Sitting in the Well (the Franciscan Well, for those not familiar with Cork) last weekend I learned a whole bunch of new sayings and I thought it might be fun to share with y'all back home some of them! They are approximately as follows:
"stall the ball now" or "stall the ball now, boss" = hold up there, son
"c'mere to me and I'll show ye"
some even have specific and expected responses...
"Down wit' that sort of thing"--"careful now"
"Christ on a bike with bells on it" (although 'christ' sounds more like 'chrisht')
Jesus H. tap-dancing Christ
"c'mere t'il I bait-cha boi" = mothers from North Cork yelling at misbehaving children. ('bait-cha' = beat you)
if a team won a match you might say "We bet them last week" 'bet' meaning 'beat'
math is said as "maths" but nobody here ever pronounces a "th" sound so it ends up sounding as "mats"
film sounds like "fill-um" ???
fair = very
dear = expensive
queer = strange, though it is pronounced more like "kw-are"
Friday, September 27, 2013
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Luck or Lack Thereof
So, the first week of classes is a bit strange--not like home at all. The first week of classes students are expected to shop around for classes and see which ones work for them and their schedules. Classes individually are complicated to boot, but more on that later. Besides taking your first look at classes one also gets to see clubs a societies on campus during the first week--I immediately located all the best ones: Medieval/Renaissance society, Historical Society, Choral society, Archaeology Society, etc...
Medieval/Renaissance Society (med/ren) has got to be the most dynamic and unique and kind and active and fun group of fine individuals I have met in a while! I mean, when there are names like Panda and Thor and you are instantly adopted into the family with Monty Python movie nights and weapons training and crafting (like nalbinding--I've heard it said it's like viking knitting...), and socials afterwards to the Franciscan Well then what other choices are there? There is even a pancake night on Thursday! (real Canadian syrup is a plus!). I have made many friends in this group and with other like-minded individuals--I am sure this year will be quite interesting. :)
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention Monday morning when I mentioned bad luck:
So I woke up with my head swimming due to my cold and shuffle off to breakfast because it was the day classes would really get moving. I open the fridge and--
--someone's poor tupperware container of pasta (with red pasta sauce, mind you) flies out at me, spilling pasta and sauce all down the fridge, on the floor, and on my shoes. I clean it up and leave a note explaining why they have no pasta in the fridge, and decide to avoid the fridge for a bit so I set myself up to make cereal. I got my bowl and cereal and milk and spoon, I sat down and took the first bite--and spit it back out. The milk had gone bad... at which point I gave up on breakfast and went back to bed. I didn't have class until 15:00 anyway. Maybe I would have better luck with lunch.
The two pictures shown below are from the park which is an option of where I may walk to get to city centre. Pretty! :3
This tree in the park is completely made of metal and I am not sure what the leaves/petals are made from--it is pretty and strange and a bit scarey if you have ever listened to Welcome to Night Vale...
Oh yeah, and there is Rico's Pizza about 7 minutes from this park...
Medieval/Renaissance Society (med/ren) has got to be the most dynamic and unique and kind and active and fun group of fine individuals I have met in a while! I mean, when there are names like Panda and Thor and you are instantly adopted into the family with Monty Python movie nights and weapons training and crafting (like nalbinding--I've heard it said it's like viking knitting...), and socials afterwards to the Franciscan Well then what other choices are there? There is even a pancake night on Thursday! (real Canadian syrup is a plus!). I have made many friends in this group and with other like-minded individuals--I am sure this year will be quite interesting. :)
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| I have learned my lesson: don't get carried away when sparring with (wooden practice) daggers. I fell down and sprained my wrist. It's all better now but damn it hurt then. Do not worry--there is a student health center right next to campus that students get free access to! |
So I woke up with my head swimming due to my cold and shuffle off to breakfast because it was the day classes would really get moving. I open the fridge and--
--someone's poor tupperware container of pasta (with red pasta sauce, mind you) flies out at me, spilling pasta and sauce all down the fridge, on the floor, and on my shoes. I clean it up and leave a note explaining why they have no pasta in the fridge, and decide to avoid the fridge for a bit so I set myself up to make cereal. I got my bowl and cereal and milk and spoon, I sat down and took the first bite--and spit it back out. The milk had gone bad... at which point I gave up on breakfast and went back to bed. I didn't have class until 15:00 anyway. Maybe I would have better luck with lunch.
