Delayed

I'm here. On the flight from Seattle to Chicago they were making everyone check their carry-ons if they were rolling suitcases. So I was "relieved" of my laptop, ipod dock, new rain jacket, a cornucopia of scarves that would have come in handy, music I should have have been practicing the last few months, and the battery charger for my camera. But I found the suitcase today--in south campus not even at a post room. Whatever though. I'm grateful to have my stuff back. The end.

I got here at about 9am and basically just got all my stuff in the room and unpacked a little and then crashed until 5pm. That wasn't a good idea. I didn't plan on doing it, but there wasn't really anything to be done. The next day things were better--I went to some orientation things. I actually missed the very first thing because my alarm didn't go off and I was an hour off anyway. But I got myself situated with the international office and it's been fine.

The second night I woke up at 4:30 and couldn't go back to sleep. That was really weird. I got out of bed at 7 and tried to make some breakfast for myself, but the dishes that are provided to us are terrible. Practically unusable some of them. So I've bought myself a pan, a spatula, and a knife. Bare necessities.

Cool things from orientation: The study abroad office puts together organized group trips to cities all over Ireland--Galway, Cork, Belfast, Dublin of course. I'm sigeing up for those for sure. For some of the places further away you go and stay a few days. There is a kayaking/canoeing society that goes on trips all over Ireland. One is for a fortnight. I've been wanting to go kayaking for literally 3 years now. I'm definitely joinging that club.

Oh yeah I've finalized my classes now too. I've had some clashes along the way and had to change t. But, after going in and registering again tomorrow I'll be taking: Film, Music History 1: 18th and 19th centuries, Poetry B, Irish, Myth and Poetry in Ancient Greece, and Modernism. The Modernism one is about Modernist literature. I wanted to take Renaissance Lit, but that clashed with Irish, so no deal.

I was sick for a few days--the first weekend. They say that it's common for the American students to get sick the first few weeks they're here. So that sucked. Now I just have a cough though. I forgot that you can't buy drugs in a store--you have to go to a real pharmacy. I was kind of disappointed.

I went to Dublin last weekend--and this weekend actually. The first weekend though we went to a night club. That was weird. I know I'm not used to them, but I kind of hope I never am. It was fun though, even if just for people watching. I definitely didn't want to get hooked up by one of the girls I was with though--no matter how hard she tried. I don't know why she was so determined. But whatever. Making out with random guys isn't my scene...
This last weekend I went to the airport to track down my luggage though. I didn't do any site seeing or shopping, but I did walk a ways along the Liffey. It's a beautiful city. I'm going to go again this coming up weekend, and probably every weekend after that if I'm not going somewhere else. I want to go on a second-hand book tour. I've heard there are a ton of second hand shops and I have an extensive book list. I'd also like to take a morning bus and get off at one end of the city and walk to the other end.

Classes started. And they are fine. Every single one is in a big lecture hall. It's weird to me because at home I haven't had any classes in a lecture hall. I like it though. I don't mind being "lost in the crowd."

One thing that sucks about being here a long time: I put things off. I've noticed that I keep saying to myself "it'll happen again" or "I'll see it again." When I know I'm only going to be somewhere for a week or a few days I take every picture I can and try to take advantage of every second I have. But I keep almost talking myself out of doing things. There was a beautiful sunset yesterday and I almost didn't take a picture of it. Then I got mad at myself for being stupid--I would have taken a picture of it even if I were at home.

So yeah. I think I'm caught up now.