My First Trip of Many!

Happy last day of January! It is so crazy how fast the time is flying here. I've already been here 2.5 weeks. That is so insane to me! This week has been a pretty busy one! It's been full of skype dates with good friends, trips to downtown Dublin, and excitement for our trip to Belfast! Tuesday night I skyped with two of my best friends from home, Bernadette and Allie. I was SO excited to see them and talk to them. I told them how living here in an apartment with my three lovely roommates has made me really look forward to sharing an apartment with them and our friend Courtney next fall! We've already planned our ikea trip this summer since I'm now such an expert of that store ;]. I loved catching up with them despite skype being a big jerk and disconnecting our call multiple times. I guess that's what you get being 3000 miles away. Love you ladies so much and I look forward to many more skype calls in the near future!

Wednesday, my friend Brittany and I went to the GNIB, or the Garda National Immigration Bureau. Instead of having a visa,  all international students are required to register at the Garda within 30 days of our arrival date. You need to bring a bunch of documents such as bank statements, health insurance cards, a passport, and an acceptance letter from UCD. We had heard that it took a LONG time to process, and that others who had gone before us waited up to five hours to receive their official card. But we were optimistic and figured that there was no way it could take so long. After getting off the bus and walking in the opposite direction of the Garda, we took a nice scenic stroll through Dublin. We found a few helpful civilians to turn us in the right direction. Eventually, we made it there and needed to fill out a form and stand in line to receive our number in the next line. When it was finally my turn, the man told me that my insurance may not suffice because I had copied the front and back of my family's card rather than have the actual card with me. Commence minor freak out. Luckily, Brittany was there with me and reminded me that Marquette provided us with health insurance, and I just needed to find a computer and printer to log on and print out that health insurance card. 

We were told that we had an hour and a half until our numbers would be called, so off we went to try to find the nearest computer/printer. There happened to be one right down the street. Unfortunately, I had to pay a small amount to use the computer/ print out my card which was frustrating because if I had remembered this before I left, I could have done it for free :/. But you can't dwell! Thank you Brittany for being so nice and calming and dealing with my stressed brain! 

We had a lot of time to kill, so we decided to check out a nearby pub, which ended up being my favorite one yet. It was so cozy and decorative with couches, paintings, and twinkly lights (those who know me know that those are my favorite things to ever exist). Our server couldn't have been sweeter and we toasted with a nice pint of Bulmers Irish Cider (sooooo good). Unfortunately, we needed to go back to the GNIB to complete our registration. Though we couldn't find the name of the pub, we will definitely return to it in the near future and figure it out. Back to the Garda we go.

When my number was finally called, I went up to the desk number. The Garda basically looks exactly like a DMV. I lucked out with the employee who handled my case. He was a nice and funny (and cute) worker who cracked a few jokes and definitely helped calmed my nerves (still working on breathing while I'm here). But then we had to wait in ANOTHER line to receive our actual card. We had no idea how long this would take because they don't give you another piece of paper with a number on it, but rather call your name. So we waited....and waited... and waited until they FINALLY called our names. BUT funny coincidence! We happened to be sitting next to a boy named Ryan who happened to live in my apartment building! He invited us out that night to a club to listen to two bands play. 

After we all got home, we had about an hour to get ready and go! I was able to meet a bunch of others who live in our building as well (there are three apartments, each with four people. So 12 of us all together in Belgrove House 09). We went out to the club and it was a lot of fun! The bands had so much energy and I had mini crushes on every member. It was a really fun night! I will post pictures soon! But I need to go to bed soon and I haven't uploaded them onto my computer and I am too lazy to do that right now. Sorry!

Today I had one class because my other tutorials don't start until next week. It was really nice to sleep in since my class didn't start until noon. After it was over, Abby, Ellie, and I went to a class at the gym. It was called Core and Tone. Our instructor was exactly how you would picture a terrifying gym instructor. We're talking huge muscles and a thick accent. I secretly prayed the whole time that he wouldn't see me making any mistakes and yell at me. Hahah but overall it was a good class. I'm currently limping and unable to move because I'm so sore, but that's just a sign that I need to keep at it! 

So now we are preparing for Belfast in the morning! Ellie and I needed to run to the bank to convert our euros to pounds since Belfast is technically UK property. The good news is that the bank does this service for free. The bad news is that the exchange rate isn't wonderful. However, it's just one of those things you need to deal with! I also needed to run to the pharmacy to grab some cold medicine. I'm still unable to shake this thing, but I'm hoping to see improvements with the medicine. So I've been packing, listening to music, and chatting with good friends from home since! I can't wait for this weekend, and I know that it is just the first of many amazing trips to come. 

