Irish friends have told me that they go home on the weekends to work so they can afford to go out so much during the week. It seems so backwards to me haha but I guess I will get used to it! All of my roommates leave on the weekends, which is generally ok with me because then it is quiet and I can clean while they are gone. They are all really sweet girls, they just have different living styles then I do. Alexa's roommates are fantastic, so I am there often and have become good friends with them.
Actually, this weekend Alexa and I are going to her roommates home in Connemara (about an hour from here) and spending time walking around there. I am really excited to get away from here for the weekend, and do free laundry! Next weekend a group of my American friends and I are going to Cork for a night to kiss the Blarney Stone and do other touristy things, and finally the first weekend in February I am planning a trip to Scotland. There is a possibility my friend Rachel who is studying in Rome is coming to visit that weekend instead, but I will let you know which it turns out to be, both would be fantastic!
I can feel all of your thoughts and prayers, and know that I think of all of you everyday. My homesickness is getting less and less, but it definitely has not gone away completely. I told my parents the other day that I blame them for being such good parents for me to miss being home this much. The hardest part is not being able to share all of these wonderful experiences with all of you!
Have a great day, I love you all!
Love from Ireland!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Address
Here is my address for anyone who loves me enough to send me mail:)
Melissa Schisler
454 Corrib Village
New Castle Road
Galway
County Galway, Ireland
Love from Ireland!
Melissa Schisler
454 Corrib Village
New Castle Road
Galway
County Galway, Ireland
Love from Ireland!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Week 2 is starting off so much better!
Hi everybody!
I have been here for almost exactly a week to the minute, and it has been quite a whirlwind of activities and emotions. I now finally have roommates, who are really great and fun, and I got to go to my first Irish class today! The system for signing up and finding classes is kind of messy compared to what I am used to, but I think I pretty much have it all figured out now. Each of the major departments has a registration day for classes where you go and fight a crowd to get into some of the smaller seminar classes, but then the big lectures don't have a capacity so you don't register for those until later when I register with the school. I just hope I do it all right so I can get all the classes I want and need! Some classes start this week, some next, and finally some the following. It is so much different for me because at home everything starts the same day and ends the same day, which is not at all how it works here. Lecturers have much more freedom. One of my classes began today but meets four times a week and is finished Feb 20, compared to the rest of them that only meet 2 times a week and are not done until the beginning of April.
Right now these are the classes I am hoping to take:
The History of the English Language
The Archeology of the Medieval Castle in Europe
Environments and Landforms
Imagining Modern Ireland
Twentieth Century Literature
Northern Ireland: The Politics of a Divided Society
I have only had the castle class so far, but that was really interesting and I think all the rest definitely have potential. I am also taking an extra class on speaking the Irish Language, which I am really pumped about. It isn't for credit and I have to pay for it, but I think that is so much a part of this culture, especially in the Western Ireland where I am staying where many people still speak the language. It is not a class about writing or grammar, but more about being able to communicate and put in effort to speak in the native language, which could not be more what I am looking for. It doesn't start until next week, but I will keep you posted!
This weekend was not all that eventful, but it was really fun. I had a few rough patches last week when I wasn't busy and would get sad or homesick, but the more people I meet and the more of a routine I find the better I am. I feel like I should be totally acclimated, but I have to keep telling myself I have only been here for a week! I explored a lot of the pubs this weekend, but many of them were pretty empty of only full of Americans because the Irish students hadn't moved back to school yet. It was fun to hang out with the American students I have met so far, but I am even more excited to start making friends with Irish students! Many of the pubs have live music a few nights a week, sometimes Irish and sometimes more modern cover bands, but so far all have been a lot of fun. On Thursday we went to one of the bigger pubs called the Kings Head, and they had a really fun cover band who played everything from AC/DC to Lionel Richie, and even a few Irish pub songs. Most of you know that I am not a huge partier or clubber, so I am really enjoying the more chill pubs with bands and conversation.
On Saturday we were supposed to have a walking tour of Galway, the city I am staying in, but it was very rainy (surprise surprise) and the tour guides didn't show up so it was canceled. I was really disappointed! But we did have a very cool historian come and talk about the history of Galway and point out some of the important features and stories through illustrations. It was very interesting, and I can't wait to learn more.