The two pictures shown below are from the park which is an option of where I may walk to get to city centre. Pretty! :3
This tree in the park is completely made of metal and I am not sure what the leaves/petals are made from--it is pretty and strange and a bit scarey if you have ever listened to Welcome to Night Vale...
"citizens are to be reminded that
Dogs are not allowed in the dog park.
People are not allowed in the dog park.
It is possible you will see hooded figures in the dog park--
do not approach them.
Do not approach the dog park.
The fence is electrified and highly dangerous.
try not to look at the dog park,and do not for any period of time look a
The dog park will not harm you."
 |
| We sang this in Choral Society along with "You've Got a Friend in Me".O Fortuna made me really happy to be singing it again. |
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| We were celebrating Panda's birthday at Coozi's restaurant (near the Old Oak if ye navigate by pub) and this was on of the deserts *drool* I still owe Aliette a coffee after she shared this with me :3 |
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| This is something akin to a WonderBall back home, although it has much better chocolate and is illegal in the US. Panda and Ciara bought me one just because I didn't know what it was--to have the experience. |
Monday, September 16, 2013
The More You Know
I FORGOT TO TELL YOU A FUNNY STORY!
Me:(interjecting into the conversation) "Oh? My brother was born in Kansas!"
Guy: "You're from the States? Where from?"
Me: "Chicago" (Because nobody really knows where Aurora is...)
Guy: "Get out, I live in Chicago--well, work there, I live in the suburbs"
Me: As do I, though you probably don't know it too well--Aurora?
Guy: *intense stare* "What? no. way. What school do you go to?"
Me: "Aurora University...you live in Aurora too?!"
Guy: "I live not five minutes from AU, near Orchard Road"
I can't believe it. I am practically neighbors with this kid and didn't meet him until we were at UCC, going to school in Ireland. Weird. So Mark, if you ever read this, you're invited to come over for a pint when we're back in the States! Maybe I can get a picture of us holding the Andy Aurora sign for the Historical Society? That would be a fun story.
Also, for those of you who don't believe me when I tell you how small our apartment is I will be posting pictures of the shower, fridge, and oven in particular. The average sized kitchen fridge looks like some dorm-fridges and they are meant to be shared between 6 people or more. The shower seems to be 2 feet by 2 feet--barely enough room to turn around--as if getting my hair tamed in the morning wasn't difficult enough! The oven is closer to an EZ-bake oven... it's tiny. I bought some frozen fish and a frozen bag of chips to make with the fish this afternoon and while I thankfully found some room in out tiny freezer to keep 'em until I make it all up for dinner I'll probably have to do them one at a time. It's take about 3-4 hours. 1 hour each per fish fillet, and 1 hour each per handful of chips.... this will be an adventure...
And no, that isn't just the fridge, the section below is actually the freezer. Things aren't chilled as cold here. Sometimes you can barely tell something was chilled at all. fruit, eggs, butter, milk (in most cases) and things of that nature usually aren't chilled altogether!
Oh, and what will make baking really difficult is the striking lack of any sort of pan or dish to bake in...yup.
Oh, to add to the previously made point that my school is essentially Hogwarts, (and therefore better than yours) this is the hallway in West Wing while waiting for my history class to start--Religion and Magic in Reformation Europe: Witches, Demons, Jews, and Heretics.The picture shown bottom-most is Lemon Curd bought at the English Market (great on toast) which is wonderful and it is joy and magic and summertime in a jar--it is lovely and I hope I can find it at home...
Day 3
I have met a number of interesting people already with which I plan to spend fun times with this year:
I have been shopping the past few days for an Irish phone to use during my year here, a new laptop--as my hard-drive crashed and gave me the blue (and then black) screen of death the night before we flew out, and generic dorm-stuff. It will be a few days until I get any of these things. (though I have them now, obviously).
Try to catch up the first few days here would simply be a lot of me complaining of how it takes forever to get anything done: shoppes close 5:30-6:00 or even sooner in some cases, everything shuts down weekends, and I kept getting referred to other buildings and people and numbers to solve my internet problem. It finally took multiple days of complaining in person and bringing my laptop with me everywhere to get stuff done.
If I think of some fun stories I have left out I will be sure to add them in future posts--but that should catch us all up for now. I do have internet, I do have Skype, I do have an Irish phone (with free incoming local and international texts), and as soon as I can figure out modules, buildings,
and courses I'll be all set up for this year!