Wow this post was longer than I expected, so if you made it this far, thank you so much for reading! Those of you who read this make it so worthwhile! I appreciate it more than you know! I will post all about Belfast once I come back!

Carpe Diem!

Colds and More Craziness

Hello from the laundry room! I'm sitting here waiting for someone to come back and move their clothes out of the washing machine so I can use it (3 of the 8 are out of order, wah wah). Definitely feels just like it did at Marquette. Even though my roommate, Claire, would probably be mocking me since I only had to do laundry at my dorm about three times this past semester since I lived so close to home ;]. BUT, here the laundry is EXPENSIVE. We're talking 3 euro just for the washing machine. I haven't even looked at the dryer price yet, I'm too scared to see that right now. Little did I know that we actually have a laundry in my apartment complex. I definitely thought it was somewhere else on campus and I was wandering about aimlessly yesterday, only to give up because I was tired and sick. I caught a little bug when I woke up on Saturday. Doesn't seem too serious, just your typical sore throat and stuffy nose cold. I get colds pretty frequently (probably due to my lack to sleep) so compared to others that I have had, this little guy doesn't seem too threatening. 

Last Thursday and Friday were a lot of fun! Thursday I went out to the campus pub with my friend, Brittany and some friends she met over here. It was Australia day, and so they had a lot of cute decorations, fun music, and some nice deals on drinks. (Update, this kid just walked in as a girl was taking her clothes out and tried to steal my washing machine! Not in this house, sir. Hahah that was uncomfortable. He's staring at me, help!) Okay anywho, Friday was a really fun time! Abby, Ellie, and her friend Louisa and I went downtown to check out Trad Fest! It was a lot of fun, only I didn't know that you had to bring anything other than a school ID to get into the pub. Whoops. The guy gave us a bit of trouble, but eventually we persuaded him. The pub was fun but expensive! They had live music and everyone was dancing and having a good time. Eventually we left and returned to our old stomping grounds, Bad Bobs. I literally love that place! It's a lot of fun and full of great people.

We ended up talking to these two brothers who were there for a party celebrating their dad's retirement. They were really nice and funny and for some reason didn't believe that we were from the United States. I wish I was good at accents, friend, but I truly am from America. We ended up talking to them for a while and even got some cute pictures with them. It was an unforgettable night to say the least. Here are some of the pictures from Friday!

 Best Stop Sign Ever!

 Got a lot of glares for taking this picture, but I liked it so there!

 Sorry Louisa!

This weekend was extremely laid back and uneventful, which is probably a good thing since I'm not feeling 100%. I know that sometimes people can complain about boring weekends, but I'm realizing that, with all my trips I have booked, I'm probably not going to be around much during the weekend anyway so I should enjoy it while I can! I got to skype with my parents and sisters on Sunday, so that was really nice. They are always good for a laugh and a smile. My mom took me around rooms in our house just incase I missed them (I did). My sister had redecorated our room right after I left, so it was fun to see what it looked like. We are no longer in bunkbeds! I didn't think I would ever see the day. We are all grown up now, and I guess it's about time. It's always exciting to hear what is going on with my fam, we are all getting ready for my brother Brian's wedding this July, Kara's new job is starting in a week, and Colleen is enrolled in her last semester of college. Seems like the time has just flown since I've been in college. Looking forward to skyping more people soon!

And lastly (but not least(ly?), today is my best friend Megan's BIRTHDAY!!!! Wahooooo!!!! I wish I was there in NYC to celebrate with you, but I know we will have one big bash to celebrate everything when I get back. I love you more than you know and I'm so lucky to have known you for over five years (okay now I feel really old). Can't wait to skype with you and hear all about the big 2-0. LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK!


We took this little selfie on one of the first days of summer 2013, after not seeing each other for two months! We'll see how we react after not seeing each other for five months this upcoming summer. Get ready, Megs!

Wow now it's MAJORLY crowded in the laundromat so I need to go claim my place in line! Hope everyone in Wisconsin is keeping warm and staying happy!!!

Great Things Are Coming!

Okay guys, I redeemed myself with the bus system today! I needed to go to Lidl, one of our grocery stores in Dublin and it was just a short bus ride away. I got there and back with no difficulties! Definitely proud of my little accomplishment. I know that it's easy to get really overwhelmed my first few days here, so I was really happy to be able to say that I did it.