It is a lot like home here in some ways, but then out of nowhere things will be completely different. I am getting more and more used to everything, and the craziness that I was complaining about last week has been put more into perspective. My apartment really is not as bad as I was saying, and the walk into town is actually very refreshing. I am trying to take the words of everybody who has done this in the past that soon I won't ever want to leave, but it is still tough to believe that right now especially being away from all of you! I am so thankful for all of your thoughts and prayers, and know that I am thinking of you often! I love the comments and e-mails (hint hint) and would love to hear about life back home!
Love from Ireland!
I have been here for almost exactly a week to the minute, and it has been quite a whirlwind of activities and emotions. I now finally have roommates, who are really great and fun, and I got to go to my first Irish class today! The system for signing up and finding classes is kind of messy compared to what I am used to, but I think I pretty much have it all figured out now. Each of the major departments has a registration day for classes where you go and fight a crowd to get into some of the smaller seminar classes, but then the big lectures don't have a capacity so you don't register for those until later when I register with the school. I just hope I do it all right so I can get all the classes I want and need! Some classes start this week, some next, and finally some the following. It is so much different for me because at home everything starts the same day and ends the same day, which is not at all how it works here. Lecturers have much more freedom. One of my classes began today but meets four times a week and is finished Feb 20, compared to the rest of them that only meet 2 times a week and are not done until the beginning of April.
Right now these are the classes I am hoping to take:
The History of the English Language
The Archeology of the Medieval Castle in Europe
Environments and Landforms
Imagining Modern Ireland
Twentieth Century Literature
Northern Ireland: The Politics of a Divided Society
I have only had the castle class so far, but that was really interesting and I think all the rest definitely have potential. I am also taking an extra class on speaking the Irish Language, which I am really pumped about. It isn't for credit and I have to pay for it, but I think that is so much a part of this culture, especially in the Western Ireland where I am staying where many people still speak the language. It is not a class about writing or grammar, but more about being able to communicate and put in effort to speak in the native language, which could not be more what I am looking for. It doesn't start until next week, but I will keep you posted!
This weekend was not all that eventful, but it was really fun. I had a few rough patches last week when I wasn't busy and would get sad or homesick, but the more people I meet and the more of a routine I find the better I am. I feel like I should be totally acclimated, but I have to keep telling myself I have only been here for a week! I explored a lot of the pubs this weekend, but many of them were pretty empty of only full of Americans because the Irish students hadn't moved back to school yet. It was fun to hang out with the American students I have met so far, but I am even more excited to start making friends with Irish students! Many of the pubs have live music a few nights a week, sometimes Irish and sometimes more modern cover bands, but so far all have been a lot of fun. On Thursday we went to one of the bigger pubs called the Kings Head, and they had a really fun cover band who played everything from AC/DC to Lionel Richie, and even a few Irish pub songs. Most of you know that I am not a huge partier or clubber, so I am really enjoying the more chill pubs with bands and conversation.
On Saturday we were supposed to have a walking tour of Galway, the city I am staying in, but it was very rainy (surprise surprise) and the tour guides didn't show up so it was canceled. I was really disappointed! But we did have a very cool historian come and talk about the history of Galway and point out some of the important features and stories through illustrations. It was very interesting, and I can't wait to learn more.
It is a lot like home here in some ways, but then out of nowhere things will be completely different. I am getting more and more used to everything, and the craziness that I was complaining about last week has been put more into perspective. My apartment really is not as bad as I was saying, and the walk into town is actually very refreshing. I am trying to take the words of everybody who has done this in the past that soon I won't ever want to leave, but it is still tough to believe that right now especially being away from all of you! I am so thankful for all of your thoughts and prayers, and know that I am thinking of you often! I love the comments and e-mails (hint hint) and would love to hear about life back home!
Love from Ireland!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
I made it!
I made it to Galway after 2 LONG days of traveling, and it definitely took some adjusting, but after 5 days things have calmed down a little bit and I am thinking I might actually be able to live here for 5 months. Getting here was a pretty long process, with lots of planes, cars, buses, and finally a taxi. My first night was pretty rough, probably because I hadn't slept or eaten much of anything in 30+ hours and was trying to take everything in at once, but having Alexa traveling with me made it easier, and the beauty of Skype also gave me a chance to talk to my family and express all of my crazy emotions.