This first week we were told to go to whatever courses looked interesting to us and at the end of the week we register for classes on paper--really strange, but I'll figure it out. In that case, I have class in half an hour and then some shopping to put together an Italian dinner with Camilla, so i'll leave you with pictures taken from my new campus.
~"Cheers!"
- My flatmates: Olive, Camilla, Jenna, Katrina, & Corrine, from South Africa, Italy, St. Charles (IL), Sweden I think, and England respectively (I could be terribly wrong on some of these)
- Cecile from Paris, France--she'll teach me some french if I teach her some more English.(though her English is much better than my pathetic amount of French)
- Rachel from Pennsylvania and her friend Emma
- Kelsey
- and Anne Fisher from Germany--we both want to be teachers
I have been shopping the past few days for an Irish phone to use during my year here, a new laptop--as my hard-drive crashed and gave me the blue (and then black) screen of death the night before we flew out, and generic dorm-stuff. It will be a few days until I get any of these things. (though I have them now, obviously).
Try to catch up the first few days here would simply be a lot of me complaining of how it takes forever to get anything done: shoppes close 5:30-6:00 or even sooner in some cases, everything shuts down weekends, and I kept getting referred to other buildings and people and numbers to solve my internet problem. It finally took multiple days of complaining in person and bringing my laptop with me everywhere to get stuff done.
If I think of some fun stories I have left out I will be sure to add them in future posts--but that should catch us all up for now. I do have internet, I do have Skype, I do have an Irish phone (with free incoming local and international texts), and as soon as I can figure out modules, buildings,
and courses I'll be all set up for this year!
This first week we were told to go to whatever courses looked interesting to us and at the end of the week we register for classes on paper--really strange, but I'll figure it out. In that case, I have class in half an hour and then some shopping to put together an Italian dinner with Camilla, so i'll leave you with pictures taken from my new campus.
~"Cheers!"
Shopping in Cork: Day 2
Shopping here in Cork is an experience to be had. The good news: there are plenty of bike lanes! The bad news: the lanes (for all roads) are so small you practically sideswipe every car you pass. Don't even try messing around trucks or buses unless you are dim in the head or have some sort of death-wish.
There are shoppes and pubs on every street and if you are not prepared to walk at least two miles or more than you are in for a long day. City Center is pretty tight-knit and so once one is down there it isn't difficult to find what you're looking for. If ye are ever lost or turned around one may ask anyone the way to the courthouse and you're are on your way again!
Our first day here we found the main stores everyone knows and goes to: Dunnes (pronounced "Done", as in "finished"), Pennys (perhaps somehow connected to J.C. Pennys back home? and Guineys (pronounced "g eye knees" as in "gynecologist"). Oh,and there is a T. K. Maxx, much like the T.J. Maxx back home.
Many things are pronounced slightly different or have different words for 'em altogether . You = Ye, cookie = biscuit, cart = trolly, Craic, pronounced "crack" = fun, Banter, or, "out for a bant' " = fun. Failte = Irish for "welcome", and a few others.
If you are from Cork, folks can usually tell--if not by the manner of your speech then by your general attitude--same as folks can usually tell if you are from Dublin or Chicago. Apparently we talk rather fast and sing-song like. We also have a bit of an attitude that says, "I am from Cork and I am proud of it. You don't have to like it, but you must respect it or I'll whip the legs off ye"For those of you who don't know, we are, in fact, the real capital, by the way.
P.S. look what's on the gate off of Western Road near campus! lol
There are shoppes and pubs on every street and if you are not prepared to walk at least two miles or more than you are in for a long day. City Center is pretty tight-knit and so once one is down there it isn't difficult to find what you're looking for. If ye are ever lost or turned around one may ask anyone the way to the courthouse and you're are on your way again!
Our first day here we found the main stores everyone knows and goes to: Dunnes (pronounced "Done", as in "finished"), Pennys (perhaps somehow connected to J.C. Pennys back home? and Guineys (pronounced "g eye knees" as in "gynecologist"). Oh,and there is a T. K. Maxx, much like the T.J. Maxx back home.
Many things are pronounced slightly different or have different words for 'em altogether . You = Ye, cookie = biscuit, cart = trolly, Craic, pronounced "crack" = fun, Banter, or, "out for a bant' " = fun. Failte = Irish for "welcome", and a few others.
