Friday, September 11, 2009
Today was the first day I just sat down and cried. My interview this morning went well. I actually have another interview on Tuesday that is supposed to last all day where they scrutinize me and I can ask questions while I shadow someone to see what they do. What they do I’m not exactly sure. Something to do with marketing. They are an international company with clients like Disney who they do anything for from publicity to events planning and what not. That sounded fun, and then he said they are starting up in Europe training people to train other people. Now it sounded more like a gimmick. I’m not really sure what to think of the company. He didn’t seem too concerned I could only stay till December. I suppose he thinks even if I can’t stay in Ireland I could work at another of their branches. Somehow I don’t think it actually is a company I would want to work for more than three months. I just need a paycheck right now.
I came back from my interview and found the apartment empty. I heated up a leftover burger on the stove since the microwave doesn’t work. I ate that then sat down on the couch and cried. I just felt like it. It’s not just Ireland that is making me unhappy. I just don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing with my life right now. Was this a good decision? I thought it would give me some time to figure things out and I could be in Europe in the meantime. Turns out I picked the wrong country it seems to be happy with and I just miss everything about home. I don’t even know if these feelings will pass and I can get on with whatever here for the time I’m supposed to, or if I’m just going to buy a ticket tomorrow and go home. There is nothing stopping me from going home. But I feel like as soon as I was on the plane I’d regret it.
Zach walked in and I was piddling around on my computer with wet raccoon eyes. He asked how my interview was, so I said these (tears) are real, not from any onions, but the interview was fine. I just felt like a good cry mainly because I don’t know if this is what I need to be doing. We decided that it’s just 4 months out of a whole lifetime that will be a good thing to look back on.
I was piddling around on my computer and I decided to see if wireless was an option. I was typing in potential passwords for the youth café. Zach threw some out and we got it on the 3rd try. Turns out The Gaff’s password is “Catholic”. Now tell me that there isn’t some religious divide in this country. However, it never connected. Evidentially they didn’t lie. Maybe they had wireless at one point and now they don’t. Maybe I should offer to buy them a wireless router.
Wireless baffles me. UNC-1 has a full signal. I’m pretty sure I can’t reach UNC’s wireless network from Ireland.
Religion is often used as a masking for political purpose. I believe in spirituality over religion. I think we need organized religion for many reasons, but when it comes down to it, my investment is in the spiritual side of it not the political side of it. I’m not talking about rain dancing or spirit guides, I’m talking about faith and spiritual connection you have with God – the relationship. Religion is the body that seems to govern spirituality, a place for spirituality to congregate. In order for religion to be organized it has to operate under a governing body whose decisions are made by the minds of men hopefully under the influence of God. That’s why when it comes down to it, I put my investment not in the ideas of religion and divisions of religious bodies, but in God himself and my relationship with Him. I don’t disagree with religion and what it can do, but I don’t advocate some of what it does.
What I’m missing:
The Fair (state and Cleveland)
Football and tailgating
Halloween
Thanksgiving
But all those things have lost their vigor over the years. Partly because it’s an annual thing and partly because you don’t quite appreciate the value of something till it’s gone. That said, I’m going to suck it up and find excitement in new things for this season and come back ready to enjoy those things I missed all the more next year.
Today is also 9-11 and I have no idea what is going on in America. I feel very cut off. I barely know what is going on in Ireland. I don't have contacts much and I don't get the paper (that costs money). I have no internet connection for browsing news sites. I'm just here. So let me know what's happening from time to time. Shoot me an e-mail. It would be much appreciated.
The day got better. I went to the grocery store. That always makes me feel better. I sound like a fat kid... I'll try to avoid that. I got bagels, more ice cream, cheerios, ground beef and milk. I also turned in a CV at the movie theater, but they weren't hiring as of now.
I walked back and started cooking dinner. The girls had just finished making their toast and beans (traditional English breakfast). So I started on the chicken parmesan. It was prebreaded, so I thought it was precooked, but evidently not.....I was cutting up the chicken and noticed it was still raw, not pink, but raw on the inside. Oops. I stopped Zach from eating any more. Thankfully we’d only eaten the thinner cooked end, but I popped ‘em back in the oven for some more cooking. It was actually a really good simple meal once it was cooked. It does combine my favorite things: chicken, pasta, cheese and tomato sauce.
I talked to my parents, and they helped me feel better and gave a mantra to live in the moment right now. Embrace the experience, which is what I had decided to do. However, it isn’t always the easiest thing to do when your days are consumed with not much. Galway is pretty, but there isn’t anything else to see around here. I need to venture further south on day trips or something. I also need to make some friends. It’s harder to do that not being in a hostel now. I also found out tonight that it’s official, Ryan is coming to visit me! Wheee!
When Erynn and Kathleen came back from apartment hunting they announced they had found a one bedroom with two twins in a 4 bedroom place about a 10 min walk from us near the library. Guess we don’t get help with our rent after all. Oh well, at least that’s two more people in Galway to know. They managed to get internet!!!!!, so I will have to appear over there frequently, but not over stay my welcome.
We all went to Monroe’s Tavern to hear a band that is part of the Americana festival going on this weekend. Sunday is the big day. There are mostly just bluegrass concerts and “American style” bands playing, but on Sunday there is also a barn party. I’m not sure what a barn party means to the Irish, but I intend to find out!
One thing I don’t really get around here is how dressed up the females get. Every one of them looks like a popsicle freezing to death in a dress you’d see at a Miami club with platform heels of all colors and sparkles. I’m pretty sure they have no idea that it is 50 degrees outside. It would appear as if it were in the 80-90 degree range if you judged on attire. Back to the heels – not a single female is without heels (unless it is me in my Sperrys and Kathleen and Erynn in flip flops). You can tell we haven’t quite adjusted yet and I don’t know if we will. First off I’d need to buy the shoes, and yes I’m about to say this, but I think it would be a waste to buy another pair of shoes because I wouldn’t be able to get them home easily and I have plenty of heels – that said, I’m going shopping tomorrow – just kidding. Second, I couldn’t wear them all around the cobblestone streets. I’d be crazy to try it. I think they are able to wear such little clothing here because the climate stays the same mostly, so they are adjusted I guess. Just a theory.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Hello Sunshine!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Today was quite possibly the best weather day by far. I’ve been in Ireland two weeks as of toady. There was not a single drop of precipitation and it is predicted to be pretty weather like this for at least the next week maybe two.