I've mentioned in my last few blog posts about being confused or upset at times being away in a new city and far away from my family, but I just want to make one thing clear: I am SO happy to be here. I'm totally aware that this place will change my life for the better, and that's why, even if I write about some misfortune during the day, that I always try to end on a positive note. I believe in silver linings and lights at the end of tunnels, TRUST ME. While I want to share my experiences with those of you who choose to read this, I also want to be honest. Sure, I need some reassurance at times, (don't we all?), but that definitely doesn't mean that I won't bounce back. Please don't think that I am not enjoying myself, because I love where I am at this moment, I really do.

Today was a big day because I booked three weekend trips to Kerry, Cork, and Belfast! We are so lucky to have two wonderful programs here that give us opportunities to visit such amazing places. My soonest trip to Belfast will take place in a week from Friday! Cork will take place in mid February, and Kerry will take place in early April. I am so excited to explore more of this amazing and beautiful country. I also have Spain, Rome, and a potential trip to Germany with my cousin, Sarah! I truly am blessed.

Today was another good day of introductory lectures. I'm enjoying my classes and loving meeting all the new people here. Today I had my Irish Culture and Society class and my Ethics class. Both professors seem like nice and reasonable people. I know that I will learn a lot here, both inside and outside of the classroom. Tomorrow I start class at noon, so I am definitely looking forward to sleeping in a bit, as I'm still struggling falling asleep at night. This week has already flown by, as I'm sure all of them will. And so we move forward!

I was able to skype two of my great friends from home, India and Joe. I wasn't sure how I would react, but more than anything, I was so excited to hear from them and hear all about their lives. It almost felt like I was there with them. I'm hoping to skype with more people throughout these next few days. I always love hearing from my loved ones. Emotions can certainly go up and down, but overall, I am just happy to hear how well everyone is doing!

I am so sorry to hear of two young men from the Milwaukee area that passed away today and yesterday. Things happen that are completely out of our control, and it's devastating. The best thing we can do is rise as a community. Since I can't be there at this time, I am constantly keeping the Boldt and Von Rueden families in my prayers. Make sure to hug your loved ones extra tight and make sure they know how much you love them.

"Keep you head up, keep your heart strong"

First Few Days of Classes!

Yesterday was my first official day of class at UCD. I was TERRIFIED the night before and so I couldn't fall asleep until 4:30 AM. That was ROUGH. I had to wake up around 8:10 for my 9:00 class (ended up being cancelled) and it wasn't pretty. But I managed! I only have two lecture classes on Mondays, which are Irish Culture and Society and The Russian Revolution, and then I am done for the day at noon. It's the best! I was pretty intimidated by the size of my Irish Culture and Society class, because it was a huge lecture hall with probably 200 or 300 seats and I am used to a class size of about 30 at Marquette. It's just something to which I will have to adjust. After classes, I hung out at home because I was exhausted and eventually Ellie, Claire, Abby, our Australian friend Liv and I went to Ellie and Claire's good friends' house, who were having a party. Here, they call the first day of classes Black Monday and it's a big party day. People either have house parties or head to the bars. We had a really fun time meeting a bunch of new people! Thank you to Maeve, Eve, Dara, Rachel and Camille for hosting us! When I got home, I watched a show called We Can Be Heroes. To anyone who loved Summer Heights High, you should definitely watch it. It's another hilarious Chris Lilley show, and I had no idea what it was until Liv talked about it. I'm definitely hooked.

I also booked my first trip to Madrid over my spring break!!!! I'm going to visit my good friends, Emily and Kate. I am so so so excited to see them both and see ESPANA! Emily and I also have a trip planned for the Vatican this easter so that's something else for which to look forward! I'm also talking to my cousin Sarah about a trip to Germany in April. There are a lot of good things headed my way, and I continue to look forward to embracing whatever comes my way.

Today I overslept and busted out the door just in time for my 9 AM. This was my Russian Revolution Seminar, which is basically a few people from the larger lecture where you discuss readings. I was pretty out of it and took a much needed nap when I got back from class. My regular 10 AM did not meet this week, as it is another seminar for my Irish Culture and Society class that meets every other week. I slept from about 11 until around 1:20. I felt much better and energized for my 2 PM lecture class of Men in Contemporary Society. I think the second day went smoother than the first because I had more of a feel of where I was going. The scheduling here is a lot different than what it is at Marquette. You don't have your Monday Wednesday Friday schedule and then a Tuesday Thursday schedule. Each class is 50 minutes and meets two or three times a week. Unfortunately I have class every day of the week. I'm bummed that I don't have off a day during the week, but it's just the way my schedule worked. I'm taking kind of random classes here that count towards requirements of Education or Sociology at Marquette. I'm really hoping they won't be too difficult, and that I can pass and get the transfer credits without any trouble. I just need a C to pass the class and then only the credits transfer over to Marquette. That takes some of the pressure off, but it is still scary to be in a place where I have no idea how difficult it can be. Hopefully I will do well here!