My apartment is not quite what I expected, and the first night that seemed like the end of the world, but now after realizing there are much more important things I am becoming comfortable in my cold little bedroom (I haven't quite figured out how to really use the heat). I have four other people living with me, but they have not moved in yet so I am assuming that they are all Irish not back from winter break yet. Stay tuned for information on them when I get to meet them! My kitchen (I am a Schisler, so that is of course the most important thing to focus on) is a lot smaller then I expected, and not quite as tidy as I am used to (I guess I have my mom to thank for ruining me forever haha) and there is just one small mini-fridge for five people, and I haven't quite figured out how that is going to work, but I am going with the flow.
Since being here Alexa and I have explored a lot and met quite a few other American students that will be studying here as well. On our first full day here we went into town to "Shop Street" (the big downtown area that is mostly just walking with TONS of restaurants, pubs, and shops) and wandered the city for quite a few hours. We saw the bay and a lot of the more urban areas, the city is VERY beautiful and I am excited to explore even more once I find out what I am actually seeing when I make friends with Irish people. We had lunch at a little pub and I had my first experience with brown bread (my dad's favorite). It is fantastic, pretty much a reason to come to Ireland in itself, except to visit me of course! We then came back to our apartment for a while then went back into town for dinner and my first pub experience. I love listening to the conversations and accents, but I think we were out a little too early for a lot of the fun happenings. Our apartment is about a half an hour walk from the downtown area so I kind of feel like I have to make a trip out of it every time I go down there.
The past few days orientation for school has started and I got to see the campus and start to understand how the next 5 months of classes are going to work, which puts me much more at ease. I think the student services and international offices are going to be really great resources and have definitely dealt with just about any problem that I can think of, so I feel much more comforted in that.
Alexa and I made our first homemade dinner last night, and finally after figuring out how to turn on the stove we made a pretty bland chicken and pasta, but hey it is only the first time after going actual grocery shopping I know my cooking genes will come out and I will be able to make something better. Tonight the international student group is putting on Karaoke in the COLLEGE BAR (I love Ireland), then we will probably hit up some of the pubs and be more social then we have felt the past few days. The adjustment period is kind of rough sometimes, but the ups and downs are what make it an adventure!
My apartment is not quite what I expected, and the first night that seemed like the end of the world, but now after realizing there are much more important things I am becoming comfortable in my cold little bedroom (I haven't quite figured out how to really use the heat). I have four other people living with me, but they have not moved in yet so I am assuming that they are all Irish not back from winter break yet. Stay tuned for information on them when I get to meet them! My kitchen (I am a Schisler, so that is of course the most important thing to focus on) is a lot smaller then I expected, and not quite as tidy as I am used to (I guess I have my mom to thank for ruining me forever haha) and there is just one small mini-fridge for five people, and I haven't quite figured out how that is going to work, but I am going with the flow.
Since being here Alexa and I have explored a lot and met quite a few other American students that will be studying here as well. On our first full day here we went into town to "Shop Street" (the big downtown area that is mostly just walking with TONS of restaurants, pubs, and shops) and wandered the city for quite a few hours. We saw the bay and a lot of the more urban areas, the city is VERY beautiful and I am excited to explore even more once I find out what I am actually seeing when I make friends with Irish people. We had lunch at a little pub and I had my first experience with brown bread (my dad's favorite). It is fantastic, pretty much a reason to come to Ireland in itself, except to visit me of course! We then came back to our apartment for a while then went back into town for dinner and my first pub experience. I love listening to the conversations and accents, but I think we were out a little too early for a lot of the fun happenings. Our apartment is about a half an hour walk from the downtown area so I kind of feel like I have to make a trip out of it every time I go down there.
The past few days orientation for school has started and I got to see the campus and start to understand how the next 5 months of classes are going to work, which puts me much more at ease. I think the student services and international offices are going to be really great resources and have definitely dealt with just about any problem that I can think of, so I feel much more comforted in that.
Alexa and I made our first homemade dinner last night, and finally after figuring out how to turn on the stove we made a pretty bland chicken and pasta, but hey it is only the first time after going actual grocery shopping I know my cooking genes will come out and I will be able to make something better. Tonight the international student group is putting on Karaoke in the COLLEGE BAR (I love Ireland), then we will probably hit up some of the pubs and be more social then we have felt the past few days. The adjustment period is kind of rough sometimes, but the ups and downs are what make it an adventure!
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