I took a long walk today out to Salthill, the little community just south of Galway center city. The sun beating on my back and a crisp breeze in my hair was enough to spread a smile clear across my whole face.
Today was another job day. The Advertiser came out this morning with new job listings. I got up at 9 for a copy and began circling the possibilities over breakfast. I felt like I was in a movie. I’ve been blessed to have only seen people circling the classifieds on movie screens, but that’s exactly what it was like. I then began calling a few places. I have an interview tomorrow at 10:15 for a marketing job. I’m not exactly sure what it entails, but I guess I’ll find that out tomorrow. I also have an interview at 4pm for some housekeeping work at a Bed and Breakfast.
After making some phone calls, I headed out to see if USIT (the travel agency connected with BUNAC) had any internet resources or even part-time work for me. No luck on either end. Shame, since they are literally across the street. On my way to the library I stopped into the GASPCA thrift shop. On the window they have pictures of all the dogs needing homes through their animal shelter agency. I asked if they had foster home options for any of the animals, or how I could be of service while I was here in Galway. It ended up with me leaving my contact information in case they need some assistance. Sometimes dogs come in on Fridays an they can’t get them to the shelter till Mondays, so For three days they need somewhere to put them…that’s gonna where I come in if they need me. I don’t know how that works with the landlord, but I figure three days would be alright if they need me…and we have a doggie gate. With only the steps having carpeting.
I headed on to the library to use the computers there and e-mail out CVs to the places I was unable to call. I sent out around 6 e-mails. Two of them I forgot to attach the CV, so I quickly sent it along. Hope that doesn’t fault me I any way. Oh well. I hate being timed, and there is a counter on the computer for how much time I have left, so I was trying to change cover letters to fit the position and get the e-mail address. Anyway – it was stressful.
I looked at flights through RyanAir to London in two weeks. I talked to Aaron and he said he would be around and Zach and I can stay with him. Tickets are 25 Euro round trip if we go on a Thursday afternoon and come back Sunday morning. It’s great! Only problem is if we do get jobs and have to juggle the schedule with that weekend. Lots of “what ifs” to deal with right now.
After leaving the library I passed by the City Museum to ask of they had any kind of work available. They didn’t, but told me to check the café because it was run separately. The lady at the counter was the one who ran it. Early 40s I’d say. I asked her if she needed any part-time of full-time help. She gasped and said she really needed part-time help. She introduced herself as Ellie and said she was a bit busy right now, but she would give me a call soon and see what I could help her with. Most promising thing so far. The café was clean and orderly. I really liked her. She looked like the mom from Beethoven (dog movie). I’d like working with her. The museum is right on the river which feeds into the ocean.
I took my walk down by the ocean to Salthill. I discovered the best thing yet. Galway has a greenway following the curves of the ocean for about 2 miles. It is gorgeous, especially combined with what we would call shorts and t-shirt weather (but they don’t really wear those much over here). I met Boo on the way. A beagle mix who wanted to sit down and enjoy the day instead of keep up with her owner. I walked all the way down to the aquarium where the Green Dragon was on display. It was the sailboat used by Ireland in the Volvo Ocean Race that ended in June. This was interesting to me because about a year and half ago I had a guest speaker in my case studies class at UNC who was the public relations specialist in charge of organizing the Volvo Ocean Race. My professor took us all out to lunch with her (it was a small class). The planning that went into the race was crazy, but keeping up with the boats while they were touring around a good portion of the world was supposedly even more demanding and included a lot of crisis management.
I arrived back at the apartment about 45 minutes later after dropping off 4 more CVs. One at a fancy dress shop that sounded promising. Another bakery, restaurant and tea room. Dad would love it here. There are so many cream puffs and éclairs. The bakeries here have the right pastries – it’s so hard to resist, but so far I’ve only have one éclair. I might splurge on a milkshake tonight though. I did buy a container of Rolo ice cream from the store - toffee and chocolate with caramel swirl. I was reading last night and eating straight out of the carton – bad idea. Half of it is gone now, but I finished my book. I enjoyed it even more I think by knowing the bad part. The grief didn’t hit me quite as hard. Some would say I’m supposed to feel it all the way and not know, but I just can’t take it all at once!
It was about 3, but I heated up some leftover tortellini and finished it off. I had to use the stove because for some reason our microwave isn’t heating. It rotates and turns on, but no heat. It was in for 3 min. and came out as cold as when it went in. So I just used the stove. Our landlords are away in Marbella, Spain, till Wednesday for a wedding. Must be nice. I was there just 4 months ago. Seems like it was at least a year ago already.
The girls stopped by for a rest and then were off to go enjoy the sunshine. They are staying here tonight and maybe tomorrow. They don’t know yet. I rearranged the room again so the beds aren’t pushed together anymore. Oh well, I didn’t really use both beds anyway. [I think Zach must be using onions with dinner because my eyes are watering like crazy while I’m typing]. If the girls say more than 2 days we will ask them to chip in with rent. We decided it could be divided 50, 50 55, 65 a week. (I’m the 55). That would be so much better than 110 and alienate some pressure with a job deadline. Even if they were here two weeks or two months I could deal with the limited space for that decline in rent.
I went to The Gaf youth café after eating to investigate this internet situation. I can pick up a weak signal with my laptop at the apartment from them. Online I found out they are a place for 14-25 year olds to congregate with board games, internet, limited printing, video games, etc. [this onion thing is ridiculous. I’m in the other room and my eyes are just burning and the window is open!] I printed out a few CVs and talked to the people there in a very friendly way. When I asked about being able to access internet with my own laptop there I was told they didn’t have wireless. LIARS! Oh well, I was going to mooch anyway, but how could they tell me they don’t have wireless. I can see it, I just can’t access it.