I can't believe how often I've been homesick. I know that it's only been a week and I have no reason to be sad, I'm in a beautiful city with great people, but I get sad to see everyone's semester continue and not be able to contribute to it. I was messaging my sister, Colleen, last night, and I told her how sometimes I feel so strong and confident here, and other times I'm scared to skype because I fear that the second I see my family members, I will start to sob. I get really emotional just thinking about it. If anyone has any tips on this, please let me know! I have such great respect for those who choose to go to school far away and are unable to see their loved ones for months and months at a time. It isn't like I go home all the time at Marquette, but I probably see my family at least every two or three weeks. It kills me to think that I won't see any of my loved ones until May. I know this semester will fly by and I will miss Dublin more than anything when I'm back home, but I wish I could have packed you all in my suitcase with me to whisper words of encouragement in my ear as I walked into my first class, or make me laugh after getting off the bus with the crabby busdriver. I'm really happy Emily and Kate are studying abroad in Europe as well and I am able to see them a few times over the semester to provide me with the comfort of home.

I'm confident that I will be happier and stronger from this experience! To quote Les Mis "Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise". Well, I'm off to watch a few more episodes of We Can Be Heroes and get some good sleep before another 9 AM class tomorrow morning. Boa Noite from Dublin!

A Lesson Learned

Last night, Ellie, Claire, and I went into town for more exploring. We ended up back at st stephen's greene shopping center and the nearby park before meeting one of their other friends. We had a really good time out and eventually got a pint before making our way home. At that point, I was exhausted and not feeling too well, so I stayed in for the night. I am still having trouble with my sleeping schedule, as I am wide awake at 2 AM and I don't wake up until about 11:30. I really hope this pattern will change tonight, especially since I have school tomorrow and class starting at 9 AM. Yipes. But everything will work out, I'm sure of it. So, last night was pretty uneventful, but definitely needed after the crazy week I've had. Here's a few pictures from yesterday. Grafton street looked beautiful, even in the rain.

 So obsessed with all of the different colored doors!

This morning was also laid back and I had the apartment to myself without having a clue that I had the apartment to myself. All of my roommates had slipped out the door without me having any idea. It was very bizarre once I noticed. But eventually, Ellie texted me telling me to meet her and Claire and their new friend Liv downtown. "Okay, easy" I thought, and I was out the door before having a second thought. It was bright and sunny and relatively warm, so I thought how hard could it be getting downtown by myself. BIG MISTAKE. My first wrong turn happened when I thought I could cut down the middle of campus to the bus stop instead of walking along the side of the road. Well, I walked too far and literally turned my head in time to see my missed bus fly by. Okay so I have to wait 20 minutes, not the end of the world. So I finally get on my bus and I have all my directions set up on google maps when the internet stops working all of the sudden. I lost my page and am now just staring at a blank map with the words: network error. At this point, I begin to panic (see blog 2 to get my back story on keeping calm). I figure it would say the stop somewhere on the actual bus stop. Instead it says bus stop number _ _ _. So this is about as useful to me as reading the Gaelic on every street sign (hint: I can't read Gaelic). So I am kind of guessing where to get off on the bus (my stop was called Usher's Quay) and I finally show the driver the name of my stop. He says about three more stops, but then he gets off the bus and a new driver replaces him. Neither of the bus drivers were Irish, and had thick accents so I had a really hard time understanding them. Eventually I walk up again and ask the new driver when to get off. Well apparently quay in Ireland is pronounced like key, and I had missed the stop I where was supposed to get off. So the guy YELLS at me and he was like "I yelled out the name of the stop FIVE TIMES. You have to get off and walk back". Let's just say it was a good thing I was wearing sunglasses because the tears were flowing at this point. NOT a fun time at all.