If you are from Cork, folks can usually tell--if not by the manner of your speech then by your general attitude--same as folks can usually tell if you are from Dublin or Chicago. Apparently we talk rather fast and sing-song like. We also have a bit of an attitude that says, "I am from Cork and I am proud of it. You don't have to like it, but you must respect it or I'll whip the legs off ye"For those of you who don't know, we are, in fact, the real capital, by the way.
Saturday: Day one
When we flew into Shannon Airport is was a bit more chilly than we had expected, we gained our bearings and walked out to the rental-car lot... and proceeded to walk back and ask for the car we had booked--not some pod-like thing that would hardly fit three people, luggage besides.
We switched cars and got on our way....to run into a protest as we were exiting the airport. I amazed me how up-to-date everyone here is on political topics--especially those concerning the US. I would bet that more Irish have a handle on US foreign affairs than most Americans.
We unpacked and got all settled in just in time for the GAA All Ireland Hurling Final! more on that can be found under "Up the Rebels!" post earlier this month.
We switched cars and got on our way....to run into a protest as we were exiting the airport. I amazed me how up-to-date everyone here is on political topics--especially those concerning the US. I would bet that more Irish have a handle on US foreign affairs than most Americans.
We unpacked and got all settled in just in time for the GAA All Ireland Hurling Final! more on that can be found under "Up the Rebels!" post earlier this month.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
At the Speed of Bureaucracy
This week has been hectic.
Between three consecutive days of orientation, an "academic walkabout", grocery shopping, bar hopping, and buying/setting up a brand new laptop I feel as if I could use a brand new pair of feet. "walking 'til your feet bleed" is not always a figure of speech. From the Castlewhite apartments where I am staying to city center is a little over a mile, 'bout a mile and a half...After all the shopping is done one must then be prepared to walk back--usually carrying the shopping to boot. Now I see why bike-lanes are such a priority here along with the bus system.
Before I continue to update my blog I feel that I should thank all those who have helped me along in this extremely stressful transition period:
Between three consecutive days of orientation, an "academic walkabout", grocery shopping, bar hopping, and buying/setting up a brand new laptop I feel as if I could use a brand new pair of feet. "walking 'til your feet bleed" is not always a figure of speech. From the Castlewhite apartments where I am staying to city center is a little over a mile, 'bout a mile and a half...After all the shopping is done one must then be prepared to walk back--usually carrying the shopping to boot. Now I see why bike-lanes are such a priority here along with the bus system.
Before I continue to update my blog I feel that I should thank all those who have helped me along in this extremely stressful transition period:
- Thank you to the IT helpdesk--especially Elaine, who was so kind as to provide me with internet for this weekend.
- Thank you to the Castlewhite warden who not only offered assistance with the limited space/storage issue but also set me up with possible internet over at Victoria Lodge or the Castlewhite registration building.
- Thank you to the owners of Reidy's Vault Bar, Porterhouse, and the Belt Shop for all the helpful information and reassurance.
- And most definitely, thanks to my parents for taking the time to settle me in and for reassuring me that I can do this and that this is going to be, quite possibly, the best year of my life.
THANKYOU!
And so, I think the best course of action at this point--seeing how I have now lost precious time due to everything closing down on weekends and registration/setup moving at the speed of bureaucracy--would be to update the blog by date. Therefore, the next few posts shall be labeled as 3-7-13, 3-8-13, or even something along the lines of Saturday-day one, Monday-day three, etc...
If anyone would care to contact me I now have an Irish phone number, you may contact my mom and she should be able to tell you the international extension and whatnot. I get free incoming texts :)
~Cheers!
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Up the Rebels!
"That's a fookin' foul if I've ever seen one!"
"whip his legs off 'em!"
The shouting and cheers were near deafening--there was even some singing to be had. I loved every second of it (video will hopefully follow soon!) Today was my second day in Cork and it was the GAA all Ireland Hurling Final. "who won?!" right? sadly, although Cork by all means should have won, the game tied and so it continues next week.
Tomorrow promises to be a busy day as I will be off questing for a phone, internet for my laptop--a laptop to put said internet on--and there is not only a Welcome Meeting and a City Walking Tour, but a Cinema Showing and a "class party" which promises to be fun.
We got groceries today and a few other things for the dorm which is nice. We walked down to the city center and found what local shops are there--it's nice that it's all in relative walking distance too. My roommates are wonderful and I am anticipating a great year...
P.S. Thank you to all my choir instructors--because I have been practiced to match vowels I have practically picked up an Irish accent.