[ It got so bad I had to go flush my eyes out in the sink. Zach saw me with tears streaming down my face. He thought something was wrong. I laughed, and said it’s never been this bad, but it was the onions! He apologized, but it isn’t anyone’s fault. Goodness, I’ve never reacted this bad]
After being lied to by the Gaf people, I went for a run on this pretty day. I ran on the greenway. I’ve never seen so many dogs. I took a detour to the ocean over many oyster shells. Now I see why they have a huge oyster festival in a little town about 30 min. south of here. It wasn’t as cold as I’d expected it to be, but I continued on my way. I ran down the really long causeway toward a power plant or something, but the STOP, danger, do not enter signs prevented me from going to the very end. It was a nice little run/walk back, and I found a pedestrian walkway by the river all the way from our apartment down to the ocean. There were so many people out today. Tomorrow I might actually get out my camera if the weather really stays this nice. I got tired of taking pictures with gloomy backgrounds.
Zach had made sweet and sour prawns and chicken with pasta. It also included peppers and about a pound of onion – the culprit. I picked out the prawns, but the rest was tasty. It’s nice only having to cook every other day.
I’ve been listening to the soundtrack from South Pacific ( not a huge selection of CDs at the library), but it brings back happy memories of high school. Ashbrook did a production of South Pacific while I was there. I miss going to plays when they’re good ones. Some of the more modern stuff I don’t find as entertaining, but the oldies are goodies! If I can get an income, the theater is just right down the street.
I find that I’m hungry all the time. It’s probably because I do so much walking, but it’s odd. If I spend my money on anything it would likely be food. I keep thinking about meals I want to cook, food I want to try, and ingredients to stock up on. It’s crazy, like I’m never satisfied. It’s not really even for eating out. I want to cook it myself, but I need the ingredients.
After dinner, the girls took their turn cooking and then left for the internet next door. I spent the remainder of the evening listening to the traveler’s podcast (turns out it’s not that great), but I also looked through all the photos I have from four years at college saved on my hard drive. That was a mistake…I miss it all sooooo much now. I have some of the best friends I could ask for, and we’ve had some great times! Sadly, even going back it isn’t college anymore. Graduation changed that. We can still have fun, but the dynamics have changed. Here’s to the memories and the invention of photograph.
Houseguests
Wednesday, September 10, 2009
Today I woke up and started cleaning. I swept my whole room, which required some moving of furniture, but the beds are on wheels, so that made it pretty easy. Becky came over around lunch time and we all went to the crepe place, Zatsuma. I had a strawberry chocolate crepe for lunch. It was on special, so I couldn’t help myself. In the afternoon, Zach and I traipsed over to the movie theater to see Dorian Grey that came out today – an Irish film made about the book, The Portrait of Dorian Grey, by Oscar Wilde. I’ve read the classic and found it mesmerizing. The movie did the book justice, but it was slightly scary at times. I’d seen picture advertisements on buses everywhere and got excited about its debut. I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I’d just assumed it was about the book. We actually arrived at the theater an hour early (since we had no internet or newspaper to see the showings). To pass the time we browsed the movie rental store and Aldi foods. Things are somewhat cheaper out there, so it’s likely worth the extra 5 minutes walk for groceries as long as it isn’t raining.
After the movie, Kathleen and Erin came over. They have been in Galway for a few days now and decided to pay us a visit. It seems that we have had a constant stream of friends stopping by from Marcus to Becky to these two. Zach and I have now been in Galway for a week. Tonight was the first night I decided to venture out past eleven. We met the two girls at a club called Coyote. It was an “American style bar” with everything “American” inside that you could think of. I’ve never seen so many American flags in one place. We stayed and talked for a little bit. The two girls had gone out with some people they’d met in their hostel. We left the Americana scene behind and wandered down to the King’s Head pub. This place was more like the Irish outing you think of. It was cozy, yet large with the wooden furniture and an Irish band playing some folk music. Funny thing about Ireland is that no one can serve alcohol after midnight unless you have a special license (which few pubs do, only a few clubs). Everything closes at midnight here. I finally found out why it was hard to go to sleep at the earlier hours I was attempting. The Irish youth start heavy drinking early and are drunk (as I saw tonight) by about eleven. So, when I was trying to sleep they were all out and about winding down their nights. In America most stuff is open till at least 2am, so I couldn’t understand why it was so loud at midnight here. I think that since this is a college town it is a lot worse in that respect than most parts of Ireland (with the exception of Dublin).
Tomorrow the two girls are bringing their luggage over to store it till they figure out what to do. They might actually be staying with us for a week or so (and splitting up rent!!!!) till they get sorted out. There is an extra bed, but not two extra beds. There is space for an air mattress, but it is I who will suffer from the addition of female housemates, not Zach. He gets to keep all his space. Oh well, I’ll pay less rent I guess.
Today I woke up and started cleaning. I swept my whole room, which required some moving of furniture, but the beds are on wheels, so that made it pretty easy. Becky came over around lunch time and we all went to the crepe place, Zatsuma. I had a strawberry chocolate crepe for lunch. It was on special, so I couldn’t help myself. In the afternoon, Zach and I traipsed over to the movie theater to see Dorian Grey that came out today – an Irish film made about the book, The Portrait of Dorian Grey, by Oscar Wilde. I’ve read the classic and found it mesmerizing. The movie did the book justice, but it was slightly scary at times. I’d seen picture advertisements on buses everywhere and got excited about its debut. I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I’d just assumed it was about the book. We actually arrived at the theater an hour early (since we had no internet or newspaper to see the showings). To pass the time we browsed the movie rental store and Aldi foods. Things are somewhat cheaper out there, so it’s likely worth the extra 5 minutes walk for groceries as long as it isn’t raining.
After the movie, Kathleen and Erin came over. They have been in Galway for a few days now and decided to pay us a visit. It seems that we have had a constant stream of friends stopping by from Marcus to Becky to these two. Zach and I have now been in Galway for a week. Tonight was the first night I decided to venture out past eleven. We met the two girls at a club called Coyote. It was an “American style bar” with everything “American” inside that you could think of. I’ve never seen so many American flags in one place. We stayed and talked for a little bit. The two girls had gone out with some people they’d met in their hostel. We left the Americana scene behind and wandered down to the King’s Head pub. This place was more like the Irish outing you think of. It was cozy, yet large with the wooden furniture and an Irish band playing some folk music. Funny thing about Ireland is that no one can serve alcohol after midnight unless you have a special license (which few pubs do, only a few clubs). Everything closes at midnight here. I finally found out why it was hard to go to sleep at the earlier hours I was attempting. The Irish youth start heavy drinking early and are drunk (as I saw tonight) by about eleven. So, when I was trying to sleep they were all out and about winding down their nights. In America most stuff is open till at least 2am, so I couldn’t understand why it was so loud at midnight here. I think that since this is a college town it is a lot worse in that respect than most parts of Ireland (with the exception of Dublin).