So now I am texting Ellie and trying to find my way to them and after an eternity, I finally do. I was exhausted and in desperate need of a drink. How appropriate that we were going to tour the Guinness Factory. We walk a little ways down the road to the storehouse and make our way inside. The tour was really fun and got my mind off of my rough day. The best part was the end of the tour where you work your way up to the top of the factory and get to enjoy a complimentary pint at their gravity bar, which gives you a 360 degree view of Dublin. It was breathtaking. I had been there before in '05 when my family went with our good friends, The Heegs, but seeing it at night was so special as well. I told the girls "thank you for a good end to my crappy day". I guess all days can't be perfect, even in Dublin. If you guys could send me any love and good vibes, I would really appreciate it. So now we just got back and I figured the best thing to do was blog about it. Here are a couple of pictures from the factory and a few that I snapped along the way!

 Dublin Castle courtyard

 The lovely Christ Church Cathedral

 " " and me with a green car

 Gravity Bar!

Holy Gorgeousness

Tomorrow is my first day of class. How unreal is that? My Mondays won't be too bad, because I have three classes in the morning and am finished by noon. I also need to drop one of my classes, since I should only be taking five courses instead of the six I am currently registered in. I'm definitely nervous because I don't know how difficult classes are here compared to what I am used to at Marquette. Hopefully they aren't any more difficult than Marquette because I'm not sure I could handle that. I guess we will just have to wait and see. I miss everyone so much, and hope you all had a lovely weekend with friends and family!

Something that has stuck with me for as long as I can remember is a quote from the book Lily's Purple Plastic Purse. After having a rough day, Lily's teacher sticks a note in her backpack for her to read when she gets home. It says: "Today was a difficult day. Tomorrow will be better". Life isn't about how much adversity you experience, but the light that you show in times of darkness.

Here's to a better tomorrow!

Everybody Raise A Glass!

On Thursday night, Claire and Ellie's friend, Brian (who goes to UCD) came over. He was a really nice guy and We all went out to the Clubhouse (the campus pub) since we weren't in the mood to pay for a bus ride. It was a lot of fun! We met a ton of people and I found ANOTHER crazy connection: I met a girl named Dani, who is from Seattle and went to summer camp with one my best friends from Marquette, Claire, and her sister, Jill. I am honestly amazed at how small this world is, but it continues to reaffirm why I am here. I ran into a few of the Marquette students, so it was fun to actually meet people from back home. I hope to see more of them in the future! Here's a few pictures from the pub!

Yesterday was pretty uneventful until about 4:30 in the afternoon. We had to get some people in here to sort out some electrical issues, our bathroom lights weren't working and our water heater wasn't working. Hopefully it's resolved now but time will tell. I woke up at NOON, which has never happened to me in my life. Still adjusting to the time difference and I can't fathom that I actually need to wake up at around 8 in the morning for my classes starting Monday. Why can't all of the weeks be like this one? Abby and I went to one of the cafes on campus because we were given a 5 euro voucher at orientation. It is in the building that all my classes are located, so I definitely will be acquainted with it by the end of the semester. The good news is that, despite how big the campus is, the building is about a five minute walk from our apartment. I think I'm beginning to find my way around, but there's plenty more to learn. There are a bunch of maps around campus with the little "You are here" sticker, so that's been super helpful. When we got back, we were off to Centra, a little store on campus that sells your typical necessities. I had to buy some laundry detergent, pens, and garbage bags (fun stuff). We wanted to buy a bus pass, but all of them were sold out. I guess all of the students here had my same thought. But, I did buy a leap card at the store today, which is basically a card where you can load money on instead of always having change.

When we got back from the store, Ellie, Claire, and I got ready for an open top bus tour. It was definitely fun to see all the sights, but I was kind of bummed because I didn't get very many clear pictures. With the darkness of the night and the constant moving, my shots didn't turn out so well. Oh well, there will be many more opportunities! We eventually got off the bus in the city to join 250 of our closest friends at a pub crawl thrown by an organization through the school. We had about an hour to walk around the temple bar area and managed to snap a few scenic pics.

The pub crawl was a blast! We went to four pubs and ended the night at the same pub as we began, only up a level and it became more of a dance/ nightclub. I LOVED the live music, friendly people that we met, and of course the different beverages I tried :]. Each pub had a different vibe, but overall, all were enjoyable and great memories. I would love to spend more time exploring in that area. We decided that we wanted to go back to the city tomorrow (today now) and explore some more because our free time is about to run out :/. Not sure what the official plan is, because its been raining and chilly all day, but I guarantee we will have a good time, whatever we do.  Here are some pictures from last night!

 Hahah, I just thought this was funny!

