We need to ketchup.

Hey friends and family! I made it! I haven’t had internet access available during this first part of orientation in Limerick, so I will try to catch you up on happenings.

Saturday/Sunday, August 30/31

Flying across time zones is crazy. I got on a flight, had dinner and two hours later the sun was rising. What the heck.

I was fortunate enough to make some friends before and after the flight with abroad students doing the same program as I. We arrived to Shannon airport at around 5:30 AM, Irish time, and after a long line at customs a big group of us caught a bus to our Hotel in Limerick (Mom – I maneuvered my luggage with the grace and agility of Michael Phelps). I checked into the room at around 7:30 AM, took a much needed shower then slept like a pile of bricks.

I wandered around Limerick for a while. What a cool city, right on the water. Then we had our first official orientation meeting for all of the Ireland Butler Abroad students. Turns out, that that just means dinner and passing out a packet of info.

After the dinner I invited some girls that I had and hadn't met to come to my room (I am one of the few without a roommate) for tea. There ended up being about 9 of us in my room. We talked, drank tea and a little wine, listened to music, and people watch from the window. All around a good time.

Monday, September 1

I am writing all of this on the night of September 1^st, to later copy and paste onto my blog. Today we had more orientation, then some of us shopped for necessary items, then we had traditional Irish food, drink, and entertainment in a castle/barn.

Here are some thoughts/observations as of now:

- I am excited about getting to Galway, meeting my flatmates and settling in

- People here looooove tea and I think that shows I’m in the right place

- I hate power adapters

- The Irish are much better about recycling and conserving than Americans

- Traditional Irish music is lovely

- Traditional Irish dancing is sweet! (Jen Hayden, you would have freaked out. They were almost as good as the Lord of Dance).

- Drinking mead makes me feel like a Viking

- I like traveling and shopping with one or two mellow Americans

- I do not like when Americans from states-that-I-will-not-name are loud and annoying everyone

- I am ready to get to school and make Irish friends

- I am lonely with no roommate in the hotel, no email, and not being able to get my phone card to work again (how the heck did I get it to work the first time??)

- I am proud of myself for not getting hit by a car

- Ray LaMontagne is a great comfort to my soul

- I like flannel on people of any nationality

- One more day of orientation before I get to go to Galway!

Tuesday, September 2

Last day of Limerick. (Free time = fun time.)

About twelve of us went to the Hunt museum. It’s a family’s personal collocation of art. A little lady in a striped sweater was our guide and she was great, always ready with a little side comment about the Hunt family or what she thought about the art. My favorite thing about the museum was that apparently the Hunt family used the art and artifacts really casually – you know using an ancient Egyptian embalming urn as a flower vase, hanging an early Picasso painting by the stove, serving wine in a Grecian urn, whatevs.

Tonight some of us went to well-thought-of local pub. It was everything that you would imagine an Irish pub to be – red brick, low lighting, Guinness, and live traditional music. I think it was a good omen that the last song that they sang was about Molly. Also, turns out, one of the fiddlers has family in Greensboro. Small world. Beautiful world.

Wednesday, September 3

My first day in Galway and in my apartment! WOO-HOO!

We left in overloaded bussed for an hour ride from Limerick to Galway this morning. The ride was dreamy -- very green, rocky, and lined with fluffy gray clouds. I could tell that we were approaching Galway when large bodies of water came into view. Let me just say, this city is off the hook.

There are streets and streets of little shops and pubs. The University is big and confusing, but is going to be an adventure. The University is about a 15 minute walk (down a highway) from my apartment. Speaking of apartment, it is huge and nice. Think Crown Polo on steroids. The bottom floor is a bathroom, living area, and kitchen. The next floor is two bedrooms and a bathroom and the top floor is the same as the second. My roommate is Molly (what are the odds?) from Boston who attends Brown. I feel that we are going to get along well! Our flatmates will probably move in this weekend and they could be anyone from anywhere, so we'll see!

I walked a total of about 8 miles today - to school, a tour, a couple of walks around town, getting lost for a bit, getting a computer cord, to the grocery store and back.

I ended my day with a much needed skype conversation with some of my favorite friends.
That was good. I miss everyone badly.

Thursday, September 4

I am sore from walking so much yesterday. And today will probably be a repeat of yesterday.

Student Union is hosting karaoke tonight.
What do think? I don't know anyone really, so I can go wild.

Celine Dion anyone?