Tomorrow the two girls are bringing their luggage over to store it till they figure out what to do. They might actually be staying with us for a week or so (and splitting up rent!!!!) till they get sorted out. There is an extra bed, but not two extra beds. There is space for an air mattress, but it is I who will suffer from the addition of female housemates, not Zach. He gets to keep all his space. Oh well, I’ll pay less rent I guess.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Just another day ... in paradise?
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
What a tease. I just tried to see if maybe I had wireless in the apartment again and it said I was connected, but the page wouldn’t load. So … no wireless. BOOOO!
I go to bed a lot earlier than I ever did back home, but often I just stay up a bit longer reading The Shadow in the North. It’s that book I swiped from the book exchange back in Kilkenny…shhhh don’t tell anyone, but I didn’t have anything to exchange. Marcus said he had an extra though. It is set in Victorian London involving murder, mystery, fraud, conjurors, and private detection. All things I love to read about, but the heroine is kind of making me mad right now. I couldn’t take it and I skimmed through the last few pages to see what happens. I was devastated to find that they kill off the dog, an Irish Wolfhound named Chaka. How dreadful!!! Why must they always kill off the dog? What did he ever do besides try to protect his master? Another character dies too, but not the girl it seems. A lot of people would be going crazy right now and calling me all sorts of names for hearing that I’ve cheated the book by reading the ending, but it ruins nothing for me. I will still enjoy finding out how the ending comes to pass as much as I would have before. It takes very little to get me back in the trance of a good book, hanging on the edge of every word. Knowing just saves me a lot of worry and stress. It’s the same with movies. I admit that you should never watch a suspenseful movie with me if I know you have seen it before. I will be asking questions the whole way through.
That’s one thing that is getting at me a little about this trip and one thing that is also intriguing at the same time. There is no one to ask what is going to happen, and I have to bide my time waiting for a potential employer to call and hire me. Zach and I said that we’re giving it 3 weeks from Friday and then we shall travel a bit and head home about mid October. But I hope it won’t come down to that. I really want to stay till Christmas. I think the dynamics here will change a lot through the holidays to make it beautiful. I wouldn’t mind staying if I had a job to keep me busy. That said, I passed out 5 more CVs at 8 different places I went today.
Becky woke me up around 11. To clarify I was up at 9, but it was raining and gloomy, so I went back to bed. She wanted to walk around town, so I went with her from souvenir store to souvenir store (by then it was sunnyish). I ate some leftover tortellini for lunch. I thought it was even better than the night before. Could be because the flavors sat and marinated together overnight or could be because something you’ve just cooked doesn’t taste as good as when you just get served the food. Since some time had lapsed, it was like I hadn’t cooked it.
I went to the library today to check my e-mail hoping someone had decided to e-mail a work request instead of call, but nothing turned up. I poked around a bit and checked out the soundtrack to South Pacific and a book by Joseph Conrad, The Secret Agent. Last night I downloaded a bunch of podcasts off itunes, which I found out were free! I got a few travel documentaries and then some “stuff you never learned in history class” segments.
Later in the evening Zach and I went over to Becky’s hostel hoping to find some DVDs, but they had none so we played trivial pursuit 90s edition, - that game is hard! Too hard. We picked up scrabble instead. It got a little creative – mostly my fault! Nky is a word – shorthand for Nike – and yes, I use proper nouns. After the games Zach said he was going for a run. It was about 9:30. I was planning on running tomorrow (since I don’t run at night alone), but I asked if he would mind company. We ran a good 15 minutes. It was cold, so my chest was burning, but I felt like my body needed the run. I have been getting really tired after I eat and feeling kinda blah. Steady exercise really makes a difference in bodily functions. I’m a bit sore, but in a good way, nothing I can’t stretch through. I’m hoping to find a park or somewhere to run. The streets make me cough with all the smells and exhaust. Plus, I don’t like all the stares. The best way to get a European’s attention is to run. It’s something of a novelty over here. They wouldn’t know what to do if they saw all the runners on Chapel Hill’s campus. People just look at you run by like it’s the first time they’ve seen a runner. I guess they mostly stick to gyms and such or just walk a lot. I’ve never seen a European run outside of a match. Anyone I saw in Florence running was always an American student – you could just tell. There aren’t many American students here at all, so no runners just alcoholics.
That is what you see a lot of around here. Correction – hear a lot of. Being that our apartment is center city, I hear a lot of people mostly young adults out at all hours of the night. It’s every night too. They could give the college greek system a run for its money over here. I’d like to know the average number of liver transplants or some statistics on cirrhosis here compared to other countries. It’s crazy. I’ve seen drinking in plenty of countries, but I’ve never seen the number of drunks this high. I heard on BBC before I came over here that the British and Irish are known in the rest of Europe for binge drinking. I understand what they mean now, and I haven’t even been out to really experience the nightlife yet, I can just hear it and see it occasionally.
What a tease. I just tried to see if maybe I had wireless in the apartment again and it said I was connected, but the page wouldn’t load. So … no wireless. BOOOO!
I go to bed a lot earlier than I ever did back home, but often I just stay up a bit longer reading The Shadow in the North. It’s that book I swiped from the book exchange back in Kilkenny…shhhh don’t tell anyone, but I didn’t have anything to exchange. Marcus said he had an extra though. It is set in Victorian London involving murder, mystery, fraud, conjurors, and private detection. All things I love to read about, but the heroine is kind of making me mad right now. I couldn’t take it and I skimmed through the last few pages to see what happens. I was devastated to find that they kill off the dog, an Irish Wolfhound named Chaka. How dreadful!!! Why must they always kill off the dog? What did he ever do besides try to protect his master? Another character dies too, but not the girl it seems. A lot of people would be going crazy right now and calling me all sorts of names for hearing that I’ve cheated the book by reading the ending, but it ruins nothing for me. I will still enjoy finding out how the ending comes to pass as much as I would have before. It takes very little to get me back in the trance of a good book, hanging on the edge of every word. Knowing just saves me a lot of worry and stress. It’s the same with movies. I admit that you should never watch a suspenseful movie with me if I know you have seen it before. I will be asking questions the whole way through.