 Gotta make sure the Guiness Logo is nice and centered

 All four roomies, yayyy!!!

I haven't been too homesick, but every once in a while I wish that I could be in both places, at Marquette in downtown Milwaukee, and here in Dublin. More than anything, I wish you all could experience this with me. Everyone deserves the chance to get out of our comfort zone and explore the world, and if you haven't yet, promise me that you one day will! There's so much more to life than we know, and we owe it to ourselves to experience that. I found this while I was searching for some inspiration before I left Brookfield. It gave me so much hope and comfort. It is SO true. 

In the past, I let fear get in the way of a lot of experiences that I could have had. That dance I could have gone to with my friends, seeking help from a loved one because I was too ashamed to admit that I needed it, an event at Marquette that I was too self-conscious to attend by myself. This year (no, not 2014, but my sophomore year of college) I have really tried to push myself to get out of my bubble and into the world! It has done me so much good and I feel that I have really matured and grown. Its okay if you're not included in everything and its okay if you do things on your own. It doesn't make you any less of a great person, but rather, it helps you grow into a successful individual. 

Okay, that's my schpeel. Hope I've inspired some folks in the same way that life has inspired me. OH! By the way, my address is:

Kaitlin Gleason

Belgrove House 09, Apartment 1, Room 2

University College Dublin

Belfield

Dublin 4

Just in case anyone would be interested in sending me anything, I would love it! And I would absolutely reply. I just bought a few postcards from the store today so those of you who want one, please let me know if you haven't yet! Well, that is all I got for now! We are off to explore the city, where I will hopefully have some better luck with pictures (update, just got back from the city and I will post about that tomorrow because now I'm too tired :] sorry). Again, thank you for all the support! 

You guys are the best!

Meetings, Meetings, and a Whole Lot of Meetings

Finally home from a day of orientation meetings! It's crazy how fast time flies here. I feel like it should be early afternoon and we are in early evening. But time flies when you're having fun right? I finally had a peaceful night's sleep, and thankfully woke up to my roommates talking in the hallway otherwise I might have overslept. Hopefully this continues! Last night was really fun. Paige, Abby, Evan (Paige's boyfriend) and I went to a training session at the UCD fitness center. It is HUGE and really nice. They even offer fitness classes for free, so I have NO excuses. It's just a short walk from Belgrove (our apartment building), and conveniently located right next to the school pub. We stopped in for a beer afterwards to see what it looked like. Following in my family's footsteps, I ordered a Guinness. I'm obviously a Gleason because I quite enjoyed it. It was really good! Can't wait to tour the factory one of these days. We went out last night to a house in the city where a bunch of UW Madison students live. It was a fun time! I've been meeting such wonderful people here! Here's some pictures of us at the campus pub!

I definitely need to buy a bus pass because the busing system here is pretty expensive depending on where you're going. You also can only pay with coins. The nice thing though is that if you overpay, you get a slip that you can take somewhere in the city to get that refund. A lot of little things add up to be a lot. We finally have a majority of our necessities for the apartment and our phones figured out, but we still need to register at the guarda within 30 days and pay a 300 euro fee. Not looking forward to that, but I have to make due. Crazy how fast money can disappear... 

Today was the second part of orientation. We first met as a big group to go over general topics. We heard about events around campus, typical customs, campus security, IT services, and how to go about registering at the guarda. Definitely informative! From there, we had a reception with coffee and finger sandwiches. Fun meeting more people and learning their stories. Ellie, Claire, and I also bought tickets to a bus tour of Dublin for tomorrow evening. It's an open roof double decker bus, so I'm thrilled. Cross your fingers it doesn't rain! 

After that, I had three more meetings for the day. My first was with all other students who are Arts & Celtic Studies majors. We talked about registering for courses, what to do if we need to change our schedules, and what we might be able to expect in a typical classroom. My next meeting I had to attend because I am taking a Literature course while I'm here. It was comprised of English majors who needed to register for a seminar. Since I'm not an English major, but only taking a Marquette required lit class, I didn't need to worry about that. That meeting got out early, so I waited around until my next meeting. This was a History meeting for those of us taking a history course. They just wanted to say a quick hello, and asked us to fill out a simple form about our basic information. 