P.P.S. GO REBELS!
"whip his legs off 'em!"
The shouting and cheers were near deafening--there was even some singing to be had. I loved every second of it (video will hopefully follow soon!) Today was my second day in Cork and it was the GAA all Ireland Hurling Final. "who won?!" right? sadly, although Cork by all means should have won, the game tied and so it continues next week.
Tomorrow promises to be a busy day as I will be off questing for a phone, internet for my laptop--a laptop to put said internet on--and there is not only a Welcome Meeting and a City Walking Tour, but a Cinema Showing and a "class party" which promises to be fun.
We got groceries today and a few other things for the dorm which is nice. We walked down to the city center and found what local shops are there--it's nice that it's all in relative walking distance too. My roommates are wonderful and I am anticipating a great year...
P.S. Thank you to all my choir instructors--because I have been practiced to match vowels I have practically picked up an Irish accent.
P.P.S. GO REBELS!
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
About 2 leave on an Adventure...
Two days left!
I feel like Bilbo about to leave on his greatest adventure--excited, terrified, unsure and yet never more sure in his entire life. I bet I will look a little something like him as well: unkempt hair from not being able to sleep the night before, running wildly, half skipping in my giddiness, waiving a piece of paper around... If anyone asks where I am going or why I am so animated, why I'm in such a tizzy, I will simply reply, "I am going on an adventure!" :3
I feel like because of this year all that will come after will no longer scare me: all the assessments and the grades and the student teaching and applications. All the speeches and presentations will seem simple compared to how this year will be...
Oh, by the way, here is a shout out to my awesome parents for making this all possible. I love you!!!
I feel like Bilbo about to leave on his greatest adventure--excited, terrified, unsure and yet never more sure in his entire life. I bet I will look a little something like him as well: unkempt hair from not being able to sleep the night before, running wildly, half skipping in my giddiness, waiving a piece of paper around... If anyone asks where I am going or why I am so animated, why I'm in such a tizzy, I will simply reply, "I am going on an adventure!" :3
I feel like because of this year all that will come after will no longer scare me: all the assessments and the grades and the student teaching and applications. All the speeches and presentations will seem simple compared to how this year will be...
Oh, by the way, here is a shout out to my awesome parents for making this all possible. I love you!!!
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Best year of your life in 3...
Again, the suspense is killin' me! 3 more days and there's no turning back (why would I?)
I am beginning to feel the butterflies and am trying not to totally lose it when I think everything is all set to go and then I learn of yet one more "online induction" or application I have yet to fill out--the last thing I need is to get all the way over there and have there be some sort of snafu over something as easily avoidable as such.
One lesson I have learned already is that packing is a complex and complicated art form. Before now, I have never thought of packing as any more than, "what all can I get to fit into this box?" Now it involves a weight-limit and it needs to fit into the dimensions of the rental car? It's like I'm back in elementary school and they just now told me that they've added the alphabet into math! What's a poor girl to do?
Speaking of "poor", any money-saving tips would also be greatly appreciated as I will be the definition of a broke college student. How is one to stay healthy when ramen-noodle cups seem like the best deal for your money? Fresh fruit and veggies seem to cost their weight in gold! *sigh* So it goes.
All this stress will seem silly once I am over there--THANK YOU for all the well wishing and lovely messages. I am expecting this to be a wondereful year am I am glad to have all of you supporting me!
~love
I am beginning to feel the butterflies and am trying not to totally lose it when I think everything is all set to go and then I learn of yet one more "online induction" or application I have yet to fill out--the last thing I need is to get all the way over there and have there be some sort of snafu over something as easily avoidable as such.
One lesson I have learned already is that packing is a complex and complicated art form. Before now, I have never thought of packing as any more than, "what all can I get to fit into this box?" Now it involves a weight-limit and it needs to fit into the dimensions of the rental car? It's like I'm back in elementary school and they just now told me that they've added the alphabet into math! What's a poor girl to do?
Speaking of "poor", any money-saving tips would also be greatly appreciated as I will be the definition of a broke college student. How is one to stay healthy when ramen-noodle cups seem like the best deal for your money? Fresh fruit and veggies seem to cost their weight in gold! *sigh* So it goes.
All this stress will seem silly once I am over there--THANK YOU for all the well wishing and lovely messages. I am expecting this to be a wondereful year am I am glad to have all of you supporting me!
~love
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