That’s one thing that is getting at me a little about this trip and one thing that is also intriguing at the same time. There is no one to ask what is going to happen, and I have to bide my time waiting for a potential employer to call and hire me. Zach and I said that we’re giving it 3 weeks from Friday and then we shall travel a bit and head home about mid October. But I hope it won’t come down to that. I really want to stay till Christmas. I think the dynamics here will change a lot through the holidays to make it beautiful. I wouldn’t mind staying if I had a job to keep me busy. That said, I passed out 5 more CVs at 8 different places I went today.
Becky woke me up around 11. To clarify I was up at 9, but it was raining and gloomy, so I went back to bed. She wanted to walk around town, so I went with her from souvenir store to souvenir store (by then it was sunnyish). I ate some leftover tortellini for lunch. I thought it was even better than the night before. Could be because the flavors sat and marinated together overnight or could be because something you’ve just cooked doesn’t taste as good as when you just get served the food. Since some time had lapsed, it was like I hadn’t cooked it.
I went to the library today to check my e-mail hoping someone had decided to e-mail a work request instead of call, but nothing turned up. I poked around a bit and checked out the soundtrack to South Pacific and a book by Joseph Conrad, The Secret Agent. Last night I downloaded a bunch of podcasts off itunes, which I found out were free! I got a few travel documentaries and then some “stuff you never learned in history class” segments.
Later in the evening Zach and I went over to Becky’s hostel hoping to find some DVDs, but they had none so we played trivial pursuit 90s edition, - that game is hard! Too hard. We picked up scrabble instead. It got a little creative – mostly my fault! Nky is a word – shorthand for Nike – and yes, I use proper nouns. After the games Zach said he was going for a run. It was about 9:30. I was planning on running tomorrow (since I don’t run at night alone), but I asked if he would mind company. We ran a good 15 minutes. It was cold, so my chest was burning, but I felt like my body needed the run. I have been getting really tired after I eat and feeling kinda blah. Steady exercise really makes a difference in bodily functions. I’m a bit sore, but in a good way, nothing I can’t stretch through. I’m hoping to find a park or somewhere to run. The streets make me cough with all the smells and exhaust. Plus, I don’t like all the stares. The best way to get a European’s attention is to run. It’s something of a novelty over here. They wouldn’t know what to do if they saw all the runners on Chapel Hill’s campus. People just look at you run by like it’s the first time they’ve seen a runner. I guess they mostly stick to gyms and such or just walk a lot. I’ve never seen a European run outside of a match. Anyone I saw in Florence running was always an American student – you could just tell. There aren’t many American students here at all, so no runners just alcoholics.
That is what you see a lot of around here. Correction – hear a lot of. Being that our apartment is center city, I hear a lot of people mostly young adults out at all hours of the night. It’s every night too. They could give the college greek system a run for its money over here. I’d like to know the average number of liver transplants or some statistics on cirrhosis here compared to other countries. It’s crazy. I’ve seen drinking in plenty of countries, but I’ve never seen the number of drunks this high. I heard on BBC before I came over here that the British and Irish are known in the rest of Europe for binge drinking. I understand what they mean now, and I haven’t even been out to really experience the nightlife yet, I can just hear it and see it occasionally.
Monday, September 7, 2009
The Job Hunt
Monday, September 07, 2009
It was quite a day. I now feel very flush and have a headache, but I’ve got nothing else on the agenda till I get a phone call or e-mail from one of the lovely establishments I dropped off a CV at.
It is currently raining, but that was not the case earlier today when I was doing so much walking. I started off the morning with the purchase of a hairdryer. I had to wait for the store to open at 10am, but it was just around the corner. I printed out some CVs with corrected addresses and was off after a quick shower.
Well, I did actually blow a fuse today with my straighter, which is now fried and out of service, but I fixed the outlet by flipping the switch that I found located over the bedroom door…yea, above it. Maybe I won’t need it now that I have a hairdryer.
I won’t go through the whole list, but I covered the majority of Galway City handing out a total of 26 CVs and enquiring in a total of 34 establishments. Only about 13 of those are actually searching for employees. I did actually end up with a job at a volunteer only place. I asked if they were hiring then I felt bad, so I said once I got a schedule I would help them out. so great! I have a job...unpaid.
I stopped back by the apartment around 13:00 for some leftover Tikka chicken and a bowl of cereal. (Great combo huh!) I really like the Kellogg’s Honey Loops. I think they’re better than Honey Nut Cheerios. My feet were already throbbing, but thankfully my arm was no loner hurting when I woke up this morning. I’ve decided my spare time can be used stretching, listening to historical podcasts, and reading now that I have a library card. After lunch, I laid down for an hour nap and then set out again bound for the University.
I am thankful I went to UNC-Chapel Hill with such a nice student union and library. In infiltrating the premises, I found them to be rather distasteful. The main building was gorgeous with ivy growing up it, but other than that the architecture wasn’t to my taste. They all looked like Kennan labs. I had my backpack on so as to blend in better and make it appear as if I knew where I was going. It seemed to work until I arrived at the library and saw the sign requiring the student card for access. I went downstairs to the student union and found nowhere to sit but tables in the cafeteria. I was hoping to find some WiFi on campus, but it was becoming rather hard to set up somewhere inconspicuous while I pulled out my laptop plastered with California, Route 66, Ron Jon and UNC stickers. I finally found a little fountain and a stone bench to sit on near enough to the building to pick up WiFi.
Internet in this country is extremely valuable. Few cafes have it for free, and most of them close at 5 if they do. The campus has all its WiFi capabilities password protected, so I could not use it there. I marched on to the pubic library to check out their status on internet. I dropped a few more CVs off on the way. The library does in fact have internet, but I had to prove my residency in order to get the card. There are two ways to prove you live here. A bill in your name (usually only get these after 2 months of living in a place) or a bank account (only get this if you have a job). So, I though I was out of luck again. However, the librarian was very nice and said if I got my landlord to vouch for me I could get a card. Off I went with this slip of paper to Mrs. Teresa and she signed it for me! Whee! I have internet usage once a day for no more than 50 minutes, and access to a large amount of books.