The meetings were finally over, and I successfully found my way home. Wasn't sure how much I would be able to navigate, but thankfully there are maps around campus and I could do it. So now I'm home, sitting in my bed, scented candle lit, and listening to my favorite songs. I'm going to have some dinner at home, and then possibly go out into the city again tonight. So that was my day! Pretty informative and partially reminded me that I still have to actually go to school here... Oh well ;].  AW MAN. I apparently just missed a dance party! I wish I would have known about it! Guess that explains why no one else was here when I came back. But you can't dwell, they will be plenty more where that came from, I'm sure of it. 

Thank you for all of the positive responses to the blog! It means so much that people are reading this and that it not only brings comfort to me, but comfort to you as well. I love writing them and hope to continue to write A LOT this semester. 

Love and hugs from Dublin!

Another Eventful Day!

Last night was a great time! Although, I was a little sad because it was one of my best friends, Emily's birthday back in Milwaukee. Wish I could have been there, but I'm sure all of you had a great time celebrating Cakes' big 2-0. We'll have to celebrate when I get back! Ellie and her friend Claire and I went out to dinner at a 50's style diner.We thought that if we started walking along the road, a restaurant would pop up eventually. After walking about 30 minutes up the road, we couldn't find anything. All of the sudden, I turned my head, and saw a sign for the restaurant. If you've ever been hungry and exhausted, you can imagine our joy in finding the restaurant. Definitely a great choice for dinner.

After dinner, we walked back to UCD, and met up with Paige to go out into the city.  From there, we met up with Paige's boyfriend and his roommates at a pub for a short amount of time and then hung out in their apartment (they live right in the city!). Claire was even able to get a free beer from the bartender simply by telling him that it was her first night in Dublin and she was only here for 10 days. I'll have to learn a few of her tricks before she leaves ;). Overall, it was a really great time! Here's a picture of the three of us from last night! 

Roomies!

Since I've arrived, my sleeping has been very off. I fell asleep around 2 AM and woke up at 6 AM unable to fall back asleep, despite how many times I tried. Hopefully it will get better soon. At 10:15, Paige, Abby, and I were out the door and on our way to a free shuttle to take us to ikea. I have never been to ikea in my life, so I really wasn't sure what to expect. Little did I know it's part Home Depot, part Sam's Club, and Target all in one HUGE warehouse. It was definitely an interesting experience. We were able to get the plates, cups, bowls, tupperware, and the rest of items we needed for our apartment. It's really coming together! And obviously I needed to buy a scented candle, my favorite thing in the world (I just lit it and I have to admit, it smells amazing!). We were there for THREE hours. I was exhausted and totally fell asleep for the 30 minute bus ride home.

When we got back on campus, we only had a few minutes to put all our new items away and then it was off to orientation! All of the study abroad students met in a big lecture hall. We heard from various deans and advisers, who were all super friendly and funny. They ultimately told us to really soak up the time we have here, because it goes by so fast! I already feel this semester flying by. After the presentation, we all went to a student fair and were able to sign up for excursions or various groups that provide many outings for low prices. I signed up for both groups, and I really look forward to the experiences I will have through them in the future.

Now we are finally back in our apartment and waiting until 7, when we have to go to a training session on how to handle the gym equipment at the sports center. I'm SO happy we have a gym that is free to students. I was a little worried about how I would get to exercise since I'm a horrible runner (ask anyone who has ever tried to run with me, it turns into more of a scenic power walk). Not sure how the rest of the night will shape up. Hopefully I can get some good sleep. We have our own program orientations tomorrow. My major here is arts and Celtic studies, which sounds super cool in my head hahah. I'm not sure how I feel about actually having to go to classes.... I just want to pretend I am on vacation for four months, but somehow I will find the motivation to keep up with my studies (I promise I will, Mom and Dad). 

One more thing! I know I've already posted about this on facebook, but a family that I nannied for this past summer, The Ziebell family, is in need of a few prayers and well wishes. Owen (5) is currently at Children's Hospital in Wauwatosa, where they are attempting to cause seizures, as he is diagnosed with Epilepsy. The doctors are trying to see if there is a way to remove these parts of his brain to give him a seizure free life. If that wasn't enough for a family to handle, Owen's mom, Alison recently found out that she has a grade II brain tumor. Although it isn't cancerous, it isn't benign either. This means they need to try to shrink it through radiation. This week is especially tough, as Alison has to attend many doctor appointments at Froedert hospital discussing her radiation treatments while also being there for Owen. She is remaining SO strong and positive and has taught me so much about the importance of life in this past month. Jamie and Alison are handling this, along with raising two young boys, with such grace, humility, and dignity. Here's a link to Alison's blog, as well as a fundraiser going towards their medical bills.

http://alisonziebell.blogspot.ie/

http://www.gofundme.com/amotherandsonsjourney

The Ziebells were also recently on the news! If you'd like to see the clip, here's the link:

http://www.jrn.com/tmj4/news/Mom-caring-for-child-with-brain-damage-diagnosed-with-tumor-240013551.html?lc=Smart

In the very least, if you could keep them in your thoughts and pray for two healthy recoveries, I would really appreciate it! Thought I would post a few fun pictures of Owen and Jacob, his little brother, that I took when we went to Monkey Joe's a few weeks ago:

They are just the cutest!