So here is how it’s going to work. I’ll do my postings there when I can between the hours of 10-8, T-F and 10-5 M then for anyone who wants to skype me, that will have to be arranged through e-mail or phone (011 353 868 590 919, but it’ll probably cost ya) so I can go and pay for WiFi, or it can be on a schedule when I get settled into a job (hopefully).
It was my turn to cook dinner tonight and I had some spinach and ricotta tortellini, which I added garlic tomato sauce, salt, butter, and quartered grape tomatoes to (that I picked up downstairs from John who just took a Euro for them. I love that I get discounted fruit and veggies now!) with stir fry beef marinated in balsamic and cooked in olive oil. The salad consisted of butterhead (?) lettuce balsamic and olive oil with toasted wheat bread as croutons. Not too shabby. I will say I’m addicted to Fox’s lemon crunch and fudge crunch cookies as a quick after dinner treat. The lemon crunch taste a lot like my favorite Girl Scout cookies, which were discontinued – the lemon creams.
It was quite a day. I now feel very flush and have a headache, but I’ve got nothing else on the agenda till I get a phone call or e-mail from one of the lovely establishments I dropped off a CV at.
It is currently raining, but that was not the case earlier today when I was doing so much walking. I started off the morning with the purchase of a hairdryer. I had to wait for the store to open at 10am, but it was just around the corner. I printed out some CVs with corrected addresses and was off after a quick shower.
Well, I did actually blow a fuse today with my straighter, which is now fried and out of service, but I fixed the outlet by flipping the switch that I found located over the bedroom door…yea, above it. Maybe I won’t need it now that I have a hairdryer.
I won’t go through the whole list, but I covered the majority of Galway City handing out a total of 26 CVs and enquiring in a total of 34 establishments. Only about 13 of those are actually searching for employees. I did actually end up with a job at a volunteer only place. I asked if they were hiring then I felt bad, so I said once I got a schedule I would help them out. so great! I have a job...unpaid.
I stopped back by the apartment around 13:00 for some leftover Tikka chicken and a bowl of cereal. (Great combo huh!) I really like the Kellogg’s Honey Loops. I think they’re better than Honey Nut Cheerios. My feet were already throbbing, but thankfully my arm was no loner hurting when I woke up this morning. I’ve decided my spare time can be used stretching, listening to historical podcasts, and reading now that I have a library card. After lunch, I laid down for an hour nap and then set out again bound for the University.
I am thankful I went to UNC-Chapel Hill with such a nice student union and library. In infiltrating the premises, I found them to be rather distasteful. The main building was gorgeous with ivy growing up it, but other than that the architecture wasn’t to my taste. They all looked like Kennan labs. I had my backpack on so as to blend in better and make it appear as if I knew where I was going. It seemed to work until I arrived at the library and saw the sign requiring the student card for access. I went downstairs to the student union and found nowhere to sit but tables in the cafeteria. I was hoping to find some WiFi on campus, but it was becoming rather hard to set up somewhere inconspicuous while I pulled out my laptop plastered with California, Route 66, Ron Jon and UNC stickers. I finally found a little fountain and a stone bench to sit on near enough to the building to pick up WiFi.
Internet in this country is extremely valuable. Few cafes have it for free, and most of them close at 5 if they do. The campus has all its WiFi capabilities password protected, so I could not use it there. I marched on to the pubic library to check out their status on internet. I dropped a few more CVs off on the way. The library does in fact have internet, but I had to prove my residency in order to get the card. There are two ways to prove you live here. A bill in your name (usually only get these after 2 months of living in a place) or a bank account (only get this if you have a job). So, I though I was out of luck again. However, the librarian was very nice and said if I got my landlord to vouch for me I could get a card. Off I went with this slip of paper to Mrs. Teresa and she signed it for me! Whee! I have internet usage once a day for no more than 50 minutes, and access to a large amount of books.
So here is how it’s going to work. I’ll do my postings there when I can between the hours of 10-8, T-F and 10-5 M then for anyone who wants to skype me, that will have to be arranged through e-mail or phone (011 353 868 590 919, but it’ll probably cost ya) so I can go and pay for WiFi, or it can be on a schedule when I get settled into a job (hopefully).
It was my turn to cook dinner tonight and I had some spinach and ricotta tortellini, which I added garlic tomato sauce, salt, butter, and quartered grape tomatoes to (that I picked up downstairs from John who just took a Euro for them. I love that I get discounted fruit and veggies now!) with stir fry beef marinated in balsamic and cooked in olive oil. The salad consisted of butterhead (?) lettuce balsamic and olive oil with toasted wheat bread as croutons. Not too shabby. I will say I’m addicted to Fox’s lemon crunch and fudge crunch cookies as a quick after dinner treat. The lemon crunch taste a lot like my favorite Girl Scout cookies, which were discontinued – the lemon creams.
Hurling
Sunday, September 6, 2009
I woke up this morning after that crazy dream, but I was much warmer. I left the heater on low through the night and it kept pretty warm with the door shut. I still slept in my sweatshirt, but I might not have needed it. I did; however, swipe the leopard print fleece off the “couch/chair” in the kitchen/living room as an addition to my bed. It worked wonders.
I realized that after my stint here in Ireland I will have been in Europe for a total of 9 months out of my life. Not too bad for a girl of 22, and I’m very thankful for every opportunity to do so – most thanks due to my wonderful parents and family who support my crazy ambitions even though it might not be what they want from me… I sound like I’m receiving an Oscar. But really, thanks Mom and Dad. I’d also like to say that while most of my writing may seem a little gloomy, I’m not that unhappy. I deal with things by venting about them, and this happens to be one way I vent. Conditions could be a lot worse, but even if everything isn’t happy-go-lucky around here, it is the experience I am here for and there are positives and negatives in every experience.
That said, it is my job now to find a job. A lot could go wrong, and a lot could go right over the next week while I hope to have something securely I place by next Friday. That may be ambitious for it gives me only 5 days, but here’s hoping!
I’ve also never looked at classified ads in a newspaper for jobs (or housing). It is all part of that experience I’ve been wanting and that’s another reason I’m open to anything right now. Job wise … I’m not open to tattooing or drug use or any of that sort of thing just to clarify! On my list of jobs to apply for are the following:
Hotels – anything
Hostess or waitress (the latter is low in my list, but open)
Café
Boutique worker
Retail – anything
Bakery *** yes, please!
Town Hall Theater – the one with plays. I could work backstage or take tickets
Even the movie theater – could be interesting
There is a PR/Marketing office I found – they weren’t asking, but I’m applying anyway
Italian food store and café
Zach and I decided to catch the hurling finals at the pub on the corner. They were showing it at 1:30 today. We walked in and took a seat at the bar. Needing to buy something I ordered apple cider and Zach got a Guinness. The bartender set it up on the bar and went back to his post. I thought this was odd, so I grabbed the pint and handed it over to Zach. It wasn’t till later when I saw the bartender do the same thing again with a Guinness that I realized my mistake. He was waiting for the foamy head to go down before filling it up, so I wasted a quarter of a Guinness for him. When I realized it I laughed a bit and leaned over to tell Zach. He joked and said “way to make us both look like fools!” My mistake, lesson learned.
The hurling game was intriguing. It is a lot like lacrosse, but different too. There are two nets - one for major points and a larger one behind the smaller for minor points. The games only last an hour so we weren’t there for long, but it was good to see what it’s like since we don’t have a TV of our own.
I fixed my bedding problem with a duvet cover and a fleece. I also went on a walk today and was very surprised to find that down the one street I have yet to go near my house there is another bakery specializing in cake decorating, a flower shop and another internet café. At the end of the street is the town theater whose whereabouts I had been wondering! Turn the corner and go a block you’ll find the river and a pretty little river garden despite the fact that it’s a nasty day that hasn’t stopped dumping moisture on the town. Across the river is the St. Nicholas Cathedral I had also been wondering about. I love my apartment!
In the evening Becky texted that she had arrived in Galway and was available till Wednesday. I called her back and said I’d come get her from her hostel and she could eat dinner with us. I thought I knew how to get to where she was staying and I found it! Zach cooked Indian food. Becky and I went to the store to get some more rice for everyone and I picked up some ingredients to make puppy chow. Oh so yummy. The peanut butter was on sale too. I guess it’s peanut butter, Europe isn’t known for having extensive supplies of peanut butter.
Zach was almost done with dinner when we got back, and while we waited he narrated a little more on the history of Rome and the perceptions of Julius Caesar we get thanks to Shakespeare, but if he had been writing a few decades later then Brutus would likely have been portrayed as the hero. The idea is that Shakespeare was writing to please the monarchy so he glorified the idea of supreme power by Caesar. Had it been 50 years or so later during the British Civil War uprising, he probably would have written to favor the Republic Brutus was killing Caesar to preserve.
The Indian food was really good actually. I don’t think I had eaten chicken with tikka masala sauce before, but with some rice and peppers from downstairs it was delicious. I made the puppy chow, but the powdered sugar was not exactly powdered sugar. I’m not sure if that was my mistake, or if that’s all they actually have. It’s got a crystallized texture but it is still powdery. Oh well. After dinner we set up my laptop and watched Gangs of New York. It was a long movie, but interesting since it is set in NY during the time of Irish immigrants from the Great Famine.
I woke up this morning after that crazy dream, but I was much warmer. I left the heater on low through the night and it kept pretty warm with the door shut. I still slept in my sweatshirt, but I might not have needed it. I did; however, swipe the leopard print fleece off the “couch/chair” in the kitchen/living room as an addition to my bed. It worked wonders.
I realized that after my stint here in Ireland I will have been in Europe for a total of 9 months out of my life. Not too bad for a girl of 22, and I’m very thankful for every opportunity to do so – most thanks due to my wonderful parents and family who support my crazy ambitions even though it might not be what they want from me… I sound like I’m receiving an Oscar. But really, thanks Mom and Dad. I’d also like to say that while most of my writing may seem a little gloomy, I’m not that unhappy. I deal with things by venting about them, and this happens to be one way I vent. Conditions could be a lot worse, but even if everything isn’t happy-go-lucky around here, it is the experience I am here for and there are positives and negatives in every experience.
That said, it is my job now to find a job. A lot could go wrong, and a lot could go right over the next week while I hope to have something securely I place by next Friday. That may be ambitious for it gives me only 5 days, but here’s hoping!
I’ve also never looked at classified ads in a newspaper for jobs (or housing). It is all part of that experience I’ve been wanting and that’s another reason I’m open to anything right now. Job wise … I’m not open to tattooing or drug use or any of that sort of thing just to clarify! On my list of jobs to apply for are the following:
Hotels – anything
Hostess or waitress (the latter is low in my list, but open)
Café
Boutique worker
Retail – anything
Bakery *** yes, please!
Town Hall Theater – the one with plays. I could work backstage or take tickets
Even the movie theater – could be interesting
There is a PR/Marketing office I found – they weren’t asking, but I’m applying anyway
Italian food store and café
Zach and I decided to catch the hurling finals at the pub on the corner. They were showing it at 1:30 today. We walked in and took a seat at the bar. Needing to buy something I ordered apple cider and Zach got a Guinness. The bartender set it up on the bar and went back to his post. I thought this was odd, so I grabbed the pint and handed it over to Zach. It wasn’t till later when I saw the bartender do the same thing again with a Guinness that I realized my mistake. He was waiting for the foamy head to go down before filling it up, so I wasted a quarter of a Guinness for him. When I realized it I laughed a bit and leaned over to tell Zach. He joked and said “way to make us both look like fools!” My mistake, lesson learned.
The hurling game was intriguing. It is a lot like lacrosse, but different too. There are two nets - one for major points and a larger one behind the smaller for minor points. The games only last an hour so we weren’t there for long, but it was good to see what it’s like since we don’t have a TV of our own.
I fixed my bedding problem with a duvet cover and a fleece. I also went on a walk today and was very surprised to find that down the one street I have yet to go near my house there is another bakery specializing in cake decorating, a flower shop and another internet café. At the end of the street is the town theater whose whereabouts I had been wondering! Turn the corner and go a block you’ll find the river and a pretty little river garden despite the fact that it’s a nasty day that hasn’t stopped dumping moisture on the town. Across the river is the St. Nicholas Cathedral I had also been wondering about. I love my apartment!