Well, that's it for now! Wish that I could be in two places at once (Missing marquette and everyone there), but I know that I'm here for four wonderful months, and it's up to me to make the most of it! Love you guys! Thanks for reading, I've learned that I LOVE to blog. Gives me comfort to know that everyone at home can know what I'm up to :]. 

Sláinte!

Today Was An Adventure!

So, last night I fell asleep around 6 PM, thinking I would wake up around 7. Instead, I woke up at midnight- bad move. I was wide awake, hungry and without food at midnight. Since we hadn't gone out and bought groceries yesterday, I opened the food my mom had packed for me for the plane ride. Thanks Mama! Over 3600 miles away and she's still saving me. I ended up writing a bit in my journal, taking a shower, and looking at facebook. The perks of being awake so late was that, because of the time difference, I was able to talk to friends and family at home who were still in the middle of their evenings. Thanks to those who kept me entertained :]. I didn't end up falling back asleep until 5 AM. Doing great so far with the time difference/ jet lag... 

Today I woke up around 9:45, and two of my roommates, Abby and Paige, and myself went to the student center hoping to join a group heading to ikea (we need a lot of stuff for our apartment). The outing was sold out, but we will go tomorrow. Instead, we joined a group heading to the city centre of Dublin. We had to take the bus, which is kind of expensive, and the guides took us to the shopping center and basically said "Okay so you guys know how to get back right? See you later!". We were a little thrown off by that, but figured we would find the way back eventually. We ended up meeting two other girls at UCD, one from Whitewater and one from Marquette! So funny that we had no idea who each other was. So, we walked into a department store called Dunnes to buy some random items for our rooms (in my case, hangers and a pillowcase). Afterwards, we all went to a cell store to set up our phones. We just wanted a simple pay-as-you-go plan. The men working there were super nice and helpful. The phones are pretty cute to be honest. Takes me back to the days of 7th grade. Here's a pic:

After that was all resolved, we went to grab lunch at subway (really stepping out of our comfort zones) and find our way home. At this point, it started to rain pretty hard and of course I am wearing the raincoat without the hood. We wanted to stop at the grocery store called Tesco on the way home, so we needed to get off at a stop that was different from UCD's. The center is called Merrion Centre, and it has a full grocery store with a few other small tourist shops. We figured that Merrion Centre was close to Merrion Square, one of the bus stops. So we get on the bus only to realize that these places are two completely different things. The bus driver told us we wanted to get to Merrion Road. He was helpful and directed us towards a bus stop that would lead us to Merrion Road. Eventually we got off that bus and found our way to Merrion Square- definitely an adventure. 

We all got our groceries for relatively cheap and were on our way back to UCD around 4. As soon as we got home, we stocked the fridge and went to our rooms to rest- we were pretty tired from walking all day. I finally finished setting up my room. Our rooms are pretty small, but the apartment itself is really nice! Here's a few pictures to give you a visual:

Since then I've just been hanging out. My roommate, Ellie and her friend who is staying with her just got here today. I think tonight all of us will go out to dinner. For those of you concerned of my bank account balance, I promise this won't be a regular occasion. It's just the first night that all four roommates will share, and it's something to celebrate! Well, that's it for now. Not sure what the rest of the night will look like, but tomorrow we are going to ikea to get the rest of our basic necessities of our apartment. Orientation also starts tomorrow, so I'm excited to learn more! Here's a couple of pictures from today on Grafton Street!

Last thing: This world is SO small! Before we left, I learned that my roommate, Ellie goes to Villanova. One of my good family friends, Becca, also goes there. I thought I would ask Becca on a whim if she knew who she was. Turns out, Ellie is in the same sorority as Becca's roommate, and they know each other! Then today, my roommate Paige told me that she went to the same grade school that my Aunt Jeanine teaches! How crazy is that that we all randomly picked this apartment and we have these connections.

Safe to say, I'm in love with this city.