In the evening Becky texted that she had arrived in Galway and was available till Wednesday. I called her back and said I’d come get her from her hostel and she could eat dinner with us. I thought I knew how to get to where she was staying and I found it! Zach cooked Indian food. Becky and I went to the store to get some more rice for everyone and I picked up some ingredients to make puppy chow. Oh so yummy. The peanut butter was on sale too. I guess it’s peanut butter, Europe isn’t known for having extensive supplies of peanut butter.
Zach was almost done with dinner when we got back, and while we waited he narrated a little more on the history of Rome and the perceptions of Julius Caesar we get thanks to Shakespeare, but if he had been writing a few decades later then Brutus would likely have been portrayed as the hero. The idea is that Shakespeare was writing to please the monarchy so he glorified the idea of supreme power by Caesar. Had it been 50 years or so later during the British Civil War uprising, he probably would have written to favor the Republic Brutus was killing Caesar to preserve.
The Indian food was really good actually. I don’t think I had eaten chicken with tikka masala sauce before, but with some rice and peppers from downstairs it was delicious. I made the puppy chow, but the powdered sugar was not exactly powdered sugar. I’m not sure if that was my mistake, or if that’s all they actually have. It’s got a crystallized texture but it is still powdery. Oh well. After dinner we set up my laptop and watched Gangs of New York. It was a long movie, but interesting since it is set in NY during the time of Irish immigrants from the Great Famine.
Who wants to interpret my dream?
Sunday, September 6, 2009
So I was rather disappointed this morning when I woke up because I was all ready to go to Party City when I realized I was in Ireland. I’ll try to explain why as best as I can remember.
In my dream there was a wedding I was supposed to go to. I was back up to be in the wedding if a girl wasn’t going to make it, and of course, the girl wasn’t going to make it. It was then my duty to go find something (not sure what) that could be found at a store like Party City, but my first choice was a boutique-like place that closed at 5pm.
It just so happened that I was in a town like Chapel Hill, but not quite the exact same. Some sort of riot or natural disaster (maybe both) had just ravaged the place and much of it was falling down and people were everywhere. Somehow I got picked up by the police, who happened to be my father and he was driving his own car. He took me to the station. It was the Podunk Andy Griffith sort of place where there might be law, but not so much order. I was taken inside and dropped off. The sheriff came over and asked what I had done and when my court date was. I responded that I knew the answer the neither question. I was then put on a shelf…yes a shelf. It was large enough for me to fit on and I had to climb on top of a counter and sit in the second from the bottom shelf. I asked if I could go get the book I left in the car, and was told I could. When asked where my “cuffs” were I said I had never been given any and I promised I wouldn’t run away. Another officer followed me out to my dad’s car, but it was gone. We found it on the other side of the building where I got out my book bag (the one I’m currently traveling with). I took it back inside with me and climbed back on to my shelf. I pulled out the book, euros and brown sugar maple oatmeal packets and placed them neatly in the corner.
Realizing that it was getting late, I asked the sheriff how much longer I had to be there. I was supposed to be in a wedding that started at 7 and had a few things to do before. It was now 5pm and he said seeing as they didn’t know what I was charged with I could go. Off I went. The next image I have is of a house (much like a fraternity). There was a room where a semi-formal party had been going on, but was now dispersing. There was another room to the right of that one with a bar, and the two converged at the top into an atrium where columns and vines were scattered around. By going through the atrium, you could get to the back entrance of a church where the wedding ceremony was now taking place. I had missed it. So, I was waiting in the atrium on a bench when a waitress came out of the “party room” and sat beside me. She looked tired and ready to go home. We talked for a little bit and I remember thinking I could get a job as a waitress at a fraternity like her. That thought was quickly pushed aside when accompanied by the knowledge of harassment that would come with the job. The wedding had ended, so I went to go join the wedding party at the reception.
At this point I woke up, and it seriously took me a minute to get my bearings and realize I was not in The States somewhere with familiar places to go. I was in Ireland needing to look for a job.
So I was rather disappointed this morning when I woke up because I was all ready to go to Party City when I realized I was in Ireland. I’ll try to explain why as best as I can remember.
In my dream there was a wedding I was supposed to go to. I was back up to be in the wedding if a girl wasn’t going to make it, and of course, the girl wasn’t going to make it. It was then my duty to go find something (not sure what) that could be found at a store like Party City, but my first choice was a boutique-like place that closed at 5pm.
It just so happened that I was in a town like Chapel Hill, but not quite the exact same. Some sort of riot or natural disaster (maybe both) had just ravaged the place and much of it was falling down and people were everywhere. Somehow I got picked up by the police, who happened to be my father and he was driving his own car. He took me to the station. It was the Podunk Andy Griffith sort of place where there might be law, but not so much order. I was taken inside and dropped off. The sheriff came over and asked what I had done and when my court date was. I responded that I knew the answer the neither question. I was then put on a shelf…yes a shelf. It was large enough for me to fit on and I had to climb on top of a counter and sit in the second from the bottom shelf. I asked if I could go get the book I left in the car, and was told I could. When asked where my “cuffs” were I said I had never been given any and I promised I wouldn’t run away. Another officer followed me out to my dad’s car, but it was gone. We found it on the other side of the building where I got out my book bag (the one I’m currently traveling with). I took it back inside with me and climbed back on to my shelf. I pulled out the book, euros and brown sugar maple oatmeal packets and placed them neatly in the corner.
Realizing that it was getting late, I asked the sheriff how much longer I had to be there. I was supposed to be in a wedding that started at 7 and had a few things to do before. It was now 5pm and he said seeing as they didn’t know what I was charged with I could go. Off I went. The next image I have is of a house (much like a fraternity). There was a room where a semi-formal party had been going on, but was now dispersing. There was another room to the right of that one with a bar, and the two converged at the top into an atrium where columns and vines were scattered around. By going through the atrium, you could get to the back entrance of a church where the wedding ceremony was now taking place. I had missed it. So, I was waiting in the atrium on a bench when a waitress came out of the “party room” and sat beside me. She looked tired and ready to go home. We talked for a little bit and I remember thinking I could get a job as a waitress at a fraternity like her. That thought was quickly pushed aside when accompanied by the knowledge of harassment that would come with the job. The wedding had ended, so I went to go join the wedding party at the reception.
At this point I woke up, and it seriously took me a minute to get my bearings and realize I was not in The States somewhere with familiar places to go. I was in Ireland needing to look for a job.
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